The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 11
CENTVRIE XI.
IN the yeere of our Lord 1026. and vnderunder the raigne of the Emp. Henry the second, a Councell was assembled at Aken, by the authority of the Emperour; who seeing the wrath of God kindled against the word, & manifold tokens of the anger of God manifested in the Calamities hanging vponupon the head of all people and nations, he gathered this Councel: By the authoritie whereof Priests were commanded to pacifie the wrath of God by frequent saying of masse; the people, by fasting & abstinence; & Princes by distributing of almes to reconcile themselues to God. The Doctrine of repetance and amendement of life, was forgotten in this time of horrible ignorance; and all religion was turned into outward exercises of fasting; of distributing of almes; and of saying of Masses. Also new fasting daies were inioyned to be kept in most solemne manner to the honour of Iohn the Baptist & S. Laurence;Mat. 15. so that by a multitude of human traditions, daily increased; the ordinance of God (as Christ witnesseth) was made null and of no effect.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councell of Halignustat. 1023. and in the 21. yeere of the raigne of the Emp. Henry 2. a Councell was assembled at Halignustat, wherein Harido Bishop of Mentz, was moderator; & great pains were taken to make a conformitie & vnitie in obseruation of superstitious rites in Germanie, such as statut times of fasting, and abstinence from marriage at certaine times of the yeere, and not casting of the corporall into the fire to quench the fire kindled in a towne, which was the custome of foolish Priests at that time; & that no sword shuld be brought into the Church except the Kings sword; and no meetings or confabulations should be in the Church or the poarch thereof, and that women should not bee addicted to particular and select Masses, such as the Masse of the Trinitie and Saint Michael; but let them heare common Masses for the safetie of the quicke and the dead. Also Lawes were made in this Councell concerning the reckoning of the degrees of consanguinitie, and that no man should iourney to Rome for obtaining pardon for great sinnes, before hee had first confessed himselfe to his owne Priest; and fulfilled the penance prescribed by him, with many other constitutions, full of new invented superstition.
The Councel of Triburia.IN the yeere of our Lord 1030. and vnderunder the raigne of the Emperour Conrad the second: a Councell was assembled at Triburia. The Emperour was present at the Councell. After some constitutions about fasting, one arose, and said that certaine Epistles were come from heauen concerning peace to be renued on earth, & he was commanded to write a coppie of these Epistles to be communicat to other Bishops, to the ende that nations and people might obserue these new lawes following.
Nevv lawes.1. That no man should weare armoure.
2. That no man should seeke restitution of things taken from him.
3. That no man should reuenge the wrongs, done to his blood and kindred.
4. That men should be compelled, to pardon them who smote them.
5. That eueryevery Friday, a fasting shall bee kept with bread and water.
6. That on Saturday, there should be an abstinence from flesh and fat things.
7. That men should content themselues with this kinde of fasting for remission of all their sinnes, so that they neede none other kind of repentance.
That all men should be bound by an oath to obserue these new lawes, & they who refused to sweare obedience to these ordinances should be separated from the Church, and they should neither be visited when they were sicke,Hist. Magd. cent. 11 cap. 9. nor buried when they were dead.
These new lawes which came not from heauen, but from the instinct of an euill spirit, many were content to receaue. Others who were of more sound iudgement specially the B. of Cambry, reiected them as repugnāt, most part, to the word of God, to the cōstitutions of the Church, to the peace of wel-ordered common-wealths, & to charitie. Alwayes consider that this was a time of horrible darknesse and ignorance, wherein any durst affirme in face of a Councell, that such lawes came from heauen, as were flatlie repugnant to the written word of God.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councell of Sutrium. 1046. and vnderunder the raigne of the Emperour Henry the third, an assemblie was gathered by the Emperour at Sutrium a towne of Italie, for pacefying an horrible schisme in the Roman Church: for three Popes contended for the Popedome, to wit, Benedict the ninth, Silvester the third, and Gregorie the sixt; when the fathers had conueened at Sutrium, and the Emperour had considered the causes of the scisme, and the ambition of Prelats striuing for superioritie, they thought expedient to remoue all these three monsters, and to choose one Sindigerus Bishop of Bamberg to be Pope, whom they called Clemens the second. Moreouer the Emperour did bind the Romans with an oath,Contract. Vspergens. Platina. that they shuld in time to come abstaine from the electiō of the Pope.
ABout the yeere of our Lord,A Councell at Rome against Berengarius. 1050. Leo the ninth assembled a Councell at Rome against Berengarius Deacon at Angiers; vponupon this occasion was the Councell gathered. Berengarius saw that the opinion of Transubstantiation was ouerspred in his time, to wit, that after the words of cōsecration the substance of bread evanished, and the substance of the body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament, vnderunder the accidents of bread and wine; which opinion he disaproued, and followed rather the opinion of Augustine, & Ioannes Scotus, about the Sacrament of the supper. He writ also letters to Lanfrancus B. of Canterbury about this question. The Messenger who carried the letters did not find Lanfrancus in Normandie whether he was directed. Therefore he deliuethe letters to some of the Clergie, who opened the letters of Berengarius and sent them to Pope Leo the ninth. After the sight whereof he assembled a Councell at Rome, and read the letters of Berengarius, and condemned him (though absent) as an heretike.
A Councell at Vercellis against Berengarius.LEo the ninth, assembled another Councell at Vercellis against Berengarius, in the monethmonth of September, of the yeere of our Lord, 1050, so that both these Councels were holden in one yeere, against Berengarius. Berengarius was warned to bee present at the Councell. Lanfrancus Bishop of Canterbury was also present. In Berengarius name compeared two of the Clergie, who were taken and cast into prison. The issue of the Councell was this. The Bookes, of Ioannes Melrosius Scotus de eucharistia, were read in the Councell and condemned. Leo likewise appointed in many Prouinces, Synods to be assembled against Berengarius, notwithstanding he persisted constantly in his opinion, vntill the dayes of Pope Nicolaus the second.
A Councell at Towrs against Berengarius.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1055. Pope Victor the second, assembled a Councell at Towrs against Berengarius. The Popes Ambassadours were present at the Councel, and Berengarius answered that hee adhered to no particular opinion of his owne, but he followed the Common doctrine of the vniversall Church, and that hee would not be contentious. This gentle answere mitigated the kindled affections of his Adversaries, yet he persisted in his own opinion, & for this cause Lanfrancus obiected against him that he deluded the Councel of Towrs with general & doubtsome words.
Another Coū cell at Rome against Berengarius.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1059. Pope Nicolaus 2. assembled a great Councel at Rome of 100. & 13. B. Berengarius was present at the Councel. Berengarius through infirmitie, submitted himselfe to be corrected by Pope Nicolaus 2. and the Councel. They prescribed to him a forme of renounciatiō of his error as they called it, which Berengarius accepted & recā ted. Notwithstanding afterward he published in writing a refutatiō of the doctrine of Transubstantiation, & damned his owne recantation. Manie other constitutions were made in this Councel, such as, that the election of the Pope should belong to the Colledge of Cardinals; that no man should heare a Masse sayd by a married Priest; that no Laick person should be iudge to a man in a spirituall office; that no person should marrie, any of his owne consanguinitie, vntill the seventh generation; with many other foolish constitutions.
IN the yeere of our Lord 1060. as appeareth,The Councell of Millan. Pope Nicholaus the second, sent Petrus Damianus to hold a Councell in his name at Millan. The questions disputed in the Councell were two chiefly, to wit, about Simonie, and the errour of the Nicolaitans. It was accounted Simonie to receiue investment by staffe and ringe from a secular man. It was counted the errour of the Nicolaitans when Priests married wiues. And Damianus to bring such mariages vnderunder the Compasse of Heresie, hee said that faults in manners, if they were obstinatlie de…nded they became Heresies. But suppose this was true (as it is a false definition) how can it bee called the heresie of the Nicolaitans, seeing that Nicolaitans were not called Heretikes in respect they had wiues, but in respect they made their wiues common, as I hauehave declared in the first Centurie. The issue of this Councell was, that the whole Towne of Millan both Clergie and people, was in an vprore, complaining that the Towne wherein Ambrose was Bishop should be brought in subiection to the Ordinances, of any other Church. Damianus was in great feare to bee rent in pieces, albeit the Archbishop of Millan was sitting at his one side, and the Bishoppe of Luca at his other. After that the tumult was pacified Damianus did speake vntounto the Clergie and people, manie things concerning the prerogatiue of the Chaire of Rome, and the Bishop of Millan standing before the Altar, did sweare that hee should bee obedient to the ordinances of the Roman Church, in extirping the heresie of Simonie and of the Nicolaitans, and many of the Clergie following his example did the like, and were content like inconstant fooles to receaue penance for cohabitation with their owne lawfull wifes.
The Councel of Mantua.IN the yeere of our Lord 1066. The Emperour Henry the fourth assembled a Councell at Mantua, for pacifiing the scisme of the Roman Church which arose betweene Alexander the second, and Candalus, who was called Honorius 2. They contended one against another, with armoure, violence, shedding of blood, and cursings. For Alexander conueened them who were of his faction at Rome, & deliuered Honorius to the Deuill, as an ambitious and bloodie man. On the other part Honorius assembled his fauourers at Parma, and cursed Alexander, because hee bought the Popedome by money from the Romans, and because hee accepted the Popedome without the foreknowledge and consent of the Emperour. For pacifying of the outrage of these Roman vultures; the Emperour appointed a Councell to be assembled at Mantua, wherein Alexander was declared to be Pope, Candalus had pardon, and Gilbertus by whose Councell Candalus accepted the Popedome, was made Archbishop of Rauenna.
1. In this Councell, it was ordained that no man should heare Masse sayd by a Priest who had a concubine.
2. The sonnes of Priests may be accepted to Church orders; prouiding the authoritie of the Pope be interponed to giuegive allowance thereto.
3. He who is admitted to a Church-office, willingly and wittingly, by a Simoniake person; shal be remoued from his Order.
4. Monks destinat for monasterie, shall not be admitted to offices in the Clergie.
5. Members of the Clergie shall not accept Ecclesiasticall benefices from Laicke persons.
6. No Ecclesiasticall office or benefice shall be sold for money, but freelie giuen to them who are learned and godly.
7. No person excommunicat, shall hauehave power to excommunicate others.
POpe Alexander the second sent two Cardinals to Englād to pacifie the troubled estate of the Church:The Councell of Wintomi… in England. there they conueened a Councell at Winchester, wherein they deposed certaine Bishops & Abbots from their offices; and namely Stigandus Bishop of Canterburie. Against whom these crimes were obiected. First that he had possessed the chaire of Canterburie, Robert Archbishop thereof being aliue. Likewise that he possessed another Bishopricke with it, as namely the Bishoppricke of Winchester, and thirdly that he had receiued his pallium from Benedict the tenth, a man vnlawfullie elected, and reiected by fathers.
THe Emperour Henry the fourth was young when his father died,Another Coū cell of Triburia or Friburg. and it was couenanted amongst the Princes and Bishops of Germanie, that during the minoritie of the Emperour Henry, the Princes and Bishops by course should attend vponupon the young Emperour, and should gouerne the estate of the country. The Archbishop of Breme when hee had ended his course, he gaue not place to others as it was couenanted, but insinuated himselfe into the fauour of the yong king, by giuing him Libertie to liue according to all the youthly conceits of his owne heart. The rest of the Princes and Bishops were offended at this imperious carriage of the Archbishop of Breme, and they assembled themselfes in Triburia, which in our dayes is called Friburg. In this Councell it was decreed that the Bishop of Breme shuld be declared to be an enemie to the countrey, except he deliuered the king to be brought vp according to the couenant aforesaid.
IN the yeere of our Lord 1069. a Councell was assembled at Mentz vponupon this occasion.The Councell of Mentz. The Emperour Henry the fourth disliked his wife, and delt secretly with the Bishop of Mentz for divorcement from her, promising to bee addicted to his Councell, and to interpose his authoritie to bring the people of Turingia vnderunder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Mentz; and to compell them to pay tithes vntounto him. The Emperour Henry could not blame his wife of any fault. OnelyOnly he caried no good liking toward her, when the Coū cell was conueened at Mentz. Petrus Damianus came Ambassador from the Pope, and by many arguments disswaded the Emperour from the intended diuorcement. It agreed not with human lawes, not with the constitutions of the Church, nor with the Emperours honour, and it would raise a great scandal in the Church. And it was the Emperours dutie to punish such faults in others, but not to giuegive them example of sin in his owne person. Finallie if the Emp. would not obey wholsome admonitiō, he had power to vse the Censurs of the Church against him, and to withhold him from the honour of his coronation. The issue of the Councell was this, the Emp. desisted from his purpose of diuorcement, & honoured his Lady with ornaments agreeing to her Princely estate, but cohabited not louingly with her.
The Councell of Ersurd.IN the yeere of the Lord, 1974. Gregorie the seuenth otherwise called Hildebrand; hauing alreadie prepared a way to execute Antichristian pride in Councels of Millan and Mantua, before hee was authorised Pope. Now in his Popedome hee beginneth to execute those vnhappie decrees of Millan and Mantua. And hee commaundeth the Bishop of Mentz to separat the Priests of his bounds from their wifes, or else to depose them from their offices. The Bishop of Mentz willing to obey the Popes commandement assembled a Councel at Ersurd, wherein he declared what cōmandement he had receiued. On the other part married Priests said they had libertie to marry by the written word of God, and in doing so, they followed the example of the men of God, and fathers of the Church. Thirdly they confirmed by many reasons that it was lavefull to marrie, speciallie for avoiding fornication, and that it was an auncient custome in the Church that men of spirituall offices married, wiues. Finally, with humble supplications and requests, they entreated the Bishoppe of Mentz, that hee would not separate them from the company of their louing wiues, and deare beloved children. But all these reasons and supplications mixed with teares, prevailed nothing at the Bishops hand, because hee said, a necessity was laid vponupon him, to obey the Popes commandement. The married Priests arose, and departed out of the Councell, and consulted amongst themselues, what was meetest to be done: Some of them thought it expedient to depart from the Councell, and not to returne to it againe. Others thought it better to returne to the Councell againe, and to put hands on the Bishop and spoyle him of his life, before hee could promulgate the prohibition of marriage, which the Apostle calleth the doctrine of divels.1 Tim. 4. The Bishop being advertised of this conspiracy against his life, resolued with faultering words, to mitigate their wrath, promising to write to the Pope, to abstaine from imposing such hard conditions to married Priests: so was their fury asswaged. This tumult was scarce pacified, when another greater arose. The avaritious Bishop exacted tythes from the people of Turingia, besides the covenant that had past betweene him and them at Gerstundun, after great contentention and effusion of blood: yet the Bishop overpassing the covenant, claymed rigourously more then was covenanted. The people of Turingia being inraged, were purposed to hauehave revenged the iniuries, which this avaritious Prelate had done vntounto them, with shedding of his blood: and the fervent heate of their rage was so great, that all the Bishops and members of the Clergie, who were assessors to the Archbishop of Mentz, departed from him, fearing the rage of commoued people.
This Councell began with pride, and ended with fury and tumult. The Bishop of Mentz in great wrath departed to Helegenstad, because he could hardly digest the repulse which he gat in the Councell.
Another Councell at Mentz.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1075. in the monethmonth of October, a Councell was assembled at Mentz, wherein the Bishop of Chur, as Ambassador from the Pope, Gregorie the seventh, was present; and straitly commanded the Bishop of Mentz vnderunder paine of deposition from his prelacie, to proceed against married Priestes, according to the Popes commandement. The Bishoppe terrified with the Popes threatning, convened a Synode at Mentz. The married Priests finding that the Bishoppe againe was willing to execute the Popes vngodly commandement, they left supplications, which they had vsed in the Councell of Erfurde, and with their hands, and a vehement commotion of their bodies, so terrified the Bishop of Mentz, and the Popes Ambassadour, that they were glad by flying to escape the danger of their life. Not daring to assemble any mo Councels, to that effect.
The Councell of Wormes.AFter this, Pope Hildebrand in the lofty conceits of his proud and Antichristian heart, intended to gather a Councel at Rome, in the time of Lent. And he gaue warning to the Emperour to compeare before him, and to answer to such things as had bin obiected against him. The Emperor thought it no time to slumber nor sleepe, when this seditious Pope threatned to cut him off from the body of the Church, if hee did not compeare before his Iudgement-seat. Therefore the Emperour assembled all the Bishops of his kingdome, to the number of 24. in the towne of Wormes: Many Abbots also were present. The question intreated in this Councell, was concerning the deposition of Pope Hildebrand. As they were devising concerning this purpose in the Councell, Hugo Blancus, a Cardinall came from Rome, with letters from the Popes enemies, with many accusations against him. These were read openly in the Councell, Hildebrand was accused of periury, and ambition, of avarice, and of pride: and they desired that Hildebrand might bee displaced, and another seated in his roome. The determination of the Councell was this, that Hildebrand, who called himselfe Gregorie the seventh, a forclopen Monke, an vsurper of the Popedome, without consent of the Emperour, and against his oath, a false interpreter and wrester of holy Scripture, a renter of vnity, a man who mixed all divine and humane things so together, that he polluted them both, a man who heard the false accusations of vngodly people, who in one cause would be an accuser, a witnesse, a Iudge, and an enemy: who separated husbands from their wiues, and preferred whoredome to lawfull marriage: who stirred vp the people against their Bishops, and teachers: who counted no man consecrated lawfully, except hee had bought his Prelacie from his dependers, and begged it from himselfe, a seeker of popular applause, and a deceiver of the people, vnderunder colour of religion … a man who like to Decius, and the rest of the persecuting Emperours, and worshippers of false gods, vsurped both Empire and the Priesthood.
For all these forementioned causes, the holy Emperour, the Bishops, and Senators, and Christian people assembled with them, decerned that Hildebrand should bee remooued from the Popedome, and that the sheepe of Christ should not be committed to a Wolfe. This decreet was subscribed by all the Bishops, who were present at the Councell.
IN the yeere of our Lord,Another Councell at Triburia. 1076. another Councell was assembled at Triburia. The Princes of Saxonie and Sweue, came to the Councell with obstinate mindes, setting their whole indeavours against the Emperour, Henry the fourth. He approached neere to the towne, but the river of Rhene was interiected betweene them. The Emperour in all submissiue manner, promised to amend all the faults whereof they complained. But their hearts being possessed with a superstitious favour to the chaire of Rome, and being inclinable to sedition & alteration of the State: they returned a very hard answer to the Emperour, wherein they made a commemoration of all his youthly infirmities, and how their expectation of his amendment, had often-times deceiued them. But seeing their consciences witnessed vntounto them, that infirmities in Princes is no sufficient cause to shake off the yoke of their obedience. Therefore in the end, they pretend that in case they adhered any longer to him, they were in danger to incurre the condemnation of their own soules, because hee was excommunicated by the Apostolick chaire. This Councell is like vntounto a looking glasse, wherein two things may bee evidently seene, to wit, the inconstancy of people, and pride of the Roman Antichrist, bearing downe the authority of Princes, for desire of his owne advancement.
THe Pope had appointed a day of compearance to the Emperour to be iudged in Lent,Another Councell at Rome. as hath beene declared heretofore. This Councell was full of cursings, flattering the Romanes, and prodigall largition of money, to those who followed the Pope. For in this Councell Gilbertus Bishop of Ravenna was cursed. The Emperour Henry the fourth, was not onelyonly cursed, but also denuded of his Imperiall dignity, as if the Bishop of Rome had power to conferre the kingdomes of the world to whom hee pleaseth. The flattering words of the Pope to the Romane Nobles, Senators, and People, are beyond all measure of moderation. For hee called them the head of the world, having power to conferre all spirituall and civill dignities to whom they pleased. Like as 270. yeeres agoe, they transferred the Empire from the Grecians, to the Germanes. And like as the Emperour may displace an vnworthy souldier, even so a souldier may forsake an vnrighteous Captaine. After this, hee distributed to his followers, 15000. talents of siluer; and so by cursings, flattery, and prodigality, hee bewitched the Romans, and engaged them against the Emperour.
The Councell of Brixia.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1080. the Emperour Henry the fourth, assembled of Germany and Italy, 30. Bishops, in the towne of Brixia-Notice, together with many Princes of his kingdome. All these consented that Hildebrand should be deposed from his Popedome, and Gilbertus Bishoppe of Ravenna should be placed in his roome, because Hildebrand was a subuerter of Ecclesiasticall order, a troubler of the Imperiall estate, a perturber of peace, stirring vp dissention among brethren, contention among those who lived peacebly, divorcement among married persons, and had troubled every thing that was setled in godlinesse, and peace. The tenour of the Decree followeth. We who are assembled together by the providence of God in Brixia, decerne that Hildebrand, that obstinate preacher of sacrilegious flames, and burnings; a defender of periuries and murthers; a Sorcerer, and Inchanter; a man who calleth in question the true Faith, concerning the body and blood of Christ. We (say they) decerne that such a man should bee deposed, and expelled from the Popedome, and except nee forsake it after intimation of this Decree, that hee is to be condemned perpetually.
IN the yeere of our Lord,Another Councell at Rome. 1081. the Emperor irritate with the incessant attempts of the Pope, against his life and estate thought meet once to put an end to this labour, and to the distresses of the Empire. Therefore hee besieged the towne of Rome and tooke it. Hildebrand with the rest of the Wolfes who had troubled the sheepfold of God, they fled. The Emperour with the advice of the Roman Senate, appointed a Councell to be assembled at Rome, wherein fugitiue Hildebrand should appeare, and render an account of his adminstration, but hee would not appeare. Therefore he was deposed as a profane and wicked man, a louer of discord, a bloody man, and an invader of the Apostolick chaire by Sorcery. And Gilbertus, by some called Wigbertus, was placed in his roome.
AFter the death of Gregory the 7. the Romans had no regard to Gilbertus, The Councell of Beneventū.whom the Emperor had made Pope, but they chose another, who was Abbot in Cassinates, named Desiderius. He was not chosen by the Cardinalls, nor by the Pope of Rome, but by Mathildis, and the Normans, Commanders of Apulia (as Functius recordeth) all these were enemies to the Emperour. After his election to the Popedome, he was called Victor the third. He assembled a Councell at Beneventum, which was his natiue soyle. There hee cursed Gilbertus Bishop of Ravenna, as an vsurper of the Chaire, belonging to Gregory the seventh, his predecessor. Likewise he cursed Hugo Archbishop of Lions, and Richard Abbot of Marseil, because (as it seemeth) they had been his competitors. This man walked closely in the footsteps of Hildebrand; but his time was short, for hee died before hee could execute the proud conceits of his minde, after he had ruled one yeere and six months, Platina attributeth vntounto him onelyonly the continuance of one yeere, and foure moneths.
The Councell of Clermont.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1095. Vrbanus the second gathered a great assembly at Clermont, in Overnie of France. The lessons of Hildebrand were forgot by his successours. Therefore in this Councell, and the Councell of Placentia, and other Councels which I hauehave ouerpassed, studying to shortnesse. It was ordayned, that no spirituall office, nor rent annexed thereto, should be received from the hand of a secular man: in this Councell it was ordayned, with advice of many Christian Princes, that an army should bee raised vp, and march toward Ierusalem, for support of distressed Christians, and recovery of the holy Land, out of the hands of Infidels, as hath beene declared in the History of the life of Vrbanus the second.