The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 12
CENTVRIE XII.
THe multitude of Councels assembled in this Centurie, if they should all be particularly rehearsed, I doubt not but the Reader would bee wearied in reading them, for they exceede the number of an hundred and fifteene Councels. So that I am compelled to reduce them vntounto certaine principall heads, and to produce examples of every head; so shall the intention and designe of them, who assembled Councels in this time, be cleerly knowne.
Some Councels were assembled for prohibition of Priests marriages, others for excommunication of the Emperour; some for the question of investment of Bishops, being most willing to extort this priviledge out of the hands of the Emperour, and to conferre it to the Bishops of Rome: Some were gathered for deciding the question which arose by plurality of Popes, contending hotly one against another, for the Popedome. Many Councels also were assembled for advancing of the warre, called Bellum sacrum, and setting forward Christians, to fight against the Saracens, for conquering the holy Land out of their hands. Some few were assembled against men, whom they supposed to bee Heretiques, such as Abelardus, and his disciple Gilbertus, and Vualdenses. When a few examples of every one of these heads shall be commemorated, the luxriant superfluity of the Councels of this Centurie, shall not be found inconvenienly abridged.
ALexius Emperour of Constantinople,A Councell at Paris. sent letters to Vrbanus the second, wherein he declared the rage of the Turkes, and implored support from the West. Vrbanus assembled a Councell of all Nations, at Paris, and was present himselfe at the Councell, incitating the hearts of all men, to driue out the barbarous Turkes from the place wherein the redeemer of the world did suffer. In this Councell were appointed an hundred thousand men, out of Aquitania, Normandie, England, Scotland, Ireland, Brittannia, Galitia, Wastemia, France, Flanders, Lorane, and other Nations toward the holy Land, with Hademarus a Bishop, who had power of binding and losing in the Popes name.
IN the yeere of our Lord, 1110. the Bishop of Florence openly preached,A Councell at Florence. that Antichrist was already come, which hee cleerely perceived by that horrible change of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ, into an earthly Monarchie: for the Bishops of Rome were rather Warriours, then Preachers of the Word of God. They opposed themselues to Emperours, and most contemptuously abused them; they depraued the articles of Faith, prophaned the Sacraments instituted by Christ. Idolatry dayly increased, hypocriticall discipline through propagation of Monastique orders, and humane constitutions, were out of measure extolled. Moe were advanced to the Popedome by deceit, weapons, and slaughter, then by free election. Matrimoniall chastitie was banished from the order of Clergie-men, who count themselues holy. And finally, the Bishop of Rome was like vntounto a gulfe, devouring and exhausting the substance of the world, and administrating his turnes rather by force, then reason. These abuses, and others like to these, presented to the Bishop of Florence, a notice that Antichrist was come alreadie, and openly domineered in the Church. Pascalis the second, who was Pope at this time, thought it was no time to slumber or sleepe, in such a matter. Therefore hee convened a Councell at Florence, and called the Bishop of Florence to his accounts. The arguments by which hee prooued, that Antichrist was already come, are buried in silence. OnelyOnly hee was sharply rebuked, and commanded, that in time to come he should vtter no such doctrine.
IN the yeere of our Lord,A Councel at London. 1102. and in the third yeere of the raigne of Henry the first, King of England: Anselmus Archbishop of Canterburie, a man much addicted to Pope Paschalis, assembled a Councell at London, for prohibition of the marriages of Priests. This was an vncouth thing in England, and some counted it an holy designe, others, a matter perilous (as it was indeed) lest men attempting things that were aboue their strength, should fall into the snare of the Deuill, and into horrible Lusts of vncleannesse, which thing came to passe. For horrible Sodomie had place among the Clergie, and the yeere following, Anselmus was compelled to conuene another Councell at S. Pauls in London, and to make constitutions for punishment of those who were found to bee polluted with that vild lust of vncleannesse. Neuerthelesse Anselmus was one of the number of the Antichristian Clergie, who would be wiser than God, and finde out better remedies than marriage to stay the intemperat lust of men, who had not the gift of Continencie.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councell of Mentz. 1106. a great Councell was assembled at Mentz, against the Emperour Henry the fourth, who attended at Ingelheme; looking to hauehave beene sent for to the Councell. But the Ambassadours of Pope Paschalis and the Bishops who were present at the Councell could not delay, vntill the Emperour was sent for. But the venemous vlcer of their cankered hearts being ripe, behoued presently to break forth, before the Emp. was heard to speake for himselfe. Therfore they proceed against the noble Emp. being absent, and condemned him of heresie, & excōmunicated him. Now his heresie was Simony, because he wold not resigne the right of investmēt of Bishops into the Popes hands. And not content with this, they for the Bishops of Mentz, Cosen, & Worms, to Iugelheime, where the E.H. 4. was, & deuested him of his imperial ornamēts. The E. could not resist the violence of those headstrong Prelats, because his armie and friends were not about him. But he demaunded the three Bishops in the sight of the eternall God, to declare if hee had taken any reward for admitting them to their Bishopriks. The Bishops of Mentz, Colen, and Wormes, all affirmed; that he had receiued no reward from their hands. How then (sayth the Emperour) am I condemned of Simonie? I pray you fathers doe not so wickedly (sayth he) violate your oath of alledgance. Dishonour not mine estate and horehead. And incase I should resigne mine Emperiall Ornaments to my son; let all the estates of Germanie bee assembled, that I may doe it willingly in a lawfull assembly. But the Prelats forementioned, stirring vp one another, put hands to worke and pulled the Crowne from his head, and denuded him of the rest of his Imperiall Ornaments. The Emperour with sighes and sobbs committed his cause to God who hateth iniquitie, and in his own time can render a condigne recompence vntounto it. Moreouer the Noble Emperour humblie craued at the Popes Ambassadours, and the rest of the Bishops; to bee absolued from excommunication, with promise to satisfie them, whom hee should bee found after due triall to hauehave offended. But these Romane Vulturs answered him proudly that matter pertained to the Pope, he must dresse himselfe to Rome to bee absolued by the Pope, after sight of his condigne satisfaction. Now let the iudicious reader marke, if these Councels had bin like vntounto the starre,Mat. 2. which led the wise men of the East to Christ; then it were good reason that we should follow them. But since they leade frō Christ, & from al due reverence toward the annointed of the Lord; and from all kinde of gentlenesse, meaknesse, and humane behauiour, toward our superiours, it is time to remember the words of our Lord. If the blinde leade the blind, Mat.both shall fall in the ditch.
The Councell of Troyes in Champani….IN the yeere of our Lord, 1107. Pope Paschalis the second, gathered a Councell at Troyes in France, willing to finish and perfit in France the worke begun in Germanie. And to throw out of the hands of Henry the fift, the right of investment of Bishops, as hee had done out of his fathers hands. The Emperour Henry the fift, approched neere to the place wherein the Councell was gathered, but was not present thereat.
The subiect intreated in the Councell was about the investment of Bishops, by all meanes possible they endevored to spoile all Laicke persons of this priuiledge; affirming that the election of Pastors should be free, and that the presumption of Laicke persons, in conferring of Ecclesiasticall dignities, must be cut off. Therefore hee promulgated the like mandars, as his Predecessours had done before him, adding also against the cōtraveners of his mandats the like cursings, as his Predecessours had done before him. The Emperour Henry the fift, with aduise of the Nobles and Bishops, who were about him, sent Ambassadours to the Pope, and the Councell calling to their remembrance that the right of investment of the Bishops was conferred to the Emperour Charles the Great, and that his successors had continued in possession of that right vntill his time. Therefore he requested that the Pope and Councell would doe nothing preiudiciall to his right. This Message perturbed the cogitations of the Pope, and the fathers of the Councell, but this means was found out, that this question should rest for the space of a yeere, after the issue whereof it should be reasoned at Rome. And in the meane time, no investment should bee receiued from any Laicke person. This interim, together with the place appointed for determination of the question, are manifest presages of the euent: to wit, that the Pope would not be at rest vntil hee had trampled vnderunder foote all ciuill domination, & vntill he had remoued out of the way that authoritie, which was a let to his vsurped preheminence, as the Apostle speaketh:2 Thes. 2.7. when the yeere was exspyred, the Emperour addressed himselfe to Rome with an army and tooke the Pope and his Cardinals prisoners. And albeit the Pope at that time condiscended that the right of investment should consist in the Emperours hand, yet afterward hee revoked the same, and in the Councell of Rome assembled Anno, 1112. yeeres, hee vtterly renounced that priuiledge conferred to the Emperour, as hath beene declared in the Historie of his life.
The Councel of Triburia.THe question and controversie about investment of Bishops, was not like to take an ende. The Romane Chaire, like vntounto a raging Sea, continually swelled, frothed and stirred vp sedition against the Emperour Henry the fift, because hee would not ouer-giuegive the right of investment of Bishops into the Popes hands. The Bishops of Germanie the Popes footegroomes conueened at Triburia, Anno, 1119. with exasperat minds, consulting how they might vndoe the estate of the Emperour, as they had alreadie vndone the estate of his father. The Emperour made hast to returne out of Italie to Germanie, and finding none other way to establish his owne estate, but either by great effusion of blood, or by yeelding to the Popes desire. The Emperour after consultation with his Princes, and friends, found no outgate, except to render to Pope Calixtus the second the right of investment of Bishops. Also hee was compelled to ratifie the election of Pope Calixtus, albeit Gregorie the eight (to whose election the Emperour had consented) was yet aliue, so mightily prevailed the power of the Roman Antichrist.
PEtrus Abelardus, was counted an Heretike in the Councell of Soysson, and was compelled to burne his owne bookes.The Councel of Senon. Yet because hee continued in his errour, and many followed him, another Councell was conueened at Senon against Abelardus. Lewes king of France the son of old Lewis was present at the Councell, and Theobald Count Palatine, and Bernard Abbot of Clarauall, and innumerable people desiring to heare disputation. Abelardus fearing popular sedition declined their iudgement and was willing to be iudged by Innocentius the second who was Pope at that time. Pope Innocentius after hee had read the letters sent from the councell, damned Abe lardus, and ordained his followers to be excommunicat. Abelardus destitute of Patrons & Protectors, entered into the Monasterie of Cluniake. Concerning his opinions I hauehave spoken of them in the head of Heretikes.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councell of Papia. 1160. The schisme that fell out betwixt two Popes, striuing for the Popedome after the death of Adrian the fourth, to wit Alexander the third, and Victor the fourth; gaue occasion to the Emperour Fredericke the first (being at that time in Italie) to appoint a Councel to be assembled at Papia. For remouing of the scisme, and for deciding the controversie by declaring to which of the contending Popes the Popedome should belong. Both the Popes were warned to appeare before the Councell. The Emperour was present the first day of the meeting of the Councell, and declared to the Bishoppes that hee was not ignorant that to the Emperour belonged power to convocate Councels, like as Constantinus, Theodosius, Iustinianus, had done before him; and of latter time, Carolus Magnus, and the Emperour Otto. Notwithstanding since that matters pertaining to diuine worship ought to be iudged by Bishops; hee remitted the iudgement of this present controuersie to the fathers met together in the assemblie. And he so departed out of the Councell. Pope Alexander the third refused to appeare before the Councel of Papia, for hee would be iudged by no man. Pope Victor the fourth appeared, and was content that his cause should be examined, and iudged by the Councell. The Councell tooke this effect that Victor the fourth, was declared to bee Pope. Alexander the third on the other part beeing full of indignation, cursed the Emp. and Pope Victor and their adherents; and gathered a Councell of his fauourers at Clermount wherein hee openly deliuered to Sathan the Emp. Fredericke and Pope Victor, and Count Palatine, and all other principall fauourers of Victor, so great patience was in Pope Alexander, when his papall dignitie was called in question. Hee mixed as it were Heauen and Eartth together, not for zeale to the glorie of God; but for zeale to keepe his papall preheminence. For beside the Councell which he assembled at Clermont, hee gathered another at Towrs, Anno, 1164. and was no lesse prodigall in his cursings, then hee had beene before in the Councell of Clermont against the Emperour and his Competitor Victor: yea and hee sent an Ambassadour to Ierusalem and Antiochia, and to the Princes and Patriarchs,Tyrius lib. 18. cap. 29. of the East, for propagation of his owne authoritie.
A Councell at Rome.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1180. and in the twentieth yeere of the gouernment of Pope Alexander the third, a great assemblie was conveened at Rome, by the Popes authoritie: an hundreth and fourescore Bishops were assembled together in the Church called Constantiniana. Their consultation was about the forme of election of the Pope in time to come.
Canon 1.And first it was appointed and ordained, that in case the Colledge of Cardinals did not with vniforme consent agree who should be elected Pope; if the two part of them did consent to the election of any person, the dissenting of the third part should be no sufficient cause to reiect him who was elected.
Canon 2.Secondly it was ordained that all Ecclesiasticall dignities conferred by Octavianus, and Guido, who now are accounted schismatikes; shall be null, and of none effect.
Canon 3.And that no man be admitted to the office of a Bishop before hee be 30. yeeres old, neither shall any man bee admitted to be a Deacon, or Arch-deacon, or to hauehave the gouernment of a parish before hee be twentie fiue yeeres of age.
Canon 4.That Bishops and Archbishops in their Visitations doe not overcharge the Church of their boūds with vnnecessary charges & expenses speciallie: the Churches that are poore.
If a Bishop admit any man to bee a Presbyter or Deacon without the title of a place that may affoorde vntounto him,Canon 5. things necessarie for the maintenance of his life: let the Bishop himselfe sustaine him, vntill he prouide a liuing for him, except he be able of his owne patrimonie to sustaine himselfe.
That no man shall be excomunicat or suspended from his office,Canon 6. before hee be lawfully warned to appeare, and answere for himselfe; except in such causes as deserue summar excommunication.
That no reward be taken for admitting men to spirituall offices,Canon 7. and that no money be taken for blessing them that are married, or for ministration of any other Sacrment. For at this time marriage was counted a Sacrament of the Roman Church.
That no Ecclesiastical office be prōised to any man before it be vacāt,Canon 7. by the decease of the possessor. For it is an vnrighteous thing to put any man in expectation of another mans liuing, whereby hee may wish his brothers death. And when any place shall happen to be vacant, let it be planted againe within six months, or else hee who hath the right of plantation shall loose it at that time; and the Chapitar, or Metrapolitan Bishop, shall hauehave power to prouide the vacant place.
That the Brethren called Templarij or hospitales shall not abuse the priuiledges granted by them to the Chaire of Rome,Canon 9. by receiuing Churches out of the hands of Laicke people, by admitting to the Sacraments in their Churches, and to buriall, persons excommunicated; nor by admitting & deposing Presbyters without the fore-knowledge of their Bishops, and by occasion of their fraternities which they hauehave multiplied in many places, they shall not weaken the authoritie of Bishops, but they shal doe al things with aduice of their Bishops, and they who shall be found to hauehave disobeyed this ordinance shall vndergoe the discipline, & their actions in the contrary shall be declared to be of none effect.
Canon 10.That Monkes shall not be receiued into a Monasterie for gaine, and that they shall possesse no goods as properlie belonging onelyonly to themselues.
Canon 11.Men admitted to holy orders, let them either liue continently without the companie of women; or otherwise let them be depriued of their offices and liuings.
Canon 12.Subdeacons and others in Law offices who are sustained in the Church, let them not appeare, as procurators and advocates before secular iudges, except a matter belonging to himselfe,2 Tim. 2.4. or to the Church, or to the poore, be questioned. Like as it is written, no man that goeth to warre, entangleth himselfe with worldlie businesse, &c.
Canon 13.Let such men bee preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignities who will be actuallie resident with their people, and vndertake the cure of their soules, by doing the worke of the ministerie in their owne persons: otherwise let them depriue them of the office and benefice conferred to Rome, and hee who doth conferre them without these conditions, let him lose the right of conferring offices, and benefices.
Canon 14.Pluralitie of benefices is forbidden, as a vice smelling of auarice and ambition, and is perilous to the people whose soules are neglected by Pastours, attentiue to the world heaping vp riches, and not carefull to feed, the flocke of God. By this also many worthy men are ouer-seene, whose trauels might bee worthily bestowed in feeding the flocke of God. Moreouer some Laickes are bold without consent of Bishops to place and to displace Pastours, & to distribute Ecclesiastical liuings according to their pleasure And to burthen Church-men with exactions, and taxations whensoeuer they please. This forme of doing is ordained to be punished with excommunication. And he who receiueth a Church from a Laicke person, without his owne Bishops authoritie, is to be debarred from the communion, and in case he perseuere obstinatly in his sin, he is to be depriued of Ecclesiastical orders. Also Laicke persons who transfer the right of tythes to other Laicke persons, they who receiue thē, and deliver them not to the Church, shall want the honour of Christian buriall.
Church-men who hauehave accquired riches by Church-rents, howsoever they die,Canon 15. let their goods pertaine to the Church. Moreover because some Bishops are found in some parts who permit them, whom they call Decani, for a summe of money, to exercise Episcopall iurisdiction: it is ordained that hee who so doth, shall bee depriued from his office, and that the Bishop shall hauehave no power to conferre any such office.
Let not the votes of a few persons in the Church,Canon 16. hinder the ordination of them, who are thought meet by the most part to be ordained to Eclesiasticall offices.
If a question arise,Canon 17. concerning presentations of diverse persons to one Church, or concerning the gift of patronage: if the foresayd question bee not decided within the space of three moneths, the Bishop shal place in the Church the man whom he thinketh to be most worthy.
Seeing that the Church as a provident mother,Canon 18. should provide all things necessary for the soules and bodies of the people, left the poore and indigent parents, want the benefite of good education in learning. It is appointed and ordayned, that in every Cathedrall Church, a worthy benefice shall be bestowed vponupon a Schoole-master, to the end the teacher receiving a competent reward, for his travels, a patent doore may be opened to the increase of learning.
Diuers Churches are so heauily over-loadned with tribute and taxations by Consuls,Canon 19. Gouernours of townes, and Rulers of Provinces: that the estate of Bishops is worse, then was the estate of the Idolatrous Priests of Egypt, in the daies of Pharaoh;Gen. 47.22. for the Priests had an ordinarie of Pharaoh, and they did eate their ordinary which Pharaoh gaue them, wherefore they sold not their ground which Pharaoh gaue them. But now all charge of civill affaires are layd vponupon Gods Church: Therefore it is ordayned vnderunder paine of cursing, that Governours, and Rulers of Provinces, desist in time to come from such doing, except the Prelates vponupon consideration of the great necessitie of the countrey, would voluntarily consent to support the necessitie of the Laiques.
Canon 20.Seeing that Pope Innocentius the second, and Pope Eugenius the third, our predecessors of good memorie, condemned the spectacles on market-dayes, and holy-dayes, for ostentation of their valure and strength, skirmishing one against another in sight of the people, whereby it came to passe, that some were slaine, and their soules were in ieopardie. These spectacles are also damned by vsus, and if any person be slaine in them, let him want the honour of Christian buriall.
Canon 21.This containeth a commandement of superstitious observation of dayes.
Canon 22.Let no men presume to alter the ancient custome of exactions, without the authority and consent of Princes.
Canon 23.Persons diseased with leprosie, it is permitted to them, to hauehave their owne Church, and their owne Pastor.
Canon 24.They who furnish armour to the Saracens, who fight against Christians, or who take Christians prisoners who are busie in their lawfull callings, or who spoyle them who hauehave made ship wracke, let them be excommunicated.
Canon 25.Manifest vsurers shall be debarred from the communion: and if they repent not, they shall want the honor of Christian buriall, and no man shall receiue their offering.
Canon 26.Iewes and Saracens shall not be permitted to hauehave Christian servants in their houses, no not vnderunder pretence of education of their children. Also the testimony of a Christian against a Iew shall be admitted; and if any Iew through the mercy of God, be converted to the Christian religion, hee shall in no manner of way be secluded from his possessions.
Canon 27.In the last Canon, after a smooth preface, that Pope Leo said, Ecclesiastical discipline is content with a Priestly iudgment; but vseth not bloody revenges. Alwayes Pope Alexander in this Councell thought it lawfull, to borrow the power of secular Princes, to persecute those whom he called Heretiques in Gasconie, Tholuse, and other parts. These he calleth Cathari, Patrini, or Publicani, but out of question they were Valdenses, who being driven out of Lions, Pope Alexander would grant them no corner in the world to rest in: But meitated by his cruell edicts, all Princes, Nobles, Lords, Governours, to pursue them with fire and sword, and all kinde of hostility; promising to them who so doth, if they bee vnderunder Ecclesiasticall censure, indulgence, and relaxation of two yeeres, of the compleat time of their penance: and to those who doe zealously pursue them, such security in their persons and goods, as vseth to bee conferred to such persons as visite the holy graue, and are taken vnderunder the protection of the Church. Others of Aragon, Navarre, and other places, whom also hee calleth Heretiques, and who practised against Christians, all kinde of mercilesse in humanity, neither sparing sex nor age: I cannot vnderstand of what kinde of Heretiques he meaneth, for their heresie is not expressed.