History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 100-1300 · Century 11 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of EMPEROURS.
OF this Age it is to be premitted generally, that (as The ſum of this f…urth Age.Car. Baron. ad An. 1001. §. 1 & 4. ſaith) at that time the revelation of Antichriſt was proclaimed in France, preached in Paris, publiſhed thorow the world, and beleeved by many. He confirmed this by the teſtimony of Abbo Floriacen, who in Apologet. ad Hugo & Robert. ſaith, When I was a young man I heard a Sermon, in a Church at Paris, concerning the end of the world, that ſo ſoon as the thouſand years are expired, Antichriſt ſhall come; and not long after the general judgement ſhall follow. Wherefore Vſſer de ſtatu & ſucceſſ. Eccleſ. cap. 3. advertiſeth his Reader, that now he ſhall ſee the Popes exalted by pretext of religion, and government of the Church; now they will wring all Civil government from Emperours and Princes, and they will ſit as Monarchs; now they give Laws concerning Civil things; they do raiſe ſeditions, and depoſe Princes; now they lead Armies, and impoſe Taxes; now they have no care of religion, unleſs ſome witneſs of the Truth dare open his mouth againſt the waxing errours; or unleſs ſome ceremonies ſerve for advancing the Papal grandure, or ſeem expedient to draw money unto their See; as will be manifeſt eſpecially after the year 1070.
2. HENRY the II. Duke of Bavier, and Nephew of Otho the I. was choſen Bishops are States-men.Emperour by the Princes Electours, according to their new authority, An. 1002. This was the firſt time that Bishops had a voice in the election of the Emperour; and hence it came that they ſit in the Imperial Diet; and in ſome other Nations Bishops are Parliamentary Lords. Henry was ſo diſtracted with wars againſt Robert King of France; and then againſt Bodiſlaus King of Bohemia, for the ſpace of 10. years, that he could not go to Rome. After his Coronation there, he conquered Calabria and Pulia unto the Empire, from the Caliſti; that is, the Deputies of the Greek Empire. Shortly thereafter the Normans entred into Pulia, and were partners with the Greeks againſt the Germans, and thereafter became Lords of both Sicilies. Henry gave his ſiſter in marriage unto Stephen King of Hungary, on condition that he would be a Chriſtian. He held a Synod at Frankford; of which Dithmar. lib. 6. and after him Ph. Mornay in Myſter. ſay, A general Synod is aſſembled at Frankford, and viſited by all the Bishops on this ſide of the Alps; Willegiſus was Moderator, and no word of the Pope. In the year 1024. Henry fell ſick, and intreated the Electours, that they would chuſe Conrade Duke of Suevia or Franconia to be his Succeſſour. The two brothers Baſilius and Conſtantine, had now reigned 50. years together; but Baſilius was the worthier, and had the greateſt ſway, and died three years before Conſtantine, who then did reign vitiouſly; and before his death, he ordained his ſon-in-law Romanus Argyropolus to be his Succeſſour.
3. CONRADE the II. was pronepnoy of Conrade the I. He was called Emperour, and was not choſen for two years thereafter, becauſe of diſcord among the Electours, and then were ſundry Competitours; as Conon Uncle of the late Henry. And many did claim liberty upon occaſion of the interreign. He calmed all theſe troubles by his prudence, and without blood-ſhed. He went into Italy with a great Army, and ſubdued Millain; and at Rome was Crowned by Pope John the XXI. with great applauſe of the people. When he returned into Germany, he was neceſſitated to go back into Italy, becauſe ſeveral Cities did revolt; he inflicted ſevere puniſhments on the offenders; and arriving at Rome, he releeved Pope Benedict, as followeth. Then he did viſit all the Lands of Italy, belonging unto the Empire or Church, without reſiſtance, and returned with Triumph into Germany; where he thought to live in Peace, but within few daies he died, An. 1040. Romanus proved a moſt valiant Prince at firſt, but following the waies of covetouſneſs he was hated; in the ſixth year of his Reign his wife Zoë procured his death, that ſhe might marry Michael Calaphatus; he ruled the Empire 7. years, and defended it valiantly againſt the Sarazens in Aſia, in Syria, and on the frontiers of Phoenicia. After him Zoë married a fourth husband, Conſtantine Monomachus; he was a vitious man, and the Sarazens prevailed in Aſia the leſs. After him, and the death of Zoë, her ſiſter Theodora reigned two years ſo happily, that great lamentation was for her death. After her, within three years were three Emperours; to wit, Theodora had named an old man Michael Stratiotes; Iſaac Comnenus rebelled againſt him, and the people receive him; but he was taken away by death, and when he was ſick he named Conſtantine Duca.
4. HENRY the III. (called The Black) was choſen Succeſſour to his father, not without difficulty; for the Pope and ſome Electors did alledge, it is dangerous if the ſon did ſucceed unto his father, but they yeeld for his valour. He purchaſed great honour in ſubduing the King of Bohemia, the Duke of Lorain; and in reſtoring Peter King of Hungary, againſt an uſurper Andrew. In his time were many Popes of no authority, and their lands were taken by others, without reſiſtance. Henry had wars with Henry King of France, to him the Emperour preſented to decide the controverſie hand to hand, that no more innocent blood might be ſpilt; at a parley they do agree. In the end of his Reign God ſent on the earth, for the ſins of men, famine, ſword and peſtilence. The Emperour through heavineſs contracts ſickneſs, and cauſed the Electours to ſwear unto his ſon (not yet baptized) as King of the Romans; and he died An. 1057. In Greece Conſtantine was ſo hated for covetouſneſs, that the Subjects would not make reſiſtance againſt the Infidels, conquering many Towns in Aſia, he died in his 7. year. His ſons were young, and the Empreſs Eudocia took upon her the government. Becauſe the Infidels prevailed, the Princes cauſed her to take Romanus Diogenes for her husband; he proclaimed himſelf Emperour, and went againſt the Sarazens, and after divers chances was taken, An. 1072. Axan the Sultan laid him at the foot of his Throne, and ſtepped up and down upon his body; and thereafter ſent him home with promiſes of mutual alliance between their children. The Greeks judge him unworthy of the Empire, and Crowned Michael ſon of Duca. He picked out the eys of Diogenes, and made him a Monk. The Turks ſtill do prevail in the Eaſtern parts of the Empire; therefore Michael was depoſed in the 7. year, and Nicephorus (an old man) was choſen. Alexius Comnenus, Michael's brother, thruſt him forth, and reigned 27. years.
5. HENRY the IV. was choſen ſucceſſour to his father; becauſe he was ſo young, and there was peace in the Empire, the government was committed unto his mother Agnes by conſent. But the Princes began to be weary of a How to deal with the Popes.womans government, and would have him to take the power into his own hand, while he was but young, and then all was done as the Princes would; but when he came to riper years, he ranverſed many of their deeds. Vita Henr. in faſcic. rer. On the other ſide they were offended, and began rebellious attempts, ſo that he was forced to take up Arms, and eſpecially againſt the Saxons. He was neither unlearned nor peeviſh; yet had ſo bad luck, that whoſoever took up Arms againſt him, was thought to do religiouſly, Guil. Malmsb. de geſt. Angl. lib. 3. He was given to venery; but otherwiſe was wife, religious, eloquent, liberal to the poor, and would not willingly be ſubject unto any power. He had continual jars and wars with the Popes, through the wicked pride of Hildebrand. By the way Princes may learn how to deal with the Popes; he that ſtands in aw of their curſe, ſhall be a ſlave to their 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 …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, a diſturber of the Chriſtian Empire, a ſower of diſcord where peace was, a moſt wicked man, calling into queſtion the Catholick faith, a Necromancer, infected with a Pythonical ſpirit, &c. For which crimes they declare him unworthy of the Roman See, and unleſs he willingly leave the place, they threaten him with an everlaſting curſe; and they choſe Gerebert (or Wusbert) Biſhop of Ravenna to govern the Church, him they call Clemens the III. Otho Friſing. and Pet. Mexia. But think you that the Pope would obey? No way. Wherefore the Emperour made all ſpeed with an Army towards Rome. Mathildis hearing of his marching, and fearing his power, gave the Provinces of Liguria and Tuſcia unto the Church of Rome. Bellarm. de Rom. Pont. lib. 5. cap. 9. In the way the Emperour ſubdued her Lands, and the Lands of the Marqueſs Eſten, and thereafter he came to Rome; where An. Another Synod againſt the Pope.1083. thirty Biſhops aſſembled in Councel, and conclude againſt Gregory, as they had done at Brixia, and did ſubſcribe the Decree. The Romans ſtood up ſo long as the Pope abode with them; but when he had brought them into the extreameſt jeopardy, he fled into Adrian's Tower; and then the Gates of the City were ſet open, but the Emperour would not enter, untill a way was made for his Army thorow the Walls, and Pope Clement was received into Saint Peters. Gregory ſent for Robert Guiſcard the Norman, Duke of Naples for aid, and unto Mathildis, but all in vain. So he was glad to eſcape into Salerno, where he died in exile; and (as may be read in Faſcic. rer. expetend. and in Matth. Pariſ. and ſundry others) when he was ſick, before his Cardinals, he bewailed his fault in his Paſtoral charge; and that by inſtinct of the Divel he had ſtirred up ſedition and wars among men. Benno teſtifieth, that he ſent this his Confeſſion unto the Emperour, and unto all the Church, intreating that they would pray for pardon of his ſins. After his death, and the death of them whom the Emperour had left Governours of the City, the Romans ſet up Pope Urban the II. who inſiſting in the trace of his Predeceſſour, did perſwade the Emperour's eldeſt ſon Conrade (the Father had left him Governour of Italy) to take up Arms againſt his father; and gave him in marriage Mathildis, then the relict of the Duke of Naples. He put Clemens from his Seat; but when his father came againſt him, Conrade was out-lawed with conſent of all the Princes, and the younger brother was declared heir of the Empire; but firſt with an Oath given, that during his fathers life, he ſhould not meddle with the Kingly power, without his fathers conſent. Faſcic. rer. Now many feared inteſtine Wars between the two brothers; but Conrade died ſoon thereafter, and Urban was made out of the way, and the fore-named faction ſet up Paſchalis the II. He would be inferiour unto the others in nothing, and excommunicated the Emperour, and dealt with his ſon (though by nature and ſolemn Oath bound to the contrary) to take the Scepter in his hand, and bear himſelf as King, rather then both his father and himſelf be diſpoſſeſſed, and ſuffer hazard by another. The young man was inticed, and The Son circumvenes the Father.the Pope cauſed the Princes to elect Henry the V. Armies were levied by both parties, and ſome skirmiſhes follow, but the Father had the better; yet ſeeing there could be no end of the Wars without ruining the Empire, he conſented unto a parley with his ſon, who was adviſed to deceive his father by this means; he came to him with feigned repentance, the Father welcomed him as the Prodigal in the Goſpel, and diſmiſſed the greateſt part of his Army; whereas his enemies gather at Mentz, and appoint Binga for him to keep Chriſtmas. So ſoon as he was entred the City, himſelf being the fourth perſon, the gates were ſhut, and all others were held out. Then the ſon ſpoke fairly unto his father, and promiſed all duty if the father would reconcile himſelf unto the Church. The Father referred the whole matter unto the Diet of the Princes, and they went together unto Mentz. There at firſt the ſon ſaid unto his Father, Seeing the Biſhops would admit no communion with him, he would do well, for peace ſake, to retire unto ſuch a houſe near unto the place of the Diet; and if he had refuſed, he was able to force him. But the Father doth it willingly, and then the ſon kept him as in cloſe priſon, permitting none to ſpeak with him, but his accuſtomed ſervants; and he freely exerced the Imperial power untill the year 1106. In that Diet the Biſhops of Alba and Conſtance, the Pope's Legates, ſpoke much againſt Henry the IV. for his ſimony, and contumacy againſt the ſentences of ſo many Popes; and exhorted them all, as obedient children, to provide for the ſafety of their mother the Church, by breaking the pride of one, a contumacious perſon. They all do conſent to the depoſition of the Emperour, and they ſent the Biſhops of Mentz, Colein and Worms, to take the Imperial Ornaments from him againſt his will. They declared unto him the ſentence of the Diet. Henry asked, For what cauſe had the Princes pronounced ſo ſevere Sentence againſt him, before he was heard? They anſwer, For ſimony, in beſtowing Biſhopricks and Abbocies. He ſaith unto them one by one, you Biſhop of Mentz, and you Biſhop of Colein, What have I got from you? They anſwer, Nothing. Then, ſaith the Emperour, I thank God, that in ſo far ye are honeſt men; truly your Biſhopricks might have brought much treaſure into my Exchequer, if I had ſought it; and my Lord of Worms knows, neither is any of you ignorant, whether I did advance you for gain, or of meer favour; wherefore I ſay unto you, Fathers, continue in loyalty, I am now an old man, and turn not Our glory into ſhame: I appeal unto the general Court, and if I muſt yeeld, I will give the Crown unto my ſon with my own hands. They refuſe, and ſpeak menacingly. Then he went aſide, and arayed himſelf with the Imperial Robes; and returning ſaith, Theſe are the badges of my honour; theſe hath the goodneſs of the eternal King, and the election of the Princes beſtowed on me; and God is able to continue me in them, and to reſtrain your hands from what you intend; and We did not fear ſuch violence, nor have provided againſt it; but if duty move you not, ſtand in aw of God; and if ye do not regard duty, nor fear of God, here We are and unable to reſiſt violence. The Biſhops were aſtoniſhed, yet after a little pauſe they exhort one another; they take the Crown off his head, then draw him from his ſeat, and pull off all his Royal Robes. This was a Paſtoral work. The Emperour with deep groans ſaith, The God of revenge look to it, and avenge this iniquity of yours; the like ignominy was never heard before: I confeſs God is juſt, and I ſuffer for the ſins of my youth, but ye are not guiltleſs; and becauſe ye do contrary unto your Oath, ye ſhall not eſcape the hand of the juſt avenger, and your portion ſhall be with him who betraied his Maſter. They ſtopped their ears, and departed with the Royal Ornaments. Alb. Crantz. in Saxon. lib. 5. cap. 20. ſaith, Some report theſe circumſtances another way. Thereafter they ſent him as Priſoner to Ingelheim, where he was advertiſed that they were talking of cutting off his head; wherefore he made an eſcape, and went to Leodium, (as appears in Epiſt. Henrici Regi Celtar. in Faſcic. rer. expet. There he was entertained honourably by the Biſhop; and therefore the Biſhop Otbert, with all his Church, was excommunicated by Pope Paſchalis; who writ alſo unto Robert Earl of Flanders, to purſue Henry with all his followers; aſſuring him, that he could not offer better ſacrifice unto God. Epiſt. Paſchalis tom. 2. Concil. Edit. Colon. An. 1551. Otbert was not ſilent, and in the name of the Church of Leodium publiſhed an Apology; wherein he ſaith, It were Apoſtolical to follow the Apoſtle, as it were Prophetical to follow a Prophet; but as our ſins deſerve, the Apoſtolical (who ſhould pray for the King, howbeit a ſinner, that we may live a quiet and Apoſtolical life under him) is ſo contentious, that he will not ſuffer us to live in peace: Seeing the words both of the Apoſtle and Prophet do ſo ſound, I the daughter, do humbly ask my mother, the holy Church of Rome, Whence comes this authority unto him who is called Apoſtolical, that beſides the ſword of the ſpirit, he uſeth another ſword of blood againſt her Subjects? Then he ſhews how far this Pope hath departed from the ſteps of Gregory the I. both in life and doctrine. This Apology is loc. cit. Alſo the Emperour writ unto his ſon, unto the Biſhops, Dukes, and other Potentates of the Empire, that they would ceaſe from purſuing him and his friends againſt all equity and piety; and at ſeveral times he appealed unto the Pope, as is evident by his Letters in Faſcic. rer. expetend. But Apologies, Supplications, and Appeals had no place; ſo that in the end the old Emperour was brought to the neceſſity of begging a prebendary, from the Biſhop of Spira; although he had preferred the Biſhop unto that See, and had erected a glorious Monaſtery of the bleſſed Virgin there, he could not obtain ſo much. So he returned privately unto Leodium and died; his body lay unburied in an old deſerted Chappel five years, and then was buried at Spira. He had fought 62 battels, and was never foiled; he died An. 1107. Alb. Crantz. writes much to excuſe the Son and the Popes, and bitterly againſt the Father; yet he hath no particular fault againſt him, but (as he ſpeaks) ſimony and contumacy. Of the Eaſtern Emperours it follows in Henry the V.