History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 100-1300 · Century 11 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of POPES.
1. SYLVESTER the II. (before called Gerebert) had been a Monk in A Pope covenanteth with the Divel.Orleance, and made a contract with the Divel to advance him unto the Papacy. Thence he went to Hiſpala in Spain, where becoming a Doctour, he had amongſt his hearers Otho the III. Robert King of France, Lotharius a man of noble birth, afterwards Biſhop of Senon, and others. Robert gave him the Biſhoprick of Rhemes; the Emperour advanced him to Ravenna; laſtly, by great ambition, and aid of the Divel, he attained the Papacy, ſaith Platina and others. The Emperour, for favour of his Maſter, gave unto Saint Peter eight Counties, Piſa, Senogallia, Favum, Aucona, Foſſabrum, &c. Vſſer. de ſtat. Eccleſ. cap. 3. ex Gerber. Epi. 158. Benno Cardinal of Oſtia ſaith, When the 1000. years were expired, Gerebert coming out of the bottomleſs pit of God's perdition ſate 4. years; and as by the reſponſes of Satan he had deceived many, ſo by the ſame reſponſes he was deceived, and in the juſt judgment of God he was taken away by ſuddain death. What he ſaith briefly, Platina declares more fully, thus; Once Sylveſter asked the Divel, how long time he might injoy the Papacy? The anſwer was ambiguous, If thou go not to Jeruſalem, thou ſhalt never die. After four years and one month, he was ſaying Maſs in Lent, in a corner of the Rood-Church that was called Ieruſalem, within Rome; and he asked how that Chappel was called? They ſaid, Ieruſalem. Then he knew the time was come when he muſt die; wherefore he became ſad, and confeſſed his ſin before the people, and exhorted them to beware of ambition and craft of the Divel, and to live holily. Then he commanded them to cut his body into pieces, and lay it on a cart, and to bury it whereſoever the horſes of their own accord would draw it. The report is (ſaith Platin.) that by the Providence of God (whereby ſinners may learn the hope of forgiveneſs, if they repent in their life) the horſe ſtood at Lateran, and there he was buried; whereas yet (ſaith he) by the ratling of his bones, and moiſtneſs of his tomb, is portended the death of the Pope. It were a ſhame to relate theſe things, if they were not the words of their own Writers. Platina ſaith he had it from Mar. Polon. Vincentius Belluacenſis, Laurent. Schrader. in Monimen. Italiae lib. 2. and Galfrid. And the ſame is written by Pol. Vergil. de invent. rer. lib. 5. cap. 8. but he ſpeaks not of the Preſage. Naucler. had all in generat. 34. Onuphrius would purge him of this blot; and alledgeth that the knowledge of the Mathematicks, in theſe rude daies, was taken for Magick. But the words of the now-named Authours are more clear; it is certain (ſay they) that he attained to the moſt ſecret things of all Sciences, and eſpecially of the Mathematicks; but as quick wits can ſcarcely hold themſelves within bounds, he entred into Necromancy; and it is ſo thought by many Authours, not without great infamy; by which Necromancy he made way unto the Papacy. He was the firſt Pope who cauſed to beat the drum unto the Wars in the holy land, (as they ſpoke) and publiſhed an Epiſtle with this inſcription, Waſted Jeruſalem unto the Univerſal Church commanding the Scepters of Kings; Gerebert Epiſt. 18. but the expedition was not ſo ſoon begun. Of all the Popes from Sylveſter the II. unto Gregory the VII. incluſivè, Benno teſtifieth that they did exceed Jannes and Jambres in jugleries; although the height of Antichriſtian pride be referred unto Gregory the VII. and others after him. Io. Naucler. in volum. 2. generat. 31. faith, The Popes of that time had departed from the foot-ſteps of Peter.....and it is horrour to hear what vile things were done by almoſt 28. Popes immediately ſucceeding. After the death of Sylveſter (ſaith Benno) was ſtrife among his Necromancing Diſciples, each contending to uſurp the Papacy.
2. JOHN the XIX. (aliàs XVII.) by the help of the Divel (who then gave The election of the Pope is changed.the Papal Chair) followed the Sorcerer Sylveſter, ſaith Bale & Blond. He firſt did exclude the people of Rome from the election of the Pope, and ſo did reſtrain it unto the Clergy only: He was wont to ſay, The people muſt follow, and not precede. By him (as ſaith Faſcic. tempor.) the Feaſt of all Souls, The Feaſt of all Souls.next after the Feaſt of all Saints, was brought into the Church, An. 1004. by the advice of Odilo Abbot of Cluniak, who thought that Purgatory was under the Mount Aetna; and being in Sicily, dreamed that by his Maſſes he had delivered many ſouls from thence; and ſaid alſo, that he heard the voices of Divels lamenting for the loſs of the ſouls, which were taken from them by Maſſes and Dirges. M. Fox in Acts & mon. citeth Bakenthorp in Prolog. 4. li. ſenten. qu. 10. John ſate 5. months, and was poiſoned by his Clergy.
3. JOHN the XX. (aliàs XVIII.) by prodigious Arts attained the See of the Satanical Papacy. Benno. He conſidered into what difficulties his predeceſſours had intangled themſelves, and willingly took eaſe to himſelf; he died, not without ſuſpicion of poiſon, in the 4. year; Benno ſaith, within one year. The years of many of them are reckoned variouſly.
4. SERGIUS the IV. was a man of moſt holy life, before he was Pope, ſaith Naucler. and ſate 2. years: But Benno reckoneth him in the ſame category with the others, and ſaith he ſate 3. years; he died An. 1012. when Italy was waſted with famine and peſtilence.
5. BENEDICT the VIII. was a Hawk of the ſame neſt; the Cardinals conſpired againſt him, and ſet up another; he prevailed by the weight of his purſe, and had a good friend of the Emperour Henry the II; he ſate 11. years. After his death, he appeared unto Odilo riding on a black horſe. Odilo had Reaſons for Purgatory, and prayer for the dead.been familiar with him, but then he was afraid; and asked, Art thou Pope Benedict which is dead? He anſwered, I am that unhappy Benedict. O Father (ſaith the Abbot) how go all things with thee? He ſaid, I am tormented, but I may be helped; go therefore to my brother John, who now is in my place, and bid him give unto the poor the Treaſure which lieth hid in ſuch a place, and he named it. Then he appeared unto Pope John, ſaying; I have hope to be delivered; but oh! that Odilo of Cluniak would intercede for me! Platin. But Faſcic. temp. hath more of their diſcourſes. Behold with what deluſions Satan did then deceive the World, that he might eſtabliſh his Kingdom; and this is a ſure ground (forſooth) for the doctrine of Purgatory, and praier for the dead.
6. JOHN XXI. (aliàs XIX.) was the ſon of Gregory Biſhop of Portuen. and ſucceeded (as it were) heritably unto his brother; for he was not entred into Church Orders, ſaith Platin. Baronius ſaith, That unworthy man entred unworthily, and came into that Seat tyrannically and by evil means; for all things were then done at Rome by Enchanters and Necromancers, Theophylact, Io. Gratian, Laurence, Brazut, &c. Nevertheleſs (ſaith he) his life was wondrouſly approved by the Romans, but he ſhewed not his vertues; poſſibly he underſtands the yearly alms, which he injoined to Princes, and ſome Maſſes unto Prieſts, and faſting on Saturday unto people; and the Canonizing of Saint Romwald, and Saint Martial; and the Feaſts of John Baptiſt, and Saint Laurence, all theſe had their beginning from him. Nevertheleſs Baronius ſaith, That unworthy man is in the loweſt Purgatory; he ſate 8. years, and died in the 25 year after his Maſter Gerbert, ſaith Benno.
7. BENEDICT the IX. was made Pope, An. 1033. although he was not above 12. years of age; for Albericus Marqueſs of Tuſcia, would not ſuffer that Chair to be taken from his houſe; therefore by bribery he thruſt in his ſon, a Tyrant, a Monſter and Opprobry of the Church. Baron. ad An. 1033. §. 6. Car. Benno ſaith, He was given to Necromancy and doctrine of Divels; and he named his Maſters. In the woods and mountains he cauſed women to run after him, whom by Magical Arts he forced unto his wicked luſts. His own books (ſaith the Cardinal) that were found in his houſe, after his death, bear witneſs of his Arts, and it is notoriouſly known by every boy. Platina ſaith, He was thought unworthy of his place, and therefore he was depoſed. But Benno and others ſay, that he with Laurence and others his companions, had plotted to deprive Henry the III. and gave unto Peter King of Hungary the Title; as he ſent unto him a Crown with this verſe, Petra dedit Romani Petro, tibi Papa Coronam. Whereupon followed an open battel between Godefrid Duke of Lorain, General unto Henry the III. and the ſame Peter. In the firſt fight Peter was taken, and Henry made haſt towards Rome. The Pope was afraid, and ſold his Chair unto the above-named Io. Gratian (afterwards Gregory the VI.) for 1500. pounds of gold. As for his death, Platina ſaith, he was condemned by the judgment of God: Benno ſaith, he was ſtrangl…d by the Divels in the woods. Platina addeth, It is certain his Image appeared very monſtrouſly, he was like to a Boar in body, to an Aſs in head and tail; and the man who did ſee him was an Eremite, and did ask, how he had been ſo metamorphoſed? He anſwered, Becauſe in my life I lived like a Beaſt without law and reaſon, and without God, and now I muſt wander in this ſhape, at the will of God and of Saint Peter, whoſe See I have defiled. Faſcic. temp. This is a ſure proof to reverence Saint Peter's Chair. This Pope ſate 10. years; or 12. years, as Onuphrius; or 13. years, as Faſcic. temp.
8. GREGORY the VI. attained the See by money, (as it is ſaid) and not by election; nevertheleſs Gregory the VII. acknowledged him for Pope, becauſe he did confirm his Acts, and called himſelf the ſeventh of that name, and his ſucceſſours to the number now of fifteen. In his time were three Popes Three wicked Popes together.together, for Benedict ſeeing that the Clergy would not conſent unto his bargain, and ſo it was not like to take effect, did claim his former right; Gregory would not renounce his poſſeſſion. The Authour of Faſcic. tempor. ſaith, Becauſe Benedict was ignorant, he cauſed the conſecration of another Pope to ſay Maſs for him, which did not pleaſe many; therefore a third was choſen, who alone might diſcharge the duties of the two. This was Sylveſter the III. who had his Manour at Saint Maria Major, Benedict in the Lateran Palace, and Gregory at Saint Peters. Baronius ſaith plainly, Rome was at that time a beaſt with three heads, which came out of Hell. And therefore (ſaith Platin.) by the prayers of the beſt ſort, the Romans ſent for Henry the III. An. 1047. and an Eremite writ theſe lines, Imperator Henrice, Nupſit tribus maritis: Omnipotentis vice, Diſſolve connubium Vnica Sunamitis Et triforme dubium. Vſſer. de ſucceſſ. Eccleſ. cap. 4. ex Gregor. Heimburg. in Confutat. Primatus Papae, par. 3. The Emperour came into Italy, and (as Platin. ſaith) compelled theſe three moſt ugly Monſters to renounce their Papacies; and then was choſen Swidiger Biſhop of Bamberg, or Clemens the II. Benedict eſcaped by flight; Gregory and Hildebrand were ſent Priſoners into Germany (where the Pope died, and Hildebrand obtained liberty to return) and becauſe Sylveſter was made Pope without ambition, he was permitted to return into his Biſhoprick. Ph. Morn. in Myſter. iniqu. ex Leo Oſtien. c. writeth ſo, that for theſe things done ſo happily and ſo Canonically, the Romans gave unto this Henry the honour of Patriciatus, as of old unto Charls the Great, and with the Diadem of the Empire they ordained ſuch a Chain of Gold. Platina ſaith, this Gregory was killed in the Church of Saint Peter by the fall of a ſtone, and was buried there not without opinion of holineſs. But how doth this agree with what he and others have ſaid before. Onuphrius in Annotat. in Platin. expreſsly contradicts him, and ſaith, he died at Cluniak, whither he was ſent by the Emperour. Neither do they agree in the ſpace of his ſitting.
9. CLEMENS the II. being confirmed, a Synod was held; and an Act was made, that the Biſhop of Rome ſhould not be choſen without the knowledge and confirmation of the Emperour. This conſtitution was conform to ancient practice, and it was then judged neceſſary for tranquility in time coming; ſeeing (as Platina ſaith) every factious or potent man, yea even ſome of baſe degree, by corrupt ſuffrages attained to ſo high dignity. Nevertheleſs the Cardinals would not ſuffer it to ſtand but preſently did deſpiſe it by ſubtile and open practice. Likewiſe the Romans did ſwear, in the ſame Synod, that they ſhould not intermeddle with the election of the Biſhop, but as the aſſent of the Emperour ſhould concur. Nevertheleſs the Emperour was no ſooner gone, but contrary to their Oath and Act made thereupon, even within nine months, they poiſoned the Pope, which ſome impute unto his next ſucceſſour, Platin; and ſome unto Bruzate, who is ſaid to have poiſoned ſix Popes within 31. years. Car. Benno.
10. DAMASUS the II. ſtarteth up neither by conſent of the people nor Clergy; for every ambitious man then could climb into Saint Peter's Chair, ſaith Platin. But others ſay, when Clemens was poiſoned, they did ſet up Benedict again; and the Emperour cauſed this Damaſus to be ſet up, who was Biſhop of Brixia; hereunto Onuphrius ſeemed to agree, for in Annotat. in Platin. at Clemens II. he ſaith expreſsly, that the four next Popes were choſen by the authority of the Emperour, and proved it by inſtances. So Faſcic. tempor. ſaith, Henry the III. depoſed five Popes, and ſet up the ſixth. Damaſus eſcaped not Brazutus cup 35. daies. Now we come (ſaith Onuphr. loc. cit.) out of moſt obſcure darkneſs, and all things ſhall be more clear. Then was great contention at Rome for the Papal Seat; wherefore the Romans, by advice of the Cardinals, ſent unto the Emperour, deſiring to give them a Biſhop; who was Benno Count of Etiſheim, and Biſhop of Tullenſis, or Leo the IX. being verily an Aſs, ſince among the Biſhops of Germany none other would come amongſt the enchanters of Rome. Crantz. in Saxon. When he was coming in his Pontificals toward Rome, the Abbot of Cluniak met him; and he, with Hildebrand (which then had leave to return with the Pope) began to chide him for taking his authority from the Emperour, and not from the Clergy, as others had done before. The ſimple man was perſwaded to change his habit, whereby he conquered the conſent of others, and was elected.
11. LEO the IX. by perſwaſion of Hildebrand and Theophylact took up Arms, and went in perſon againſt the Normans prevailing in Sicily; and by theſe two, remaining alwaies with him, was betraied and delivered into the hands of Duke Giſulph, who ſaid unto him, Peter put up thy ſword; and ſo ſent him away well accompanied unto Rome. There he could not live peaceably, and ſo he went into Germany. Whileſt he was with the Emperour in The Pope is reſiſted by a Bishop.Worms on Chriſtmas day, Lambert the ſub-Deacon read the Epiſtle, after their own manner; the Pope ſent unto him, and commanded him to read in the Roman manner; Lambert would not change. Wherefore the Pope, with a loud voice, depoſed him from his Office, and commanded him to depart. Luithpold Arch Biſhop of Mentz, went from the Altar, and would not proceed untill the ſub-Deacon were reſtored; becauſe Worms was within his juriſdiction, and the man ſhould not be depoſed in his preſence without his conſent. The Pope reſtored him again, and ſo they went on. Crantz. in Saxon. lib. 4. cap. 45. commendeth the Pope for equanimity; and the Biſhop for maintaining his own juriſdiction. In a Synod at Mentz, was the Pope, the Emperour, and 130. Biſhops: It was ordained there, That no Clark ſhould follow Dogs or Hawks in hunting, nor deal in civil buſineſs: None ſhould be admitted a Monk till he came to perfect age, and by his free-will. Naucler. generat. 36. And Crantz. li cit. cap. 43. ſaith more, The Pope was Preſident; Sibico Biſhop of Spira was accuſed of adultry, and was purged by examination of the Sacrifice: And there alſo the hereſie of ſimony, and of Prieſts marriage was condemned. He returned unto Rome, and on a day (as Naucler. A lying miracle.writes) he ſaw a Leper at his gate, he commanded to take him in, and to lay him in his own bed; the next day when he ſent to viſit him, no man was there. Whereby they underſtood, that Chriſt was come to viſit the Holy Father. With ſuch lying miracles were they wont to deceive the World often; but for the moſt part I omit ſuch. When he had ſate 5. years, he was poiſoned by Brazut, An. 1054. Then the Romans, partly reverencing the authority of the Emperour, and partly judging none at Rome worthy of that honour, ſent Hildebrand in the name of the Clergy and People unto the Emperour, to give them a Biſhop. Ph. Mornay in Myſter. ex Sigon. de regn. Ital. lib. 8. but Platina ſaith only, They did ſo, leſt they might ſeem to attempt againſt their Oath. Car. Benno ſaith, Hildebrand did oft run from Rome unto the Emperour, and back again, without the advice of the Church; and if any other was named Pope with ſpeed, Brazut gave him a cup of poiſon.
12. VICTOR the II. was ſent. In a Synod at Florence he deprived many Prieſts, for that which they called ſimony and Nicolaitaniſm. He ſate 2. years, and was poiſoned.
13. STEPHEN the IX. was elected by the Clergy and People, not awaiting the Emperour's nomination, for he was young. Now this Pope accuſed the defunct Emperour Henry the III. of Hereſie, that he had diminiſhed the authority of the Church, or (if ye will have it more plainly) had reſtrained the pride of the Popes. But when he begun to ſpeak of ſeeking confirmation from the Emperour, the cup of Brazut was prepared for him. Then Hildebrand aſſembled the Cardinals, and cauſed them to ſwear, that they would chuſe no Pope without common conſent. So he took journy to the Biſhops of Florence to bring and inſtall him; and the Clergy ſwore, that they would not proceed in election before his returning. Nevertheleſs the Count of Tuſcany, by gifts and threatnings, did cauſe the people to chuſe his brother.
14. BENEDICT the X. a man altogether ignorant of Letters. Peter Damian Biſhop of Oſtia proteſted againſt the election, but they made no account of that. When Hildebrand returned with Gerard Biſhop of Florence, he cauſed the Clergy, according to their Oath, to proceed in a new election, ſeeing that Benedict was not Canonically called. The Clergy ſaw the friends of Benedict to have power at Rome, went to Sena, and there do chuſe Gerard or Nicolaus the II. Benedict conſidering that the moſt part of the Clergy were his adverſaries, retired to Velitra, and lived privately.
15. NICOLAUS the II. held a Synod at Sutrio, by the aid of Duke Godefrid and Italium Biſhops, and annulled the election of Pope Benedict. Then he went to Rome and held another Synod at Lateran, where a Decree was made; That if any by money or favour of men, whether of people or ſouldiers, without Canonical election of Cardinals, ſhall enter into the Throne of Saint Peter, he ſhall not be called Apoſtolical, but Apoſtatical; and it ſhall be lawfull for the Cardinals, Clergy and People, calling upon God, to accurſe him as a robber, and to thruſt him from his ſeat by any help of man. Gratian. diſt. 32. cap. Vnde Nicolaus. Here the election of the Pope is limited, and aſcribed unto the Cardinals; but (as Pol. Vergil. de invent. rer. lib. 4. cap. 10. hath obſerved) it was to be approved by other Prieſts, and by the people of Rome; and another might have been choſen who was not of that Colledge. But within a ſhort time both theſe were aboliſhed; for now (ſaith he) the Cardinals, without conſent of People or Prieſts, do chuſe only a Cardinal to be Pope, although there be no law for that. Some write, that Nicolaus gave the Dukedom of Pulia and Calabria unto Robert Guiſcard: But Platina ſaith, Robert defrauded his brothers ſon, and the Pope was offended for Godefrid's ſake; yet ſuffered him to injoy it, becauſe he gave a part of the Dukedom unto the Pope, and himſelf became Tributary unto the Church of Rome. After three years Nicolaus was poiſoned. The Lombards had been oppreſſed by him, and now were deſirous to have a Biſhop of their Country; therefore they ſent unto the Imperial Court for favour in the election; for the nomination of the Pope (ſaid they) appertained unto the Emperour. Then Agnes did ſend one, who was thought moſt fit: And ſo in a Synod at Baſil
16. HONORIUS the II. was elected. Hildebrand and the Cardinals Two Popes in Arms, and both are deprived.at Rome, ſet up ALEXANDER the II. They gathered Armies, and fought a bloody battel near Rome. Honorius was ſaid to have the worſe, and recruits his forces. The Emperour ſent an Embaſſadour Otho, or (as Platina calls him) Anno Biſhop of Colein, who ſharply expoſtulated with Alexander in a Synod at Rome, for taking ſo much upon him without the knowledge of the Emperour; and contrary to his Royal priviledge, as it had been acknowledged, for the moſt part, by his Predeceſſours. Hildebrand made the Apology for Alexander briefly. Otho taking more part with the Roman Clergy, did procure the cauſe to be referred to another Synod, to be held at Mantua, where Alexander had friends. He appeared; but Honorius ſent word, that the Maſter ſhould not be judged by his Diſciples; and would not come, unleſs he might be Moderator of the Councel. By the way obſerve this conteſt, Who ſhould be Moderatour in a Synod? Before this, if the Emperour had named a Preſident, there was no oppoſition; or when the Emperour winked, or was contemned, any Patriarch might moderate within his own Diocy. Otho anſwered in the name of the Synod, He being but one, ſhould ſubmit The Pope ſubject to a Synod.himſelf unto the Holy Oracle and Sentence of ſo many Fathers. Then Alexander, having no preſent competitour, was heard; and when he had ſworn that he had uſed no unlawfull means for obtaining the Papacy, he was confirmed. Car. Benno writes of him thus, When he underſtood the intention of Hildebrand, and others the Emperour's enemies, that they had ſet him up for a private reſpect of their own, he told them publickly he would ſit no longer in that place, (he was at Maſs) unleſs he had conſent from the Emperour. Wherefore Hildebrand was in ſuch rage, that he could ſcarcely hold his hands off him, till the Maſs was ended. Then, by force of Souldiers, he threw the Pope into a chamber, knocked him with his fiſts, and raileth at him that he would ſeek favour of the Emperour. Then was he thruſt into Priſon, and ſtinted to five ſhillings a day of the money of Luca, where he had been Biſhop; and Hildebrand turned all the reſt of Saint Peter's revenues to his own uſe. At this time Sueno, King of Denmark, made his Land Tributary unto the See of Rome; following the example of Caſimire, King of Denmark and Poland Tributary to Rome.Pole, in the daies of Benedict the IX. and paid yearly Peter-pence. Alexander died in priſon after 12. years.
17. GREGORY the VII. (aliàs Hildebrand) cauſed himſelf to be elected, the ſame day that the other died; contrary to a Decree, which ordained that the election ſhould not be before the third day; to the end, that the Clergy and Cardinals may be the more frequently aſſembled. After ten weeks he was confirmed by the Emperour, ſaith Platina; but not till the Emperour ſent a Count to challenge the Romans: And then Gregory ſaid, He was choſen indeed, but he had delaied his conſecration, untill he knew the King's pleaſure. And Car. Benno teſtifieth, that many of the Gardinals would not ſubſcribe unto his election. Becauſe he had been a Diſciple of Gregory the VI. in honour of his Maſter, he took his name, peſsimo Magiſtro pejor Diſcipulus, ſaith Benno. Aventin. Annal. lib. 5. reports, that an ancient and famous Writer, living at that time, when he comes to ſpeak of Hildebrand ſaith, We are come to factions, fraud and wickedneſs; it is dangerous to write truly, and it is a ſin to write falſely. Car. Benno relateth his enchantments and juggleries at large; and ſaith generally, When Satan could not perſecute Chriſt openly by Pagans, he plotted to turn religion topſie-torvy, by a falſe Monk, under ſhew of religion; but although Divine Providence ſuffereth ſuch things, yet the time of retribution is at hand. Bellarm. de Pontif. Rom. lib. 4. cap. 13. would purge him of theſe blots, ſaying; We have no Authour of that time, who accuſeth Gregory the VII. but one Benno; and he did not write ſo bitterly againſt him in truth, but only under the name of Pope Gregory, he would deſcribe a wicked Pope; or Benno is not the Authour of that book, but ſome Lutheran; and he alledgeth ten Authours of that time commending Hildebrand. The whole Hiſtory confuteth the firſt excuſe, and the other is convinced by the copies of Benno, more ancient then Luther; and by many Authours before Luther, who do cite Benno. Namely, Orthwin Gratius (who was not a Lutheran) in Epiſt. ad Lector. prefixed to the ſame book, ſaith; More credit is to be given unto Benno, then unto Platina or others who favour the Popes too much. And though his own faction commend him, it is no wonder; and they teſtifie of more then ten times ten others, writing againſt his impieties. It is enough for the Truth, that ſhe wanted not witneſſes, and Tyranny had contradiction at the riſing; yea and of the ſame ten, although one excuſe of one crime, yet he accuſeth him of another. Were they all Lutherans, whom Onuphrius in Annotat. in Platin. ad Grego. VII. reports to have called this Gregory a Necromancer, a ſimoniack, blood-thirſty, &c.? He was the firſt kindler of thoſe toilſom wars, Bellum Pontificium, between the Emperours and Popes, as followeth. Before that time there was ſome order in the Church, and Biſhops were ſubject unto Emperours, as Miltiades and Sylveſter unto Popes are ſubject unto Emperours.Conſtantine; Gregory unto Maurice; Leo unto Charls the Great. Chryſoſtom on Rom. 13. ſaith, The Apoſtle ſhe wing that theſe things [ſubjection, &c.] are commanded unto all, both Prieſts and Monks, and not to Seculars only, ſaith in the beginning, Let every ſoul be ſubject unto ſuperiour powers, although he be an Apoſtle or Evangeliſt or Prophet, or whoever he be; for this ſubjection overthrows not piety; and he ſaith not ſimply, be obedient, but be ſubject. Cumin Ventura, a late Popiſh Writer, in Theſaur. Politic. printed at Frankford, An. 1610. pag. 386. ſaith, The ancient Emperours received not their beginnings from the Popes: And in the next page, The Popes in time of the old Empire, were ſubject unto the Emperours, untill Lewis the Godly renounced his right, which renounciation was revoked by the Emperour, and renounced by a Synod in the daies of Pope Leo the VIII. And Onuphrius in vita Gregor. VII. ſaith, Although the Biſhops of old Rome were reverenced as the Vicars of Chriſt and Succeſſours of Peter, yet their authority reached not further then the teaching and maintaining of the faith; they were ſubject unto the Emperours, and were created by them, and in all things were at the beck of the Emperours, and a Pope durſt not judge nor diſcern any thing belonging unto them. Bellarm. de Laicis lib. 3. cap. 8. propounds and proves, that Kingdoms are given immediately by God unto wicked men, as Dan. 2. and that theſe Infidel Kings ſhould be obeyed, unleſs one will ſet himſelf againſt the Ordinance of God, in 1 Pet. 2. To this purpoſe he cites the teſtimony of Auguſtin. de Civ. Dei lib. 5. cap. 21. & 15. he ſaith expreſsly, All Kings and the State of Venice, and ſuch others, have none above them in temporalibus; otherwiſe they could not be called Heads of their Common-Wealths, but members only. But then Gregory the VII. the firſt of all Romiſh Biſhops, ſwelling with pride, and truſting in the ſtrength of the Normans, and The firſt Pope excommunicating an Emperour.to the riches of Mathildis; and ſeeing diſſenſion amongſt the Germans, durſt not only excommunicate Caeſar, but deprived him of his Kingdom alſo. A thing not heard in former ages, ſaith Otho Friſing. de gest. Frideri. lib. 1. cap. 1. So ſpeaks Onuphrius loc. cit. and addeth, For I account not the fables concerning Arcadius, Anaſtaſius and Leo Iconomachus. And Gotfrid. Viterb. in Chron. par. 17. ſaith, We read not that any Emperour, before this, was excommunicated by a Pope of Rome, or deprived of his Empire; unleſs that be called excommunication, when Philip the firſt Chriſtian Emperour, was for a ſhort ſpace ſet amongſt the Penitents; or that Theodoſius, &c. Aventin. in Annal. lib. 7. writeth, that Everhard Biſhop of Salsburg ſaid, Hildebrand under pretext of religion (170. years ſince) had laied the firſt foundation of Antichriſt; and he firſt began thoſe wicked wars, which untill this time have been continued by his Succeſſours. So Gregory the VII. did glory of himſelf, that he could bind and looſe in Heaven; and he could give and take away Kingdoms, Empires, and whatſoever men poſſeſs on earth. He could abide no equal, far leſs any Superiour, derogating from others their due right and honour, and arrogating all unto himſelf. After him the Emperours could have no intereſt in the election of the Pope, ſaith Ventura loc. cit. Likewiſe he kept Biſhops and all Prelates in aw, ſuſpending ſome, and chopping off the hands of others at his pleaſure; he releaſed Oaths of Allegiance; yea whatſoever he did, the Pope muſt be feared, as one who could do no wrong. In a Synod at Rome, he decreed it to be ſimony to accept any Biſhoprick, Abbocy, or Church-living from a Lay-man, were he King or Caeſar who gave it, and the receiver as well as the giver ſhould be excommunicated, Platin. By this means he ſevered Church-men from Princes, and tied them unto the Popes for ever; and the former cuſtom of the Church, in all ages, was then condemned; and the Decree of Pope Leo the VIII. was condemned; yea himſelf might by this Decree be depoſed. Henceforth whatſoever ambition any Pope once practiſeth, his Succeſſour will make it a rule. But one thing is above all wonders (ſaith Corn. Agrippa de vanit. ſcient. cap. 56. They think that they may go up to Heaven by this means, for which Lucifer was caſt down. He did forbid the Benedictine Monks to eat any fleſh at all; and permitted unto others, as weaker or more imperfect, to eat fleſh on ſome daies. In the year 1076. he publiſhed ſome Aphoriſms, with the Title Dictatus Papae; Dictatus Pope Greg. the VII.theſe are extracted by Spalaten. de Rep. Eccleſ. lib. 4. cap. 9. and are the Picture of his mind; The Roman Church was founded by the Lord alone; the Roman Biſhop is the only Univerſal Biſhop; [Gregory the I. behold thy Antichriſt] he only can ſet up and depoſe other Biſhops; he may depoſe and excommunicate abſents. [This was a warrant for his practiſe against the Emperour.] If any be excommunicated by the Pope, none may abide in one houſe with that perſon: He alone can make new Laws, erect new Congregations, unite or divide Benefices: All the Princes of the earth ought to kiſs his feet: His only name ſhould be heard in Churches: No Synod ſhould be without his commandment: No book is Canonical without his authority: All weighty cauſes, in whatſoever Church, ſhould be brought unto him: He may abſolve Subjects from their Allegiance: He may judge all men, but can be judged by no man: And all theſe, becauſe the Roman Church cannot erre; and the Pope, being Canonically elected, is by the merits of Saint Peter undoubtedly ſanctified; and there is but one name on earth, to wit, the Pope, &c. Mornay in Myſter. hath more of this kind. What more could Hildebrand ſay, to prove really in his perſon the fullfilling of theſe words, 2 Theſſ. 2. 4.? Only he omits this concluſion, Therefore I Gregory the VII. am the Antichriſt. But others did not fail; for many ſaid then (as Aventin. lib. 5. teſtifieth) Hildebrand is the Antichriſt; under the name of Chriſt, he doth the work of Antichriſt; he ſits in Babylon, in the Temple of God, and exalts himſelf as if he were a God; he vaunteth that he cannot erre; he deſtroied both peace and godlineſs, &c. He commanded a Faſt to be kept, with prayers that God would reveal whoſe opinion was truer, whether of the Church of Rome, or of Berengarius, in the controverſie of the Sacrament; he ſought a ſign to eſtabliſh his faith, but none was given. It is a wonder, that neither the Pope could with all his infallability determine the doubt, nor in that lying age ſome cogging miracle was not deviſed. Then he ſent two Cardinals, Alto and Cuno, unto Suppo Abbot of Saint Anaſtaſia, to keep a Faſt of three daies with his Monks, and on every day they ſhould ſing the whole Pſaltery, and the Maſſes for the ſame end; but ſo neither could they find any ſign. Gar. Benno. On the ſecond holy day of Eaſter-week, he, in a Sermon, ſaid, Never accept me for Pope, but pluck me from the Altar, if that falſe King [all underſtood that he ſpoke of the Emperour Henry] ſhall not die before the Feaſt of Saint Peter; or elſe ſhall be ſo dejected from his Kingdom, that he ſhall not be able to command ſix ſouldiers. This he ſpoke before the battel between Henry and Rodulph. But God preſerved the Emperour, and the time being expired, (ſaith Benno) he feared to be contemned according to his own words; and ſaid, that he meaned not of his body, but of his ſoul. Some ſaid, The Kings ſoul could not loſe all his ſouldiers to ſix. But Mattheus Pariſie; and Onuphrius in vita Gregor. VII. ſay, He prophecied truly of the falſe King, but he failed in the application; it was to be underſtood of Rodulph. Paul Bernutenſ. writ the life of this Pope in two books, and there ſaith of him thus: The Romans uſurp Divine honour; they will not render account of their doings, neither can they willingly hear it ſaid unto them, Why doeſt thou ſo? They hold that ſaying, Sic volo, ſic jubeo, my will is ſufficient reaſon, Io. Lampad. in Mellif. But his own words decipher him no worſe, (as they are rehearſed by Platina.) In the firſt depoſition of the Emperour he ſaid, Peter chief of the Apoſtles, I pray incline thy ears, and hear me thy ſervant, whom thou haſt brought up from my infancy, and untill this day thou haſt delivered from the hands of the wicked, which hate me for my faith in thee, and they have perſecuted me; thou art a ſufficient witneſs unto me, and the godly mother of Jeſus Chriſt, and thy pious brother Paul, who was pertaker of Martyrdom with thee, that I took not the Papacy of my own accord, but againſt my will; not that I thought it unlawfull or rapine to aſcend lawfully into thy Chair; but I would rather have paſſed my life in Pilgrimage, then to have come into thy Throne, which is ſo high for fame and glory: I confeſs therefore, that by thy grace, and not by my merits, hath the charge of the people been committed unto me; as alſo the power of binding and looſing: And ſo I truſting in this aſſurance, for the dignity of thy holy Church, in the name of the Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, I caſt Henry, the ſon of the deceaſed Henry the Emperour, from all Imperial and Princely adminiſtration, becauſe he hath too boldly and raſhly laied hands on thy Church; and I abſolve all Chriſtians, ſubject unto the Empire, from their Oath, whereby they are wont to give their fidelity unto their true Soveraigns; for it is juſt that he ſhould want all honour, who attempteth to diminiſh the Majeſty of the Church; yea and he hath contemned all my or rather thy commandments belonging unto his ſalvation, and the ſalvation of the people; and he hath ſevered himſelf from the Church, which he indeavoureth to lay waſt with ſeditions: Therefore I bind him with a curſe, the chain of a curſe; I, certainly knowing that thou art Peter; and on thy Rock, as a ſure foundation, Chriſt our King hath built his Church. Here many particulars may be obſerved in theſe words; and they give juſt occaſion to demand, Whoſe ſervant thought this Gregory himſelf to be? He ſaith to Peter, Me thy ſervant, thy ſeat, thy grace, thy commands? Why did he not derive his authority from Chriſt, if he was the Vicar of Chriſt? We read this Title in his words related by Platina; but he began not as yet to conciliate authority unto himſelf by this Title, neither did any Biſhop of Rome uſe it before him. The Jeſuit Azonius Inſtit. Moral. par. 2. lib. 5. cap. ult. writeth, that this Gregory in a Synod did ordain, that only the Biſhops of Rome ſhould be called Papa; although in former times it was common unto other Biſhops, as is certain (ſaith he) out of Cyprian and Ruffin; and we may adjoin the Epiſtles of Auguſtine and others. But Bellarm. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 4. cap. 3. ſaith, Chriſt praied in Luk. 22. for him, to whom he ſaid, Confirm thy brethren; but the Church hath no brethren whom ſhe may or ſhould confirm: Who I pray (ſaith he) can be feigned to be the brethren of the Church Univerſal? Are not Beleevers the children of the Church? After the ſame manner may we argue: Since none can be called the Brother of the Church, far leſs can they be called the Father or Spouſe of the Church. Gregory ſate 12. years, and died in exile, as is above related.
18. VICTOR the III. came next, without conſent of the Emperour, and ſhewed himſelf bold enough, untill he was poiſoned with the wine of the Maſs in the 16. month of his Papacy. Platin. Others ſay he died of a diſſentery. Both may be true, the one being the cauſe of the other. His ſhort life, and the miſerable ſucceſs of his Predeceſſour, did not teach his Succeſſours wiſedom; but as the Kings of Iſrael followed the ſteps of Jeroboam, rather then of David; ſo the moſt part of the Popes contemn the Imperial authority, and follow the pride of Hildebrand, rather then the good example of Chriſt or Peter.
19. URBAN the II. was ſet up by the ſame faction, Clemens the III. yet living, who was choſen with conſent of the Emperour. They did excommunicate and accurſe one another. Urban would releaſe none whom Gregory had accurſed; therefore fearing inſurrection, or (as Platin. ſaith) fearing the inconſtancy of the Romans, he crept out of the City, and dwelt at Amelphis; where he held a Synod, and another at Troy in Pulia, and the third in Placentia; in them all confirming the Decrees of his Maſter Gregory againſt the Emperour, and againſt married Prieſts, and ſtrengthning the Laws for the Papal authority. At laſt he was conſtrained to fly unto Claremount, where he aſſembled a Councel under pretence of conſulting for recovery of the Holy Land from the Turks, An. 1094. of which it follows. There he made many conſtitutions; as, The Church is pure in faith, and free from all Secular power: No Biſhop, Abbot or Clark ſhall accept any Eccleſiaſtical dignity from the hand of a Prince or any Laick: Whoſoever ſhall lay hands violently on, or apprehend, men of holy Orders, or their ſervants, ſhall be accurſed: Whoſoever ſhall marry within the ſeventh degree of kindred, ſhall be accurſed, &c. Matth. Pariſ. in Wilhel. 2. There alſo he renewed the excommunication againſt the Emperour, and againſt Pope Clement. So one Pope at Rome, and another Pope at Claremont had contrary Synods, curſing one another, burning one anothers Acts, and abjuring their Conſecrations, Baptiſms and Maſſes. Nations and Cities were divided, and ſome people, eſpying the pride and vices of both the Popes, did continue neutral; and learned, by lamentable experience, that a Church can be ruled without a Pope. When Popes and Biſhops were taken up with bloody wars, and tyrannical uſurpations of Secular power, what could the Sheep learn from ſuch Paſtours? Urban did ordain, that theſe words ſhould be propounded unto all Intrants at their admiſſion, Wittingly and willingly I ſhall not communicate with them who are excommunicated by the Church of Rome: likewiſe I ſhall not be preſent at the conſecrations of them who accept Biſhopricks or Abbeys from Laicks; ſo may God help, and theſe holy Evangeliſts, as I ſhall never change from this ſentence, Platin. He did confirm the hours and Matins of Saint Mary, ſaith Hec. Boet. lib. 12. cap. 12. And the Officium to be ſolemnly read on the Sabbath-day, ſaith Faſcic. tempor. Pol. Vergil. de invent. rer. lib. 6. cap. 2. ſaith, As Pelagius the II. ordained the Prieſts to keep the ſeven Canonical hours, as a preſent remedy of mens weakneſs, who fall ſeven times a day; ſo Urban the II. ordained, that ſo many hours ſhould be kept to the honour of the Virgin. The Arch-Biſhop of Toledo covenanted with this Urban, that he ſhould make him Primat of Spain; and therefore the other ſhould indeavour to make all Spain Tributary unto Rome. Before that time the Church of Spain was not ſubject unto Rome, neither do we read of any Spaniſh Cardinals at Rome. The Order of Ciſterſian and Carthuſian Monks were about that time deviſed in Burgundy, and confirmed by Urban. After the Councel at Claremont he returned into Rome; but with ſuch authority, that he was glad to lurk in the houſe of a Citizen Peter Leo, the ſpace of 2. years, and died there in the 13. year of his Papacy, and the year of our Lord 1099. To move the more men unto the expedition againſt the Turks and Sarazens, he deviſed the firſt proclamation of indulgences, or the full remiſſion of all ſins, unto all that would go thither, to deliver that holy Land, (as he ſaid) and the Sepulchre of Chriſt our Saviour, from the power of the Mahumetans. His Succeſſours following this his example (as it is eaſie to add unto things that are once deviſed) did inlarge theſe indulgences; to the benefit not only of them who went thither, but unto every one, which though they went not, yet would contribute for the maintaining of Souldiers in that expedition. Upon this account great ſums of money were brought unto the Pope. Thereafter theſe Indulgences were proclaimed unto all which would contribute unto the Wars, againſt thoſe which were called enemies of the Roman Church, though they were Chriſtians. Under theſe colours vaſt ſums were gathered from time to time, although many times the money was imploied another way, as followeth; and God (who brings light out of darkneſs) made the ſame indulgences to be the occaſion of Reformation.