Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations, History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (4 of 15)

Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations · History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (4 of 15)

p. 155The 9. Council of Toledo, Anno 665Anno 655. with the 10th. 566. and the Council of Emeritan, Surius Concil▪ Tom: 2. p. 86… 869, 870.Anno 666. were all ſummoned by this King Receſſuinthus his command; who preſcribed what they ſhould decree, ratified their Canons, enjoyed their ſpecial praiſes and prayers to God, Obſecrantes ejus miſericordiam largam, ut ſereniſſimo noſtro & amabili Christo Receſſuintho Principi glorioſo, ita praeſentis vitae felicitatem impendat, ut Angelicae beatitudinis gloriam post longaeva tempora concederet; Enacting, that every one who attempted any thing contra ſalutem Principum, gentiſ que aut patriam, violated his Oaths of allegiance to them, mox propria dignitate privatus, & loco & honore habeatur excluſus; reſerving only a power and liberty to the King to reſtore him to his place or honor, or both, if he ſaw cauſe. And the 1.**Surius Concil: Tom. 2. p. 874. Council of Cabellon in France (ſummoned about the ſame year (656) ex evocatione & ordinatione glorioſi Domini Clodovei Regis, pro zelo religionis, vel orthodoxae Fidei dilectione, & to reform what was amiſſe or wanting in the Church) made the like prayers for him.

The **Surius Concil: Tom: 2. p. 372. Bochellus Decreta Eccleſ: Gall. l. 5. Tit: 20. c. 17. p. 901.Biſhops aſſembled in Aurelianenſi Concilio 1. ſummoned by K. Clodoveus the 1. An. 500. when they had concluded and drawn up 33. Canons upon particular heads, Anno 500.recommended to them by this King, ſent and ſubmitted them to his Majeſty with this preface. Domino ſuo Catholicae Eccleſiae filio Clodoveo Glorioſiſſ. Regi, omnes Sacerdotes quos ad Concilium venire juſſiſtis. Quia tanta ad Religionis Catholicae cultum glorioſae fidei cura vos excitat, ut Sacerdotalis mentis affectu Sacerdotes de rebus neceſſariis tractaturos in unum colligi juſſeritis, ſecundum veſtrae voluntatis conſultationem et titulos quos dediſtis, ea quae nobis viſa ſunt definitione reſpondimus, ita ut ſi ea, quae nos ſtatuimus, etiam veſtro recta eſſe judicio comprobantur, tanti conſenſus Regis ac Domini Majori authoritate ſervanda, tantorum firmet ſententia ſacerdotum. Their Canons being all ſubjected to his will, to alter, reject or ratify them according to his royal pleaſure, without whoſe authority they were invalid.

The 11. Council of Toledo was convened, Anno 675Excellentiſſimo & religioſiſſimi Vuambani principis praecepto; **Surius, Tom. 2. p. 880, 887.Cujus providae ſolicitudinis voto, et lur Conciliorum renovata reſplenduit, & alterna charitas ſe mutuo in corrigendis, et inſtruendis moribus, excitavit; dum & aggregandi nobis hortatu Principis glorioſi facultas data eſt, et opportuna corrigendis praeparata eſt diſciplina. They cloze up their Canons and Synod with their thanks, and this prayer for him: Poſt haec religioſo Domino & amabili Principi noſtro Vuambano, Regi, gratiarum actiones perſolvimus, cujus etiam ſtudio aggregati ſumus. Qui Eccleſiaſticae diſciplinae noſtris ſeculis novus reparator occurrens, omiſſos Conciliorum ordines non ſolum reſtaurare intendit, ſed etiam annuis recurſibus celebrandos inſtituit, ut ad alternam morum correctionem annuo tempore alacriter concurrentes; juxta Prophetae vaticinium, quod in nobis defractum est, alligetur, & quod abjectum eſt, reducatur. Det ergo eidem Principi Dominus pro hujus ſacrae ſollicitudinis voto, & curſum praeſentis vitae in pace tranſire; et poſt diuturna tempora ad ſe in pace remiſſis iniquitatibus pervenire, qualiter & felicia tempora ducat, & felix cum omnibus quibus principatur ad Chriſtum ſine confuſione perveniat; ut quia per eum corona noſtri ordinis in melius reſtauratur, coronam futuri regni capiat, ex hoc in regione vivorum regnans cum Chriſto in ſecula ſeculorum, Amen.

The 3. Council of Bracara,Anno ibid. ſummoned the ſame year by this King Vuambanus, concludes with theſe thanks to God, **Surius, Tom. 2. p. 891.him, & prayer for him; Gratias ita que Omnipotenti Deo peragimus; poſthaec ſit pax, ſalus & diuturnitas piiſſimo, & amatori Chriſti Domino noſtro Vuambano Regi, cujus devotio nos ad hoc decretum ſalutiferum convocavit; divinam poſtulantes clementiam, ut gloria Chriſti regnum ejus corroboret uſque ad ultimam ſenectutem, praeſtante ipſo qui cum Patre & Spiritu ſancto vivit, & gloriatur in Trinitate Deus in ſecula ſeculorum, Amen.

p. 156It is evident by Fredericus Lindebrogus his Codex Legum Antiquarum, Legis Wiſigothorum, lib. 1, 2. & Lex Burgundiorum, Lex Bohemorum, & Lex Longobardorum; that theſe Councils of Toledo forecited, and thoſe under Chilperick and other Kings of France and Italy, were in nature of parliaments; wherein theſe Kings made and promulged Eccleſiaſtical Lawes, intermixed with their Temporal, by the advice and aſſiſtance Principum, Ducum, Optimatum & Primatum conſulente multitudine; as well as of their Biſhops and Clergy, who only did what they preſcribed and directed them.Anno 676

The 6. General Council of Conſtantinople was convened by the religious Emperor Flavius Conſtantinus Pogonatus,aaSurius Concil. Tom: 2. p. 899, to 906. Cent. Magd. 7. …. 9. who ſummoned Donus then Biſhop of Rome to come to this Council, as well as George Archbiſhop of Conſtantinople, whom he ſtiles in his ſummons, or Divalis ſacra, univerſalis Patriarcha, as well as Donus Archbiſhop of old Rome, & Ʋniverſalis Papa: Which ſummons, by reaſon of Donus his death before the Council, was delivered to his Succeſſor Pope Agatho, who ſent two Delegates in obedience to the Emperors command, to this Council; wherein the Emperor himſelf ſate Preſident, with many of his Great Officers and Nobles, as the Acts of this Council record. The 1. Action or Seſsion begins thus. **Surius, p. 902.In nomine Domini Dei & Salvatoris Jeſu Chriſti, imperantibus a Deo coſonatis et Sereniſsimis noſtris Dominis Flaviis, Conſtantino quidem piiſsimo, et a Deo decreto Magno Principe, perpetuo Auguſto et Imperatore anno 27. et poſt conſulatum ejus a Deo inſtitutae manſuetudinis anno 13. die 7. menſis Novembris indictione nona, PRAESIDENTE IIDEM PIISSIMO & CHRISTO DILECTO MAGNO IMPERATORE CONSTANTINO, in ſecretario ſacri Palatii, quod cognominatur Trullus; et ex juſsione ejus a Deo inſtructae ſerenitatis, praeſentibus et audientibus Niceta glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & magiſtro Imperialium officiorum, Theodoro glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & Comite Imperialis obſequii, & Subſtratega Thraciae, Sergio glorioſo exconſule Patrici…, Paulo glorioſo exconſule Patricio, Juliano glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & militari logotheta, Conſtantino glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & Curatore Imperialis domus Hormiſdae, Anaſtaſio glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & locum agente Imperialis comitis excubiti, Joanne glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & dispoſitore Orientalium provinciarum, Petro glorioſo exconſule, Leontio glorioſo exconſule & domeſtico imperialis menſae; (all named, placed before the Popes Delegates, the Patriarch of Conſtantinople, and all other Patriarchs, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, throughout all the Acts of this Council.) The Council being ſate, Theodorus and Georgius Presbyters, and John the Deacon, repreſenting Pope Agatho his perſon and his whole Synod at Rome, as their Proctors, ſpake thus to the Emperor; Benigniſsime Domine, ſecundum directam ſacram a Deo inſtructa veſtra fortitudine ad ſanct:bbSurius Concil: Tom. 2. p. 902, 904, 908, 928, 930, 944, 945, 947, 966, 967, 980, to 988, 990, to 994, 998, to 1013. 1016, to 1030. Papam, demandati ſumus ad piiſsima veſtigia a Deo confirmatae veſtrae Serenitatis, una cum ejus ſuggeſtione, necnon et cum altera ejus Synodica ſuggeſtione adaeque facta, &c. quas et obtulimus a Deo coronatae fortitudini veſtrae, &c. After which Conſtantinus piiſsimus Imperator, dixit, (ſeveral times repeated) directing as Preſident what ſhould be done and read, throughout the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. and all other Actions and Seſſions; which as they begin in like form as the firſt, Preſidente Piiſsimo Imperatore, So this Emperor ordered all the proceedings in them, as Supreme Judge and Moderator, throughout the Council, and Paulus magnificus à Senatis, & Imperialis Secretarius, regiſtred all the proceedings, minding them every Seſsions what they had done, where they left off, and how they ſhould proceed, as Piiſſimus Imperator dixit, Sufficiunt quae & hodierna die relecta ſunt, reliqua verò in ſequenti Secretario relegantur. Monuit veſtra pietas & haec Sancta Synodus; Sufficiunt quae hodierno die acta ſunt, Glorioſiſsimi Judices dixerunt, &c. Conſtantinus Imperator dixit, Edicat Sanctum & Ʋniverſale Concilium; ſi cum conſenſu omnium Epiſcoporum promulgata eſt, definita, &c. evidence. In the ccSurius Tom. 2. p. 908, to 928.4th Action, Pope Agathoes p. 157Delegates humbly moved the Emperor, that his and the Synod of Romes Suggeſtions made and delivered by them to the Emperor might be read, ſi placet. Conſtantinus piiſſimus Imperator dixit, Relegantor. Whereupon they were produced and publickly read; wherein the Pope and his Council of Biſhops held at Rome, thus humbly acknowledge the Emperor to be their Soveraign Lord, and they to be ſubject to his power and commands in matters divine and Eccleſiaſtical, as well as Temporal: Dominis piiſſimis & Sereniſſimis Victoribus ac Triumphatoribus, amatoribus Dei & Domini nostri Jeſus Chriſti Conſtantino Majori Imperatori, Heraclio & Tiberio Augusto, Agatho Epiſcopus, Servus ſervorum Dei, Magnam atque mirabilem, non indeſinenti gratiarum actione Sereniſſimi Domini conſiteor conſolationis oportunitatem exhibere dignatus eſt, piiſsimum tranquillae manſuetudinis veſtrae propoſitum, quem ad ſtabilitatem divinitus commiſſae reipublicae Chriſtianae, ejus conceſsit dignatio, ut Imperialis virtus atque Clementia a Deo, Prov. 8Prov 8per quam Reges regnant, qui Rex Regum, & Dominus Dominantium eſt; 1 Tim. 61 Tim 6& curet et quaerat ejus immaculatae fidei veritatem, ut ab Apoſtolis atque ab Apoſtolicis patribus eſt tradita, inquirere vigilanter, &c. After which making this recital of the Emperors ſummons to that Council directed to his Predeceſſor, he ſubjoyns, His itaque manſuetiſsimi rerum Domini, divalibus apicibus animatus, & ad ſpem conſolationis de profundis angoribus alleviatus, ſum meliori confidentia paulatim, quae per manſuetiſſimae fortitudinis veſtrae ſacram, dudum praecepta ſunt, efficaciter promptam obſequentiam exhibere ut perſonas, &c. pro obedientiae ſatisfactione inquirerem, et cum Conſilio conſamulorum meorum Epiſcoporum, &c. ut ad piiſsimae tranquillitatis veſtrae veſtigia properarent, hortarer, &c. Ideoque Chriſtianiſsimi Domini filii, ſecundum piiſsimam juſſionem a Deo protegendae manſuetudinis veſtrae, PRO OBEDIENTIA QUAM DEBUIMUS (mark it) non pro confidentia eorum ſcientiae quos dirigimus, praeſentes confamulos noſtros, Abundantium, Joannem, &c. Pro quibus flexo mentis poplite ſuppliciter veſtram ad manſuetudinem ſemper intentam clementiam deprecamut, ut, juxta benigniſsimam atque auguſtiſsimam Imperialis ſacrae promiſsionem, acceptatione eos dignos efficiat, &c. Non enim nobis eorum ſcientia confidentiam dedit ut ad pia veſtra veſtigia eos auderemus dirigere, ſed hoc Imperialis veſtra benignitas clementer jubens hortata eſt, et noſtra puſillitas, quod juſſum eſt, obſequenter implevit. Language inconſiſtent with pretended Papal Supremacie. After which this Pope tendred by them in writing to the Emperors an account of his and the Roman Churches faith out of Scriptures, former Councils and Fathers, which was read, inferring aaSurius, p. 920 921Eximenda proinde, ac ſummis conatibus, cum Dei praeſidio liberanda eſt ſancta Dei Eccleſia Chriſtianiſsimi veſtri Imperii, de talium doctorum erroribus, &c. Haec autem ideo Deum omnipotentem felicibus veſtrae manſuetudinis ad emendandum credimus reſervaſſe temporibus, ut locum et Zelum ipſius Domini noſtri Ieſu Chriſti, qui veſtrum Imperium coronare dignatus eſt, facientes in terris, pro ejus Evangelica et Apoſtolica veritate JUSTUM JUDICIUM PROFERATIS, (of which this Pope acknowledgeth the Emperors Supreme Judges) Quia dum humani generis Redemptor atque Salvator, ſit injuriam paſſus, nunc uſque ſuſtinuit, veſtraeque fortitudinis adſpiravit imperio, ut ejusfidei cauſam (ſicut aequitas exigit, & ſanctorum Patrum, ſacrarumque Generalium quinque Synodorum decrevit inſtructio) exequi dignemini, et redemptoris ac conregnatoris injuriam de ſuae fidei contemptoribus per ejus praeſidium ulciſcamini, propheticum illud vaticinium cum imperiali clementia magnanimiter adimplentes, Pſal. 68.Ps 68quia Rex et Propheta David ad Deum loquitur; Zelus domus tuae, inquiens, comedit me. Unde pro tali Deo placito zelo collaudamus, Act. 13.Acts 13illam beatam vocem audire à creatore omnium meruit: Inveni David virum ſecundum cor meum, qui faciat omnes voluntates meas. Cui & in Pſalmis p. 158pollicetur,Pſal. 88.Ps 88 Inveni David ſervum meum, oleo ſancto meo unxi eum: manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei, & brachium meum confortabit eum: ut cujus cauſam conflagranti ſtudio elaborat Chriſtinae clementiae veſtrae piiſsimus Principatus efficere, remunerationis gratia, omnes actus fortiſsimi eorum Imperii felices et proſperos faciet, qui in ſuis ſacris Evangeliis repromittit, Mat. 6.Matt 6inquiens, Quaerite primum regnum coelorum & haec adjicientur vobis. Omnes enim ad quos ſacrarum apicum pervenit notitia, & quia ſic benigniter auguſtae magnanimitatis veſtrae manſuetu…in…s eſt demonſtratus intentus, innumer as gratiarum actiones & inceſſabiles landes, admirati de tantae Clementia magnitudine propagatori vestri fortiſſimi imperii perſolverint, quia vere ut puſsimi et aequiſsimi Principes quae De… ſunt, cum Dei timore dignati eſtis peragere. Unde & laus ab omnibus Nationibus Chriſtianis, & per…nnis memoria, et frequens oratio pro ſospitate, triumphalibus, ac perfectis victoriis concedendis, ante Chriſtum Dominum, cujus cauſa eſt, effundantur, quatenus ſupernae majeſtatis terrore perculſae Gentium nationes ſub ſceptris veſtri robuſtiſsimi Principatus humiliter colla proſtervant, et piiſsimi regni voſtri continuetur potentia dum temporali Imperio aeterni regni ſuccedit perennis felicitas. Nec enim poterit aliud ſimillimum inveniri, quod veſtrae invictiſsimae fortitudinis divinae Majeſtati commendat Clementiam, quam ut repulſis a regula veritatis erroribus Evangelicae atque Apoſtolicae noſtrae fidei ubique illuſtretur et praedicetur integritas, &c. Obſecro itaque piiſsime Auguſte, atque una cum mea exiguitate Omnis anima Chriſtiana ſuo flexo genu ſuppliciter deprecatur ut etiam hoc ad redintegrationem perfectae pietatis conregnatori Christo Domino hoſtiam acceptibilem offerre jubeatis; verbum impunitatis concedentes et liberam loquendi facultatem unicui que loqui volenti, & verbum impendere pro fide, quatenus omnes unanimiter pro tanto & tam ineſtimabili bono per cunctum vitae ſuae spatium divinam Majestatem glorificent, & pro incolumitate atque exaltatione fortiſsimi veſtri Imperii, unanimiter inceſſabiles Chriſto Domino preces effundant. Piiſsimorum Dominorum imperium gratia ſuperna cuſtodiat, eiſque omnium gentium colla ſubſternat. Moreover this aaSurius, Tom: 2. p. 922.Pope Agatho, and the Synod of Rome, begin their Epiſtle to theſe Emperors, and Inſtructions to their Delegates in this General Council, thus, Piiſsimis Dominis, ac ſereniſsimis Victoribus ac Triumphatoribus dilectis filiis Dei & Domini noſtri Jeſu Christi, Conſtantino magno Imperatori, Heraclio & Tiberio Augustis, Agatho Epiſcopus, Servus ſervorum Dei, cum univerſis Synodis ſubjacentibus Concilio Apoſtolicae ſedis. Omnium bonorum spes ineſſe praenoſcitur, dum Imperia…e faſtigium ejus, a quo ſe coronatum, et hominibus praefectum ad ſalubriter gubernandum dignoſcit, veram de eo confeſsionem, qua ſola prae omnibus muneribus delectatur, inquirit fideliter, et vivaciter amplecti deſiderat. After which they ſtile Rome a ſervile City to the Emperor, bbIbid. p. 924.Concilium quod in hanc Romanam urbem ſervilem veſtri Chriſtianiſsimi Imperii, &c. Subjoyning, Praeterea ſatisfaciendum eſt noſtro exiguo familiatui apud Sereniſsimorum Dominorum noſtrorum clementiam pro tarditate miſſarum ex Concilio noſtro perſonarum, quas dirigi per ſuam Auguſtiſsimam ſacram veſtrum piiſsimum faſtigium juſsit. For which they render a ſatisfactory reaſon. Then pray, that the Confeſſion of the faith they had ſent by their Delegates might be confirmed. Obſecrantes, ut à Deo coronato veſtro imperio favente, haec eadem omnibus praedicari, atque apud omnes obtinere jubeatis, ut Deus, qui veritatem & juſtitiam diligit, omnia proſtera veſtra ſereniſsimae dignitatis temporibus donet, in quibus Apoſtolicae praedicationis pietatis veritas fulgeat, meliori ac prospero ſucceſſu rerum fortiſsimae tranquillitatis imperium laetari de hoſtium ſubjectione concedens. Suſcipere itaque dignamini piiſsimi Principum, à noſtra humilitate directos Epiſcopos, cum reliquis Eccleſiaſticis ordinis viris, atque religioſis ſervis Dei, cum ſolitae tranquillitatis clementia, quatenus exipſorum teſtimonie cum gratiarum actione in propria revertentium, apud omnes Nationes laus Clementiae veſtrae celebreſcat, ſicut magni illius Conſtantini, cujus poſt obitum ladabilis fama nihilominus viget, cujus inſigne non tantum poteſtatis p. 159eſt, ſed pietatis: cum quo illud ſacratiſsimum Concilium 318. Antiſtitum in Nicea civitate in defenſione conſubstantialis Trinitatis convenit: & ſicut Theodoſii magni, cujus inter alias ejus virtutes, ſingularis pietas praedicatur; quo advitente per ſancti Spiritus gratiam 250 Patrum ſententia, qui eis inſpirabat, Spiritus ſanctus conſubſtantialis Patri & Filio praelicatus eſt, & ſicut egregii veritatis amatoris Martiani Principis, qui & primum Concilium Epheſinum, utpote Catholicam & Apoſtolicam fidem praedicans a ſancta Chalcedonenſi Synodo ſuſcipi fecit, et errores qui accreverant, de Dei Eccleſia repulit: Et ſicut extremi quidem, praeſtantiſſimi tamen omnium, magni illius Juſtiniani, cujus ut virtus, ita et pietas omnia in meliorem ordinem reſtauravit; cujus inſtar fortiſſimae veſtrae clementiae Principatus virtutis quidem conatibus Rempublicam Chriſtianam tuetur, et reſtaurat in melius, pietatiſque ſtudiis Catholicae ſuccurrit Eccleſiae, ut in Vnitate verae ac Apoſtolicae confeſsionis perfectius copuletur, quam nunc uſque nobiſcum ſancta Romana ſervat Eccleſia, quatenus ſyncerae pietatis arcanum, tuba clarius per totum Orbem praedicetur, et ubi hujus verae confeſsionis ſynceritas pii Veſtri Imperii favoribus obtinet, laus ſimul ac meritum Sereniſsimi veſtri Imperii praedicetur, ut cum pietatis laudibus, etiam regni eorum Deo annuente dilatentur inſignia, quoſque verae pietatis invitat Confeſsio, impietatis fortitudo poſsideat. All theſe expreſſions of this Pope and his whole Council, reſolve 1. That they all in moſt humble and dutifull manner acknowledged theſe Emperors to be their Soveraign Lords; and that they owed all humble chearfull obedience to their Summons and commands, even in matters of Faith, Religion, and Church-affairs. 2ly. That the right of ſummoning General Councils, and ordering, examining, confirming the Votes, Confeſsions of Faith made by them, belonged to Emperors, not to Popes, who were both ſummoned and came in perſon, or ſent their Proxies to them in obedience to their Summons. 3ly. That the principal care, defence, propagation, preſervation, perpetuation of the Orthodox faith and true worſhip of God, belongs to Chriſtian Emperors, not to Popes or Bps. 4ly. That God had ſpecially advanced them to the Empire for this very end; That this was the principal part of their charge, office, care; and that God himſelf had made, Conſtantine, Theoloſius, Martianus, Juſtinian; and theſe preſent Emperors, (not Popes and Biſhops) the principal Inſtruments of eſtabliſhing, propagating, preſerving the Chriſtian Orthodox faith, ſuppreſsing Hereſies, Schiſms, advancing true piety, and Chriſtian peace, Unity throughout the Churches of Chriſt, &c. All which are ſince reputed Hereſie, and Sacrilegious encroachments (like King **See here, p. 25.Uzziahs) on Popes, Biſhops, Prieſts Hierarchies, Offices, by ambitious Popes and Prelates.

In the 14. Action the frauds and impoſtures added, and thruſt into the Acts of the 5. General Council concerning aaSurius, Tom. 2. p. 1001, 1002, 1003, 1005, 1023.Pope Vigilius and others, were examined by the Original parchment copies there produced upon Oath, by George a Deacon Library-keeper to the Archbiſhop of Conſtantinople, where the Emperor Juſtinian, & Gloriſiſsimi Judices, & Sanctum Concilium dixerunt; & directed the proceedings in this Examination. And the Council often cry out, Sancti Quinti Concilii ſempiterna memoria. Multos annos Imperatori Constantino, Magno Imperatori multos annos. Pacifico Imperatori, multos annos. Conſervatori rectae fidei multos annos. Fili Dei da illi vitam; Fili Dei, da victoriam illi. After which, Glorioſiſſimi Judices & ſanctū Concilium dixerunt, Sufficienter quidem habent quae hodierna die geſta ſunt; Polychronius autem religioſus Presbyter & Monachus, in ſubſequenti ad nos perducatur, de propria fide ſua interrogandus. Whereupon Actio 15. bbIbidem, p. 1006.Reſidentibus per ordinem Glorioſiſſimis Patriciis & Conſulibus omnibuſque venerabilibus Epiſcopis; Glorioſiſsimi Judices & Concilium dixerunt: Ingre…iatur Polychronius: who tendred them an heretical Book and Confeſsion of his faith (which this confident Heretical Impoſtor preſumed would raiſe a dead man to life if laid upon him; which he there laying on a dead body experimented before the Synod and people, with no ſucceſſe, but deriſion, and an exclamation by the people; Novo Simoni Anathema, novo Seductori populi, Anathema:) Notwithſtanding, he obſtinately perſiſting in his Hereſie, thereupon p. 160was degraded and anathematized; which done, Glorioſiſſimi Judices & Sanctum Concilium dixerunt, Sufficiunt quae hodierna die acta ſunt. In the 16 Action there is the like proceeding; with a Glorioſiſſimi Judices dixerunt, Edicat ſanctum & Univerſale Concilium, ſi quicquam de his quae ad ſcrupuloſiorem indagationem pertinent, relictum eſt ſuper praeſenti Capitulo, &c. Sancta Synodus dixit, Sufficienter quidem habent, &c.aaIbid. p. 1010, 1116, 1118. Actio 17. They read and ſubſcribe the Confeſſion of their Faith made in that Synod: clozing it with theſe Acclamations, Christo dilecto multos annos. Orthodoxè omnes credimus. Illuminatorem Pacis Domine conſerva. Martiano novo Conſtantino, aeterna memoria. Novo Juſtiniano Conſtantino, aeternamemoria. Qui depoſuit Haereticos, Domine conſerva; anathematizing all theſe Hereticks by name. Actio 18. Pr…ſiadente eodem piiſſimo & a Chriſti dilecto Conſtantino magno Imperatore, he ſitting in this Council, Theodorus the Patriarchs Notary, ſpake thus unto him; Maximae pietatis exist it cognitio, tranquilliſſime Domine, principaliter quae ad culturam divintatis attinent praecipuam diligentiam adhibere dehinc cauſas quae Chriſto amabili Reipublicae competunt recta conſideratione dirigere, quod profecto benigne peragitis, manſuetiſsime omnem quidem ſecularium cauſarum ſollicitudinem reponens, pro divinis vero curam et ſtudium per Spiritus ſancti gratiam aſſumens. Et hic veſter eſt acceptabilis ornatus pietatem adverſus Diaboli accerſire malitiam, et contra impietatis ejus cohortem, ſacrum aggregare collegium, &c. Then tendring him the Synods confeſſion of faith, (read & ſubſcribed by the Synod the day before) to be read again in the Emperors preſence, Conſtantinus piiſsimus Imperator, dixit, Edicat ſanctum et univerſale Concilium, ſi cum conſenſu omnium Epiſcoporum promulgata eſt definitio, quae ad praeſens relecta eſt:bbIbidem, p. 1021. Sanctum Concilium exclamavit: Omnes ita credimus, Vna fides, Omnes id ipſum ſentimus; Omnes conſentientes et amplectentes ſubſcripſimus. Orthodoxi omnes credimus. Haec eſt fides Apoſtolorum, haec eſt fides Patrum, haec eſt fides Orthodoxorum, Multos annos Imperatori: Integritas duarum naturarum Chriſti, tu declaraſti; Luminarium pacis, Domine conſerva. Martiano nova Conſtantino aeterna memoria, Omnes haereticos tu effugaſti, Dejectorem haereticorum Domine conſerva; Dividentes et con…undentes tu perſequutus es. Abſit invidia a vestro Imperio. Deus cuſtodiat foritudinem veſtram. Deus regnum vestrum & Imperium veſtrum pacificet. Veſtra vita, orthodoxorum vita eſt. Coelestis Rex, terestrem conſerva. Per te univerſales Eccleſiae pacificatae ſunt. Neſtorio, & Euticho & Severo, anathema, &c. Omnibus haereticis anathema. Which ended, Conſtantinus Imperator dixit, Deum teſtem proferimus ſancto & univerſali vestro Concilio, quod abſque quolibet favore & invidia, principale deſiderium et zelus extitit nobis, irreprehenſibilem eſſe immaculatam noſtram orthodoxam Chriſtianorum fidem, et cum ſtabilitate nos eam conſervare in nomine Dei, ſecundum doctrinam & traditionem quae tradita eſt nobis tam per Evangelium, quam per ſanctos Apoſtolos, & per ſtatuta Sanctorum quinque Univerſalium Conciliorum, Sanctorumque probabilium Patrum, et non mediocriter nos pro hoc deſiderium coarctabat, ex quo (jubente Deo noſtro) authoraliter accepimus ſolium imperii noſtri. Cum ergo Deo complacuit tempus concedere, invitavimus fieri collectionem veſtram, ad conſiderandum vobis Sanctas Dei Scripturas, omnemque vocis ſive aſſertionis novitatem, quae adjecta eſt ad intemeratam noſtram Chriſtianorum fidem, in his vicinis temporibus a quibuſdam prava ſentientibus expellendam, mundiſsimamque nobis hanc contradendam (ſicut praedictum eſt) quatenus, ſecundum Sancta & univerſalia quinque Concilia & ſtatutae Sanctorum Venerabilium Patrum, ita eam et nos cuſtodiamus uſque in mortem, &c. Immediately after his Speech concluded, Sancta Synodus exclamavit, Multos annos Imperatori, Chriſto dilecto Imperatori, multos annos; Pium et Chriſtianum Imperatorem Domine conſerva, Orthodoxam fidem tu confirmaſti. Definitio Orthodoxa eſt; contradicenti huic definitioni anathema; Qui contradixerit huic definitioni Neſtorianus eſt: Qui non ſuſceperit hanc definitionem Eutichianiſta eſt. Eutichianis anathema, Omnibus Chriſto rebellibus Haereſibus anathema. Aeterna memoria p. 161Imperatori. AEternum permaneat veſtrum Imperium. The Emperor rendring them his hearty thanks for their pains in this Council, ccSurius, ibid. 1023.Sanctum Concilium dixit, Piiſsime & tranquilliſsime Domine, Sermonem acclamatorium ad Deo amabilem veſtram potentiam, juxta morem compoſuimus, et ſi placuerit pietati veſtrae, hunc perlegi jubete. Conſtantinus piiſsimus Imperator dixit, Acclamatorius ſermo qui compoſitus eſt a veſtro Concilio, deferatur & Relegatur. Qui delatus eſt, & in his ſermonibus relect. eſt. In this Oration they uſe theſe memorable paſages to the Emperor. Vos enim per Chriſtum benignè regnatis, Chriſtus vero per vos Eccleſis ſuis pacem delegit impartiri, &c. Quid vero eſt, et praeſertim Imperatori decebilius, QUAM PRAE OMNIBUS PIETATE ADORNARE SUBJECTOS, PER QUOD ET IN CAETERIS FELICITETUR RESPUBLICA? Veruntamen veſtris divalibus praeceptis acquieſcentes, tam antiquae Romae et Apoſtolicae ſummitatis pontificatus Antiſtites, quam nos humiles, Chriſti tamen Sacerdotes atque miniſtri, &c. (Let Popes obſerve their predeceſſors ſubjection to this Emperors ſupream commands in coming to this Council, &c.) Then applauding the Piety, Zeal of Conſtantine, Theodoſius, Martianus, and Juſtinian in ſummoning and ratifying the former General Councils; they thus conclude. ddIbid. p. 1024, 1025. Luc. 2.Luke 2Gloria in excelſis Deo, in terra pax, decantantes, dum Christo omnipotenti complacuit ſuſcitare Principem Deo dilectum, qui unitatis Eccleſiarum mediator effectus eſt. Sed O Renigniſsime Domine & Amator Juſtitiae, ei qui tibi potentiam largitus eſt hanc gratiam recompenſa, & his quae a nobis geſta ſunt ſignaculum tribue, veſtram inſcribito Imperialem ratihabitionem, et per Edicta divalia, atque per pias Conſtitutiones, ex more, eorum omnium firmitatem, quatenus nullus his quae geſta ſunt, aut contradicat, novamve quaeſtionem machinetur. Scito enim Sereniſsime Imperator, quod nihil horum quae in Synodis univerſalibus & a probabilibus patribus conſtituta ſunt, falſavimus, verum potius confirmavimus. Etenim omnes unanimiter atque conſonanter acclamamus: Domine ſalvum fac Regem noſtrum, qui poſt te corroboravit fidei fundamentum: benedicito vitam ejus, dirige greſſus cogitationum ejus. Conterat virtutem inimicorum ſuorum, & reſiſtentes ei continuo corruant, quia fecit judicium, & juſtitiam ſempiternam, & periclitanti veritati manus porrexit, populumque tuum ſalvavit, ad eadem ſapere eos concilians. Gaude Civitas Nova Roma Conſtantinopolis, glorificata nomine principali. Ecce Rex tuus fidelis ſedet fortiſsimus, & accipiet armaturam amulatricem ejus virtutem, indutus eſt loricam Juſtitiae, & Sanctitatis circumpoſuit ſibi galeam prudentiam, quae eſt ſpecula virtutum, & ſcutum aſſumpſit inexpugnabile, in Deum pietatem. His armatum eum adſpiciant Barbari, & ſperamus in Deum eos obtemperare dominanti. Laetare Civitas Sion, Cacumen Orbis terrarum atque Imperium. Conſtantinus te purpura praeornavit, et per fidem Coronavit, & Conſtantinus utriſque ſupercoronavit, Portaeque inferi adverſum tuum orthodoxum Imperium non praevalebunt. Gaude, & fiducialiter age Imperator specioſiſsime: Dominus Deus tuus in te potens; praecingens te virtute, ſalvabit te: adducet ſuper te jocunditatem & exultationem, ampliabiturque imperium tuum, & exaltabitur brachium tuum et dominabitur cunctis Adverſis, Deumque non agnoſcentibus atque atteſtantibus, et lamentabitur quidem hoſtilitas, gaudebit autem obedientia: quia ego potens ſum, dicit Dominus Omnipotens.

Hereupon the Emperor ratified the Confeſsion of their Faith by this his Imperial Edict,eeS…rius Tom. 2 p. 1025, &c. into which he inſerted it verbatim. In nomine Domini et Dominatoris Jeſu Chriſti, Salvatoris noſtri, Imperator Piiſsimus, pacificus Flavius Conſtantinus, fidelis in Jeſus Chriſto Deo Imperator, Chriſto dilecto omni populo habitanti in occiduis partibus. Firmamentum ac fundamentum ſuperno nutu creditae nobis Chriſtianiſsimae exiſtit Reipublicae, ſides in Deo inflexibilis et inconcuſsibilis, in qua Chriſtus Deus noſter tanquam propriam Domum ſuam conſtruxit Eccleſiam, & ſicut Rex omnium, imperii noſtri ſedem conſtituit, principatuſq▪ nobis Sceptra commiſit. p. 162ſicut enim quandam Petram excelſamet ſublimem, & ut coeli, terraeque, in conſortio conſtitutam myſticam confeſſionem, quae in eum cum. Patre et Spiritu eſt Salvator nobis oſtendit, ut per eam tanquam per mediam ſcalam ad caeleſtem converſationem reducamur divinioriſque regni potentia coronemur. Super hanc petram cogitationis noſtrae greſſus infiximus, ſuper quam firmiter ſtare praecipimur, quamque cautius tenere ſubjectos praecipimus, ne quiſquam, ut minus attentus, exagitetur a maligno et inſtabili ſpiritu: expulſuſque atque praecipitatus in impietatis voraginem delabatur, &c. Idcirco et nos quae ab eis definita ſunt, corroborare atque firmare cupientes. praeſens pium edictum dedimus, verae circa divinitatem fidei ſecundum eccleſiaſtica ſtatu… adnuncians confeſsionem. Then reciting the Confeſſion of the faith therein compriſed, he thus proceeds: In hac fide vivimus, et regnamus, et conregnanti nobis Deo conregnare denuo ſperamus. Hanc Comitem, hinc recedentes habere depoſcimus, & cum hac ante Chriſti tribunal aſſiſtere. Ad hanc confeſsionem omnes hortamur, et deſervire Deo nobiſcum invitamus, ac ſuper montem excelſum Imperii ſtantes, praedicamus, atque eccleſiaſticam pacem totius populi ſolennitatem adnunciamus, &c. Si quis vero hominum perſonis gratiam exhibet, Charitatis autem in Deum aemulatorem ſe non demonſtrat, Praeſentemque noſtram piam conſtitutionem non recipit, ſiquidem Epiſcopus eſt vel Clericus, aut Monachico circundatus eſt habitu, deportationis poenam exolvet. Si vero in ordine dignitatum inſertus eſt, ſupplicio proſcriptionis mulctatur, eique Cingulum adimitur. Si autem idioticae ſortis eſt; ex hac Regia, omnique penitus Civitate extorris addicitur, et ſuper haec omnia, etiam terribilis atque inexpiabilis judicii non effugiet cruciatum.

Beſides this general, **Surius, p. 1031, 1034.the Emperor ſent a particular coppy of his Edict, (Divinae Juſsionis) concerning his ratification of this general Synod, to the Synod at Rome, whereupon, Pope Agatho being dead, and Leo the ſecond ſucceeding him, writ this Epiſtle ad Conſtantinum piiſsimum Auguſt: by way of gratitude, moſt clearly demonſtrating his ſupreme Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, care of Religion and of his Subjects ſouls, as well as of their bodies and eſtates. Regi Regum in cujus poteſtate ſunt Regna mundi puſilli, cui magnas gratias agimus, qui ita in vobis terrenum contulit Regnum, ut coeleſtia vos magis ambire concederet. Pius eſt enim, quod in Deo defixa mente confiditis, quam quod de collato vobis Divinitus honore regnatis. Illud enim vobis, hoc proficit omnino ſubiectis. Nam triumphalem Paterni Diadematis gloriam naſcendo ſuperna miſeratione obtinetis, pietas enim veſtrae, fructus miſericordiae eſt: poteſtas autem, Cuſtos eſt diſciplinae. Per illa igitur regia mens Deo jungitur, per iſtam vero cenſura ſubditis adhibetur; illius opes inopes adjuvant, hujus autem ſagacitas a vero tramite deviantes emendat. Non enim minor regnantium cura eſt, prava corrigere, quam de adverſariis triumphare, quia ei nimirum poteſtatem ſuam ſerviendo ſubjiciunt, cujus profecto munere et protectione imperare noſcuntur. Ʋnde divinitus praeordinata veſtra Chriſtianiſsima pietas, & habitaculum digniſsimum Sancti Spiritus in ſui cordis arcano praeparans, quando Caput Eccleſiae Dominum Jeſum Chriſtum, verae pietatis regulam amplectendo, conceſsi ſibi ab eo Regni demonſtrat authorem, Sanctum venerabile corpus ejus, quae est Sancta Mater Eccleſia, ut ſyncerus et principalis filius, largiendo atque fovendo inconcuſſa facit ſoliditate gaudere. Scriptum eſt igitur de vobis Clementiſſime Principum, Iſa. 49Isa 49& de eadem Sancta Eccleſia toto terrarum orbe diffuſa; Erunt (inquit) Reges nutritii tui, Pſalm 98.Ps 98pariterque ſcriptum eſt: Honor Regis judicium diligit, quia dum divina rebus humanis praeponitis, et Orthodoxam fidem curis ſecularibus incomparabiliter antefertis, quid aliud, p. 163quam judicium rectum Dei cultui mancipatis, et ſacrificium puriſſimum atque holocauſtum divinae ſuavitatis odore flagrans, in ara veſtri pectoris ejus inviſibili Majeſtati mactatis? Haec de piiſsimi animi veſtri propoſito Chriſtianiſsime Auguſtorum, efficaciter dici (Dei gratia operante) confidimus, qua ſola & error omnis evictus eſt, & rectitudo Evangelicae atque Apostolicae fidei cum ſyncera charitatis copula apud cunctos Eccleſiarum Christi praeſules obtinetur. Then at large declaring his approbation of this general Synods Confeſſion of Faith, he thus cloſeth his Epiſtle: Ibid. p. 103….Vicit novus David constantiſſimus Auguſtorum non in millibus ſolum, (nec enim generalem Evangelicae prae…icationis victoriam numerorum vinculis quiſquam poterit comprehendere) ſed & ipſum Principem, & hoſtem, & Ducem, ac incentorem omnium malorum & errorum Diabolum, cum ſuis legionibus atque fautoribus, per arma verae atque Orthodoxae Apoſtolicae traditionis & confeſsionis extinxit. Exulta nunc ſecura Sancta Mater Eccleſia, de liberatate tua ſaepius impugnata, ſed non derelicta. Suſcitavit Rex tuus invictiſſimus Chriſtianorum Principem propugnatorem tuum, benefactorem tuum atque opulentiſſimum largitorem, cujus ſtudio Orthodoxa fides recollecto ſplendore toto orbe irradiat, fideles omnes gratiam referentes exultant; infideles maeror atque dejectio comprimit et confundit; Eccleſiae Chriſti de cunctis oppreſſionibus liberatae, reſpirant, donis imperialibus confoventur, principali praeſidio muniuntur, quibus et domeſticis verbis auguſta veſtra benignitas Chriſtum imitando pollicetur:Matth. 28.Matt 28 Ecce, ego vobiſcum ſum uſque ad conſummationem ſaeculi, ut Domini noſtri Jeſu Chriſti, cujus exemplis utitur, aterna ejus Regni perenni gloria patiatur, & in orbem terrarum generaliter atque perenniter ejus imperium dilatetur. Piiſsimum Domini Imperium gratia ſuperna cuſtodiat, et ei omnium gentium colla ſubſternat. Data Nonis Maiis indictione Decima.

As Pope Leo thus acknowledgeth, applaudeth this Emperors care, zeal to promote, protect, propagate the Orthodox Faith; and profeſſors thereof, ſuppreſſe all Hereſies, and his ſupremacy in and over all Eccleſiaſtical perſons and cauſes; ſo likewiſe **Surius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 896, 897.Manſuetus Archbiſhop of Millain, with all his Clergy, thus acknowledged the Emperors Eccleſiaſtical ſupremacy, Hereditary deſcent, and right to ſummon general Councils. Domino Sereniſsimo atque Tranquilliſsimo, & a Deo Coronato Religioſiſsimo Conſtantino Imperatori, Manſuetus Mediolanenſis Metropolitanae Eccleſiae indignus Epiſcopus, vel univerſa San…la Epiſcoporum fraternitas, quae in hac magna, Regia Ʋrbe convenit, aeternam in Domino ſalutem. Si apicem Imperialis faſtigii et infulas ſacratiſſimae poteſtatis; avis et proavis veſtris caelitus attributum cognovimus, et pro meritorum actibus ad vos propagatum ſcimus, dignum eſt his vos aequiperare veſtigiis, quorum et celſitudinem obtinetis. Nec diſparilia debent eſſe inſtrumenta coeleſtia, ubi paria poſsidentur Sceptra Regalia. Aemulari ergo oportet eorum Magiſterium, quorum documenta permanent ſalutaria, &c. Habes quippe probatiſſime Imperator ſpecula, in quibus tuas actiones imaginari debeas. Then reciting the acts and piety of Conſtantine the Great, in ſummoning the Council of Nice againſt the Arrians; of Theodoſius in convening the Council of Conſtantinople againſt Macedonius; of Martianus & Juſtinian the Emperors in calling the Councils of Epheſus, Chalcedon, and Conſtantinople againſt Eutiches, Dioſcorus, and other Hereticks; they ſubjoyn, Haec Glorioſiſſime Princeps antiquorum Patrum ſtatuta, una cum conſenſu Piiſſimorum Imperatorum definita, quae convelli vel infirmari nulla ratione pietas veſtra permittat, &c.

This godly Emperor Conſtantine deceaſing before this Synod ended, Anno 679.Juſtinianus the 2d. his ſon, Surius Tom. 2. 1034.ſucceeding him, confirmed the confeſſion of the Faith, and reſolutions of this general Council, by his Divine Decree, directed to Pope John the 5th. wherein are theſe obſervable paſſages, diſplaying his Eccleſiaſtical ſupremacy, care of Religion, the Orthodox Faith, and his peoples ſouls; and enjoyning not only the Patriarchs, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Clergy, but all his Military Officers, Commanders, Curators, and civil Magiſtrates, throughout all parts of his Empire to ſubſcribe the confeſſion of Faith therein accorded, which were read before, & then ſubſcribed by them in the Emperors preſence. Magnum ſtudium, magnam ſollicitudinem nos p. 164habentes pro ſtabilitate immaculatae Chriſtianorum fidei, dehinc namque Clementiſſimum noſtrum Deum adjutorem et ſuſceptorem noſtrae ſerenitatis eſſe confidimus, adverſus omnem inimicum Chriſto dilectae noſtrae Reipublicae dum cognitum eſt nobis, quia Synodalia geſta, eorumque definitionem, quam et inſtituere noſcitur Sanctum Sextum Concilium, quod congregatum eſt in tempore Sanctae memoriae noſtri Patris, in hanc a Deo conſervandam Regiam Vrbem apud quoſdam noſtros Iudices remiſerunt. Neque enim omnino praevidimus alterum aliquem apud ſe detinere ea, ſine noſtra piiſſima ſerenitate, eo quod nos**Copioſa. copioſos miſericordia noſter Deus**Nota. cuſtodes conſtituit ejuſdem immaculatae Chriſtianorum fidei, ſed mox addurimus noſtros Patres Sanctiſſimos ac Beatiſſimos Patriarchas, cum veſ…rae Beatitudinis apocriſario, et Sacratiſſimum ſenatum, verum etiam Deo amabiies metropolitas et Epiſcopos qui hic in Regia Vrbe commorantur, et deinceps militantes incolas Sancti Palatii, necnon et ex collegiis popularibus, et ab excubitoribus, inſuper etiam quoſdam de Chriſto dilectis exercitibus, tam ab a Deo conſervando Imperiali obſequio, quamque ab Orientali Thraciano, ſimiliter et ab Armeniano, etiam ab excercitu Italiae, deinde ex Cabariſianis, et Septenſianis, ſeu de Sardinia, atque de Africano exercitu, qui ad noſtram pietatem ingreſſi ſunt, et Iuſſimus praefatas Synodalium geſtorum Chartas in medium adduci, et coram ſupradictis omnibus lectionem eorum fieri; omneſque diligenter audientes ſignare ipſas fecimus: eorum auditorum univerſitas in noſtris manibus eas praebuit Chartas, ut debeamus nos tenendo inviolatas conſervare ipſas, ut non licentia fuerit in quolibet tempore his, qui timorem D…i nolunt habere, aliquid corrumpere, aut ſubmutare ab his quae inſerta ſunt in praenominatis Synodalibus geſtis, quas totas Chartas bene definitas in temporibus Sanctae memoriae noſtri Patris, ex probabilibus Sanctis Patribus, qui propriae linguae et manuum fidem apud Dominum noſtrum Ieſum Chriſtum verum que Deum exiſtentem, confirmaſſe dinoſcitur, et confitentes eam docuiſſe, nos ſperamus Clementiſſimum noſtrum Deum, quia uſque dum noſter ſpiritus ſtatutus eſt ex Deo eſſe, in nobis ipſas Chartas illiba…as et incommutabiles ſemper conſervabimus.

This whole General Synod in their Oration to Juſtinian, inprimis pium Imperatorem, uſe theſe expreſſions to him, evidencing that God had ſpecially raiſed him up to defend, preſerve, propagate the Orthodox ſaith, and that it was, yea ought to be his firſt and principal care, truſt, duty, to reclaim his Subjects from ſinne, and endeavor to promote the ſalvation of their ſouls, as well as their temporal welfare. **Surius, Tom. 2. p. 1038, 1039.Imprimis, Pio & Chriſti amantiſſimo Imperatori Juſtiniano Sancta & univerſalis Synodus, Divino Piae veſtrae potentiae nutu & decreto congregata in hac a Deo Cuſtodita & regia Civitate, &c. Qui magnam hanc praeſentis mundi Navem clavo aſſidens regit Chriſtus Dominus noſter, te Sapientem nobis gubernatorem, Pium Imperatorem, verè praeſidem excitavit, diſſenſantem ſermones in judicio, in ſeculum veritatem ſervantem, facientem judicium & juſtitiam in medio terrae, & in via ab omni culpa ac reprehenſione aliena procedentem, quem cum ſapientia concepiſſet, eique obstetricis officium praeſtitiſſet, pulchrè virtutibus eductum & ornatum, divinoque ſpiritu repletum, orbis terrarum oculum effecit, qui mentis puritate et ſplendore ſubjectos aperte iliuminans, **Notacui ſuam Eccleſiam adhibuit, et legem ejus noctu diu que meditari docuit, ad populorum qui ſunt ſub ejus manibus perfectionem et aedificationem, qui ruo in Deum deſiderii ardore Phinees zelum ſuperas, et pietatis ac prudentiae robore confoſſo peccato, gregem quoque vitio et eritio ſubtrahere voluiſti. Oportebat enim eum qui poſt p. 165ſupernum monumentum humani generis gubernaculum ſuſcepiſſet, non ſolum id quod ad ſe pertinet conſiderare, et quomodo ſua a ſe vita dirigatur; ſed et omnes quibus imperat, et maximis fluctibus ſervare, et a multa prolapſionum errorumque confuſione, undique obruentibus improbitatis fluctibus, et humilitatis noſtrae corpus perturbantibus, eripere. After which they thus humbly pray the Emperor to ratifie their Canons to make them valid and obligatory. Propterea ergo tuae pietatis juſſu in hac Dei obſervatrice & Imperante Urbe congreſſi, ſacros Canones ſcripſimus. Quamobrem tuam pietatem, eas quae prius in hac Dei obſervatrice Civitate a congrega…s ſub bonae memoriae Imperatore nostro patribus editae ſunt, voces Tibi adducentes, ut qu…madmodum Eccleſiae ſcriptis Eccleſiam honoraſti, ſic et eorum, qu… per viros pios et ſynceros decreta ſunt, finem obſignes. Dominus autem imperiium tuum ſtabiliat ac confirmat in pace ac Juſtitia, & generationum generationibus tranſmittat, & terrenae quoque potentiae adjiciat, ut etiam coeleſti regno fruaris. Which he ratified accordingly.

aaDiſtinctio 69 Agatho. See Blondus l. 4. Decad. 1. Cen…. Magd. c. 7. … 23….Gratian, Anno 680ex geſtis Romanorum Pontificum, records this memorable Decree made by the Emperor Conſtantinus P…gonatus in the time of Pope Agatho, about the year 680. Agatho, Natione Siculus, cujus legatione functus Joannes Epiſcopus Portuenſis, die Dominico octavo Paſchae in Eccleſia ſanctae Sophiae, miſſas coram Principe & Patriarcha latinè celebravit. Hic ſuſcepit ab eo divalem, id eſt, Regiam Epiſtolam ſecundum ſuam poſtulationem; per quam relevata eſt quantitas pecuniae, quae ſolita erat dari (Imp.) pro ordinatione Pontificis facienda; ſic tamen ut ſi contigerit poſt ejus tranſitum electionem fieri, non debeat ordinari qui electus fuerit, niſi prius Decretum generale introducetur in regiam urbem, ſecundum ANTIQUAM CONSUETUDINEM, ut cum eorum conſcientia et juſsione debeat ordinatio proſperare. Item Vitalianus Natione Segnenſis (Ann. 665) direxit reſponſales ſuos cum Synodica Epiſtola, JUXTA CONSUETUDINEM, in regiam urbem apud piiſsimos Principes de Ordinatione ſua; To which Gratian prefixeth this rubrick, electus in Romanum Pontificem non ordinetur, niſi ejus Decretum Imperatori primum praeſentetur, & **Centur. Mag. 7. c …. col. 235. c. 10. col. 487confirmationem de ſui ordinatione petiiſſet, ſicut indicat liber Pontificalis in vita ſua, as the Century writers affirm.) On which Text Bartholomeus Buxienſis, and Dr. Thierry, (together with Anaſtatius in vita Agathonis p. 79) thus Comment. Conſuetudo erat, quod electio Papae ſubſcripta repreſentaretur Imperatori Conſtantinopoli; et tunc temporis electus dabat quandam ſummam pecuniae Imperatori. Ad quam ſummam relevandam miſit Agatho Joannem Epiſcopum Portuenſem Conſtantinopolim; qui in octavo Paſchae in Eccleſia Sanctae Sophiae, latinè miſſam coram Patriarcha & Principe celebravit; et ad ſuam petitionem accepit Imperiale ſcriptum, per quod ſolita quantitas eſt ei relaxata, ita tamen (mark it) ut electio Pontificis Imperatori ſemper repraeſentaretur, et cum Imperatoris conſcientia et juſsione, Pontificis ordinatio deberet proſpere fieri: (or as Anastatius records it, ſic tamen ut ſi contigerit poſt ejus tranſitum electionem fieri, non debeat ordinari qui electus fuerit, niſi prius decretum generale introducatur in Regiam urbem SECUNDUM ANTIQUAM CONSUETUDINEM, & CUM **Ejus Imperatoris.EORUM CONSCIENTIA & JUSSIONE DEBEAT ORDINATIO PROVENIRE.) ſicut factum fuit de Vitaliano, cujus electio fuit praeſentata ipſis Principibus SICUT CONSUETUDO ERAT. And the Gloſſe on theſe words: Quae ſolita, ſuperadds. Quilibet enim Epiſcopus dare conſuevit aliquid Imperatori in electione ſua, dummodo redditus Epiſcopales excederent duas libras auri. De San. Epiſ. ſect. 4. Et forte tunc cum mos erat, crimen non erat, ut Cauſ. 32. qu. 4. Sed p. 166nonne Imperator commiſit Simoniam, relaxando illud jus ſub hac conditione, ut conſenſus ejus requiratur in electione? Sed dic, quod non; quia prius utrumque jus habuit, unde modo alterum potuit remittere; ideo autem petiit**This (a) is …oiſted in by Gratian, and ſhould be omitted, as the ſenſe and context evidence. (a) Papa hanc conſuetudinem tolli, quia continebat ſpeciem mali, ut. 1. qu. 1. emendari. From whence it is irrefragable by theſe Popes and Canoniſts joynt Confeſsions, 1. That no Pope could be elected at Rome without the Emperors privity. 2ly. That his election ought to be certifyed by an inſtrument in writing ſent to Conſtantinople (when the Emperor reſided there) and the Emperors aſſent expreſly given to his Election, and alſo a certain ſum of money paid by him to the Emperor, before he ought to be admitted or conſecrated Pope. 3ly. That the Emperor ought to iſſue out an expreſſe command for his conſecration. 4ly. That this was no innovation, but an antient known Cuſtom and uſage even in Pope Agathoes and Vitalians time, within 650. years after Chriſt. 5ly. That this was a lawfull Right veſted in the Emperors, which they never parted with by this Decree, though they mitigared or releaſed the fine or firſt-fruits, paid upon every new election of a Pope. Therefore the ſubſequent grants made by Pope Adrian and Leo the 3. to the Emperor Charles the Great and his ſucceſſors, to elect the Pope, &c. gave them no new right, but were only a preſervation of their antient right uſed time out mind before. Which will put a period to the Popes late **Here p. 35, to 40.pretended Supremacy over the Emperor.

The 12. Council of Toledo was ſummoned ex glorioſo Eringii Regis juſſu, Anno 681in the firſt year of his reign;Surius Concil. Tom: 3. p. 1, 3, 8, 9. Cent. Magd. 7. c. 9. whereto he ſummoned Omnes in commune religioſos Provinciarum Rectores & Clariſſimorum ordinum totius Hiſpaniae, & illuſtres aulae regiae viros, who ſate and voted therein as well as his Biſhops. In the beginning of this Council the King making a ſhort, pious Oration to them, declaring how deſtructive all ſins were to Kingdoms, if not corrected by ſevere Laws; and how much true faith and piety did advance, ſecure, honor both Kings and Kingdoms; with his deſire to conſecrate the beginning of his reign to God, by promoting the one, and ſuppreſſing the other: He delivered them a writing containing the ſum of what he deſired to ſettle in this Council, with theſe expreſſions. Ecce in brevi complexa vel exarata devotionis meae negotia in hujus tomo complicationis agnoſcenda perlegite, perlecta diſcutite, diſcuſſa elimatis & diſcretis titulorum ſententiis definite; ut pura et placens Deo veſtrarum definitionum valitura diſcretio, & regni noſtri primordia decoret exhortatione juſtitiae, & errores plebium digna cohibeat ſeveritatis cenſura. Whereupon they receiving the writing, inſerted into the Acts of this Council, purſued it accordingly in their proceedings. Firſt, they began with a publique Confeſſion of their faith agreeable to that of Nice, & former Councils. After which they added 13 Chapters more: The 1. whereof declares and confirms the Kings juſt Title to the Crown; prohibiting from thenceforth all attempts againſt his Title or Government by word or deed; the other Canons concern the Jews, Religion, and Eccleſiaſtical affaires: which they clozed with a devout prayer for the King, regnare feliciter, habere de clementia fructum, obtinere de juſtitia proemium, de pietate trophaeum, &c. the Biſhops and Nobles too ſubſcribing them: This King afterwards ratified them by his royal Decree ſigned with his own hand; commanding them not to be contemned, omitted, violated, ſubverted by any, but punctually, inviolably, and perpetually obſerved by all his Subjects under pain of excommunication, confiſcation of the tenth part of their goods who had any, and fifty ſtripes with perpetual infamy to be inflicted on ſuch who had no goods to forfeit.

The 13. Council of Toledo was ſummoned by the ſame King Eringius, Anno 682conſiſting of all his Nobles and Great Officers,bbSurius Concil. Tom: 3. p. 9, 10, 11. as well as Biſhops, to whom he made a pious ſhort ſpeech, and then delivered them a writing containing in groſſe the things he called them to conſult of, and to digeſt into particular Titles, which they accordingly purſued; the firſt part of them concerned the forfeiture and confiſcations of his Subjects, and the Nobility; the later, Church affairs; All theſe Councils of Toledo were like our antient Saxon Councils, conſiſting of the Nobility and Clergy, and enacting temporal as well as Eccleſiaſtical Lawes, which the King confirmed by his Subſcription and Edicts. They began with a Confeſsion of faith; becauſe Praeconabile fignum est, illis ſemper negotiis intereſſe, quae & a pietate incipiunt, & per pietatis viſcera temperantur; 1 Tim. 4.1 Tim 4Pietas enim, ut ait Apoſtolus, ad omnia utilis eſt.

p. 167ccAnaſtatius in vita Benedict. 2 Luitprandus, Albo Floriacenſis, Platina, Lydius, Barns, Balaeus.Conſtantinus Pogonatus the Emperor, Anno 685by his Divales juſſiones, or Imperial Edicts, ad venerabilem Clerum & populum, & foeliciſſimum exercitum Romanae Civitatis conceſſit, Ʋt perſona qui electus fuerit ad ſedem Apoſtolicam, è veſtigio abſque tarditate Pontifex ordinaretur. When as he could not be inſtalled before that time, till the Emperor or his Exarch in Italy had given his Imperial aſſent to his election.

Anno 685. Pope John the 5. received the Emperor Juſtinian the 2d his Edictum, confirmans ſextam Sanctam Synodum, Anno 685& alias divales juſſiones, concerning ſeveral annual rents and payments due to the Emperor from the Church of Rome, ddAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Albo Floriacen, Barns, Balaeus, Platina & Lydius in Joan. 5.John 5which he mitigated, becauſe Eccleſia Romana, annue minime exurgebat perſolvere: This Pope yielded all ready obedience to the Emperor as his Soveraign Lord.

ffAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Barns, Balaeus, Platina, Lydius, Onuphrius, in vita Conanis.Conon being elected Pope after Johns death by the joynt conſent of the Clergy, Army, and people of Rome, (who were at firſt divided, the Clergy electing Peter, and the Army Theodorus a Prieſt:) they all ut mos eſt, Anno 686ſent their inſtrument of his election ſubſcribed with their hands, by ſome of the Clergy and people, to Theodorus the Exarch for his approbation; without which he had not been admitted to the Papacy. Where this Pope received Divalem juſſionem Domini Juſtiniani Principis, for confirmation of the 6. General Synod of Conſtantinople held by his Father; quam Synodum permiſit ejus pietas illis palam & inconcuſſam perenniter cuſtodire & conſervare.

ggAnaſtatius, Barns, Balaeus, Albo Floriacenſis, Luitprandus, Lydius, Onuphrius, Platina in Sergio. Sabellicus Aeneid. 8. lib. 6. Cent. 7. c. 10, col. 490 491.After the death of Conon, Anno 687the Clergy and People of Rome being divided in their election of a Pope, one part chuſing Theodorus, another Paſchal, both obſtinately maintaining their parties; at laſt the greater part of the Souldiers and Clergy elected Sergius, & in ſacroſanctum palatium, & exinde in Lateranenſe Epiſcopium deduxerunt; whereupon Theodorus gave over his pretence, and ſubmitted to Sergius his election; but Paſchal would by no means do it, till enforced at laſt volens nolens; ſending privily to John Platyn the Exarch of Ravenna, to come to Rome with his Judges, whither he marched very privately: who forced Sergius to give him not only divers Ornaments antienly hanging before St. Peters Altar; but alſo One hundred pounds weight of gold, to confirm his election and purchaſe his peace. If Popes were thus ſubject to the Emperors Exarchs and chief Officers in Italy; much more then to the Emperors themſelves.

ThehhAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Albo Floriacenſis, Lydius, Platina, Barns, Balaeus, in vita Conſtantini. Paulus Diaconus De Geſtis Longobardorum, l. 6. c. 10. Cent. Magd. 8 c. 10. col. 680. 681. Emperor Juſtinian An. 710. commanded Theudor his General to apprehend Felix Archbiſhop of Ravenna, Anno 710and ſend him priſoner to Conſtantinople for his offences, which being accordingly executed, he had his eyes put out, and was afterwards baniſhed into Pontica; At which time this Emperor ſent an Imperial Edict to Pope Conſtantine, per quam juſſit eum ad regiam aſcendere urbem (Conſtantinople) qui juſſis Imperialibus attemperans, illico navigia fecit parari, and went to Conſtantinople: the Emperor being then at Nice, commanded him to meet him at Nicomedia, which he did: where the next Lords day he ſaid Maſſe, and adminiſtred the Communion to the Emperor. The Emperor there renewing all the Priviledges of the Church, gave this Pope leave to return again to Rome. After which Anaſtatius the Emperor ſent a ſecond Edict by the Exarch of Italy to Rome, per quam verae ſe orthodoxa fidei praedicatorem, & ſancti Sexti Concilii confeſſorem eſſe omnibus declaravit.

The EmperoriiPaulus Diaconus Hiſt. Rom: l. 21, 22. p. 292, 293, 295, 296. Anaſtatius, Luitprandus, Albo Floriacenſis, Barns, Balaeus, Platina, Lydius, & others in Gregorio 2. Cent. Magd. 8. c. 8. col. 531. 684. Leo Iſaurus in the 9th year of his reign,Anno 718 publiſhed a Decree againſt Images, Ut nulla Imago cujuſtibet Sancti; aut Martyris, aut Angeli ubicunque haberetur, maledicta enim omnia aſſerebat: ſending word to Rome to Pope Gregory the 2d. Si acquieſceret in hoc Pontifex, gratiam Imperatoris haberet; Si et hoc fieri praepediret, a ſuo gradu decideret, that he would degrade him from the Papacy, as he depoſed Heraclius Patriarch of Conſtantinople, for diſſwading, oppoſing his ſuppreſſing, defacing of Images, and refuſing to ſubſcribe his Decree againſt them; making Anaſtatius Patriarch in his ſtead; who concurred with him againſt Images. This Pope Gregory inſtead of obeying the Emperor herein: Tributa Romanae Vrbis prohibuit, et Italiae, ſcribens ad Leonem Epiſtolam dogmaticam non oportere Imperatorem de fide facere verbum: (a falſhood in the higheſt degree, againſt all his Predeceſſors doctrine, unleſſe qualified with the enſuing words in a right ſence and ſubject, here miſapplyed) & novitate violare antiqua dogmata Eccleſiae Catholicae. And to preſerve himſelf in his See, he mutinied all the Officers and Souldiers in Rome and Italy againſt the Emperor, ſo farr as to reſolve to march to Conſtantinople to depoſe him, and chuſe another Emperor in his place, upon this quarrel of Images,**Zonaras Tom. 3. in Leone. Cent. Magd. 8. c. …6. col: 357. 531, 684. Some write, that Pope Gregory the 2d. excommunicated p. 168the Emperor Leo in a Synod at Rome, and that the Emperor derided his excommunication, ſaying, Idolatra eſt, et ipſe excommunicatus a Deo: However all accord, that he removit Romam & Italiam, necnon & omnia tam Reipublicae quam Eccleſiaſtica jura in Hesperiis ab obedientia Imperatoris (as Paulus Diaconus and others expreſs it) Leonem per Epiſtolas tanquam impie agentem redarguens, & Romam cum tota Italia ab illius Imperio recedere faciens: wherupon the Emperor appointed ſeveral of his Officers in Italy to apprehend, depoſe or kill him for his Treaſons; whom he by mutinies cauſed to be ſlain themſelves.aaOratio 2. De Imaginibus, p. 736. John Damaſcen, a Monk, oppoſed the Emperor in Syria, writing in defence of Images; Regum eſt civilis adminiſtratio: We obey thee, O King, in things that belong to civil & ſecular affairs, quantum ad nos ſpectat, the government wherof is committed to you; But in Eccleſiastical matters, Paſtors and Biſhops have delivered Lawes and Conſtitutions to us; We may not remove thoſe lawfull bounds which are ſet unto us; Anno 733as if their Canons or Decrees were of abſolute force to bind Kings or Emperors without their conſents, which they never did. This Emperor proceeded to put many Prieſts as well as others to death in Constantinople and elſwhere, who preſumed to erect Images, and diſobeyed his Imperial Edicts. Hereupon PopebbAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Albo Floriacenſis & Platina in Gregorio 3. Centur. Magd. 8 c. 8. col. 531, Gregory the 3d. who ſucceeded Gregory the 2. Anno 731. writ commonitory Letters to this Emperor Leo, three times one after another, to diſſwade him from his opinion and proceedings againſt Images and the defenders of them, ſending them by special Meſſengers, who were apprehended, their Letters taken from them, and they impriſoned for ſundry moneths, then ſent away with reproaches by the Emperor. An Argument of this Emperors Supremacy, and the Popes ſubjection to him.

ccPaulus Diaconus hiſt. Rom l. 22. p. 307. Cent. Magd. 8. c. 9.Conſtantine the Emperor ſurnamed Copronimus,Anno 747 in the 13th year of his reign, Contra Imagines Concilium 38. Epiſcoporum congregavit in Palatio Hieriae, which continued together from the 3. of February to the 16. of Auguſt. After which, aſcendit Conſtantinus Imperator in ambonem, tenens Conſtantinum Monachum, qui fuit Sylei Epiſcopus, & cum oraſſet, voce magna pronunciavit, dicens, Conſtantino univerſali Patriarchae multos annos; creating him Patriarch of Conſtantinople by his Imperial power. Et deinde aſcendit Imperator cum Conſtantino ſcelerato Praeſule & reliquis Epiſcopis forum, divulgantes orthodoxam (cacodoxam writes Paulus Diaconus) fidem in conspectu totius plebis, anathematizantes Germanum Patriarcham, & Gregorium Cyprium, & Johannem Chryſoroan Damaſcenum.

Our **Operum Tom: 8. p. 561 In Ezra Expoſit. Alegorica, l. 2: Tom: 4. p. 348Venerable Beda in his Commentarius in Pſ. 50. Anno 720On theſe words, Tibi ſoli peccavi, reſolves thus. Rex enim ſi peccat, ſoli Deo peccat, quia nullus alius eum pro peccatis ſuis puniet. Therefore not the Pope. And he determines, that Reges & Sacerdotes merito omnes in Eccleſia perfecti vocantur, cum ſint membra Reges & Sacerdotis ſummi; cum ſeipſos bene regere, cum ſua corpora Domino hostiam veraciter exhibere didicerunt; as well as Popes or Prieſts.

**Surius, Tom. 3. p. 40, 41Synodus Sueſſionenſis ſub Childerico Rege & Duce Pipino, Anno 744(conſiſting of the Nobility as well as Clergy) was ſummoned by Pipin the Kings Vicegerent, and all the Canons were made and conſented unto by the Nobility as well as Clergy, as this ratification implies: Si quis contra hoc Decretum quod 23. Epiſcopi cum aliis Sacerdotibus, una cum conſenſu Principis Pipini, & Optimatum Francorum conſilio conſtituerunt, tranſgredi, vel legem irrumpere voluerit vel despexerit, judicandus ſit ab ipſo Principe, vel Epiſcopis, vel Comitibus, componat ſecundum quod in lege ſcriptum eſt.

To pretermit the manifold humble ſupplications and obſecrations of PopeddAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Platina, Albo Floriacenſis, Lydius, and others in Zach. & Stephano 3. Centur. 8 c. 10. col. 707, to 723. Abbas Vſpergenſis Chronicon. Zacharias (elected Pope by the People) to Luitprandus King of the Lombards, An. 746, 752, 753and Thraſimundus, with his Preſents to them, to reſtore the Cities and Lands they had ſeiſed in Italy to the Church of Rome, which they denied or deferred to do. Aiſtulphus King of the Lombards demanding an annual Tribute from the Citizens of Rome, Per unumquod que ſcilicet caput ſingulos auri ſolidos annue inferri, & threatning to beſiege the City if they refuſed to pay it; Pope Stephen the 3d. his ſucceſſor, quem cunctus populus conſona voce ſibi elegit Pontificem (not the Clergy alone) when he could not pacify Aistulphus, neither by his Petitions, nor Gifts ſent unto him by his Embaſſadors; (obnixe per eas poſtulavit pacis foedera,) He therupon ſent to Conſtantinople to the Emperor Conſtantinus, intreating Imperialem clementiam, ut cum exercitu ad tuendas Italiae partes, modis omnibus adveniret, & de iniquitatis filiis manſolas, Romanam hanc urbem, vel cunctam Italiam liberaret. But receiving no ayd thence, and Aistulphus proceeding in his menaces and Invaſions upon the Popes Territories; he thereupon writ humble Letters, and ſent Meſſengers to Pepin and Charles Kings of France, to relive them from p. 169their oppreſſions. Afterwards, this Pope repaired in perſon to King Aiſtulphus to Papiae; where preſenting him with many rich gifts, nimis eum obſecratus eſt atque lachrymis profuſis eum petivit, ut dominicas quas abſtulerat redderet over, & propria propriis restitueret; ſed nullo modo apud eum haec impetrare valuit. Sed & imperialis miſſus ſimiſi modo petiit, & Imperiales literas illi tribuit, & non obtinere potuit. Herupon he petitioned Aiſtulphus (who detained him priſoner) that he would grant him leave to go into France; telling him, Si tua voluntas eſt me relaxandi, mea omnino eſt ambulandi, &c. Upon which he releaſed and permitted him to walk into France; where coming to King Pipin and Charles his ſonne, Christianiſſimum Regem lachrymabiliter deprecatus eſt, ut per pacis foedera cauſam beati Petri & Reipublicae Romanorum diſponeret: (having writ a Letter to them before ineeStephani 3. Epiſt: 3 & 4. Gent. Magd. 8: c. 10. col. 707, to 740. St. Peters and all the Saints, Martyrs, and bleſſed Virgins names, exhorting, praying, conjuring them to help St. Peter & the Church of Rome in this emergent neceſsity.) Who thereupon treated with Aiſtulphus, and diſcovering his fraudulent ſhifts, tota ſe virtute profeſſus eſt decertare pro cauſa Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae; whereupon he marched with an Army into Italy, beſieged Papia, and forced Aiſtulphus to ſurrender all the Cities, Lands he had taken from the Church of Rome, De quibus omnibus receptis Civitatibus Rex Pipinus donationem in ſcriptis a beato Petro, atque a Sancta Romana Eccleſia, vel omnibus in perpetuum Pontificibus Apoſtolicae (edis miſit poſſidendum, aſſerens & hoc, quod nulla eum copia, &c. ſuadere valeret, ut quod ſimel beato Petro obtulit, auferret. Thus he reſtored this Pope to his See and poſſeſſions (who had crowned him King of France againſt right) upon what Terms you ſhall hear anon, from ſome of his Succeſſors. It is obſervable that there were no Excommunications, Interdicts, Anathemas uſed againſt Aiſtulphus or others by this Pope, to force them to obedience, which ſucceeding Popes introduced; but only humble prayers, ſupplications, tears, Petitions both to Aiſtulphus, Pipin, and Charles, (as the Popes Superiors, not his Underlings and Vaſſals,) and that for St. Peters Patrimony.

Concilium apud Palatium Vernis was ſummoned,Anno 759 and the Canons therein made ratified by King Pipins Edict, who deſired, **Surius, Tom. 3. p. 41, 42.Haec inconvulſa et inviolata eſſe, being made by his direction; quia facultas modo non ſufficiat ad integrum, tamen aliqua ex parte vult eſſe correctum, quod Eccleſiae Dei valdè dignoſcitur eſſe contrarium: Among other things, it was decreed, cap. 4. Ʋt bis in anno Synodus fiat, Prima Synodus menſe primo, quod eſt Martii Kalend. ubicunque Dominus Rex juſſerit, in eius praeſentia. So that he muſt both ſummon and preſide in it.

Pope Paul, Anno 757Stephens Succeſſor (elected to be Pope by the Roman Clergy and people quia validior & fortior erat Theophylacto,ddAnaſtat…, Luitprandus, Ba…nes, Balaeus, in vita Pauli: Pa…l…s Diaconus Rerum Roman. lib. 22. & 23. Centur. Magd. 8. c. 10. whom ſome of the people elected, & in ejus domo congregati reſidebat;) although he oft times ſent his Nuncioes, cum obſervatoriis et monitoriis literis Conſtantino & Leoni Auguſtis, pro reſtituendis, confirmandiſque in priſtinum venerationis statum ſacratiſſimis Imaginibus Domini Dei, & Salvatoris noſtri Jeſu Chriſti, ſanctae ejus Genitricis, atque beatorum Apoſtolorum, omniumque ſanctorum Prophetarum, Martyrum & Confeſſorum; yet they would not hearken to him, but proſecuted thoſe who violated their Edicts made againſt their adoration.

After the death of Pope Paul ffAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Barnes, Balaeus, Lydius, P…atina, Onupbrius in Stephano 4. Cent. Magd. 8 c. 10. 16.one Toto, Anno 768Dux Nepeſinae Civitatis, gathering together a great multitude of Soldiers and Ruſticks out of Tuſcia, and entring with them into Rome, in the houſe of Toto, elegerunt ibidem Conſtantinum fratrem ejuſdem Totonis, Laicum exiſtentem, to be Pope, whom many of them accompanying in their Arms in Lateranenſem Patriarcham, continuo accerſito Georgio Epiſcopo, compulerunt cum ut ordinem Clericatus eidem Conſtantino tribueret; who refuſing at firſt to do it, they at laſt by threats and force compelled him out of fear, to ordain him a Deacon and Subdeacon at one time againſt the Sacred Canons: and enforced all the people to take an Oath to him; the next Lords day bringing him with a multitude of armed Souldiers into St. Peters Church, he was there conſecrated Pope by the ſaid George and two Biſhops more. Et ſic per anni ſpatium & menſem unum ſedem Apoſtolicam invaſam detinuit. Which Chriſtophorus and Sergius his ſonne bewailing, went to this Constantine, feining themſelves to become Monks, received an abſolution of their Oath from him, and then departing privily to Deſiderius King of the Lombards, and Theodoric Duke of Spoletum, obnixe eundem Regem deprecati ſunt ejus auxilium tribui, ut talis novitatis error ab Eccleſia Dei amputaretur. Whereupon they procuring forces from King Deſiderius and entring Rome by night, after very many conteſts, apprehended Pope Conſtanine as an invader, uncanonically ordained. Then p. 170Chriſtopherus Pannionus, aggregans Sacerdotes ac Primates Cleri, & Optimates Militae atque univerſum exercitum, & Cives honeſtos, omniſque populi Romani coetum a magno uſ que ad parvum, pertractantes pariter concordaverunt omnes una mente, unoque conſenſu in perſona beatiſſimi Stephani 4. and conſecrated him Pope. After which, in a Council at Rome, Conſtantine was deprived, degraded, as ordained againſt the Canons, the Orders conferred by him whiles Pope, nulled, and the perſons ordained by him either thruſt into Monaſteries, as Monks, or re-ordained: only the baptiſm conferred by them was reputed valid. After this, though Conſtantine excuſed himſelf, that he was made Pope againſt his will by the People and Souldiers, yet he was thruſt Priſoner into a Monaſtery, and had his eyes there put out by a party of Souldiers, of which he died. Afterwards by the Council and aſſiſtance of Duke Maurice and Deſiderius King of Lombardy, one Michael Schrivianus, qui nullo Sacerdotali fungebatur honore, was elected Archbiſhop of Ravenna by the Officers and Army with a ſtrong hand: whereupon this Pope ſent into France to King Charles, and by his aſſiſtance procured Michael to be ejected out of his Biſhoprick, and ſent Priſoner to Rome, and Leo an Archdeacon to be choſen in his place, who was ordained and conſecrated Archbiſhop at Rome by Pope Stephen. Hereupon Deſiderius ſeiſed ſome lands belonging to the Church of Rome, and refuſed to reſtore them upon this Popes Petition, who thereupon ſent ſupplicatory Letters to King Charles and Charlemain into France for aid againſt him. Upon which Deſiderius marching into Rome with an Army, entred into the Popes Palace and preſence with armed Souldiers, ſhut him up in his Palace, apprehended Chriſtopherus and Sergius who ſet up this Pope, and notwithſtanding his interceſsions on their behalf, put out their eyes, and thruſt them into the Monaſtery of St. Agatha and Clare Scauri, where they ſoon after died, and this Pope too through grief.

aaAnaſtatius in Adriano 1. Cent. Magd. 8. c. 10. col. 742. to 747. 928, 929. Blondus Decad. 2. l. 2. Regno l. 2.Pope Adrian the 1. being elected Pope after him,Anno 772 Deſiderius for fear of Charles and Charlemains entring into Italy, deſired Peace with him, promiſing with an Oath to do him all that right which he denied unto Stephen; whereupon the Pope demanded the reſtitution of the City of Faventia, the Dukedom of Ferrata, and other lands, quas ſanctae memoriae Pipinus Rex, & ejus filii Carolus & Carolomannus excellentiſſimi Reges Francorum, & Patricii Romanorum, beato Petro concedentes, obtulerunt; who not only refuſed to ſurrender them, but ſeiſed upon more. After many ſupplicatory Letters for reſtitution, and treaties to that purpoſe ſpent in vain; Deſiderius threatned to beſiege Rome it ſelf; whereupon the Pope diſpatched Letters and Meſſengers to King Charles of France, his Patron, by Sea, deprecavit ejus excellentiam, ut ſicut ſuis Pater ſanctae memoriae Pipinus, & ipſe ſuccurrer at atque ſubveniat Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae atque afflictae Romanorum ſeu Exarchatus Ravennentium provinciae, atque plenarias beati Petri juſticias & ablatas Civitates ab eodem Deſiderio Rege exigeret. Whereupon Charles by his Meſſengers, exhorted him to reſtore all theſe Cities and Territories to the Church: who after many Meſſages and Treaties, gave this peremptory anſwer, Se minime quicquam redditurum. King Charls hereupon marched with a great Army into Italy, admoniſhing Deſiderius without any battel, peaceably to reſtore thoſe Cities and Lands to the Church, who yet refuſed to do it. After which Deſiderius flying, and all his forces being diſperſed, the Cities and Territories craving pardon, returned to their obedience to the Church of Rome, and took an Oath to continue faithfull to it. Charles having reduced all Places and Territories to their obedience, took his journey to Rome it ſelf, beyond the Popes expectation:Anno 772. where being magnificently entertained, he made a New Grant and Donation of all the Lands formerly granted by Pepin to the Church of Rome, ſubſcribed with his own hand, and the hands of all the Biſhops, Abbots, Dukes and Secretaries then preſent. Then returning, he carried Deſiderius and his wife Priſoners with him into France.

This Pope Adrian, Anno 774. holding a Council at Rome, conſiſting of 153 Biſhops and Abbots, by way of gratitude, decreed the right of electing the Pope himſelf and all other Biſhops, with their Inveſtitures, and ordering the Roman See, unto Charles and his Succeſſors; thus recorded by Gratian himſelf, Diſtinct. 63. Adrianus, prefaced with this Rubrick, authorized by ſundry Popes, Imperator ius habet eligendi Pontificem. ccGratian Diſtinctio 67. Cent. Magd. 8. c. 7. col: 1511. c. 10. col. 748. Sigebertus, An. 773. Centur. Magd. 8. col. 928.Adrianus Papa Romam venire Carolum Regem ad defendendas res Eccleſiae poſtulavit; Carolus verò Romam veniens Papiam obſedit, ibique relicto exercitu in ſancta reſurrection ab Adriano Papa Romae honorificè ſuſceptus p. 171eſt, poſt ſanctam reſurrectionem reverſus Papiam, cepit Deſiderium Regem: deinde Romam reverſus, Congruit ibi Synodum cum Adriano Papa in Patriachatus Lateranenſis in Eccleſia Sancti Salvatoris, quae Synodus celebrata eſt a 353. Epiſcopis Reſigioſis & Abbatibus, aaSee Mat Weſtm: Anno 773. Polychronicon, l. 5. c. 26 Cent. Magd: 8. c. 7. col. 511. c. 9. 572. Aventinus Annal. Boiorum, l. 4. Antoninus, Tit, 14. c. 1 ſect: 6, Mutius, German, Chron. l. 7 Blondus Decad, 2. l. 1. Sigebete… Chron. Anno 773 Dr. Barns & Balae… in Hadriano.Adrianus autem Papa cum univerſali Synodo tradiderunt Carolo, Ius et Poteſtatem eligendi Pontificem, et ordinandi Apoſtolicam ſedem: dignitatem quoque Patriciatus ipſi conceſſerunt. Inſuper, Archiepiſcopos et Epiſcopos per ſingulas Provincias ab eo inveſtituras accipere diffinivit; ut niſi a Rege laudetur et inveſtiatur Epiſcopus, a nemine conſecretur; et quicunque contra hoc Decretum ageret, anathematis vinculo eum innodavit, et niſi reſipiſceret bona ejus publicari praecepit. In which Decree theſe things are very obſervable: 1. That this Council even in Rome it ſelf, was called, conſtituted by Charles, the Great, whiles Kings of France, before he was crowned Emperor. 2ly. That it granted to him no new thing, but an antient right belonging to the Roman Emperors; to wit the right, power of electing the Pope himſelf, and ordering the See Apoſtolick. 3ly. It granted him the dignity of a Patricius, or Protector of Rome. 4ly. That all Archbiſhops and Biſhops in all Provinces (therefore in France and in Spain, as the Gloſſe obſerves, as well as other places) ſhould receive their inveſtitures from the Emperor alone. 5ly. That none of them ſhall be recommended, inveſted, or conſecrated a Biſhop by any perſon, unleſſe firſt recommended and inveſted a Biſhop by the King. 6ly. That whoſoever ſhould tranſgreſſe this Decree, ſhall not only be excommunicated, but alſo forfeit his goods, unleſſe he repented. What greater evidence for his abſolute regal Supremacy over the Pope and all other Archbiſhops and Biſhops in Eccleſiaſtical matters, then this Councils Decree held in Rome it ſelf, and ratified by the Pope himſelf in St. Peters pretended unerring chair?

aaAnno 774, nu. 10, &c.Cardinal Baronius being unable to untie this Gordian knot, takes upon him to cut it quite aſunder, obſtinately denying, there was any ſuch Council as this held, or any ſuch Decree made; as doth his ApologiſtbbApologia pro Baronio c. 1. l. 2. Contr. Replic. c. 1. Gretzer the Jeſuit, who pretend it a forgery of Sigebert: But Pope Leo the 3d. mentioning it in his ſubſequent Decree recorded next after it by Gratian, and he in other Decrees there recorded by him; Bartholomeus Buxienſis, Dr. Thierry, and all other Gloſſers on Gratian gloſſing it as unqueſtionable: our antient HiſtorianccHiſt: Angliae. l. 2. William of Malmesbury and Pope Gregory cited by him,ddDe Juribus Imperat: l. Eutropius Presbyter,eeIn vita Paſchalis 1. Plantina,ffGerman. Prinl. c. pum, l. 8. Lupoldus, ggDe Privilegiis et Juribus imperii ff. poſt.Theodoricus de Niem, hhDe Tranſlatione Imperii, c. 10.Marſilius Patavinus, iiDe Tranſlatione Imperii, Sect: Hoc itaque.Radulphus de Columna, kkPart 3. Tract. 2. l. 3. c. 3.Occam, llIn Diſtinctio. 63.Johannis Semeca, mmPart 2. Monarchiae, c. 8.Antonius de Roſellis, nnIn Diſtinct: 63.Cardinal Turre Cremata, ooDe Schiſmate lib. ſect. Quis.Cardinal Zabarella, ppLib. 3. Concordiae Cathol. c. 3.Cardinal Cuſanus, qqDe Eccleſiae Authoritate, part 1. cap. 1. Sect. Ex eadem.Cardinal Cameracenſis, rrAd Annum 772.Nauclerus, ſſAd Ann. 788.Martinus Polonus, ttAd Ann. 784.Wernerus, uuChron: ad Ann. 774.Chronicon Richeſpergenſe, xxAnno 1112.Matthew Paris, yyAnno 773.Mat. Westminſter, zzLib. 4. in Carolo Magno.Robertus Gagninus, aaDe Regal. nu. 16, 17.Boetius Epon, bbIn vita Gregorii 7.Onuphrius, andccDi. Crakenthorp of the Popes Temporal Monarchy, c. 5. p. 75, to 80. Aventinus Annal. c. 4. Polycht. l. 5. c. 16. ſundry others, mentioning and aſſerting its reality, it muſt needs be both unpardonable impudency and falſity for theſe ſhameleſſe Lyars to gainſay it, without the leaſt ſhadow of truth, or evidence to the contrary, near one thouſand years after this Synod.

The aaSurius Conci…. Tom: 3. p. 48, 50, 51, 78. 127, 138, 178 182, 187, 190. Cent. Magd 8. cap. 9. col. 588, &c. Paulus Diacon. Hiſt. Rom l. 23.2d. Synod of Nice was ſummoned by the Decree of Conſtantine and Irene, Anno 787as the Prologue to it atteſts, Imperantibus piiſſimis & Chriſto deditiſſimis Dominis noſtris, cum matre ſua Irene, per pium illorum Imperatorum ſancte Orbem terrarum gubernantum Decretum congregata eſt. And in their Epiſtles to the Biſhops, (divina voluntate, et noſtra gratia juſſuque ſacrati noſtri Imperii congregatis in Nicena Synodo:) treating of the benefits received by Chriſts incarnation, and his imperial office and duty, they aſſert: Jeſus Chriſtus primus factus ſummus Sacerdos, hujus appellationis reddidit NOS conſortes, O viri Sacerdotes, &c. Hanc igitur ob beatitudinem quae nobis donataeſt, nobilitatiſque cauſa qua Deus nos adoptavit, Imperatoria noſtra & pia Majeſtas ad concordiam p. 172et pacem univerſum Romanum Imperium erigere contendens, praecipue tamen ſanctarum Dei noſtri Eccleſiarum ſtatum, qua poſſumus cura et conſilio conſervare intendimus. After which they granted all aſſembled in this Synod this Liberty. Damus quoque unicuique libertatem, ut ſine omni formidine eloquatur, quae ſecum animo deliberavit, quo veritas magis magiſque eluceſcat: et intrepiva voce audiatur. Then ſpeaking of Tharaſeus Patriarch of Conſtantinople, who oft refuſed to accept that office when elected to it, as too heavy for his ſhoulders, omnibus libertatem dedimus, ut ſi quid adverſus virum haberent, dicerent, ut purgare ſeſe poſſet. After they direct, that the Letters of Pope Adrian ſhould firſt be read in the Synod, Poſt id etiam duas quaterniones umbelicas concluſas legetis, &c. ut per … cognoſcatis, quaenam ſit Catholicae Eccleſiae ſententia & judicium. Sancta Synodus reſpondit: Servet Deus Imperium eorum, producat illorum tempora Deus, augeat Dominos eos gratia. Then they proceeded according to their inſtructions. When aaSurius, p. 65.Tharaſius Preſident of this Synod would have cauſed another Book to be read before Pope Adrians Letter, contrary to the Emperors direction, Leontius glorioſiſſimus, Imperatori a Secretis, dixit, Sacra & a Deo collecta Synodus meminerit, in priore conventione, D…i obſerantium magnorum Imperatorum noſtrorum fuiſſe lectas literas, in quibus mentio fiebat ſanctiſſimi & beatiſſimi Archiepiſcopi veteris Romae, et religioſiſſimorum Pontificum Orientis Synodicarum literarum, quas in duabus quaternionibus adducimus (which they ordered to be read firſt) de quibus vos, quid fieri vultis, admonemus? Sancta Synodus dixit, Legantur libelli beatiſſimi & ſanctiſſimi Archiepiſcopi veteris Romae. Et legit eos Nicephorus glorioſiſſimus ab Imperialibus ſecretis. The Emperors Great Officers and Privy Counſellors being preſent in this Synod, directed the proceedings therein, as theſe paſſages, & bbIbid. 72, 78, 91, 127.praeſentibus ſimul & audientibus Illustriſſimis juxta ac magnificentiſſimis Senatoribus, nimirum Petronio glorioſo exconſule Patricio, & Theophilacto Comite Imperialis obſequii, Joanne regio oſtiario, &c. with others there named evidence. Pope Adrians Letters there read, are thus directed, ccSurius, p. 64, 65, 69.Dominis piiſsimis et ſereniſsimis Victoribus, &c. Conſtantino et Irenae Auguſtis, Adrianus Servus ſervorum Dei. In the beginning of his Epiſtle he writes, Deus in Eccleſiae ſuae faciem reſpiciens, pietatem veſtram & praedeſtinatam Serenitatem Imperatoriae manſuetudinis, ad profectionem fidei vocare non dedignatus eſt, quo omnem emendari improbitatem PER VOS contigat, veritatemque in lucem perducat. Then he ſubjoyns, Quemadmodum enimà Superioribus haereſeos ſchiſmatibus eramus conterrefacti; ita nunc rurſum per veſtram juſsionem (their ſummons to him) exultatione ſumus perfuſi: nam in regia veſtra Civitate venerandum Imaginum cauſa juſsiſtis retractari, &c. Nuper verò per piam veſtram juſsionem de voluntate veſtra inſtructi, Omnipotenti Deo pro veſtro imperio precibus ſolicitantes, gratiarum actione gloriam iſtius praedicamus. Illud autem in ſtabilimentum & confirmationem regni vestri maxime fit, quod magnum opus hoc aggreſſi eſtis, quod ſine mediatione veſtra in hoc mundo vix fieri poteſt, &c. Vos autem partem habebatis cum eo, qui nunc in divina requieſcit, Conſtantino Imperatore, & Helena ejus matre, qui orthodoxam fidem illuſtrarunt et confirmarunt, adeoque ſanctam matrem veſtram catholicam et ſpiritualem, Romanam Eccleſiam exaltarunt, ut plane ſpes ſit, eorum piam appellationem in veſtra cognomenta piiſsima et a Deo data, tranſituram, ut per omnem terrarum orbem novus Conſtantinus, et nova Helena praedicetur, per quos ſancta Catholica et Apoſtolica Eccleſia renovabitur, &c. After which relating the ſtory of Conſtantines baptiſm; he adds, Non immemor accepti beneficii Eccleſias aedificare coepit, &c. nec alia de cauſa, quam ut Chriſtianiſsimum in lucem et veritatem, ubique multum proveheret, et omnes gentes a cultu idolorum et diabolica deceptione converteret; p. 173which he eſteemed his bounden duty. This Pope clozeth his Epiſtle with this ſubmiſſive ſupplication: **Ibid. p. 69.Obſecrantes igitur ex animi fervore veſtram manſuetudinem atteſtando, et veluti praeſentes genibus advoluti, et coram veſtigiis pedum volutando; ego cum fratribus meis coram Deo ſupplico, obteſtor, adjuro, ſacras Imagines in ipſa Regia Vrbe, et in utriſque Graeciae partibus in priſtinum ſtatum reſtitui et firmari jubeatis. In this Council there are ddSurius, Ibid. p. 83, 90. 138, 197.many paſſages concerning the propagation, defence, protection of the Orthodox faith, religion, and ſuppreſsion of hereſies by Chriſtian Emperors; and theſe frequent Acclamations, Prayers for Conſtantine and Irene, who ſummoned and directed this Council, Multi anni Imperatoribus, Conſtantino & Irenae magnis Regibus: Orthodoxis Imperatoribus multi anni. Cuſtodes fidei Domine protegas: Propugnatores Eccleſiae Domine confirma. Novi Conſtantini et novae Helenae aeterna memoria: pacificam vitam da illis Domine. Amen. As this Pope, ſo eeIbid. p. 187, 188.Tharaſius Patriarch of Conſtantinople, in his Epiſtle to Conſtantine and Irene, written from, and in the name of this Synod, ſtiles them: Vniverſi Populi Chriſtiani Principes ac Duces; ad pietatem veritate Sermonem contuliſtis, et orthodoxae fidei pietatiſque figuram deſcripſiſtis. Vnde fidelibus tanquam faces ardentes relucetis, et periclitanti Eccleſiae manum porrexiſtis. Nam et ſanas doctrinas conſervatis, et diſſidentium unanimiter concordiam gubernatis: pietatis officia per vos ſunt ſtabilitata: Quamobrem,ffPſalm 125Ps 125 Os noſter impletum eſt gaudio, & lingua noſtra exultatione. Quid enim ſplendidius magnificentiuſque eſſe poſſet Principi, quam Eccleſiaſticarum conſtitutionum firmitatem et ſtabilimentum integrum conſervaviſſe, &c? Neque putaſtis ferendum aut tolerabile, quod in reliquis omnibus rebus bene inter nos conveniret, de vitae autem veſtrae ſumma et praecipuo, nimirum fide et pace Eccleſiae inter nos eſſent diſsidia; maxime cum noſtrum caput Vnicum ſit Chriſtus, (not the Pope) nos autem deinceps illius unius corporis membra, propter eam quae inter nos communem fidem et ſententiam.

This Idolatrous Synod of Nice, Anno 794and Pope Adrian having confirmed not only the lawfullneſſe of making,ggSurius Concil Tom. 3. p. 226, 23…, to 252. Regino lib. 2. Cent. Magd. 8. cap: 9. col. 626, 627. but adoration of Images, and Elepandus Archbiſhop of Toledo in Spain having broached an heretical Opinion concerning the Sonſhip of Chriſt; thereupon King Charles the Great, Anno 794. ſummoned a Councila t Frankford, to which Abbot Alchuinus was called, who writ**Alchuini Opera, col. 901 to 1007. ſeveral Treatiſes againſt Elepandus. The Acts whereof begin thus, Sacro incitante ſpiritu, ac zelo fidei Catholicae ſcintillatim ſubferveſcente, clementiſſimi & tranquilliſſimi glorioſique Caroli Regis, Domini terrae, Imperii ejus decreto per diverſas provincias regni ejus ditioni ſubjecta, multitudo Antiſtitum ſacris obtemperando praeceptis, in uno collegio adgregata convenit. When they were ſate, praecipiente & Praeſidente piiſſimo & glorioſiſsimo Domino noſtro Carolo Rege, (Charles being not only preſent, but Preſident in that Synod) jubente Rege, Elepandus his Epiſtle being read with a lowd voyce; the King thereupon made a long Oration againſt it; and then demanded, Quid vobis videtur? Cumque impetrata et conceſſa eſſet inviſa dilatio per dies aliquot, placuit ejus manſuetudini, ut unuſquiſque quicquid Ingenii captu rectius ſentire potuiſſet, per ſacras ſyllabas die ſtatuto ejus clementiae oblatum, deferret. Whereupon Paulinus Biſhop of Aquilegia and others tendred a refutation of Elepandus his Opinion, in the cloze whereof they made a large Prayer to God for King Charles his proſperous ſucceſſe, and peaceable Government of the Church and Kingdom, and uſe theſe expreſſions: Sit Dominus et Pater, ſit REX & SACERDOS, ſit omnium p. 174Chriſtianum moderatiſsimus gubernator, auxiliante Domino noſtro Ieſu Chriſto, &c. After which followes anhhSurius, Ibid. p. 237, 247, 248, &c. Epiſtle of all the Biſhops of Germany, France, Aquitain, and other places met in this Synod, to the Biſhops and Clergy of Spain, reciting their Summons by King Charles, Domini Regis noſtri, praecipua pietate et laudabili ſapientia adſedente et auriliante Nobis; by whoſe direction and aſſiſtance they had read, debated, and refuted Elepandus his Epiſtle: Then follows this Kings own Epiſtle to Elepandus, and the Clergy of Spain, with this inſcription, Carolus Gratia Dei Rex Francorum, & Longobardorum, ac Patricius Romanorum, Filius & Defenſor Sanclae Dei Eccleſiae, &c. Wherein he refutes Elepandus his Opinion, makes a large, pious, Orthodox Conſeſſion of his faith, in imitation of Conſtantine the Great: adding, Hanc igitur fidem orthodoxam, & ab Apoſtolicis traditam doctoribus, & ab univer…ali ſervatam Eccleſia, Nos pro unione noſtrarum partium utique in omnibus SERVARE & PRAEDICARE PROFITEMUR, quia non eſt in alia aliqua ſalus, niſi in illa. Exhorting them to return to the Church, and embrace this faith; Habetote Nos cooperatores ſalutis veſtrae, Catholicae pacis auriliares, &c. In this Council he likewiſeiiRegino. Abbas Vſpergenſis Chron: p. 270. Surius Concil. Tom: 3. p 220. Cent: Magd. 8 c. 9. col: 640, to 651 condemned the adoration of Images, againſt the Epiſtle and reſolution of Pope Adrian, and the Council of Nice, which this Council revoked, as neither oecumenical, nor as any thing: ut nec ſeptima, nec aliquid diceretur, quaſi ſupervacua ab omnibus abdicata eſt, writes Abbas Uſpergenſis.

Our famous Country-man Flaccus Alchuinus Abbas, Anno 796(Scholar to our Venerable Beda, and Tutor to the Emperor Charles the Great,) thus defines, deſcribes the Office, duty of a aaEpiſtola 29 col. 1539, 1540King, with the care he ought to have of the Orthodox Faith, Church, Religion, and Eccleſiaſtical affairs, aſſerting the Emperors Supremacy over the Church and Pope himſelf; Regis eſt, omnes iniquitates, pietatis ſuae potentia opprimere, &c. Eccleſiarum Chriſti ſint defenſores et tutores, ut ſervorum Dei orationibus longa vivant proſperitate. In his Epiſtola 1. to King Charles the Great, (to whom he uſually directed his Epiſtles under the ſtile of, a Deo dilecto, atque a Deo electo David Regi, powring out many fervent thankſgivings and prayers to God for him both in Verſe and Proſe) he writes, Tota ſancta Dei Eccleſia unanimo charitatis concentu gratias agere Deo omnipotenti debebit; Qui tam pium, prudentem & juſtum, his noviſſimis mundi & periculoſiſſimis temporibus, populo Chriſtiano perdonavit clementiſsimo munere Rectorem et Defenſorem: qui prava corrigere, et recta corroborare, et ſancta ſublimare omni intentione ſtudeat, et nomen Domini Dei excelſi per multa terrarum ſpatia dilatare gaudeat, et Catholicae fidei lumen in extremis mundi partibus incendere conetur. Haec eſt, O dulciſsime David, gloria, laus, et merces tua in judicio diei magni, &c. Epiſt. 11. he writes, Tres Perſonae altiſsimae in mundo fuerunt; Apoſtolica ſublimitas, quae beati Petri Principis Apoſtolorum ſedem Vicario munere regere ſolet. Alia eſt Imperialis dignitas, et ſecundae Romae ſecularis potentia. Terna eſt Regalis dignitas, in qua vos Domini noſtri Ieſu Chriſti diſpenſatio Rectorem Chriſtiani populi diſpoſuit, caeteris praefatis dignitatibus potentia excellentiorem, ſapientia clariorem, regni dignitate ſublimiorem.bbCol. 1462. 1502, 1503. Ecce in te ſolo tota ſalus Eccleſiarum Chriſti inclinata recumbit. Tu vindex ſcelerum; tu Rector errantium, tu Conſolator merentium, tu exaltatio bonorum. Nonne Romana in ſede, ubi religio maximae pietatis quondam claruerit, ibi extrema impietatis exempla emerſerunt? Ipſi cordibus ſuis excaecati caput ſuum excaecaverunt. Nec ibi timor Dei, nec ſapientia, nec charitas eſſe videtur: Then relating ſundry abuſes fit to be redreſſed both in Rome and elſewhere: he infers, Ex his omnibus tibi plena ſcientia data eſt a Deo, ut per te ſancta Dei Eccleſia (not by the Pope) in populo Chriſtiano regatur, exaltetur, et conſervetur. Epiſt. 12. he uſeth theſe p. 175expreſsions of this Charles. O dulciſsime decus populi Chriſtiani! O defenſio Eccleſiarum Chriſti! conſolatio vitae praeſentis. Quibus tuam beatitudinem omnibus neceſſarium eſt votis exaltare, interceſsionibus adjuvare, quatenus per veſtram proſperitatem Chriſtianum tueatur Imperium, fides Catholica defendatur, juſtitiae regula omnibus innoteſcat. Ecce quid actum eſt de Apoſtolica ſede in civitate praecipua (Roma) in dignitate excellentiſsima, quae omnia veſtro tantummodo ſervantur judicio (not to the Popes, nor Synods) ut prudentiſsimo conſilio ſapientiae vobis a Deo datae, temperata conſideratione corrigantur quae corrigenda ſunt, et conſerventur quae conſervanda ſunt; et quae clementia divina geſsit pietas extollentur in laudem illius, qui ſalvum fecit ſervum ſuum.ccCol. 1506, 1611, 1612, 1613, 1649. Epiſt. 13. Veſtra clariſsima voluntas in hoc omni laboret ſtudio, ut Chriſti nomen clarificetur, ut ejus divina potentia per fortitudinis veſtrae triumphos**Many Pagan Kings & Nations were converted to Chriſtianity by his means, recorded at large Cent. Magd. 8, & 9, cap. 2. multis terrarum regnis innoteſcat; quatenus non ſolum magnitudo poteſtatis te Regem oſtendat, ſed etiam inſtantia ſeminandi verbi Dei, in laude Domini noſtri Ieſu Chriſti PRAEDICATOREM EFFICIAT. Ideo divina gratia his duobus mirabiliter te ditavit muneribus, id eſt, terrenae foelicitatis imperio, et ſpiritalis ſapientiae latitudine, ut in utroque proficias, donec ad aeternae beatitudinis pervenias foelicitatem: Parce populo Chriſtiano, et Eccleſias Chriſti defende, &c. Epiſt. 14. He adds, Sanctae religionis fervore omnibus praecellis. Felix populi qui tali Principe gaudet; cujus ſolium diſsipat iniquitatem. Nam quod olim Apoſtolici Patres ſuis ſcriptis in confirmationem Fidei Catholicae, diverſis mundi partibus peragerunt; hoc veſtra ſanctiſſima ſollicitudo implere non ceſſat. Hoc mirabile et ſpeciale in te, pietatis mi Domine praedicamus, quod tanta devotione Eccleſias Chriſti a perfidorum doctrinis intrinſecus purgare tuerique niteris; quanto forinſecus à Paganorum vaſtatione defendere vel propagare curaris. His duobus gladiis (the two ſwords then by Gods appointment belong to the Emperor, not the Pope) venerandam excellentiam dertra leva que armavit divina Potentia: In quibus Victor laudabilis et Triumphator glorioſus exiſtis. His Epiſt. 24. to the ſame King Charles, hath this Exordium; Gloria & Laus Deo Omnipotenti pro ſalute & proſperitate veſtra; Dulciſſime mi David, atque pro omni honore & ſapientia, in quibus te ſpeciali gratia omnibus ſupercellere fecit. Perpetua gratiarum actio reſonet, & aſſidua ſanctarum interceſſio orationum ad Deum dirigatur, quatenus longaeva proſperitate, feliciter vivas, valeas, et regnes, ad correctionem et exaltationem ſanctae ſuae Eccleſiae, ut ſub protectione tuae venerandae poteſtatis ſecura quiete Deo deſerviat. After which craving his favor in two Eccleſiaſtical matters expreſſed in his Epiſtle; he concludes it thus; Tu proſperitas regni, tu ſalus populi; Tu Decus Eccleſiae, tu omnium protectio fidelium Chriſti. Nobis igitur ſub umbrae potentiae, & ſub tegmine pietatis tua divina conceſſit gratia religioſam ducere vitam; atque ſecura quiete Deo Chriſto deſervire. Ideo ſollicita mente, & pia intentione, pro tua proſperitate & ſalute curam habere, & intercedere juſtum & neceſſarium habemus Domine deſiderantiſſime, atque omni honore digniſſime David Rex. In his ddCol. 1649Epiſt. 106. ad Karolum Imperatorem, he hath this paſſage; Unde patenter cognoſci poterit, non tantum Imperatoriae veſtrae prudentiae potestatem a Deo ad ſolum mundi Regimen, SED MAXIME AD ECCLESIAE PRAESIDIUM et ſapientiae decorem collatum. Siquidem praeter Imperiales et publicas curas, evangelicas quaeſtiones Academicis veſtris a nobis enucleandas inquiritis, &c. Epiſtola 83 & 84. contain an Admonition of this Charles to Pope Leo, where he ſtiles himſelf Karolus Dei gratia Rex, & Defenſor Sanctae Eccleſiae. Wherein among other things p. 176he admoniſheth this Pope (who promiſed to do him Fealty upon the certificate of the Charter of his Election ſent to him) De Simoniaca ſubvertenda haereſi, quae ſanctae Eccleſiae corpus multis malè maculat in locis. Then informs the Pope, Noſtrum eſt ſecundum aurilium divinae pietatis, ſanctam ubique Chriſti Eccleſiam ab incurſu Paganorum, et ab infidelium devaſtatione, armis defendere foris, et intus Catholicae fidei agnitione munire. Veſtram eſt ſanctiſsime Pater elevatis ad Deum cum Moyſi manibus noſtram adjuvare militiam, quatenus vobis intercedentibus Deo ductore et datore,eeCol. 1730, 1748. populus Chriſtianus ſuper inimicos ſui ſancti nominis ubique ſemper habeat victoriam, &c. In his Poemata, Section 221. he writes thus to him. Tu decus Ecclecleſiae, Rector, defenſor, amator. And elſewhere. Rex Carolus, Caput orbis; Europae venerandus apex: altaque diſponens venturae moenia Romae. P…urima nempe tibi ſunt emendanda per orbem. O ffCol, 1744.Rex, O Rector, O Decus Eccleſiae: Grex eſt quippe tuus populus; tu paſtor ovilis. Ipſa caput mundi ſpectat te Roma Patronum; Rector et Eccleſiae, per te rex rite regatur, &c. O pater, O Paſtor, Rector, ſpes alma tuorum; Sit tibi vita, ſalus, ſit ſine fine, Vale. Moſt of his Writings, Poems, Epiſtles are full of the like expreſſions. In few words he writes of him, ggEpiſt: 105. Col. 1648, 1669. Willielmus Malmsb… De Geſt…s Regum Angl. l. 1. c. 11. Cent. Magd. 8. & 9. cap. 2.Plurimos convertit populos ad caritatem Chriſti et laudes. Antiqui Saxones et omnes Friſones populi, inſtante Rege Karolo, alios praemiis, alios minis ſollicitante, ad fidem Chriſti converſi ſunt; beſides many others.