Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations, History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (7 of 15)

Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations · History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (7 of 15)

p. 217ddBibl…o…eca Patrum, Tom. 9 pars 2. p. 717. F.Rhemigius Antiſſiodorenſis Epiſcopus,Anno 886 who flouriſhed under Carolus Calvus, and Craſſus, in his Enarrationes in Pſalmos, Pſal. 50. Tibi ſoli peccavi: hath this Expoſition: Alii ſi peccant, Regi, qui judex poſitus eſt, peccant & Deo. Rex ſi peccat, ſoli Deo peccat, quia ſolus Deus punit eum; not the Pope.

eeSurius Concil. Tom. 3. 547.The Council of Mentz,Anno 888 under Arnulphus the Emperor, Cap. 1, 2. decreed: Statuimus, ut oratio ab omnibus nobis tam pro glorioſo Rege Arnulpho, ſeu etiam & pro glorioſiſſima conjuge ſua, ne…non & proſtatu totius Chriſtianitatis, prout nos debitores eſſe cognoſcimus, in Eccleſiis noſtris quotidie celebretur. Ut annuncietur glorioſo Regi noſtro & Domino Arnulpho, quid ſit Rex, quidve vocari …. Rex a r…cte rege…o vocatur. Si enim pie, et juſte, et miſericorditer regit, merito Rex appellatur, &c. (as in the Council of Paris,**Here p 191, 192. forecited.) Eos quibus temporaliter imperat dictis atque exemplis, ad opus pietatis, juſtitiae et miſericordiae ſolerter excitet, attendens, quod pro his Deo rationem redditurus ſit, &c. as the Council of Paris de…i…ed.

ffSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 551. Centur. Magd. 9. c. 9.In the Council of M…ts, Anno 890(Concilium Metenſe) the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, and Prieſts, cum Comitibus, et pluribus Nobilibus et Deum timentibus viris, adfuerunt; by the Emperor Arnulphus his order; ubi pari voto, parique conſenſu, pro vera charitate, et tranquillitate Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae: They enacted 9. Can…ns, (the laſt was for extraordinary Prayers, and three dayes Faſt, with Letanies for the Emperor Arnulphus) as Epiſcopi et Presbyteri, et fideles Laici, qui ante nos fuerunt, p. 218juxta … Canonum authoritatem, ſaepius in Chriſti nomine convenientes, juſtitiam Dei …, &c. Therefore Earls, Noble men, and other … acknowledgment, had then, and frequently … before this … voyce and conſent with Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abb…s, Prieſts, in … in …aking Eccleſiaſtical Laws and Canons, to which the Emperor aſſented, … them valid and obligatory.

gg… Tom. 3 … Cent. Magd. 9. col. 490.About the year 890. Nicholas Patriarch of Conſtantinople, Anno ….excommunicated the Emperor …, ſurnamed Philoſophus, ob quartas Nuptias, for marrying 44th. wife … the … 3. former wives, being no… prohibited by the Law of God. The … entring into the Church or Mocii, on the day of Pentecoſt, to perform his … Cancellis approp… quaret, qui…am è ſuperiore loco prodiens, baculum graviſſimur, quem manibus geſtabat, Imperatoris capiti impegit, quod plane contuliſſet, niſi fustis … candelabro illiſus, maximam vim ami…ſſet. Proceres cum ſanguinem è capite Impera… manantem viderent, turbati ſunt. Sed qui id facinus auſus fuerat, quaeſtionibus adhibitus, … conſcio nominato, pedibus & manibus amputatis, in … eſt conjectus. The Emperor hereupon ſent to Nicholas the Patriarch, ut ſe reciperet & … eximeret; quem cum …, ne que ulla ratione exorare poſſet: ſtatim è Regia … navi tranſvehendum, atque ind… pedeſtri itinere in Galacrenaeum Monaſterium, … curat. Ejus vero loco Patriarcha deſignatus eſt Syngelus Euthymius, …, qui … ſtudio obstitit, ne … ab In peratore promulgaretur, ut ipſius exemplo, … ſecundam, tertiam, & qua…tam etiam uxorem ducere. After this Emperors death, Alexander who ſucceeded …, reſtored Nicholas, and depoſed, baniſhed E…thymius the Patriarch. It is obſervable, that within the ſpace of 40. year; in this age, the Emperor of Conſtantinople depoſed, impriſoned, baniſhed no leſſe then …. patriarchs one after another, for preſuming to oppoſe or excommunicate their, though they conteſted with the Pope of Rome for Supremacy, and held themſelves as univerſal and omnipotent as the Roman Pontiffs.**… Tom. 3. …. Magd. 9. c. 1… … Tom. 5. The 1. was Nicephorus, depoſed and baniſhed by the Emperor Leo, for oppoſing the removing and worſhipping … out of Churches, according to his Imperial Edicts. The 2. was …ohannes Syngelus, who for oppoſing the reſtitution of Images by Theodora, and putting out the eyes of a ſtatue of the Virgin Mary, à dignitate dejectus, flagris caeſus, & in monaſterium concluſus eſt. The 3. Methodius, imaginum venerator ac patronus, a Michaele Balbo ob camhaereſim in carcerem conjectus, & a Theophylo paulo poſt, in inſulam Panormo relegatus, & inter duos latrones concluſus, quorum altero mortuo & putreſ…eme, foetore propemodum enecatus; qui a Theodora pulſo Sygelio conſtituitur Patriarcha. The 4. Ignatius, qui Bardam Caeſarem, qui uxorom ſine cauſa dimi erat, ab aditu in ſacram … repulit; Bardas cum ob excommunicationem ſui, ab officio removit, & ſepulchro incluſit, atque inde extractum in Mitylenam inſulum deportavit, & Photi…m ubſtituit: Pope Nicholas ſent Letters and Legates to move and importune the Emperor Michael to reſtore him, and remove Photius, who refuſed to do it. The 5. Photius. Ba…lius murdring and ſucceeding Michael, Photius for this crime, ab aditu Eccleſiae & communionis, eo quod parricida eſſet, Baſilium prohibuit: Thereupon**See here, p. 213, 214. Baſilius calling a Council at Conſtantinople, by the Popes importunity, Legates, and Letters, deprived Photius, (a great oppoſite to the Pope and his Supremacy) and reſtored …; after whoſe death, Baſilius re-inveſted Photius in this See; unde ite…em … cupulit Leo Philoſophus, & in monaſterium Armeniorum relegavit, fratrem que ſaum … Patriarcham deſignat. The 6. Nicholas. The 7. Euthymius Syngelus. A ſufficient argument of Emperors Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy over their Patriarchs, Biſhops, and againſt Popes, Patriarchs, Biſhops ſuperiority over them.

hhSurius Concil Tom. 3. p. 555, 556, 557, 564, 568, 569. Cent. Magd. 3. cap. 9.Triburienſe Concilium,Anno …5 was ſummoned by Arnulphus the Emperor. In hoc … Concilio praeſidente & adjuvante pio Princepe Arnulpho; there were 58. Eccleſiaſtical Conſtitutions made, by the joynt advice and conſent both of his Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, et omnibus Regni ſui Principibus, necnon convenientibus Eccleſiaſticorum et ſeculariorum innumeris turbis, quatenus infatigabili perſeverantia, divina et humana tractarentur, atque emergentia mala comprimerentur, ut liberius ſancta Dei Eccleſia ſuo potiretur honore. After 3. dayes faſting and prayers for the Emperor & Councils good ſucceſs; The Emperor, pergens ad Palacium, Regale ſedit ſolium, indutus veſte ſplendidiſſima, quam texit ſapientia, repletus eſt prudentia, erectus & potentia, tractans p. 219practice de ſtatu Regni, & theorice de ordine & ſtabilitate Eccleſiarum Chriſti, & qualiter boni quiete viverent, & mali inulte non peccarent. Epiſcoporum ſacer conventus, inter alia quibus divina & humana tractaturi erant, communi voto & pari conſenſu, de collegio ſanctorum Sacerdotum graves & idoneos direxerunt mediatores ad praefatum pium Regem, inquirentes, quo ſtudio, & quali benignitate, ſecundum ſapientiam & poſſibilitatem ab ipſe Deo ſibi datam, Eccleſiam Chriſti, illi per Regalem poteſtatem, & ipſis per Sacerdotalem eminentiam commiſſam, defendere, & miniſterium illorum amplificare & ſublimare dignaretur; proponentes ei propriam Regis eminentiam, id eſt, ut miſericordia & modeſtia omnes praecellat. After which the Emperor made an Oration to the Biſhops & Clergy, admoniſhing them of, and enjoyning them to perform their Paſtoral duties with all diligence; which they performing, Haberetis me omnibus Eccleſiae Chriſti adverſantibus, & veſtro Sacerdotali ministerio renitentibus, oppoſitiſſimum bellatorem, &c. Upon report of the Emperors Speech to the Council, all the Clergy and Nobility ſtanding up, bleſſed God, prayed for Arnulphus his long life, and ſung Te Deum Laudamus, glorifying the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, qui Eccleſiae ſuae ſanctae tam piam & mitem cenſolatorem, tam que ſtrenuum adjutorem ad honorem nominis ſui condonare dignatus eſt. Some of the Canons concerning excommunicated perſons contemning the cenſures of the Church, were made by this Emperors ſpecial direction and command, and all of them approved as well by conſent and approbation of the Nobility and Laity, as of the Biſhops and Clergy, ſeveral of the Laws being Temporal, intermixed with the Eccleſiaſtical.

After Pope Hadrian the 3d. had deprived the Emperors of their antient right in electing and confirming Popes, Anno 892, to 900.there aroſe ſundry ſchiſms, ſeditions, factions, corruptions in their elections and inſtallments, till this their right was reſtored to them by Pope Leo the 8. For iiOnuphrius, Platina, Stella, Martinus Polonus, Faſciculus Temporum, Balaeus, Barnes, Vicelius, Cent. Magd. 9. c. 10. col. 512, 513. Sigeberrus and others, in Fo… molo 1. Stephano 6. Romano 1. Theodoro …. & Johanne 10.Formoſus the 1. obtaining the Papacy by gifts, (notwithſtanding he had by Oath abjured the City, Epiſcopacy, and his Prieſtly Office, to avoyd the indignation of Pope John the 9. from which Oath Pope Martin the 2. abſolved him) was oppoſed by Sergius, his Competitor, (elected by the contrary faction) To ſuppreſſe which, Formoſus Arnulphum Romam vocat; who marching thither with an Army, excipitur, conſecratur, & donatur Imperiali corona; Arnulphus, gratias relaturus Pontifici pro iſto officio, praecipuos ex Formoſi adverſariis capite truncat: which occaſioned ſuch factions not only between the Romans, but Popes and Clergy themſelves, and their parties, that Pope Stephen the 6. tanto odio Formoſi nomen perſecutus eſt, ut ſtatim ejus Decreta abrogaverit, ac res geſtas reſciderit; tantoque in mortuum quoque rabie deſaeviit, ut habita Synodo, ejus è tumulo corpus tractum, Pontificali habitu ſpolitatum, indutumque ſaeculari, ſepulturae Laicorum mandavit, abſciſſis antea duobus dextrae manus digitis & in Tyberim projectis, Anno 896. Pope Romanus who ſucceeded him Anno 897. Formoſi partibus favens, Stephani praedeceſſoris Decreta & acta ſtatim reprobavit ac ſuſtulit, and would have proceeded further, had he not been prevented by death within four months after his conſecration. Theodorus the 2. ſucceeding him, Formoſi facta reſtituit, ejuſque ſectatores in precio plurimum habuit, being elected by their faction, Anno 898. but dying the next year, John the 10. cauſam Formoſi in integrum reſtituere volens, repugnante maxima Romani populi parte, diſſidium ingens excitavit, being forced by the Romans (with whom he fought) to retire from Rome to Ravenna,Anno 900, to 920. coactaque ibidem 74. Epiſcoporum Synodo, omnia Formoſi Decreta ad plenum reſtituit, Stephani vero ſexti facta coram omnibus damnavit, & omnia quae ex ipſius Synodo contra Formoſum erant ſcripta, combuſſit. Anno 900.kkPlatina, Onuphrius, Martinus Polonus, Stella, Marianu… Scotus, Barnes, Balaeus, Vicelius, Faſciculus Temporum, Cent. Magd. 10, c. 10. in vitis Leonis 5. Chriſtophori 1. Sergii 3. & Laudi 1. Petrus Praemonſtratenſis, Sigebertus, Nauclerus, Polychronichon, l. 6. c. 4. Pope Leo the 5. being depoſed and impriſoned, by the Romans and one Chriſtopher a Prieſt, cui multa beneficia contulerat, dyed of grief, Anno 905. This Chriſtopher the 1. ſcortis adminiculantibus Papatum violenter inv…ſit. Sed quia malis artibus, & immani ſcelere ſedem illam acquiſiverat, per Sergium quendam, Mazoriae ſplendidae meretricis an…ſium, eandem vehementer affectantem, turpiter ipſam & ille amiſit, & monaſterio extractus, (into which he had entred after his expulſion) atque in arctiſſimum carcerem conjectus eſt. Anno 905. Sergius the 3. Caroli Simplicis Francorum Regis, & Adelberti Thuſcorum Marchionis auxilio, having dejected and impriſoned Chriſtopher, Papalem Cathedram violentia invaſit: & Formoſi cadavere poſt octo annos denuo è terra extra…i fecit, & ſedi Papali impoſitum, capitali ſupplicio affecit. Tres quoque digitos ex altera mutilatione relictos amputavit, & corpus ipſum cum his omnibus in Tyberim projeci juſſit, tanquam communi Chriſtianorum hominum ſepultura indignum. Omniaque ejus acta improbavit, irritavit, damnavit, ita ut tunc denuo ad eorum ordines neceſſe fuit illos admittere, quos ipſe vivus Sacerdotali officio dignos cenſurat, compulitque Romanos timore Regis Galliae p. 220haec omnia confirmare, & ipſis ſubſcribere. Pope Laudo the 1. qui inter meretrices majorem vitae ſuae partem conſumpſit, electus & conſecratus & ipſe tum demum ab ipſis: he dying within 7. months after. Anno 921, to 944An. 921.llLuitprandus de Imperat geſtis, l. 4. c. 12. l. 5. c. 13. Onuphrius, Vi… us, Platina, Stella, Martinus Polonus, Marianus Scotus, Barnes, Balaeus, Cent. Magd. 10. c. 10. Faſciculus Temporum, Sigebertas, Nauclerus, in Johanne 11, 12. & Leone 6. Pope John the 11. (Papae Laudonis cum adulterio filius) Papatum quaſi haereditario jure per ſcortationem obtinuit. Theodora ſcortum impudens & Romanae Urbis Domina, veneris calore ſuccenſa, eum ob mutuas ſcortationes Bononienſem Epiſcopum primo, Ravennae Archiepiſcopum ſecundo, & tertio (ut ſic inſano ejus amore commodius fruiretur) Romanum Papam fecit. At laſt he was apprehended in Rome by the Souldiers of Guido Marqueſſe of Thuſcia, Anno Dom. 928. caſt into priſon, & cervicale ſuper os ejus injecto ſuffocatur, to ſet up Theodoraes daughters Baſtard ſon. Quo mortuo, Marozia filium Johannem 12. quem ex Sergio Papa meretrix ipſa genuerat, … Papam conſtituerunt. Sed quia Romanus Clerus & populus in ejus electionem non conſen…erant, eodem anno eſt iterum depoſitus, & in maximo Civium tumultu, Leo ſextus in ejus locum ſuffectus: Qui ſtatim poſt ſeptimum ejus regiminis menſem. Anno Dom. 930. veneno ſublatus à Marozia fertur, ut ſ…urio locum daret. Stephanus the 7. who ſucceeded him, Anno Dom. 932. vitam cum morte, per venenatum poculum (ut fertur) commutavit, to make way for John the 12. Pope Sergius the 3. his Baſtard ſon by Marozia, (formerly depoſed, expelled by the Romans) who after the poyſoning of Leo and Stephen, was reſtored to the Papacy by the power of Marozia his Mother, and Albericus his Brother, during whoſe Papacy, Metetrix mater (Marozia) Romae tam Regnum quam Eccleſiam regebat. Pope Stephanus the 8. ita civilibus Romanorum ſeditionibus vexatus fuit, ut nil memoria dignum ab eo geri potuerit. In populari enim tumultu tam turpiter mutilatus erat, ac cicatricum deformitate ſignatus, ut puduerit eum poſtea in publicum prodire. Adeo ſancti tunc temporis Papae fuerunt, ut eorum oves nulla ſanctitatis, aut beatitudinis (aut ſuperioritatis) ipſorum habita ratione, eos vulneribus afficerent: he dyed ingloriouſly Anno 944. During all this ſpace the Emperors by reaſon of their inteſtine Wars, and Competitors for the Empire, were diſabled to claim or exerciſe their antient Imperial Juriſdiction at Rome, in the election, confirmation, correction and depoſition of theſe wicked ſcandalous Popes, who were for the **Baronius Annal. Tom. 100. Anno 900. ſect. 1. Anno 912. ſect 8. Jacobus Uſſer…s de Chriſt. Eccleſ. Succeſſione & ſtatu, cap. 2, 3, 4.moſt part elected, depoſed, ruled by moſt infamous Roman Whores and Strumpets, bearing chiefeſt ſway in Rome; none of all theſe Popes exerciſing any Supreme Juriſdiction over Emperors, Kings, or Foreign Prelates, who for the moſt part ſlighted their Authority and Bulls in all places, and acknowledged their Kings Supremacy over Popes, Biſhops, as theſe Hiſtories well demonſtrate.

mmSyrmond. Tom. 3. Concil. Galliae, p. 521, 522. Pierte Pythoa Preuv…s des Libert… de Legliſe Gaſſicane, a Paris, 1651. c. 15. p. 551, 552, 553, 554.Helduinus Epiſcopus Tungrenſis Eccleſiae, Anno 920about the year 920. againſt his Allegiance, revolting from King Charles the 3. of France, to Henry his Enemy, by great ſums of money given to him and his followers, procured a grant of this Biſhoprick from him, who by force and menaces enforced Archbiſhop Herimannus to conſecrate him, procuring ſundry Clerks and Laymen likewiſe to ſwear, That King Charles had conferred this Biſhoprick upon him: Whereupon King Charles writ a Letter to the Biſhops of his Realm againſt this intruder: Qui contra Regalem agens poteſtatem, contra quoque Apoſtoli dicta ubi dicitur, Deum timete, Regem honorificate; Et, Qui poteſtati reſiſtit, Dei ordinationi reſiſtit; non eſt enim poteſtas niſi a Deo: Et adverſus cytharedi David dicta, ubi ad Dominum loquitur; Impoſuiſti homines ſuper capita noſtra: Quique ultra Rhenum ad inimicos noſtros proficiſcens, minimeque reminiſcens Sacramentorum ſuorum nobis promiſſorum, eaque retro deorſum abjiciens, ab Henrico inimico nostro Epiſcopatum Tungrenſis Eccleſiae expetivit, ſua que damnatione contra omnia ſtatuta tam ſacrorum patrum quam Regum, viz. anteceſſorum noſtrorum uſurpavit, &c. commanding them to ordain Ruherus Biſhop in his place, upon the petition of the Laity and Clergy of that Church to the King, whom they had unanimouſly elected by his Licenſe, which they did accordingly. Pope John the 10. in his Epiſtle to Herimannus Archbiſhop of Colen, affirmed that this forcible intruſion and conſecration of Helduinus into this Biſhoprick, abſque Clericorum electione & Laicorum acclamatione, and Kings aſſent, was illegal, and againſt the Apoſtles rule, Lay hands ſuddenly on noman; cum priſca conſuetudo vigeat, qualiter nullus alicui Clerici Epiſcopatum conferre debeat, niſi Rex, cui divinitus ſceptra collata ſunt. Concluding, Quia nos Caroli Regis decus nullo modo auferre volumus, ſed pro vigore atque dilectione vel conſanguinitate noſtri dilecti filii Berengarii glorioſiſſimi Imperatoris, ut prior anteceſſorum ſuorum Regum mos fuit, eum ita illibatam atque inconcuſſam p. 221Dominationem obtinere delectamur: et ſicut Priores ſuos anteceſſores noſtrorum anteceſſorum authoritate, Epiſcopum per unamquamque Parochiam ordinare probabiliter ſtatutum eſt, ita ut Carolus Rex faciat confirmando jubemus. A clear Papal conceſſion and ratification of this their Royal prerogative of conferring Biſhopricks.

After the death of Seulfus Archbiſhop of Rhemes, Anno 938, &c. Flodoardus hiſt. Eccleſ. Rhemenſis, l. 4. c. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 31. Continuator Reginoni; Centur. Magd: 10. c. 10. col. 374, 433. Otto Friſingenſis, Hermannus Contractus, Schafnabutgenſis.Herebertus Earl of Aquitaine coming to Rhemes perſwaded the Clergy and people to elect Hugo his ſonne (not above 5 years old) for their Biſhop; and ſent to Rodulphus King of Burgundy to confirm his election by his authority; who thereupon by advice of ſome Biſhops, Remenſem Epiſcopatum committit Hereberto (Comiti) aequitatis cenſura diſponendum at que regendum ab ipſo: Qui etiam legatos Eccleſiae, cum Abbone praeſule Romam mittere ſatagit, hujus electionis decretum ſecum ferentis, & aſſenſum Papae ſuper eum petentes. Johannes itaque Papa interveniente Abbone preſule, petitioni corum aſſenſum praebens, Epiſcopium Remenſe Abboni Epiſcopo delegat, quae ſunt Epiſcopalis miniſterii ab ipſo in eodem Epiſcopio tractanda & ſirmanda decernens. Abbo being Guardian only of the ſpiritualties, and Count Herebertus of the temporalties during Hughs minority; the Earl by force of arms turned many Clerks and Laymen out of their benefices and poſſeſſions belonging to the Archbiſhoprick, diſpoſing of them prolibitu ſuae voluntatis, quibuſcun que placuerit; A tumult ariſing thereupon, his ſouldiers ſlew two Canons in the Cloisters of the Church; After which he called a Synod of 6. Biſhops of the Province of Rhemes, apud Troſteium, Anno 927. Rege tamen Rodulpho contradicente, In the mean time, Pope John being apprehended and kept Priſoner by Wido, and King Rodolph falling out with Herebertus, Rodulphus Rex literas Remis mittit, ad Clerum & populum, pro electione Praeſulis celibranda: ad quas illi reſpondent, id agere ſe non poſſe, ſalvo ſuo electo, (to wit, Hugh the infant) & electione quam fecerant, permanente. The K. thereupon beſieged Rhemes 3. weeks, then being admitted into it, Conjunctis igitur ſibi nonnullis Epiſcopis ex Francia & Burgundia, facit ordinari hac in ſede Artoldum quendam ex eoenobio ſancti Remigii monachum, without any election, by his own regal authority; who above one year after received his Pall from Pope John. Artoldus excommunicating Herebertus for invading and detaining ſome Towns belonging to his Church, Anno 940. thereupon Herebertus with his friends and certain Biſhops, waſted the villages which belonged to the Biſhoprick, with fire and ſword, beſieged and took Rhemes, then by perſwaſions of friends and menaces forced Artoldus Epiſcopii ſe precuratione vel poteſtate abdicare, and to accept of the Abbey of Saint Baſol in lieu thereof: which done, they conſecrated and inſtalled Hugh for their Biſhop, aſſerentibus, fautoribus ejus, quod Artoldus, nequaquam electus, ſed per violentiam fuerit intromiſſus, ſeſe que Epiſcopali abdicaverit ditione; Soon after the Legates of Rhemes bringing Hugo a Pall from Pope Stephen, Artoldus breaking all his forced agreements with Hugh and Herbert, repaired to King Ludovicus, to whom he complained of the injury; who thereupon beſieged Rhemes ſo long, that Archbp. Hugh unable to hold out, or make any compoſition without quitting his Archbiſhoprick, ſecretly departed the City after 3. dayes ſiege, to avoid the putting out his eyes, if taken priſoner.Anno 547 Sic que Reges cum Epiſcopis & Principibus ingredientes Urbem, Dominum Artoldum Praeſulem, qui dudum fuerat ejectus, iterum inthronizari fecerunt; quem Robertus Trevirenſis Archiepiſcopus, & Fred. Moguntiacenſis accipientes utraque manu eidem ſedi reſtituerunt. After which, to end the differences between theſe Competitors, Synodus poſtea Verduni habetur, where ſundry Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Abbots aſſembled to that end;Anno 94… ad quam Hugo evocatus, niſſis quoque duobus ad eum deducendum Epiſcopis, venire noluit. Upon which contempt, Ʋniverſa Synodus Artoldo Remenſe regendum decernit Epiſcopium. Soon after Indicitur Synodus, quae & convenit in Eccleſiam Sancti Petri in proſpectu Moſomi, ex Diocaeſi Trevirenſi at que Remenſi. Veniens autem illuc Hugo Praeſul, & locu us cum Rotberto Archiepiſcopo, Synodum noluit ingredi. Agapit. 2…Literas vero quaſdam er nomine Agapeti Papae miſit ad Epiſcopos per Clericum ſuum, qui eas Roma detulerat, nihil auctoritatis canonicae continentes, ſed hoc tantum praecipientes, ut Hugoni Remenſe redderetur Epiſcopium. Quibus lectis, reſponderunt Epiſcopi, non eſſe dignum vel congruum, ut Apoſtolicae Legationis mandatum, quod dudum Rotbertus Archiepiſcopus, deferente Frederico Magontiacenſi Praeſule coram Regibus, et Epiſcopis ſuſceperat, intermitterent p. 222propter has literas quae inſidiator, aemulus Artoldi Praeſulis exhibebat: immo quod regulariter caeperant Canonice pertractaretur. Sicque praecipitur recitari capitulum xix. Carthaginenſis Concilii de accuſato & accuſatore. Quo recitato, dijudicatum eſt juxta diffinitionem hujus Capituli, ut Artoldo communionem et Parochiam Remenſem retinente, Hugo qui ad duas jam Synodes evocatus venire centempſ…rat, à communione & regimine Remenſis Epiſcopii abſtiner…t, donec ad univerſalem Synodum ſeſe purgaturus occurreret. Ipſum que Capitulum mex in Charta deſcribi feceruat Epiſcopi coram ſe, ſubnectentes hanc etiam diffinitionem ſuam, & eidem Hugoni miſerunt. Qui poſt alteram diem eamdem Chartam Rotberto Pontifici remiſit, hoc verbis remandans, quod ipſorum judicio nequaquam obediturus eſſet. Interea literae proclamationis Artoldi Praeſulis ad Romanam diriguntur ſedem Dominus igitur Agapitus Papa, Vicarium ſuum Marinum Epiſcopum miſit ad Othonem Regem, propter evocandum et aggregandum generalem Synodum, (as proper only for the Emperor to ſummon.) Literae quoque ipſius Papae mittuntur ab Urbe quibuſdam ſpeciatim Epiſcopis, vocantes eos ad eandem Synodum Congregato, denique Synodo in Pallatio Engulenheim, recitata ſunt haec quae ſequuntur coram Regibus et Epiſcopis, **Hermannus Contractus, An. 948. Otto Friſingenſis, l. 6. c. 19. Anno 1248.preſent therein. This general Synod being aſſembled, all the premiſes concerning Artoldus and Hugo, with the Popes Letter, commanding Hugh to be reſtored, were read before them. The Synod upon debate paſſed the ſame ſentence for Artoldus againſt Hugo, notwithſtanding the Popes Letter, as the laſt Synod did, approving their ſentence, and excommunicating Hugo. From this Hiſtory I ſhall obſerve; 1. That the Archbiſhops of Rhemes were uſually elected by the Clergy and people, but yet by the Kings licenſe, who had a power to confirm or reject the perſon elected. 2ly. That the Kings of France, in ſpecial caſes, did conferre Biſhopricks on whom they pleaſed, without any precedent election by the Clergy and people. 3ly That they committed the Temporalties of Biſhopricks to Noblemen and others, during the vacancy of the Sees, or Minority of the Biſhop. 4ly. That they had a juſt power to remove Biſhops unduly elected, or forcibly intruded into Biſhopricks, even by force of armes when neceſſary. 5ly. That both the Kings of France, and ſucceſſive Synods, reproved, condemned the Popes own Letters as Un-canonical, and gave ſentence againſt them, which ſentence was afterwards approved by a General Synod. 6ly. That Kings may and ought to remove unfitting or ſcandalous Biſhops, notwithſtanding the Popes Bulls, Palls, Mandates to confirm, or continue them. 7ly. That no Synods ought to be ſummoned, but by Kings, or their Authority within their Realms; and that if any be otherwiſe called by Popes, Archbiſhops, or others, they may and ought to prohibit them, and their Biſhops reſort unto them. This is evident by the antient memorable Inhibition of Sigebertus King of France, to Deſiderius Cadurcenſis Epiſcopus, in this his Letter directed to him.

**Pierre Pythou Preuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, c. 11. p. 444.Dum fabula currente, à plurimis & fidelibus nostris cognovimas, quaſi vocati, ab eodemque Patre nostro Vulfolendo Epiſcopo Synodali conſilio Kal. Sept. in Regno noſtro: ignoramus in quo loco, una cum**Reliquis fratribus & comprovincialibus veſtris. reliquos fratres, & comprovinciales veſtros debeatis conjungere; Licet nos Statuta Canonum & Eccleſiaſticas regulas, ſicut parentes noſtri in Dei nomen conſervarunt, ita & nos conſervare optamus. Tamen dum ad noſtram antea notitiam non fuit perlatum, ſic Nobis cum noſtris Proceribus convenit, ut ſine noſtra ſcientia Synodale conſilium in Regno noſtro non agatur, nec ad dictas Kal. Septemb. nulla conjunctio Sacerdotum, ex his qui ad noſtram ditionem pertinere noſcuntur, non fiatur. Poſtea vero opportuno tempore, ſi nobis antea denunciatur, utrum pro ſtatu Eccleſiaſtico, an pro Regni utilitate, ſive etiam pro qualibet rationabili conditione conventio eſſe decreverit, non abnuimus, ſic tamen, ut diximus, ut in noſtri prius deferatur cognitionem. Provide praeſentia ſcripta ſanctitati veſtrae deſtinare curavimus, per quae petimus, ut per nos orare dignetis, et ad iſtam conjunctionem, priuſquam noſtram cognoſcatis voluntatem, penitus accedere non debeatis, & ut certius credatis, hunc indiculum manu propria ſubter ſubſcripſimus.

Sigebertus Rex ſubſ.

For further proof of theſe particulars, I ſhall referre the Readers to Pierre Pithou, his Preuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, cap. 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 35, 36. in relation to the Realm of France.

p. 223Pope Agapet the 2. and after his death … others ſtile him,… partim muneribus, partim minis, … mans, ſent ſolonm Legates to the Emperor … portuning and adjuring him, ut italiam … tyrannide vindicaret; who thereupon marching into Italy with an … them, entred Rome, conquering all who reſiſted him; and enjoyned … Crown him Emperor; which he performing, before his return home, … the Popes fidelity towards him,… … & Alberti partes nunqua … eſſet ſecuturus. No ſooner was he returned into Germani, but the Pope preſently violating his Oath, received Albertue into Rome and … his paſtoral duty, in co officio non Papalite, … omni voluptatum & … venationibus, ludicris, ludis, … aliiſ que ſlagitiis ab ipſa adol … ratorem hortarentur, ut reverſus, ruinae totius Eccleſiae & Politiae ſubveniret; Hereupon this good Emperor returning towards Rome, … Papam pro ſuis ſceleribus arguens, monet cum ſui officii, dum adhuc eſt in … verum lapiai verbaſiua, … cum corrigere potuit. Whereupon, Anno 963. the Emperor marched from Papia to Rome with a great Army, pro ſceleribus Papae Johannis dijudicandis; The Pope conſcious of his own guilt, together with Albertus, fled thence to the … hiding himſelf in the woods amongſt the wild beaſts for a time. The Romans opening their gates, received the Emperor without reſiſtance; who upon the … Complaints of the Clergy and people againſt this Monſter of men Pope John, ſummoned a Council of ſeveral Biſhops, Cardinals, Prieſts out of Italy, France, Germany and other parts, and of ſundry Nobles, Senators, Chief Officers, certain Commoners, and Military Officers of Rome, (mentioned by name in Luitprandus, who at large relates the proceeding in this Council againſt the Pope:) Wherein the Emperor ſitting as Preſident, demanded of the Council, who the Pope declared to be preſent in ſo holy and famous a Council, to which he was ſummoned? … Pontifices & Cardinales, Presbyteri … D…acom, cum univerſa plebe diverunt, Miramur ſanctiſſimam prudentiam veſtram, nos hoc velle per…o…ari, quod noc … Babylonicos, nec Indicos …. Nam hic jam …e illis e…d, qui veriunt in v… mentis ovium, intus autem ſum …; ita apertè ſavis, ita … pertractat negotia, ut nihil circuitioni… utatur. Imperator reſpondit, … ue accuſatio… es nominatim exprimantur: deinde quod agendum eſt, … pertractetur. Tunc conſurg… Petrus Cardinalis, Presbyter, ſe … celebraſſe,… & non communicatie, teſtatus ed. Johannes Epiſcopus … Johannes Cardinalis Diaconus, … Diaconum ordinaſſe in equorum … non certis temporibus, ſunt proſe…i. Benedictus, … byteris dixit, ſe ſcire, quod ordinationes Epiſcoporum pre…o faceret; & quod annorum decem Epiſcopum in Tudertina Civitatu … De Sacrilego non eſſe neceſſe percontari, dixit, quia plus videndo, quam … adulterio dixerunt, quod oculis non viderant, ſed … & Stephanam Patris Concubinam, & … abſum eſte, & Sanctum Palatium lupanar et proſtibulum feciſſe: Venationem dixerunt publicae exercuiſſe; Benedictum … & mox mortuum eſſe. Johannem Cardinalem …ubdiaconum … incendia feciſſe, enſe accinctum, galea & lor ca…ndurum fuiſſe, … ſunt. Diaboli in amorem vinum bibiſſe, omnes tam Clerici quam Laici acclamarunt. In ludo … Jovis, Veneris, caeterorumque Demonum … & canonicas horas eum non celebraſſe, nec ſigno … ſunt Hiſce criminibus adjiciuntur, quod juramentum imperatori, ſupra ipſam Corpus Petri praeſtitum, non ſervaret, quod aureas … & … Sancti Petri, ſcortis diſtribuerit; quod Zacheum, virum reprobatum, divinarum atque humanarum …erarum inſcius, conſecravit Epiſcopum, & Ungariis deſtinarit, ut ſuis concionibus ipſos contra Imperatorem inſtigaret. The truth whereof they all atteſted, under pain of being accurſed and condemned by Chriſt in the great day of Judgement, and that there were as many Witneſſes of his crimes, as there were ſouldiers in the Emperors Army. Hereupon he was ſummoned by the Emperors Letters to anſwer theſe crimes inſerted into the ſummons; but the Meſſengers not finding him (he hiding p. 224himſelf in woods) after a treble ſearch and ſummons; thereupon the Emperor, as Preſident, ſaid, Expectavimus adventum ejus, ut praeſente eo quod nobis egerit quaereremus, verum quoniam eum non affuturum certo ſcimus, quam perfide nobiſcum egerit, ut diligenter agnoſcatis etiam atque etiam flagitamus. Notum itaque vobis facimus, Archiepiſcopis, Presbyteris, Diaconis, reliquoque Clero, necnon et Comitibus, Iudicibus, omnique plebi, quod idem Johannes Papa oppreſſus a Berengario, atque Adelberto, rebellibus noſtris, miſit nobis in Sexoniam nuncios, rogans, ut pro amore Dei in Italiam veniremus, & Eccleſiam Sancti Petri, ac ſeipſum ex ſaucibus eorum liberaremus. Nos vero, adjuvante Deo, quantum fecerimus, non eſt neceſſe dicere, ut in praeſentiarum, videtis. Ereptus vero mea opera ex eorum manibus, & honori debito reſtitutus, oblitus juramenti et fidelitatis quam mihi ſupra corpus S. Petri promiſit; eundem Adelbertum Roman venire fecit, & contra me defendit, ſeditiones fecit: & videntibus noſtris Militibus, Dux belli factus, lorica & galea eſt indutus. Quid ſuper hoc ſancta Synodus decernat, edicat? Whereupon, Ad haec Romani Pontifices, reliquus Clerus, et cunctus populus dixerunt, Inauditum vulnus inaudito eſt cauterio exurendum. Si corruptis moribus ſibi ſoli, & non cunctis obeſſet, quoquo modo tolerandus eſſet. Quot prius Caſti, hujus facti ſunt imitatione incaeſti? Quot probi, hujus exemplo converſationis ſunt reprobi? Petimus itaque magnitudinem Imperii veſtri, monſtrum illud nulla virtute redemptum a vitiis, a Sancta Eccleſia Romana pelli, aliumque loco ejus conſtitui, qui nobis exemplo bonae converſationis praeeſſe valeat, et prodeſſe ſibi: recte vivat, ac bene vivendi nobis exemplum praebeat. Tunc Imperator. Placet inquit, quod dicitis: nihilque gratius nobis, quam ut talis, qui huic ſanctae et univerſali ſedi praeponatur, inveniri poſsit. His dictis, omnes una voce dixerunt: Leonem venerabilem ſanctae Romanae Eccleſiae Protoſcriniarium, virum approbatum, ad ſummum Sacerdotii gradum nobis in Paſtorem eligimus, ut ſit ſummus & univerſalis Papa Romanae Eccleſiae, reprobato ob improbos mores Ioanne Apoſtata. Quum haec omnes tertio dixiſſent, annuente Imperatore, nominatum Leonem ad Lateranenſe Palatium, ſecundum conſuetudinem, cum laudibus ducunt: & certo tempore in Eccleſia Sancti Petri (Leonem adhuc Laicum, as ſome record) ad ſummum Sacerdotium ſancta conſecratione attollunt, & fideles ſe ei affuturos, jurejurando promittuut. Pope John thus legally depoſed, Minime ſibi quieſcendum putabat, ſed ſimulc intelligebat, Othonem praeſidium quod penes ſe in urbe fuerat, demiſiſſe, ne populum Romanum minime gravaret; mox Proceres Romanos clandeſtinis literis ſolicitat, ut Imperatorem et ipſum quoque Leonem de medio tollant, ut jugum Caeſareum excuterent, ut qui parva hominum manu ſtipatus eſſet: deinde largiſſime promiſit, ſe ipſis omnes Eccleſiae the ſauros ſponte traditurum & conceſſurum eſſe. Hac ampla ſpe ineſcati per…di Romani, rem mota ſeditione quamprimum aggrediuntur. Milites vero Imperatoris ſumma alacritate arma capientes, tantam ſtragem in ſeditioſorum cohorte edunt, ut ipſe Imperator, miſericordia erga ſceleratos affectus, receptui caneret, vindictamque militum coerceret. Not long after, the Emperor departing from Rome, this lecherous, treacherous Pope, Meretrices plures, eaſque genere non ignobiles, cum quibus commercium habuerat, by his ſecret meſſages and inſtigations, Nobiles Romanos concitaverunt, promiſſis Eccleſiarum theſauris, ut Iohannem rurſus in Urbem reciperent, & Leonem comprehenſum de medio tollerent. Quod & ipſi ſtatim fecerunt, dejecto Leone quem Caeſar creaverat: qui mirabiliter tamen evaſit carnificum manus, atque ad Imperatorem confugit. Iohannes ſanctiſſimus ſcortorum leno votis potitus, caput ſanctae Romanae Eccleſiae conſtituitur. Sede occupata, Iohanni Diacono Cardinali manum amputat: Azorio Scriniario linguam praecidit, duos digitos amputat, & nares ei mutilat. O Apoſtolici Apoſtolica prorſus facinora! Then calling a Synod of his own Creatures at Rome, Ille Synodo collecta Leonem depoſuit, & ejus geſta caſſavit, ſtatutumque eſt, ab Othone Imperatore & Leone habitam, non nominandam Synodum, ſed proſtibulum faciens adulteris. Quicunque ergo a Leone ordinati ſunt, privantur honore quem ab ipſo acceperunt; juſſique ſunt eorum proſcriptionem praeſentare in charcula, haec continente; Pater meus nihil ſibi habuit, nihil mihi dedit: et ſic depoſiti remanſecunt in illis gradibus quos habuerunt antequam a … ordinati. The Emperor informed of theſe proceedings, marched with his Army towards Rome to chaſtiſe p. 225the ſeditious, treacherous Romans, and depoſe this lecherous Pope; but before his arrival there, Iohannes Papa ſe cum uxore cujuſdam oblectans, a Diabolo in tempore percutitur; (as Radulphus de Diceto and others ſtory; though ſome relate it was by her husband) & ſine Viatico Dominico obiit, dignas ſceleratiſtimae vitae dans poenas; & ut vitae moribus, exitus juſto Dei judicio reſponderet.

The ſeditious Romans after his death,Anno 963 priſtinam libertatem ſpirantes, cum jam Imperatorem armatum,Faſciculus Temporum, Platina, Steila, Onuphrius, Balaeus, Barnes, Cent. Magd. 10. c. 9, 10. Martinus Polonus, Hermannus Schedel. in Benedict… 5. Hermanni Contracti Chron. & irritatum in conſpectu haberent, attamen prodigioſo partis furore, contra juramentum quod Imperatori fecerant, ſe nunquam electuros Papam ſine ejus, et ſine filii ejus Ottonis contenſu, Benedictum quendam propria auctoritate Papam conſtituunt, Leone qui in exercitu Caeſaris erat poſthabito. Hac contumelia ac perfidia graviter offenſus Imperator, primum obſeſſam & duriter preſſam Civitatem, cogit facere deditionem; atque de paucis ſupplicium ſumit. Poſtea Synodum Romae abſque mora cogit, multis Epiſcopis, Abbatibus, Sacerdotibus, Clericis, Monachis, et praecipuis er populo praeſentibus, in Eccleſia Lateranenſi: In which Synod Pope Leo being reſtored to his See, ſitting with the Emperor, (to whoſe hands Pope Benedict the 5. was delivered up) by the Emperors command, advenit Benedictus Apoſtolicae ſedis invaſor, eorum qui ſe eligerant, manibus adductus, Pontificalibus veſtibus indutus. Quem Benedictus Cardinalis Archidiaconus, tali eſt Sermone aggreſſus. Qua tibi authoritate, quave lege, O invaſor, haec pontificalia indumenta uſurpaſti, ſuperſtite hoc praeſente Domino noſtro, venerabili Papa Leone, quem tu nobiſcum, accuſato & reprobato Iohanne, ad Apoſtolicatus culmen eligiſti? Num inficiari potes praeſenti Domino Imp: juramento promiſiſſe, unquam te cum ſaeteris Romanum Papam electurum, aut ordinaturum abſque illius filiique ſui Regis Otthonis conſenſu? Benedictus reſpondit, Si quid peccavi, miſeremim mei. Tunc Imperator effuſis lachrymis, quam miſericors eſſet oſtendens, rogavit Synodum, Ne Benedicto praejudicium fieret: ſi vellet et poſſet, ad interrogata reſponderet: quod ſi non poſſet, aut nollet, ac ſe culpabilem redderet, tamen pro timore Dei miſericordiam aliquam inveniret. Quo audito, ad Domini Leonis Papae pedes, ipſiuſque Imperatoris, idem Benedictus concite procidens, Se peccaſſe, ſeque Sanctae Romanae ſedis invaſorent eſſe acclamavit: poſt haec pallium ſibi abſtulit, quod ſimul cum Pontificali ferula, quam manu geſtabat, Domino Papae Leoni reddidit. Quam ferulam idem Papa ſregir, & fractam populo oſtendit. Deinde Benedictum in terra ſedere praecepit, cui Caſulam, quam Planetam vocant, cum Stola pariter abſtulit; poſt autem omnibus Epiſcopis dixit, Benedictum Sanctae & Apoſtolicae ſedis Romanae invaſorem, omni Pontificatus et Presbyteratus honore privamus: ob eleemoſynam vero Domini Imperatoris Otthonis, cujus ſumus opera in ſedem debitam reſtituti, Diaconatus eum ordinem habere permittimus, et non jam Romae, ſed in exilium deſtinamus. …uit autem ablegatus Benedictus Hamburgum, ubi in exi…o vitam finivit.

Porro in hoc Concilio, de jure eligendi Pontificem, deque bonis Imperatoris in Italia actum eſt. Pontifex enim non ſolum grati…udims, ſed etiam Juſtitiae gratia reſtituit, aut potius confirmat, quae ad Imperatorem per…nebant.

Cardinal Baronius, Annal. Anno 964. num. 21, 22, &c. and Gretzer the Jeſuit in his Apologia pro Baronio, cap. 18. ſtile this Synod, impoſturam, & aſcititiam Synodum; and the Decree and Bull of Pope Leo made therein, Bulla, ſeu Decretum commentitium, as they did that of Pope Adrian the 1. before; without the leaſt ſhadow of authority or truth; ſince aaGratian Diſtinctio 63 Centur. Magd. 10. cap 9. col. 447, 448, 449. Marſilius Patavinus Deſenſ. pacis, pars 2. cap. 25. & De Tranſlat: Imperii, cap. … Platina, Stella, Faſciculus Temporum, Barnes, Martinus Folonus, Balaeus in Leone 8. Hermannus Schedel. …, f. 200. in Leone 8. Krantzius, l. 4. cap. 10. Saxoniae. Sigonius de Regno Italiae, l. 7. Theodoricus de … vilegiis et Juribus Imperii, ſect. Poſt. Lupoldus de zelo Germanorum Principum, c. 8. Petrus de Alliac…, … De Eccleſiae Anthoritate, pars 1. c. 1. ſect: Ex eadem. Waltramus Naumbergenſis de … lib. 16. ſect. Pars … Cuſanus Cardinalis, Concord. Cathol: l. 3. Nauclerus Anno 963. Radulphus de Columna, lib. de Tranſlatione … ſect. Quouiam. Dr. Crakenthorp of the Popes Temporal Monarchy, ch. 5. p. 84 to 94. Baronius Annal. Anno 996. num. 40. Regino Chron. Anno 963. 964. Chron. Magnum Belgiae, Anno 962. Eutropius de Juribus et Priv. Imperii.Gratian himſelf, Luitprandus, Theodoricus de Niem, Marſilius Patavinus, Hermannus Schedel, Crantzius, Signoius, Lupoldus, Cuſanus, Petrus de Alliaco, & Cameracenſis 3. Cardinals; Waltramus Naumbregenlis, Radulphus do Columna, Nauclerus, Martinus Polonus, Regino, Platina, Onuphrius, Stella, Faſciculus Temporum, and others, aſſert this Council, Decree, Charter of Pope Leo (which ſundry of them affirm they had ſeen) to be true and real which I ſhall here inſert at large.

bbCent. Magd. 10. 5. 9. col. 448, 449. Gratian Diſtinctio 63.Convenit (inquit Leo) Apoſtolico moderamine, pollentibus benevola compa… ne ſuccurrere, & poſcentium animis alacri devotione aſſenſum pra bere. Ex hoc enim p. 226lucri potiſſimum praemium apud Conditorem omnium reperitur. Deinde quoque & cunctum Clerum, & omnem populum, aſſerimus eſſe concordem, & ad meliorem ſtatum fore productum: atque ideo, quia juſte rationabiliter veſtra humilitas noſtro Apoſtolatui humiliter poſtulat, quatenus gratulanter, peragrantes ſanctam Synodum, veſtro conſilio congregatam, Patriarchio Lateranenſi in Eccleſia Sancti Salvatoris conſtitutam, a pluribus viris Catholicis, Epiſcopis et Abbatibus, inſuper Iudicibus, et legis Doctoribus, promulgantes, qualiter quiete ac pacince ſtare & vivere valeamus, praeſentibus omnibus & ſingulis regionibus hujus al… Urbis Romae, & ex omnibus ordinibus Cleri et populi, aſſerentibus et confirmantibus per omnia, ut haere…, & altercatione, ac omni errore expulſo, quoniam … temporibus error ex hoc accreſcere diſcernitur, tam de Romano Imperio, quam de Apoſtolica ſede, ac dignitate Patriciatus, & de inveſtituris Epiſcopatuum; …, ad exemplum beati Adriani Apoſtolicae ſedis Antiſtitis (cujus vitam & actionem ſatis diſcretum audivimus & rationabilem) qui ſuis ſpiritualibus ſanctionibus Domino CAROLO victorioſiſsimo Regi Francorum et Longobardorum, regni Italiae Patriciatus dignitatem, et ordinationem Apoſtolicae ſedis, et Inveſtituras Epiſcoporum conceſsit: Igitur Ego quoque Leo, Servus ſervorum Dei, Epiſcopus, idem exemplum beati Adriani, cum toto ſimiliter Clero, et univerſo Romano populo, omnibuſque ordinibus hujus almae Vrbis (ſicut in ſuis ſcripturis apparet) conſtituimus, et confirmamus, et corroboramus, et per noſtram Apoſtolicam authoritatem concedimus atque largimur Domino OTTHONI primo, Regi Teutonicorum, ejuſque Succeſſoribus hujus regni Italiae in perpetuum, facultatem Succeſſorem eligendi, atque ſummae Apoſtolicae ſedis Pontificem ordinandi: et per hoc Archiepiſcopos, ſeu Epiſcopos, ut ipſi tantum ab eo inveſtituram accipiant, et conſecrationem, unde debent; exceptis his quos Imperator Pontificibus, et Archiepiſcopis conceſsit. Et ut nemo deinceps, cujuſcunque gradus vel dignitatis, vel religionis, eligendi Regem, vel Patricium, vel Pontificem ſummae ſedis Apoſtolicae, aut quemcun que Epiſcopum, vel ordinandi habeat facultatem, abſque conſenſu ipſius Imperatoris, ſed ſoli Regi Romani Imp. hanc reverendam tribui facultatem; quod tamen fiat abſque omni pecunia; et ut ipſe ſit Patricius et Rex Romanus. Quod ſi a cuncto Clero et univerſo populo quis eligatur Epiſcopus, niſi a ſupradicto Rege laudetur, et inveſtiatur, non conſecretur. Si quis contra hanc authoritatem Apoſtolicam, et traditionem aliquid molietur, aut temerator in aliquo repertus fuerit, ſive contra hoc noſtrum conſilium agens, ſciat ſe iram Sancti Petri, Principis et Filii noſtri Domini Otthonis, ejuſque ſucceſſorum, et omnium praedeceſſorum noſtrorum Cenſuram, et ſub Anathematis vinculo emerſurum, ac per hoc Excommunicationi univerſalis Eccleſiae, omniſque populi Chriſtiani, eum ſubjacere decernimus. Inſuper, niſi a malo reſipuerit, irrevocabili exilio prematur, vel ultimis ſuppliciis feriatur. Qui vero pro intuitu cuſtos et obſervator extiterit, benedictionis gratiam, vitamque aeternam cum omnibus Sanctis, ſine fine mereatur habere in ſecula ſeculorum, Amen. In his Actis interfuere Seniores, Proconſules, Exarchatus quidam tenentes, regionarii Scholae Graecorum, Arabum, Judaeorum, & Paganorum, & de Majoribus omnium platearum. Inſuper Cardinales, Archiepiſcopi, omnes Presbyteri, & Epiſcopi de finitimus Civitatibus, proceſſuarii, Notarii, Cancellarii, & ex omni plebe Romani Imperii.

This Decree of Pope Leo, is prefaced byaaDiſtinct. 63. Item Leo Papa. Gratian himſelf with this Rubrick, Electio Romani Pontificis ad Ius pertinet Imperatoris, and incorporated into the body of the Canon Law, authorized by ſundry Popes: Which being made, ratified by two famous Popes, Adrian and Leo, in two Councils held in p. 227Rome it ſelf, with the ſuffrage and unanimous conſent of all the Clergy. Senators, Officers and People of Rome in a moſt ſolemn manner, and the violators thereof ſubjected to ſuch ſevere Eccleſiaſtical and Civil puniſhments, to prevent all future Schiſms, ſeditions, ſymonaical contracts, indirect practiſes, and interpoſitions of prevalent infamous Whores, and Strumpets in the election of Popes, for the peace, honour, benefit of the whole Church, no ſucceeding Popes had any power at all to null or revoke by their Pontifical uſurped power upon any pretext, without the concurrent authority at leaſt of a General Council, and univerſal conſent of all the Clergy, Senators, and people of Rome, asbbDefensoris Pacis, l. 2… 25. Marſilius Patavinus proves at large. ccDiſtinctio… Sect. Apoſt… cam, et A….Bartholomeus Buxienſis, and Dr. Thierry in their Gloſſe upon this Decree, in Gratian, demand this Queſtion: Cum haec privilegia fuerint omnibus (Imperatoris) ſucceſſoribus data, quare non utuntur eis? To which they return theſe unſatisfactory Anſwers: Quia Imperator eis renunciavit: A groſſe miſtake, ſince no Emperor ſince the reign of Otho ever renounced it by any Charter: and Gratians concluſion, Ex istis Conſtitutionibus & pacto Ludovici Imperatoris, deprehenduntur Imp…ratores renunciaſſe privilegiis quae de electione Summi Pontificis Adrianus Papa Carolo Imperatori, & ad imitationem ejus, Leo Papa Ottonis primo Regi Theutonicorum fecerat, is but a meer Nonſequitur, contradicted by his pr…miſes; whereupon they ſubjoyn theſe enſuing anſwers, Item, quia per abuſum ea pe…diderunt: (without expreſſing any abuſe, the Roman Clergy, people, and Cardinals ſince having much more for feited their right to elect Popes, for their manifold abuſes therein, recorded by ſundry Hiſtorians) Item, quia ex cauſa fu…rint eis conceſſa, unde ceſſante cauſa ipſa, ceſſaverunt. Nec obſtat quod hic dicitur de ſucceſſoribus; quia hoc intelligendum est de illis ſucceſſoribus, qui hoc impetrare poſſunt: A pretry equivocating evaſion worthy Popes and Popiſh Canoniſts. They further propound this ſecond queſtion on this Popes Decree: Nunquid Papa poſſet Imperatori poteſtatem dare, ut deponeret ipſum? Which they thus affirmatively reſolve: Sic, in Hareſi, (therefore a Pope may be an Heretick, and depoſed for Hereſie by the Emperor;) et de conſenſu Cardinalium: immo, in omnibus ſe poteſt ſubjicere ei; Therefore the Emperor in all things is ſuperiour to the Pope, not the Pope to him; ſince this Pope Leo by his Bull and Charter reſigned, regranted to this Emperor Otho, not only the Right of electing and confirming Popes, and the Inveſtitures of Biſhops, but alſo what ever Lands, Cities, Territories, Poſſeſſio…, Gifts, either Charles or Pipin, or Juſtinian, or Aripert had given of the Regalities of the Kingdom of Italy, or the Empire to St. Peter, or the Church of Rome: which Bull or Charter is recorded at large inddDe Privi. Juriſd. Imperatoris ſect. comment. Theodoricus de Niem, eeLib. 4. Saxoniae, c. 10.Crantzius, theffCentur. Mag. 10. c. 9. col. 449, to 453. Century Writers, andggDr. Cra… thorp of the Popes Temporal Monarchs ch. 5. p. 87. Supplementum Reginonis. An 967 Sigonius de Regno Ital. Morney Hiſtor. Papatus, p. 212, 213, 214. others, being made in a General Council, and ſubſcribed by 15. Archbiſhops and Biſhops, 7. Cardinals, and 15. Chief Citizens of Rome: Both which conjoyned, eternally ſubvert as well the pretended uſurped Temporal as Eccleſiaſtical Monarchy of the Roman Pontifs. hhAnnales, An. 964. nu. 21, 22.Cardinal Bellarmin and the JeſuitiiApolegia p… Baronio, c. 18. Gretzer his Apologiſt, being unable to anſwer or evade theſe Decrees and Charters of this Synod and Pope, totally ſubverting the Popes pretended Supremacy, have the impudency to averr, there was no ſuch Synod or Decree as this; ſtiling the Synod, Impoſturam, & aſcititiam Synodum, Pſeudo-Synodus, Pope Leo, Pſeudo-Papa, and this Bull or Decree, Bulla ſeu Decretum commentitium; without any authority but their own (as they branded the Synod and Decree of Pope Adrian beforementioned:) But this impudent forgery, and calumny of theſe Impoſtors, is not only refuted by Gratian himſelf, Bartholomeus Buxienſis, Dr. Thierry, and other Gloſſers, but likewiſe by Theodoricus de Niem, Marſilius Patavinus, Paulus Diaconus, Luitprandus, Martinus Polonus, Hermannus Schedel, Crantzius, Sigonius, Lupoldus, Nauclerus, Platina, Radulphus de Columna, Faſciculus Temporum, W…rnerus, Onuphrius, Radulphus de Diceto, Dr. Barnes, Balaeus, Mornay, Biſhop Jewel, Dr. Crakenthorp, the Century Writers, and others forecited; but likewiſe by Cardinal C…anus, Cardinal Cameracenſis, and Cardinal Petrus de Alliaco, as eminent Pillars of the Church of Rome as Baronius, and by Baronius kkAnno 996. n. 41. Se… Morney Hiſtoria Papatus, p. 214. Dr. Crakenth. of the Popes Temporal Monarchy, p. 8…, 86, 87.himſelf; who recites this very D…cree he formerly denyed, as authentick, and acknowledgeth Leo to be a lawfull Pope: Which Decree is further atteſted, averred by the 4. famous Univerſities of Oxford, Paris, Prague, and Rome it ſelf, in a Treatiſe written by them all to Pope Urba…, and Wenceſlaus the Emperour, about the year 1374. wherein they aſſert, Pope Leo the 8. by reaſon of the malice and turbulency of the Romans, decreed, that none ſhould be made Pope, but with the p. 228con…ent of the Emperor; and further, with the conſent of the Cardinals, Biſhops, Presbyters and Deacons, yea, of the whole Clergy and people of Rome, he remiſed, regranted, reſigned to Otho, and his Succeſſors, the whole Donations in Italy, which were formerly made to the Roman Church, by Juſtinian, Pipin, Charles, and others: So as (by their reſolutions) theſe Decrees and Charters of Leo remain unqueſtionable, and cannot be evaded.

Pope Leo deceaſing,Anno 970 the Roman An. 970. diſpatched two Embaſſadors to the Emperour to crave his licenſe to elect a Pope; aaAventinus Annal. l. 4. Continuat… Reginons Cent. Magd. 10. cap. col. 539.who thereupon ſent the Biſhops of Constance … Spires to Rome, in his name, by whoſe advice and conſent John the 14. was elected Pope, populi totius Suffragio.

bbOnuphrius, … … Polonus, … 73. 14. … 10. ca: 10. …. 539, 540. Hermannus Schedel. fol. 200.About the year 971. Peter the Governour, with the two Conſuls, and 12. Senators of Rome, apprehended this Pope John in the Church of Lateran for his tyrippy, and adhering to the Emperor, impriſoning him near 11. moneths, and then … him into Campania; of which the Emperor Otho being informed, marched to Rome with an Army, and there, by his Soveraign power puniſhed ſome of the ſeditions Citizens with death, others with baniſhment, the reſidue with confiſcation of their goods, delivering Peter to the Pope, to inflict what puniſhments he pleaſed on him, who uſed him with moſt inhumane, unchriſtian, barbarous tyranny.

His Succeſſor ccMartinus Polonus, …latina, Onap…rius, Stella, Barnes, Faſciculus Temporum, Bala…s, in Benedicto 6. Cent. Magd. 10 c. …. c. 10. Sa…cus, Hermannus Schedel. aetas 6. f. 200.Pope Benedict the 6. Anno 974A Cynthio Romano Cive ob quaſdam nequitias captus, in Caſtello Sancti Angeli intruſus, eodem carcere non multo post laqueo ſtragulatus eſt, as moſt relate; others affirm that he was there ſtarved to death. De tanta illa injuria nullam eſſe ſumptam vindictam, vel a Civibus Romanis averſae factionis, vel ab O…hone Imperatore non poſſum ego (inquit Platina) non ſatis admirari, praeſertim cum Otho ipſe, vir optimus ſit habitus, & Eccleſiae Romanae acerrimus defenſor. Sed vereor ne talia fuerunt Benedicti merita, quale praemium à Cynthio conſecutus eſt. Doubtles theſe 2. Popes thus impriſoned, puniſhed ſucceſſively by the Roman Conſuls and Magiſtrates for their notorious unſufferable Crimes, were not deemed ſupream heads over Emperors, or Chriſts univerſal Church in that age; no not in Rome it ſelf.

ddMartinus Polonas, Sabelli…us, Hermannus Schedel, Platina, Onuphrius, Stella, Faſciulus Temporum, Ba…s & Balaeus it … et Joanne 15. Antoninus hiſt. l. 16. c. 1. Joan. de Columna; et Cent. Magd. 10. c. 10. col 541, 542. Blondus, Dec. 2.Pope Boniface the 7. Malis artibus adeptus Pontificatum, Anno 976horrendum monſtrum cunctos mortales nequitia ſuperans, etiam prioris Pontificis ſanguine cruentatus, cunctaque gubernationis officia male miniſtrans, omnium apud Romanos odia incurrit; whereupon being enforced to hide himſelf, he ſecretly ſtole all the precious Treaſures out of St. Peters Church, and fled with them to Conſtantinople, where he ſold them for a great ſumm of money, wherewith he returning to Rome, made ſuch a party againſt Pope Iohn the 15. (whom the Romans had elected and made Pope in his abſence) that Joannem paratis praeſidiis caepit, oculis privavit, carcere incluſit, fame necavit, occupavitque rurſus Pontificiam ſedem; But dying ſoon after, the people were ſo enraged againſt him, that they would not ſuffer his corps to be buried; but cadaver ejus fune ad pedes alligato, per plateas tractum, ac lanceis & contis opprobrioſe confoſſum, … à Clericis beneficio ſepulturae populari tralitum eſt. So little did they value his pretended Sanctity or Supremacy, whiles alive and dead.

eeMartinus Polonus, Platina, Onuphrius, Stella, Faſcie. Temporum, Barnes, Balaeas, Cent. Magd. 10. c. 10. col. 543. Nauclerus Sabellicus, Bergomenſis, Anto. … Hermannus Schedel. Opmerus, and others in vita ejus.Pope Iohn the 16. (a Prieſts baſe Sonne) being elected by the Clergy and People of Rome, ſoon incurred both their hatreds, for his extraordinary covetouſneſſe; Anno 985maxime autem quod omnia cognatis & affinibus, ſcortis ac spuriis, postpoſito Romanae ſedis honore, ſit elargitus; Quem certe errorem (as Platina, Stella, Balaeus, and others complain) al noſtra uſque tempora, peſſimo poſteritatis exemplo perveniſſe cernimus. Qua quidem conſuetudine nil pernicioſius dici poteſt, cum non ob religionem & Dei cultum, appetere Pontificatum Sacerdotes noſtri videantur, ſed ut Nepotum & familiarium, nothorum & meretricum ingluviem atque avaritiam expleant. Quae non omnino praetermiſit Baptiſta Mantuanus in 3. Libro de ſuorum temporum Calamitatibus.

Sanctus ager Scurris, venerabilis ara Cinaedis,

Servit, honorandae divum Ganymedibus aedes.

p. 229In carcerem igitur conjectus, à Clero & Populo, quarto ſui regiminis menſe, fame in eo periit. A ſtrong Argument againſt his Supremacy over Emperors and Kings, ſince thus impriſoned, corrected for his vices, by the very Clergy and people of Rome themſelves, (never queſtioned for their proceedings againſt him;) who likewiſe forced his Succeſſor Iohn the 17. to retire and exile himſelf from Rome for a time.

After the death offfCentur. Mag: 10. c. 9. col. 457. to 518. Ph. de Mornay Hiſt. Papatus, p. 216, to 225. Ludovicus King of France, An. 990, 992.Duke Charles his brother claimed the Crown as next heir, but Hugo Caepet obtaining it by power, Charles ſeiſed upon the City of Rhemes by the treachery of his Nephew Arnulphus Archbiſhop thereof: Hereupon by the command of King Hugo, there were two Synods called at Rhemes; in the firſt whereof Archbiſhop Arnulphus was accuſed, and in the 2d. convicted of Treaſon againſt the King by many witneſſes, and thereupon depoſed, excommunicated, and impriſoned. In this 2d. Synod Signinus Archbiſhop of Sens, preſident therein, related, That Arnulphus was accuſed of pillaging, and betraying the City of Rhemes to the Kings Enemies, which drew not only a ſcandal and ſuſpition upon himſelf, but upon all the Clergy. Nunc, quia Religionis amore, & ſtudio Sereniſſimi Regis noſtri Domini Hugonis congregati ſumus, quaerendum est, quomed, tanta infamia tacere poſſumus? & ſi frater & coepiſcopus noſter Arnulphus illata crimina diluere queat, vel crimen laeſae Majeſtatis propulſare: Scitis enim omnes nos inſimulari probo infidelitatis & perfidiae, cauſa unius. Si, inquiunt, juſtis Epiſcopi utuatur legibas, ſi liſſimique ſuis Regibus ſunt, cur hominem impuriſſimum ſuis legibus non puniunt? nimirum aliorum flagitia adeo moliuntur celare, ut impune liccat eis peccare. Abſit hoc ab hoc ſanctiſſimo coetu veſtro, abſit ut contra divinas ac humanas leges quenquam moliamur defendere vel … re, &c. After which Siguinus ſaid, Non patiar, diſcuſſionem fieri ejus, quid citur Majeſtatis obn…xius, niſi forte convicto, (Epiſcopo) ſupplicii indulgentia promittatur: citing 31. capur Toletani Concilii, to this purpoſe: who being ſeconded by Daibertus, thereupon Herveus Epiſcopus replyed, Si hoc periculoſum eſt (for Biſhops to judge and condemn a Biſhop as guilty of High Treaſon) videte ne ſit periculoſius, judicia Eccleſiaſtica deinceps a Secularibus non expectari. Conſequens enim eſt, ad forenſia Iura nos pertrahi, ſi divinis legibus videmur in aliquo obniti. At quomodo ſine judicio relinquetur, quod commiſſum eſſe conſtiterit? vel cur contrae Principem noſtrum cauſabimur, ſi quod attingere non audebinus, iudiciaria poteſtate conceditur? After ſome debates pro & contra, Arnulphus his Oath of Algiance to the King (which he had apparently violated) was produced, and publickly read in theſe words,ggCap. 6. Cen: Magd. 10. col. 463, 464. Ego Arnulphus gratia Dei praeveniente Remorum Archiepiſcopus, promitto Regibus Francorum, Hugoni & Roberto, me fidem puriſſimam ſervaturum, conſilium & duxilium, ſecundum meum ſcire & poſſe, in omnibus negotiis praebiturum: inimicos eorum nec conſilio, nec auxilio ad eorum infidelitatem ſcienter adjuturum. Haec in confectu divinae Majeſtatis & Beatorum Spirituum, & totius Eccleſiae **aſſiſtentisaſſiſtens promitto; pro bene ſervatis laturus praemia aeternae benedictionis. Si vero, quod nolo, & quod abſit, ab his deviavero, omnis benedictio mea convertatur in maledictionem, & fiant dies mei pauci, et Epiſcopatum meum accipiat alter, Recedant a me amici mei, ſintque perpetuo inimici. Huic vero chirographo a me… edito in teſtimonium benedictionis vel maledictionis meae ſubſcribo, fratreſque & filios meos ut ſubſcribant, rogo; Ego Arnulphus Archiepiſcopus. After much debate, Arnulphus his Advocates were called into the Synod to make his defence, who principally inſiſted on the Decrees of Pope Damaſus, Pope Stephen, Sixtus, Iulius, Symmachus, Euſebius, Adrian, Fabian, and Anacletus, which were all read, to this effect; Quod Epiſcoporum judicia non aliter quam authoritate ſedis Apoſtolicae ſunt terminanda, and that no Clerk ought to accuſe, or be heard againſt his own Biſhop. To which was anſwered, That Hildemannus Beluacenſis Epiſcopus, & Ebo Remorum Archiepiſcopus, were impriſoned in Monaſteries by Ludovicus the Emperor, and depoſed by a Synod without the Popes privity, conſent, or leave firſt obtained: That King Huge and his Biſhops of the Province of Rhemes had voluntarily complained to Pope Iohn of Arnulphus his treaſons, demanding his advice, how to proceed againſt him in this new caſe, who delayed or refuſed to return his reſolution therein; therfore they might juſtly proceed againſt him without the Popes advice; That Popes were now ſo infamous, ſcandalous, ignorant, &c. That they were unfit to be Judges in any caſe, and other inferiour Biſhops of greater knowledge and holineſſe, fitter to be their Judges, and all Biſhops their equals.

I ſhall recite King Hughs Letter to the Pope, deſiring him only to inform p. 230him being ignorant, how to proceed, and what Judgement to pronounce againſt Arnulphus his treaſons therein recited.

Beatiſſimo Papae Iohanni, aaCap. 25. Cent. Magd. 10. col. 484.Hugo gratia Dei Francorum Rex. Novis atque inuſitatis rebus permoti, ſummo ſtudio, ſummaque cura veſtra conſilia expetenda decrevimus, quippe cum ſciamus, vos omne tempus in divinis ac humanis ſtudiis exigiſſe. Conſiderate ergo quae facta ſunt, & facienda praeſcribite, ut & ſacis legibus ſu… honor reddatur, & regalis poteſtas non annulletur. Arnulfus Regis Lotharii (ut dicunt) filius, poſt graves inimicitias, ac ſcelera quae in regnum noſtrum exercuit, loco parentis adoptatus eſt a nobis, ac Metropoli Remorum gratis donatus: juſjurandum praebuit, quod contra praeterita & futura valeret Sacramenta, Libellum Chirographi conſcripſit, recitavit, corroboravit, corroborarique fecit. Milites ac omnes Cives jurare coegit, ut in noſtra perſiſterent Fide, ſi ipſe aliquando in poteſtatem hoſtium deveniret. Contra haec omnia, ut certiſſimi teſtes ſunt, ipſe portas hoſtibus patefecit, Clerum ac populum, ſuae fidei creditum, captivitati & praedae diſtribuit. Sed eſto, eum eſſe addictum alienae poteſtati, ut ipſe videri vult; …ur Cives & Milites pejerare cogit? Cur arma contra nos comparat? Cur urbem ac Caſtra contra nos munit? Si Captus eſt, cur non patitur liberari? Si vi hoſtium oppreſſus, quare non vult ſibi ſubveniri? Et ſi liberatus eſt, cur ad nos non redit? Vocatur ad Palatium, & venire contemnit. Invitatur ab Archiepiſcopis, nihil ſe eis debere reſpondet. Ergo qui vices Apoſtolorum tenetis, ſtatuite, quid de altero Iuda fieri debeat, ne nomen Dei per nos blaſphemetur, & ne forte juſto dolore permoti, ac veſtra taciturnitate, urbis excidium, totiuſque provinciae moliamur incendium: nec judici Deo excuſationem praetendetis, ſi nobis quaerentibus atque ignorantibus, formam Iudicii dare nolueritis. This Letter makes not the Pope the ſole Judge of this Archbiſhop or his cauſe, but only craves his advice, how this King might proceed againſt him, in this new caſe: So did the French Biſhops Letter to him ſent along with it, to this effect.

Domino & Reverendiſſimo Papae Iohanni, bbCap. 26. Cent. Magd. 10 col. 485.Epiſcopi Remorum Diaeceſeos. Non ſumus neſcii, Beatiſſime Pater, jamdudum opportuiſſe nos expetere conſulta ſanctae Romanae Eccleſiae, pro ruina atque occaſu ſacerdotalis ordinis, ſed multitudine tyrannorum preſſi, longitudine terrarum ſemoti, deſideria noſtra hactenus implere nequivimus. Nunc itaque veſtro examini, non ſine magno dolore perferimus novum atque inuſitatum crimen Arnulfi Remorum Archieſcopi, qui famoſus Apoſtate factus, locum Iudae traditoris, olim in Eccleſia tenet, qui filius quondam Eccleſiae Laudunenſis, cum Epiſcopum ſuum dolo & fraude ceperit, Eccleſiam ejus pervaſerit, ad cumulum ſuae damnationis Remenſem Eccleſiam ſibi creditam, cum Clero & populo captivavit: nec movet eum noſtra vocatio, vel potius ſaluberrima exhortatio, non Archiepiſcoporum comprovincialium multoties repetita admonitio, non canonice facta coram Deo & Angelis ejus profeſſio, non Chirographi in conſpectu Eccleſeiae recitata deſcriptio, non numeroſa Sacramenta miris excogitata conſiliis. Stant ſuo vitio, quamplures Eccleſiae paſtoribus viduatae, pereunt innumerabiles populi ſine Sacerdotali benedictione & confirmatione: ipſe factione tyrannica, divina humanaque jura contemens, tyrannidem exercet. Regibus noſtris, a quibus tantam Gloriam gratis conſecutus eſt, interitum meditatur. Ergo tandem monſtro perditiſſimi hominis expergefacti ivimus in Sententiam Domini dicentis; Si peccaverit in te frater tuus, vade & corripe eum inter te, & ipſum ſolum. Si te audierit, lucratus es fratrem tuum; ſi autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum vel duos, ut in ore teſtium duorum vel trium ſtet omne verbum; Quod ſi non audierit eos, dic Eccleſiae; Si autem & Eccleſiae, non audierit, ſit tibi ſicut Ethnicus & Publicanus. Adeſto Pater ruenti Eccleſiae, & ſententiam ex ſacris canonibus promulgatam, vel potius ab ipſa veritate prolatam, profer in reum. (To wit, only by way of advice communicated to the King and them, not of actual execution.) Sentiamus in vobis alterum Petrum, defenſorem, & corroboratorem Chriſtiane fidei; ferat Sancta Romana Eccleſia ſententiam damnationis in reum, quem univerſalis damnat Eccleſia. Suffragetur nobis (by way of direction and approbation of their proceedings in a former Synod) veſtra Authoritas, & in hujus Apoſtatae dejectione, & in ejus qui domni Dei praeeſſe poſſit, Archiepiſcopi nova ordinatione: Simulque invocatis Epiſcopis noſtris fratribus, neceſſaria promotione, ut ſciamus & intelligamus, cur inter caeteros Apoſtolatum veſtrum praeferre debeamus.

The Pope receiving theſe Letters from the King and his Biſhops againſt Arnulfus, Legatos primo blande accepit; poſtea verò quam Hereberti Comitis Legati (on behalf p. 231of Arnulfus) equum corpore praestantem, niveo colore inſignem, cum aliis muneribus Pontifici obtulerunt; ſe per triduum ante januam palatii defatigatos, nec admiſſos: Thereupon, infecto negotio redierunt. Upon which account the Synod of Rhemes reſolved, That they might justly proceed against this Trayterous Archbiſhop without the Popes advice. In purſuit whereof:**Cap. 28 Cent. Magd. 10. col 486, 487. Multa ſuper his Pater Arnulfus (Preſident in this Synod) publice loquutus eſt, multa cum ſibi tantum aſſidentibus contulit, to this effect: Nos vero, inquit, Reverendiſſimi Patres, Romanam Eccleſiam propter beati Petri memoriam ſemper honorandam decernimus, nec decretis Romanorum Pontificum obviare contendimus; ſalva tamen Authoritate Niceni Concilii, quod eadem Romana Eccleſia ſemper venerata eſt. Statuta etiam Sacrorum Canonum diverſis locis, diverſis temporibus (ſed eodem Dei ſpiritu conditorum) in aeternum valere praecipimus, ab omnibus ſervanda cenſemus. Duo autem ſunt, quae magnopere a nobis praevideri debent: id eſt, Romani Pontificis ſilentium, aut nova Conſtitutio, promulgatis legibus Canonum vel decretis priorum praejudicare poteſt. Si enim ſilentium praejudicat, omnes leges, omnia priorum decreta,**eo. & ſilente ſilere neceſſe eſt. Si autem nova Conſtitutio, quid proſunt leges conditae, cum ad unius arbitrium omnia dirigantur? Videtis, quia his duabus cauſis admiſſis, Eccleſiarum Dei ſtatus periclitatur: et dum legibus leges quaerimus, nullas omnino leges habemus. Quid ergo? Num privilegio Romani Pontificis derogabimus? minime: Sed ſi Romanus Epiſcopus is eſt quem ſcientiae & vitae meritum commendat, nec ſilentium, nec nova Conſtitutio metuenda ſunt. Quod ſi vel ignorantia, vel metu, vel cupiditate abalienetur, vel conditio invidiam facit, (quod fere ſub haec tempora vidimus) Romae tyrannide praevalente: tunc multo minus idem ſilentium, & nova Conſtitutio formidanda ſunt. Non enim is qui quolibet modo contra leges eſt, legibus praejudicare poteſt. Sed O lugenda Roma, quae noſtris majoribus clara Patrum lumina praebuiſti, noſtris temporibus monſtroſas tenebras futuro ſaeculo famoſas effudiſti. Olim accepimus claros Leones, magnos Gregorios. Quid dicam de Gelaſio & Innocentio, qui omnem mundanam Philoſophiam ſua ſapientia & eloquentia ſuperant? Longa ſeries eorum eſt, qui ſua Doctrina mundum repleverunt. Eorum itaque diſpoſitioni, qui vitae merito & ſcientia cunctos mortales anteirent, recte univerſalis Eccleſia credita eſt; quamvis et in hac ipſa foelicitate hoc privilegium tibi ab Affricanis Epiſcopis contradictum ſit, has credo quas patimur miſerias magis, quam typum dominationis formidantibus. Nam quid ſub haec tempora non vidimus? Vidimus Johannem cognomento Octavianum, in volutabro libidinum verſatum, etiam contra eum Othonem, quem Auguſtum creaverat, conjuraſſe: quo fugato, Leo Neophytus in Pontificem creatur. Sed Otthone Caeſare Roma diſcedente, Octavianus Romam redit, Leonem fugat: Johannem Diaconum naſo, dextris digitis, ac lingua mutilat: multaque caede primorum in Urbe debacchatus, in brevi moritur: cui Benedictum Diaconum, cognomento Grammaticum, Romani ſubſtituunt: eum quoque Leo Neophytus cum ſuo Caeſare non longe poſt aggreditur, obſidet, capit, deponit, perpetuoque exilio in Germaniam dirigit. Succedit Otthoni Caeſari Caeſar Ottho, natura, aetate, cunctos Principes armis, conſilio ac ſcientia ſuperans. Succedit Romae in Pontificatus horrendum monſtrum, Malefacius, cunctos mortales nequicia ſuperans, etiam prioris Pontificis ſanguine cruentus: ſed hic etiam fugatus eſt, in magna Synodo damnatus: poſt obitum divi Otthonis Romam redit, inſignem virum Apoſtolicum, Petrum Papienſis Eccleſiae prius Antiſtitem, data Sacramentorum fide, ab arce Urbis dejicit, deponit: ſqualore carceris affectum perimit. Num talibus monſtris hominum, ignominia plenis, ſcientia divinarum et humanarum rerum vacuis, innumeris Sacerdotes Dei per orbem terrarum ſcientia et vitae merito conſpicuos, ſubjici decretum eſt? Quid eſt hoc Reverendiſſimi Patres? vel quonam vitio fieri credendum eſt, ut caput Eccleſiarum Dei, quod in ſublime erectum, gloria & honore coronatum eſt, ita in infima dejectum, ignominia et dedecore deturpatum ſit? Noſtrum, noſtrum eſt hoc peccatum, noſtra impietas, qui quaerimus quae noſtra ſunt, non quae Jeſu Chriſti. Si enim in quovis ad Epiſcopatum electo, morum gravitas, vitae meritum, divinarum ac humanarum rerum ſcientia, ſubtiliter inveſtigantur; quid in eo qui omnium Epiſcoporum Magiſter videri appetit, inveſtigandum p. 232non eſt? cur ergo in ſumma ſede ſic infimus conſtituitur, ut etiam in Clero nullum habere locum dignus inveniatur? Quid hunc Reverendi Patres in ſub… ſolio reſidentem, veſte purpurea & aurea radiantem, quid hunc (inquam) eſſe cenſetis?Nota. Nimirum ſi charitate deſtituitur, ſolaque ſcientia inflatur, & extollitur, Antichriſtus eſt, in Templo Dei ſedens, et ſe oſtendens tanquam ſit Deus. Si autem nec charitate fundatur, nec ſcientia erigitur, in Templo Dei tanquam ſtatua, tanquam idolum eſt; a quo reſponſa petere, marmora conſulere eſt. Quo ergo conſultum ibimus? Evangelium docet, quendam in ficulnea ter fructum quaeſiſſe, & quia non repererit, ſuccidere voluiſſe, ſed admonitum expectaſſe. Expectemus ergo primates noſtros, quoad poſſumus: atque interim divini verbi pabula, ubinam reperiri valeant, inveſtigemus. Certe in Belgica & Germania, quae vicinae nobis ſunt, ſummus Sacerdotes Dei, in religione admodum praeſtantes, inventri, in hoc ſacro conven… teſtes quidam ſunt. Proinde, ſi Regum diſſidentium animoſitas non prohibere…, inde magis Epiſcoporum judicium petendum fore videtur, quam ab ea Vrbe, quae nunc temporis venalis expoſita, ad nummorum quantitatem judicia trutinat. Quod ſi quiſpiam dixerit, ſecundum Gela…ium, Romanum Eccleſiam de tota Eccleſia judicare, ipſam ad nullius comeare judicium, nec de ejus unquam judicio judicari poſſe: quanquam hoc ipſum Affricani Epiſcopi impoſſibile judicant, niſi forte (inquiunt) quiſquam eſt qui credat, unic…ilibet poſſe Dominum noſtrum examinis inſpirare juſticiam, et innumerabilibus congregatis in Concilium Sacerdotibus deuegare. Sed cum hoc tempore Romae nullus pene ſit (ut fama eſt) qui Literas didicerit, ſine quibus (ut ſcriptum eſt) vix oſſiarius efficitur, qua fronte aliquis eorum docere audebit, quod minime didicit? Ad comparationem quippe Romani Pontificis, in aliis Sacerdotibus ignorantia utcunque tolerabilis eſt; in Romano autem, cui de fide, vita, moribus, diſciplina Sacerdotum, deque univerſali Eccleſia Catholica iudicandum eſt, intolerabilis videri poteſt. Is enim eſt (ut quibuſdam placet) qui ſecundum Ezechielem Prophetam, moratur in Gazophylacio, quod reſpicit viam meridianam, & excubat in cuſtodiis Templi; Cur autem loco prior, ſcientia inferior, non aequo animo ferat judicium loco inferioris, ſcientia prioris? Certe ipſe Apoſtolorum Princeps non abnuit judicium, quamvis loco minoris, Pauli ſcientia prioris, in faciem ſibi reſiſtentis, quoniam non ſana videbatur Doctrina Magiſtri; & Gregorius Papa cum dicat, Si quae culpa in Epiſcopis invenitur, neſcio quis Apoſtolicae ſedi ſubjectus non ſit; ſubinfert, Cum vero culpa non exegit, omnes ſecundum rationem humilitatis pares ſunt. Involutus ergo criminibus, ſentiat praeeſſe ſibi Romanum Pontificem: qui nullis atrocioribus factis praegravatur, intelligat, parem dignamque ſe ac Romano Pontifice in quolibet negotio laturus ſententiam. Sed eſto, ponamus nunc Romae eſſe Damaſum, quid contra ejus decretum actum eſt? Nempe, fi bene recordor, primum Capitulum ſuit quod Epiſcoporum & ſummorum negotiorum Eccleſiaſticorum cauſae ſemper ad ſedem Apoſtolicam ſint referendae. Utique relatae ſunt, non ſolum ab Epiſcopis, ſed etiam a Principe noſtro ſereniſſimo, liberaque poteſtas Apoſtolicae ſedi data eſt, & vera inveſtigandi, & cognoſcendi & di judicandi, per temporum intervalla nimis prolixa: nec prius ad cauſam acceſſimus, quam deſperatione judicii ejus (by way of advice, rather then final cenſure) protraheremur. Conſultus eſt ergo Romanus Epiſcopus ut oportuit, & de hujus Arnulſi depoſitione, & de ejus qui domui Dei digne praeeſſe poſſet ſubſtitutione; ſed our nihil reſponderit, quorum intereſt ipſi viderint. Nos autem Sardicenſe Concilium, quod privilegio Romanae Eccleſiae plurimum favet, ita ad hanc cauſam inflectimus, ut quod de ſolo Epiſcopo in qualibet provincia relicto dicit, ad Romanum Epiſcopum affectum eſſe credamus, &c.

In fine, after long debate,**Cap. 53, 54. Cent. Magd. 10. col. 513, 514, 515. Arnulfus being demanded by the Preſident, Vi…ne te abdicare a Sacerdotii honore, quo hactenus abuſus es? and he thereto anſwering dubiouſly, Sicut dicitis. Tum Comes Brochardus (the Nobles as well as Biſhops being preſent in this Synod) demanded, Quid eſt iſtud, Sicut dicitis? palam cloquatur, palam confiteatur, ne poſtea Epiſcopos crimina, quae voluerint finxiſſe dictitet, ſe confeſſum eſſe p. 233abneget. Whereupon he anſwered, Palam dico & profiteor me erraſſe, & a fidelitate deviaſſe, &c. And by a**Cent. Magd. 10 col. 515, 516 Ammonius lib. 5. c. 46. Aemilius, Gaguinus, Tilius. Writing under his hand, confeſſed his crime and abuſe of his Pontifical Office and Miniſtry, whereof he acknowledged himſelf unworthy, deſiring that another Archbiſhop, qui digne praeſſe & prodeſſe poſſit Eccleſiae, might be conſecrated in his place. Arnulfus being thereupon depoſed and committed to priſon in the City of Aurelia, Gerbertus (afterwards Pope) was made Archbiſhop in his place; and Siguinus Senonenſis Archiepiſcopus (who would not conſent to Arnulfus his depoſition, quae magis ipſius aulae inſatiabili odio, quam Epiſcoporum ſententia fiebat, as he conceived) una cum Arnulfo in carcerem ire jubetur: qua quidem re Hugo Rex ſuae tranquillitati conſulere ſtudebat: ac Triennium utrique in captivitate conſervantur.

About the year 996.**Platina, Stella, Faſciculus Temporum, & Balaeus, in Benedicto 7. Centur. Magd. 10. col. 516, to 521. Ammonius, Martinus, Tilius, Sigebertus, Gaguinus, Paulus Aemilius Pope John the 17. as ſome,Anno 996. or Benedict the 7. as others write, receiving and peruſing the Acts of this Synod at Rome, ingenti ira exardeſcit, & protinus ſuum fulmen vibrans, omnibus Epiſcopis Galliae qui Arnulfum dejecerant alium que ſuffecerant, omnibus ſacris interdicit. Hiſce plus quam panicis terroribus praemiſſis; he cauſed another Synod of the French Biſhops to meet at Rhemes, whereof Siguinus, è carcere eductus, was made Preſident; wherein the depoſition of Archbiſhop Arnulfus was examined, and in concluſion, by the connivance of King Hugo, Arnulfus (againſt the Canons, and his own confeſſion) was reſtored, Gerbertus (who made a moſt elegant Oration therein, demonſtrating the ſimony and intruſion of Arnulfus, the juſtice of his depoſition, and legality of his own advancement to it) depoſed, or rather tranſlated from thence to the Biſhoprick of Ravenna, to give ſatisfaction to the King and him, ex qua veluti ſcala poſtea in Romanum Epiſcopatum emergit.

This Archbiſhop Gerbertus in his **Bibliotheca Patrum, Tom. 10. p. 615, 619, 634.1. Epiſtle, Anno 998.Othoni Caeſari, hath theſe expreſſions: Loquatur Dominus mens ſervo ſuo propriis Epiſtolis ſoli…o more, ut ejus ſervitutis fiat exhibitio, &c. Quantum enim in nobis eſt, quod poſſibile eſte eſſe, conſequens est nos perficere, ſi vestrum cognoverimus velle. Non dicatur Majeſtatis reus, cui pro Caeſare ſtare ſemper fuit gloria, contra Caeſarem ignominia. Epiſtola 154. Domino & glorioſo Othoni Imperatori ſemper Augusto; Gerbertus gratia Domini Remorum Epiſcopus, quicquid tanto Imperatori dignum, &c. Paremus ergo Caeſar, Imperialibus edictis, tum in hoc, tum in omnibus quaecunque divina Majeſtas veſtra decreverit. Non enim deeſſe poſſumus obſequio, qui nihil inter humanas res dulcius aspicimus vestro Imperio. Epiſt. 34. he hath the like paſſages. Epiſt. 12. he thus complains: Ipſe Caeſar omnium hominum excellentiſſimus, a furciferis aſino coaequatur. O amicorum fideliſſime; recordare quod te oraverim, me malle eſſe nulitem in Caeſarianis caſtris, quam Regem in extraneis. And in his **Philip. Morney, Hiſtoria Papatus, p. 22…, 223.Epiſtola ad Wilderodonem Epiſcopum Argentinenſem, he thus aſſerts the Rights of the Kings and Church of France, againſt the Popes Uſurpations. Tu dicis Arunlphum incendia, ſeditiones, traditiones, flagitia, captivitates, ſuorumque direptiones exercentem, ſuorum Regum interritus molientem, Patriam hoſtibus prodentem, divina humanaque contemnentem, nec communione debuiſſe privari, nec poteſtate Principis abjici, Rom. 13.Rom 13ſine Epiſcopi Romani juſſione; cum Apoſtolus dicat: Quia Princeps non ſine cauſa gladium portat, ſed ad vindictam malefactorum, laudem vero bonorum. Favete omnes, qui Regibus veſtris fidem promiſiſtis, promiſſamque ſervare vultis, qui Clerum vobis commiſſum & populum nec tradidistis, nec tradere disponitis; vos inquam, qui tantorum ſcelerum facta perhorreſcitis, favete his qui obediunt Deo jubenti.Mat. 18.Matt 18 Peccantem & Eccleſiae non obaudientem habendum ſicut Ethnicum & Publicanum: qui iterum dicit vobis; Vae vobis Scribae & Phariſaei qui tranſgredimini mandatum Dei, &c. Et ne quis nos in invidiam adducat, quaſi privilegiis Romanae Eccleſiae derogantes, audiat Hieronymum dicentem. Si authoritas quaeritur, orbis major eſt Urbe: Quod ſi perſona major Presbytero quaeritur, ille Sacerdos magnus Leo Papa accedat; Non tenetur, inquit, Petri privilegium, ubi non ex ejus aequitate fertur judicium, &c. At quid judicata, ſi judicanda exinde non informantur? aut quomodo manſuras in aeternum leges trecenti decem & octo Patres constituerunt, ſi horum conſtituta ad unius libitum permutantur, aut perimuutur? Apiarius Presbyter ab Afris damnatus, a Romanis communioni reſtitutus eſt. Scribunt Africani Papae Coeleſtino, contra Nycaenam Synodum factum videri. Aiunt Calumniatores noſtri, Summum Sacerdotem Arnulphum a Summo Sacerdote Romano debuiſſe tantum dijudicari; ait Beatus Auguſtinus, ſi Caecilianum totius Africae primatem ejus accuſatores, quod in vita non potuerunt, poſt mortem convincant, a ſacrorum proditoribus p. 234voluminum ordinatum, vel ipſum proditorem fuiſſe, & poſt mortem ſine r… tractatione ſe ei Anathema dicturum. Licuit ergo Epiſcopis Galliarum viventi Arnulpho confeſſo & convicto, ut Ethnico & Publicano dixiſſe Anathema; licuit inquam, ſequi Evangeliſtas, Apoſtolos, Prophetas, ſacra Concilia, vivorum Apoſtolorum decreta, ab his quatuor non diſcordantia, ſemper in uſu habita, ſemper habenda, &c. Preſſa jacet Tyrannide omnis Eccleſia Gallorum, atqui non a Gallis, ſed ab his a quibus ſperebatur ſalus. Sed una ſalus hominis ô Chriſte tu es; Ipſa Roma omnium Eccleſiarum hactenus habita mater, malis benedicere, bonis maledicere fertur, et quibus nec ave dicendum eſt, communicare, tuamque legem zelantes damnare, abutens ligandi et ſolvendi poteſtate a te accepta. So little did this Archbiſhop (ſoon after made Pope) eſteem the pretended Supremacy of the Pope, or See of Rome.

After the death of Pope John the 17. **Platina, Stella, Onuphrius, Martinus Polenus, Faſciculus Temporum, Hermannus Schedel. Barnes, Balaeus, Benno Cardinalis, & Centur. Magd. 10. c. 10, in Gregorio 5. & Johanne 18. Nauclerus, Antoninus, Crantzius in Saxon. Vicelius, Damianus, Aventinus Annal. Boyo…ū l. 5. Cuſpinianus in Othone 3. Nauclerus in Gen. 34 Bonſinius l. 10. Decadis 1. Rerum Ungaricaurm, Scafnaburgenſis, Blondus, Sabellicus, Enead. 9. l. 2. Carion, Radulphus de Diceto Abbrev. Chron. col. 471. Henr. de Knyghton, de Event. Angl. l. 1. c. 6, 7.Gen 34Otto the 3. coming with an Army into Italy,Anno 996. jubet, commanded the Romans to chuſe Bruno his kinſman, ſon of Otto Duke of Suevia, Pope; sperans iſta ratione poſſe pacem ſtabilire, quae electionibus Novorum Pontificum ſemper ſolebat perturbari. Hereupon, Clerus & populus ſibi ab Imperatore metuentes, Brunonem in Pontificem eligunt, (called Gregory the 5.) à quo Otto cum benedictionem, tum Coronam Imperii accepit: Ottone ad Germaniam regreſſo, Romanus populus, novarum rerum cupidus, Creſcentium ad conſularem poteſtatem trabunt, & res Romanas ejus fidei atque industriae committunt. Creſcentius & populus aegre ferentes Gregorium, Germanum natione, Auctoritate Imperatoris creatum Pontificem, ideo illum ſede Pontificia ejiciunt, & Johannem 18. natione Graecum, Placentinum Epiſcopum (hominem pernicioſum, inſatiabili mentis ardore Papatum muneribus, tumultu ac ſeditione, aliorum Pontificum more, ambientem) Pontificem creant; qui per factionem pecuniis corruptam ſedem occupavit, quod illi exitium, divina ultione, horridum poſtea peperit. Gregorius, ad Imperatorem ſe conferens, de injuria queritur. Imperator indigne ferens hanc contumeliam, cum exercitu in Italiam redit; Urbem obſedit, oppugnavit impigre: Hereupon the Romans deſerting Creſcentius and Pope John, veniam ab Imperatore ſibi dari petunt, aperiuntque Germanis portas: The Pope and Creſcentius thereupon fled to the ſtrong Caſtle of St. Angelo, where after ſome aſſaults, deſcendunt ad Imperatorem veniam petituri; in itinere intercipiuntur. Johannes Novus Pontifex, effoſſis prius oculis, (auribus quoque & naribus abſciſſis, as Damianus and others write) Pontificatu ſimul et vita privabatur. On this Pope John and his followers **Calamitatum lib. 3.Baptiſta Mantuanus beſtowed theſe verſes.

Pernices mercantur equos; venalia Romae,

Templa, Sacerdotes, Altaria Sacra, Coronae,

Ignes, Thura, Preces, Coelum eſt venale, Deuſque.

Miror ego (inquit Platina) Hiſtoricos Johannem iſtum inter Pontifices numeraſſe, cum vivente adhuc Gregorio, ſedem occupaſſet, niſi forte in conſcribendis Pontificum vitis, ita faciendum cenſeant, ut in perpetua Hiſtoria fit. Nam & Tyrannorum perverſa facta, optimorum Pricipum rebus geſtis annumerantur; ut quantum inter ſe boni & mali diſſident à legentibus agnoſci poſſit; quo malorum exemplo a vitiis deterreantur, & bonorum exemplo al virtutes impulſi, vitam in terris beatam ducant. Qua quidem beatitudine Johannes iſte caruit, Fur certe in Pontificatu et latro. Flores Temporum, and Aventinus relate, that this Pope John, de Capitolio praecipitatus ſit, indeque eſſe, ut nulli Pontifici inviſere liceat. Creſcentius (his Patron and advancer) vili jumento imponebatur, & vultu ad caudam verſo, naſoque cum auribus abſciſſo, ut ſpectaculo eſſet omnibus, per plateas circumducebatur, ac truncatis membris, ante Ʋribis moenia patibulo ſuſpendebatur: This Emperor, Gregorium 5. in priſtinam Pontificum ſedem reſtituit: an unanſwerable evidence of his Soveraign Juriſdiction, both over the Pope, City and Citizens of Rome, in relation to the election and confirmation of the Roman Pontiff. After which, Congregata Romae Synodo, the Emperor and Pope perceiving the various contentions and events concerning the Emperors election, ariſing from the ambition of Princes, & Epiſcoporum philargyria, they ordained in this Synod, ut jus eligendi Caeſares apud Germaniae Principes deinde maneret; ſcilicet, Maguntinenſem, Treverenſem, & Colonienſem Archiepiſcopos, Comitem Palatinum Rheni, Ducem Saxoniae, ac Marchionem Brandeburgenſem, & Bohemiae Principem ad dirimendas p. 235diſcordias in paribus ſuffragiis. Quam ſanctionem Anno Dom. 1002. Otto Imperator approbavit, without which it had been a meer nullity. Which Conſtitution the Kings of France, iniquiſſime ferebant, ſed aper to bello id illis eripere non audebant.

This Pope Gregory deceaſing Anno 997. aaPlatina, Martinus Polonus, Onuphrius, Faſcic: Temp: Stella, Barnes, Balaeus, Cent: Magd: 10. c. 10. col. 547, 548. Nauclerus, Antoninus Martinus, Hermannus Schedel, Gaguinus, Ammonius, Polychronicon, l. 6. c. 14. Benno Cardinalis in Greg. 7. Mat. Weſtm: Anno 998. Uſſerius De Statu & ſucceſſione Eccleſiae, cap. 3. Morney Hiſt. Papatus, p. 226 &c.Gilbertus,Anno 997 (alias Gerbertus) Archbiſhop of Ravenna, (of whom before) per Otthonem Imperatorem ad Romanae urbis ſedem evehitur, and named Sylveſter the 2d. This Pope, artibus Diabolicis intentus, totus ſe Satanae mancipabat, & jurejurando ſe tradidit from his youth, obtaining all his former preferments, and the Papacy, magicis artibus, & ſtrenua opera Diaboli adjutus. Which he concealing after he was made Pope (leſt he ſhould ſeem the Devils Vicar, rather then Chriſts) Aeneum vero caput domi in abdito quodam loco ſervabat, per quod Diabolus de rebus futuris an ipſo rogatus, reſponſa dabat. Sylveſter in tanto honorum gradu Diaboli ope conſtitutus, conſuluit aliquando Diabolum de tantae foelicitatis ſuae dinturnitate: qui reſſondit, Non eum moriturum, niſi Hieroſolymas miſſam celebraret. Pontifex urbem Paleſtinae intelligens, longiſſime mortem a ſe abeſſe ſomniabat, cumnihil minus quam de Hieroſolyma adcunda cogitaret: Impiam igitur & ab omni …mendations cura, liberam agebat vitam. But ſoon after ſaying Maſſe in Lent, according to the cuſtom of former Popes, in the Church of St. Croſſe, called …ruſalem, in ipſis ſacris ardenti febre corripitur, daemonum que audit ſtrepitum; whereupon conceiving himſelf deluded by the Devils ambiguous anſwer, and that his death approached, Conſcientiae morſu ſaeviſſimo excitatus, ſcelus ſuum deploravit, & praeſentibus Cardinalibus rem omnem multo cum gemitu aperuit. Membra omnia quibus Diabolo obſequium praeſtiterat (viz. manus & linguam, ſunt, qui addunt, genitalia) praecidi juſſit: Deinde truncum mortuum ſuper bigam juſſit poni, at ubicun que animalia perducerent & ſubſiſterent ſepeliretur; And then expiring (Anno Dom. 1001. as ſome, or 1003. as others compute) the Cardinals executed what he deſired on his corps. Et quis non hinc intelligat (writes Balaeus) qualenam iſtud munus ſit, qualis ſit dignitas, quale officium, quod Diabolus ſine cenſura novit, quodque Satanicis atque nefariis artibus adepiſci poſſunt homines perditiſſimi? Quale ſit etiam Miſſae ſacrificum, quod vivis & mortuis prodeſſe crebro jactitant, cum Diabolus tantam tragoe…iam adverſus ſanctiſſimum Petri ſucceſſorem & ſocium (Simonem Magum, potius) ſub eo excitaverit, atque ad lacum tartareum ſecum tandem traxerit.

Before I proceed further, I cannot but take notice of a memorable paſſage of Cardinal bbAnnalium Eccl. Tom. 1…. Anno 912. Artic. 8. Phil: Morney Hiſt Papatus, p. 123.Baronius (a chief Aſſertor of the univerſal Supremacy, and uninterrupted Succeſſion of the Popes and Church of Rome) touching the corrupt, deteſtable ſtate of the Church and Biſhops of Rome, in this age. Quae tunc facies Eccleſiae Romanae? quam foediſſima, cum Romae dominarentur potentiſſimae aeque ac ſordidiſſimae Meretrices? Quarum arbitrio mutarentur ſedes, darentur Epiſcopi, & quod auditu horrendum & infandum eſt, intruderentur in ſedem Petri eorum amaſii, et Pſeudo-Pontifices, qui non ſunt niſi ad conſignanda tanta tempora in Catalogo Romanorum Pontificum ſcripti. Quis enim a Scortis hujuſmodi intruſos, ſine lege, legitimos dicere poſſet, Romanos fuiſſe Pontifices? Nuſquam Cleri eligentis, vel conſentientis poſtea, aliqua mentio, Canones preſſi ſilentio, decreta Pontificum ſuffocata, proſcriptae antiquae traditiones vetereſque in eligendo Summo Pontifice conſuetudines, ſacr…que ritus & priſtinus uſus, prorſus extincti. Sic vendicaverat omnia ſibi libido ſeculari potentia freta, inſaniens, aeſtro percita dominandi. Dormiebat tunc plane alto (ut apparet) ſopore Chriſtus in Navi, cum ipſe flantibus validis ventis, navis ipſa fluctibus operiretur. Dormiebat, inquam, qui iſta non videre diſſimulans, ſineret ſic fieri, dum non exurgeret vindex. Et quod deterius videtur, deerant qui Dominum ſic dormientem clamoribus excitarent diſcipuli, ſtertentibus omnibus. Qualeſnam reris delectos ab hiſce monſtris Presbyteros & Diaconos Cardinales fuiſſe putandum, cum nihil tam naturae inſitum ſit, quam unumquemque ſibi ſimilem generare? Quos in omnibus his, a quibus delecti fuerint, conſenſiſſe dubitare quis poterit? imitatoſque eſſe ipſos, ſectatoſque eorum veſtigia quis non facile credat, & optaſſe hos omnes Dominum dormiſſe ſemper, & nunquam in judicium ſurrecturum, evigilaturum, nunquam ad ipſorum cognoſcenda & punienda facinora quis non intelligat? On which paſſage, Philip Lord Morney hath this obſervation. Et ex hoc ſolo loco judicet Lector, quam tantopere oſtentavit Epiſcoporum Romanorum ſucceſsionem, (he might adde, his Supremacy, Headſhip over the Church, as Chriſts Vicar General) quo jure defendere poſſit? To which I ſhall ſubjoyn this obſervation of learnedccRodolphus Gualtherus Hom. l. 3. de Antichriſto, Balaeus in Viti… Pontif. l. 4. p. 174. Gualther, relating to the ſucceſſive Popes p. 236in the ſame age. Jam ergo penes cordatum quemvis judicium eſto, non merito de Pontificum tyrannide & iniquitate conqueſti ſint optimi quique, cum tot (quos modo commemoravimus) nebulones, tyrannos, fures, raptores, latrones, ſeditioſos, adulteros, et palam ſacrilegos (he might have added homicidas, apoſtatas, Necromanticos, haereticos, idololatricos, atheiſticos) intra tam paucos annos, ſedes illa geſtaverit. Et quis ſodes ceu ſanctam veneretur, quae tor peſtes ſuſtinere potuit? Nondum tamen impletus ſatis fuit impiiſsimorum hominum catalogus, &c. To theſe I could ſubjoyn the concurrent Teſtimonies of Platina, Sabellicus, Wernerus, St. Bernard, Genebrardus, Bellarmin, and others, collected by our incomparable Iacobus Uſſerius, in his Book, De Chriſtianarum Eccleſiarum Succeſſione & ſtatu, c. 2, 3, 4. to which I refer the Reader: concluding with this memorable paſſage ofccEnead. 9. l. 1. & 2. Ant. Coccius Sabellicus, evidencing the Emperors Supremacy over Popes: Non poſſum non multum mirar…, unde Tragica haec Pontificum fluxerint exempla, quam dira pretatis oblivio eorum mentes irrepſerit, ut neque perſonae quem ſuſtinebant ratio ab his ulla haberetur, neque loci quem tenerent, ut non immerito aliquis ſuſpicaretur, quicquid moderaminis fuit et Majeſtatis in illis, qui…a Caroli cognomento Magni temporibus ad Gallici Imperii exitum interfuit (interfuit enim aetas una) ſedem tenuerunt, non tam ſua ſponte, quam Regum, Imperatorum, et in quorum tutela eſſent metu et reverentia, in officio manſerunt. Wherefore it was very neceſſary, at leaſt expedient for the good government, reformation of Popes, Prelates, and the Church of God, that Chriſtian Kings and Emperors ſhould have a Superintendent coercive power over them, to keep them all in good order, to reſtrain, correct their deteſtable Enormities and exorbitances; eſpecially ſince Wernerus (a Carthu…an Monk) writing of this degenerate age, and Popes therein, pronounceth, Sanctitatem Papam dimiſiſſe, ac ad Imperatores acceſsiſſe hoc tempore, ſicut Clare apparet; andddChronograph. l. 4. in principio, 10. ſeculi. Genebrardus records, Hoc ſeculum uno infelix, quod per annos f…re 150. Pontifices circiter 50. a virtute majorum prorſus defecerint, Apotactici, Apoſtaticive potius, quam Apoſtolici: And could ſuch Monſters of men, and Apoſtates from the life and faith of Chriſt, be his Univerſal Vicars over his Church on earth, and not rather thoſe pious Chriſtian Kings, Emperors, who puniſhed their exceſſes?

eeBenno Cardinalis in vita Greg. 7. Joan. Baconthorpius, in Prologo 4. Sentent. qu. 20. Onuphrius, Platina, Stella, Vicelius, Hermann…s Schedei Ba…, Balaeus, Centur. Magd. 11. cap. 10. in Jo…nne 19. Sigebertus, Anno 1003. Simoneta l. 5. c. 52.Pope John the 19. adjutore Diabolo,Anno 1003. cujus tum erat Papatum dare, Sylveſtro, mago ac Satanico monſtro, ſucceſſit in Romana ſede; but with ſome conteſt; Certamen enim fuit (as Benno Cardinalis, and others record) inter ipſius Sylveſtri diſcipulos necromantes dum quiſ que anhelaret ad rapiendum ſibi Papatum. This Pope by the perſwaſion of his Clergy Romanum populum Pontificis electione privavit, adjectis his clauſulis, Docendus (Ducendus) est populus, non ſequendus: Major eſt dignitas legis quae regitur Spiritu ſancto (whereby theſe Popes were not ruled, but by the unclean Spirit the Devil) quam legis ſecularis. Leges Imperatorias nihil eſſe dicebat: But by a divine retalation, his Papal authority was ſo much ſlighted, that Veneno a ſuis domesticis ſublatus eſt, within 5. moneths after his conſecration, to make way for his ſucceſſor Iohn the 20. qui prodig ioſis artibus Satanici Papatus ſellam occupavit. A praedicto enim Sylveſtro, qui Magus diabolicus erat, uſque ad Gregorium ſeptimum, ſceleratiſſimum nebulonem, ac praeſtigiatorem iniquiſſimum, famoſi fuerunt incantatores Romani Pontifices omnes, Jannem & Jambrem Aegyptos Magos longe ſuperantes, as Benno Cardinalis, Balaeus, and others inform us. This Pope totum ſe voluptatibus dedit, during all his Papacy, till at laſt by the practice of ſuch who aſpired after his Papal See, Anno 1007non ſine veneni ſuſpitione expiravit, Anno 1009.