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

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

p. 176Charles the Great, whiles King of France, (the greateſt Protector of the Pope, and See of Rome) by his Soveraign Eccleſiaſtical Authority, Anno 800out of ſacred Councils and Synods, collected a Book of Eccleſiaſtical Lawes and Constitutions, for the preſervation and propagation of the Orthodox Faith, the peace, good government, and diſcipline of the Church; the diſcharge of his regal truſt, duty, and ſalvation of his peoples ſouls which he enjoyned all Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Prieſts, Monks Clergymen, and other his Subjects to obſerve, thus prefaced by himſelf: hhFredericus Lindebrogus, Codex Legum Antiquarum, p. 829. 830. Cent: Magd: 8. cap. 7 col. 517, 518, 519.Regnante Domino noſtro Jeſu Chriſto in perpetuum, Ego Karolus gratia Dei, ejuſ que miſericordia donan…e Rex et Rector regni Francorum, et devotus Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae defenſor, humiliſque ad, utor, omnibus Eccleſiaſticae pietutis ordinibus ſeu ſeculari potentiae dignitatibus, in Chriſto Deo aeterno perpetuae pacis et beatitudinis, ſalutem. Conſiderans pacifico piae mentis intuitu, una cum Sacerdotibus, & conſiliariis noſtris, abundantem in nos noſtrumque populum Christi Regis …clementiam, et quam neceſſarium eſt, non ſolum toto corde & ore ejus pietati ag…regratias inceſſanter, ſed etiam continuo bonorum operum exercitatione ejus inſiſtere laudibus, quatenus, qui noſtro regno tantos contulit honores, ſua protectione nos, noſtrumque regnum, in aeternum conſervare dignetur. Quapropter placuit nobis veſtram rogare ſolertiam, O Paſtores Eccleſiarum Chriſti, & Ductores Gregis ejus, & clariſsima mundi luminaria, ut vigili cura, et ſedula admonitione populum Dei per paſcua vitae aeternae ducere ſtudeatis, et errantes oves bonorum exemplo operum ſeu adhortatione, humeris intra Eccleſiaſticae firmitatis muros reportare ſatagatis: ne lupus inſidians aliquem canonicas ſanctiones tranſgredientem, vel paternas traditiones Ʋniverſalium Conciliorum excedentem, quod abſit, inveniens devoret. Ideo magnae devotionis ſtudio admonendi & adhortandi ſunt, imo compellendi, ut firma fide et infatigabili perſeverantia, intra paternas ſanctiones ſe contineant. In quo operis ſtudio, ſciat certiſsime ſanctitas veſtra noſtram vobis cooperari diligentiam. Quapropter et noſtros ad vos direximus miſſas, qui ex noſtri nominis authoritate, una vobiſcum corrigerent quae corrigenda eſſent. Sed et aliqua Capitula ex Canonicis inſtitutionibus, quae magis vobis neceſſaria videbantur, p. 177ſubjunximus. Ne aliquis quaeſo hujus pietatis admonitionem eſſe praeſumptuoſam putet vel judicet, qua nos errata corrigere, ſuperflua abſcindere, recta coarctare ſtudeamus, ſed magis benevolo charitatis animo ſuſcipiat. Nam legimus in Regnorum libris, quomodo ſanctus Joſias Regnum ſibi, a Deo datum circumeundo, corrigendo & admonendo cultum veri Dei ſtuduit revocare. Non ut me ejus ſanctitati aquiparabilem faciam, ſed quod nobis ſint ubique Sanctorum ſemper exempla exſequenda, et quoſcunque poterimus ad ſtudium bonae vitae in laudem et in gloriam Domini noſtri Ieſu Chriſti congregare neceſſe eſt. Quapropter ut praedirimus, aliqua Capitula notare juſsimus, ut ſimul nec eadem vos admonere ſtudeatis, et quaecunque vobis alia neceſſaria eſſe ſcitis, ut et iſta et illa aequali intentione praedicetis: Nec aliquid quod veſtrae ſanctitati populoque Dei utile videatur omittatis, ſed pio ſtudio admoneatis, quatenus et veſtra ſolertia, ſubjectorum obedientia aeterna faelicitate ab omnipotenti Deo remuneretur.

Theſe Eccleſiaſtical Lawes of his, aaCap…tulariae Karol. & Ludovici Imperatoris. libri 7.with the Lawes of Ludovicus Pius his ſonne, and Lothorius, collected, … into 7 Books by Abbot Anſegiſus (upon the command of Ludovicus Pius) contain in them all matters concerning the Orthodox faith, the Canonical Scriptures,bbFredericus Lindebrogus, Codex Leg…. Antiquarum, p. 825. the Sacraments of Baptiſm, & Lords Supper, Preaching, Catechiſing, ſanctification of the Lords day, the Ordination, qualification, duty, electing, inſtalling of Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Prieſts, Monks, Deacons, their reſpective offices, duties, orders, exceſſes, holy dayes, Churches, Chappels, Tithis, Churchlands, Excommunications, Maſſe, Sacriledge, Simony, Appeals, Eccleſiaſtical Judges, Synods, Conſiſtories, Viſitations, Vowes, Marriage, Vi…ginity, Altars, Church-ornaments, Sanctuaries, Burials, Penance, and all manner of Divine and Eccleſiaſtical affairs; where thoſe who pleaſe may peruſe them for their ſatisfaction. This pious Emperor to reform all corruptions, abuſes in Doctrine, Diſcipline in the Churches of France, Italy, Germany, ſummoned ſeveral Councils under him, being preſent and preſident in moſt of them.

ccAbbas Vſpegemis Chron. p. 177, 178. Anaſtatius, Luitprandus, Platina, Barns. Balaeus, Onuphrius, Lydius, in Leone 3. Cent. Magd. 8. col. 513. 940. Baron…s, An…, 799.Pope Leo the 3d. being diſtreſſed,Anno 800. miſit ad Carolum claves Sancti Petri, Urbiſque Romae vexilla, & alia … pete…s, ut Romanum populum Papae Sacramento fidei data ſub…iceret, againſt their wills; upon this occaſion, Anno 799. there was a great ſedition raiſed at Rome againſt this Pope, whoſe Oppoſites as he was riding in proceſſion from his Palace of Lateran to St. Laurence Church, threw him from his horſe, put out his eyes, and cut off his tongue as they imagined, leaving him naked and half dead in the Streets, and afterwards thruſt him into the Monaſtery of St. Eraſmus as a priſoner; whence he eſcaping went into France, complained of this injury to Charles the Great, who Anno 800. marched to Rome accompanied with this Pope; where after 7. days ſtay calling an Aſſembly of the Biſhops, Abbots, et omnem Nobilitatem Francorum et Romanorum, He acquainted them, that the principal cauſe of his comming to Rome, and convening them now, was; De diſcutiendis quae objecta ſunt Pontifici criminibus: ejus calumniatores mortiferum ei crimen impoſuerunt. Rege autem hoc inquirente, cum nullus eſſet criminis probator, Pontifer aſſumpto Evangelii textu coram Rege et omni populo ambonem conſcendit, aſtantibuſque accuſatoribus invocato ſanctae Trinitatis nomine, jure jurando ab objectis ſe expurgavit, &c. Lo here King Charls before he was crowned Emperor ſat as Supreme Judge in Rome it ſelf, examining the Crimes objected againſt the Pope, who when witneſſes failed, purged himſelf before him and all the people by his Oath, and was thereupon acquitted. Immediately after, (by way of gratitude for his reſtitution to the Papacy, and abſolution from his objected crimes) King Charls comming on Chriſtmas day to divine Service, this Pope Leo on a ſudden riſing from prayers, Carolo, nihil minus ſperanti (as Abbas Uspergenſis relates, though others conceive it was by his own appointment) Papa coronam impoſuit, et Imperatorem Romanum pronunciavit, et a cuncto Romano populo acclamatum p. 178eſt, Carolo Auguſto a Deo (not Papa) coronato, Magno et Pacifico, Imperatori Romanorum, vita et victoria. Poſt quas laudes, unctus ab Apoſtolico, et antiquorum more Principum, ab eo adoratur, ablato Patricii nomine, Imperator et Auguſtus appellatus eſt: WhichaaFaſtorum, l, 4. Mantuanus the Poet thus expreſſeth:

Imperii tandem Roma applaudente Coronam

Impo…u…t Carolo, tantique inſignia Regni.

bbSee here, c. 4. p. 35. to 40. Dr. … of the Pope, Temporal Monarchy, cap. 1, 2. & The Defence …, c. 14Gratia, Anaſtatius, Onuphrius, Platina, Stella, Baronius, Alvarus Pelagius, Marta, … Schioppius, Bellarmin, and other Pontificians conclude from lience, that the Pope is above the Emperor, and may, de jure, diſpoſe of Empires, Kingdoms; and at his pleaſure tranſlate them from one Family and Nation to another. Romani Imperii … Gracis per Papam, ad Gallos eſt tranſlata, poſtea a Gallis ad Germanos ſecundum beneplacitum ejus. Ita eſt Imperium, quod antea a coelo dari creditum fuit, nunc ad Papae manus devolutum. Pipinum queque Caroli hujus filium illius partis Itahae regem declaravit hic Pontifex, quam nec ipſe, nec ullus praedeceſſorum ſuorum ſubjicere poterant, writesccDe … Ponti…. … p 10… Marſilius Patavinus Defen… Pacis, pars 2. cap. 26. Balaeus and others. But whoſoever ſhall impartially conſider theſe enſuing particulars, will at firſt diſcover the falſity and abſurdity of theſe Concluſions: 1. The ſeveral Letters, ſupplications, addreſſes of Pope Hadrian, Stephen, Leo, and others, to Pipin, Carolomannus, and this King Charles, to protect and deſend them againſt Aiſtulphus, Deſiderius, the Lombards, Romans, Exarchs, and other their oppoſites, who depoſed, expelled, and ſeiſed upon their perſons, poſſeſſions from time to time; who thereupon reſtored theſe Popes to, yea confirmed them in their Papacy by their ſwords, and new Charters of Donations. 2ly. That they ſubmitted themſelves to them as their Lords, Patrons, Protectors, ſurrendred up St. Peters Keyes, and the Roman Enſigns to them. 3ly. That the Pope, Council, Nobles and people of Rome, granted the power of electing, confirming the Pope, and the Government of the See and City of Rome to this Charles and his ſucceſſors. 4ly. That before he was crowned Emperor he ſat as Judge of this Popes crimes, when others refuſed out of fear to Judge him; that after his purgation he abſolved and pronounced him innocent, then gave judgement of death, baniſhment againſt his falſe accuſers and perſecutors, beheading no leſſe then 300 of them, as ſome record. 5ly. That Charles by way of conqueſt got actual poſſeſſion of Rome and Italy; made himſelf Emperor thereof, his ſon Pipin King of Italy, and this Leo actual Pope, by his own ſword alone, not by this Popes antecedent gift or donation, who never had any precedent right in, or poſſeſſion of them. HenceddChron…con. Lib. 5. c. 31, 32. Otto Friſingenſis and**Cited by Dr. … Defence of Constantine, c. 14. p. 322. to 344. ſundry others truly obſerve, Qualiter Carolus, aſſumpto Pontifice totoque populo, Auguſtus vocatus, Imperium a Gracis ad Francos tranſtulit; Hujus virtute Regnum Francorum plurimum augmentatum eſt, omniumque Regnorum Maximum, Romanum ſcilicet, ab Oriente ad Occidentem tranſlatum, Not by the Popes or St. Peters authority, as Pontificians fancre. 6ly.eeSee Ma…ſilius, Patavinus, Defenſoris Pacis, pars. 2. c. 17. 24, 25. That all this Popes Predeceſſors were ſubject to the Emperors, their elections approved, yea their perſons judged, depoſed by them from time to time, as the premiſes evidence. 7ly. That the people of**Sigonius de Regno Ital. l. 4 Anaſtatius in Leone 3. Dr. … Defence of C… ſtantine, c. 14. p. 327, 328, 333. to 340. Rome by their unanimous acclamations and aſſents, rather elected and made Charles their Emperor, then the Pope, (who only declared, anointed, crowned him Emperor, miniſterially, as other Archbiſhops and Biſhops crown their Kings, as Cardinals, Biſhops crown Popes themſelves) not authoritatively, as diſpoſers of their Crowns, Empires, Kingdoms, as Supream Lords thereof. 8ly. That this Pope, together with the people of Rome, and all preſent at Charls his Coronation cryed out, That God had made and crowned him Emperor (by his providences and his own victorious ſucceſſes) not the Pope, or Romans, as Carolo Augusto A DEO CORONATO, &c. reſolves. 9ly. That as theffSee here, p 22. 23. High Prieſts and Prieſts anointing and crowning of David, Solomon, and other Kings of Judah and Jeruſalem by Gods appointment under the Law, gave them no Juriſdiction or ſuperiority over their perſons or Kingdoms: So the Popes and Biſhops annointing, crowning of Emperors, Kings under the Goſpel, (warranted by no Goſpel precept or preſident of Chriſt, Peter, or any other Apoſtle, Biſhop, Prieſt) can much leſſe do it. Hencegg… Thomas Waldenſis (though a great Champion for the Popes and Biſhops Juriſdiction and Supremacy) dogmatically reſolves: 1. Regia p. 179poteſtas prima ſui origine a Deo est, non a Sacerdo…e. 2. Quanquam miniſterio Epiſcoporum Regibus imponatur **Unctio et Coronatio nihil praeſtant Imperiali poteſtati, ſed ſunt tantummodo ſolennitas & ſiunt honoris & officii cauſa, non neceſſitatis; nec quicquam hac actione Caeſaribus accedat: as Jacobus Almain, De Poteſtat. Eccleſ. & Laic, qu. 2. c. 10. Cuſa…us l. 3. c. 4. Hieronimus Balbus de Corona, p. 68. Lupoldus de J…re Reg. & Imperat. cap. 4 & 11. Dr. C…akenthorps defence of Co…stantine, c. 14. p. 341, 34…. reſolve.Corona, et inſignia conferantur, non eſt propterea dicendum, Regiam illam dignitatem ortum habere a ſacerdote. Quanquam miniſterio Epiſcoporum ſolemnitates adhibentur Regibus unctionis, jusjurandi, fidei et coronae; non tamen habet regia illa dignitas ortum a Sacerdotio, quanquam per miniſterium Sacerdotis hoc habet a Deo; ſicut nec ordinatus quiſquam habet ordinationis ortum a Praeſule, aut Sacramentum Euchariſtiae a Sacerdote quolibet celebrante; ab homine enim eſt ſolennitatis miniſterium: Deus vero ſolus largitur officium. Which he proves by St. Chryſoſtom, Tom: 1. Hom. 1. De Unctione Samuelis in David Regem: On whoſe words he obſerves: Palam dicit, Deum coronaſſe Regem quem homo deſpexit, et ungitur quidem Miniſterio hominis, ſed Dei nutu. Ita quidem eſt et per hoc evidens, quod a Sacerdote non habet Rex originem. Vel iterato concludimus, quod Sacerdotium initium habet a Duce, quia Moyſes unxit Aaron, Levit. 8. Nec tamen hoc verum eſt, nec quod autumat Doctor Adam, ideo regnum Cain defeciſſe, quia ſine Sacerdote regnavit. Thus he moſt ſolidly and unanſwerably determines: which quite ſubverts the Popes Supremacy over the Emperor from his bare deſignation, unction, coronation of him. 10ly. That all**See Dr. Crakenthorps Defence of Conſtantine, p. 323, to 341. where it is largely evidenced. the People of Rome and other Prelats preſent at this Coronation had a hand, voyce in this deſignation and coronation of Charles to be Emperor, & in tranſlating the Empire to him from the Germans, as much as this Pope: Will it therefore follow, that all and every of them there preſent paramount the Emperor, or Kings, and might diſpoſe of the Emperor, Empire and Italy at their pleaſure? If yea: then each of them was as great and omnipotent as this Pope. If not, then the inference is moſt abſurd. 11ly.aaDefenſori…. Pacis, pars 2. c. 30. Marſilius Patavinus long ſince thus diſcovers and refutes this inſerence of the Pope and his Paraſites. Quae autem finaliter addebatur deductio, quoniam ſecundum Juriſdictionem ille ſuperior eſt ad Romanum Imperatorem, ipſumque de jure inſtituere atque deponere poteſt, qui tranſtulit Imperium a Graecis in Germanos in perſona Magni Caroli. Hic autem eſt Papa Romanus. Ergo Imperatoris ſuperior, ipſumque inſtituere atque deponere poteſt. Dicendum, quod ſi major indefinite ſumatur, ex ipſa cum minore nihil infertur, propter non fieri ſyllogiſmum ex indefinita cum particulari. Si vero ſignatur univerſaliter, ut dicatur; Omnis tranſlater imperii Romani a Graecis i… Romanos, ſuperior est, &c. niſi determinetur ſubjectum, quam plures haberet haec propoſitio veras inſtantias. Si enim quis de facto & non de jure transtuliſſet imperium; aut ſi aliena, ceu ſibi ab altero tunc data poteſtate ad hoc, tanquam procuratori, vel quaſi; qui ſic inquam tranſtuliſſet (as this Pope did to Charles) non propter hoc ſolus ſuperiorem Juriſdictionem haberet, nec poteſtatem juſtam Romanum Principem inſtituendi aut deponendi. Si vero determinata jam dicta priori propoſitione, ut omnis mortalis qui tranſtulit, aut transferre poteſt Romanum Imperium a Graecis in Germanos juſte, autoritate propria, non ſibi conceſſa per alterum, ſuperior eſt ſecundum coactivam juriſdictionem ad Romanum Principem, ipſumque juſte inſtituere atque deponere poteſt; Quae huic annectitur ſecunda, videlicet, Romanus Epiſcopus, ſive Papa eſt, qui tranſtulit Imperium, ut dictum eſt; neganda eſt tanquam omnino falſa; Nam eius oppoſita demonſtrata eſt, l. 1. c. 15. &c. per Scripturam, & dicta Sanctorum atque catholicorum Doctorum, Lib. 2. c. 4, 5. ſicque obſervatum de facto ſine reclamatione fuiſſe per antiquos patres et paſtores Romanos Epiſcopos, perſuaſimus (21. hujus) ex approbatis hiſtoriis, Eſto igitur Imperii tranſlationem a Graecis in Germanos juſte factam, &c. Dico tamen, quod non authoritate Romanae Papae ſolius, aut cum ſuo ſolo collegio Clericorum, ut pridem diximus. Et propterea oportet attendere (ſecundum demonſtrationes inductas, c. 12. 13, & 15. lib. 1.) quod ejuſdem eſt autoritas prima ſecundum rationem rectam intendentibus, leges humanas ſtatuendi, principatum instituendi, Principem aſſumendi, authoritatem illi concedendi, & haec omnia mutandi, deſtruendi, augendi ve… minuendi, ſuspendendi, corrigendi, deponendi, transferendi, recreandi, & reliqua faciendi p. 180circa ea quae jam dictam aut horitatem habenti principaliter, non ab altero expedire videntur, & per ſuam expreſſerit voluntatem: Cujus autem ſit auctoritas ſupradicta, determinatum eſt, c. 12, 13. l. 1. (viz.) Legiſlator vel cauſa legis effectiva prima ac propria, eſſe populus, ſeu Civium Vniverſitas, aut ejus valentior pars (quantitate) per ſuam electionem, vel per voluntatem in generali civium congregatione per ſermonem expreſſam, praecipientem vel determinantem aliquid fieri vel remitti, circa civiles actus humanos, ſub poena vel ſupplicio temporali) Propter quod ubicunque legatur, & a quocunque dicatur tranſlatum fuiſſe Imperium, aut alter quicunque Principatus, aut Princeps aliquis qui per electionem aſſumitur, inſtitutus per Papam, vel aliam perſonam ſingularem, aut per Collegium ſingulare aliquod provinciae ſive regni: ſi vera debeat eſſe Scriptura vel ſermo, et valida ſeu juſta inſtitutio, ſive tranſlatio talis, oportet fieri, aut factam eſſe autoritate Legiſlatoris primi in provincia vel provinciis, ſuper quas, a quibus, et ad quas debet inſtitutio aut tranſlatio fieri, aut facta fore. Ideo que tranſlatio Imperii Romani, vel Imperatoris alicujus inſtitutio, dicatur aut ſcribatur ritè facta fuiſſe per Papam Romanum ſolum, aut per ipſum cum ſuo ſolo collegio Clericorum, & verum ſit hujuſmodi dictum aut ſcriptum, oportet tranſlationem aut inſtitutionem jam dictam per ipſos intelligere factam, per autoritatem illis conceſſam adhoc a Romani Imperii Legiſlatore humano ſupremo, per medium, aut ſine medio, vel ab eis quidem non factam ſimpliciter, ſed modo quodam, ut publicatam vel pronunciatam, autoritate tamen praedicta. But neither this Pope nor his ſucceſſors had any ſuch authority, either from the rightful Roman Emperor Leo, then reſiding at Conſtantinople, nor from the Univerſality or majority of the Nobles, Princes, Biſhops, Clergy, People of the then Roman Empire, thus ſodenly at Rome to tranſlate the Empire from the Grecians to the French, and to intail it upon them; nor yet from God himſelf, or St. Peter, as I have proved at large in the precedent Chapters; and Marſilius Patavinus in his two whole Books intituled Defenſor Pacis: Therefore it muſt needs be altogether illegal, invalid, injurious, yea an Antichriſtian Uſurpation, as the forecited, together with Dr. Barnes, Balaeus, the Century Writers, Morney, Jewel, with**Dr. Crakenthorp his Defence of Conſtantine, cap. 14. other Proteſtant Writers cenſure it; and the ill effects thereof, in ſowing the ſeeds of perpetual enmity, deſolation, ſchiſms, wars between the Emperors, Churches, Biſhops of the Eaſt and Weſt, and ſince that between the Popes and German Emperors, unde tot ſtrages, tot incendia, tot regnorum vaſtationes, ſchiſmata & bella pluſquam civilia ſubſecutae ſunt, as Heronimus Marius, **Acta Pontif. Romanorum in Leone 3.Balaeus, and others obſerve. All which conſidered, the Pontificians grand Argument of the Popes Supremacy over all Kings, kingdoms, the Roman and Grecian Emperors and Empires, to remove and tranſlate them at their Papal arbitrary pleaſures, muſt fall quite to ground.

bbSurius Concil. Tom: 3. p. 270. Centur. Magd. 9. c. 9. De Synodis.John, Anno 806a Biſhop, being violently and in a ſtrange manner murdered in Gaſcoigne; thereupon 32 Archbiſhops and Biſhops aſſembled in a Synod apud Theodoms villam in the County of Lutzenberg, and having drawn up a Writing, inflicting Eccleſiaſtical & pecuniary puniſhments on thoſe who ſhould aſſault or murder any Biſhop, Prieſt, or Clergy man, tendred them to the Emperor Charles the Great, his Princes and peoples conſideration and approbation; Si Principibus placuerit, aliiſque fidelibus ſuis, rogamus, ut conlaudetur et ſubſcribatur. After peruſal of them. Et conlaudatum et ſubſcriptum eſt tam a Principe, quam a caeteris omnibus. With this addition. Si quis per induſtrian Epiſcopum occiderit, juxta id quod apud Triburiae a 24 Epiſcopis decretum eſt, et quod ibi a nobis (Carolo magno & Ludovico) et a principibus totius Germaniae benigne collaudatione conlaudatum eſt, et ſubſcriptum eſt. Et hoc de noſtro adjecimus: ut ſi quis in his ſupradictis ſanctorum Canonum noſtrique Decreti ſantionibus, Epiſcopis inobediens & contumax extiterit, primum cancnica ſententia feriatur. Deinde in noſtro regno beneficium non habeat, & alodiſcius in annum mittatur. Et ſi annum & diem in banno permanſerit, ad fiſcum noſtrum redigatur, & captus, in exilium religetur, &c. Et ſi omnibus vobis iſta placuerint, dicite. Et tertio ab omnibus acclamatum eſt, Placet. Et Imperatores, et pene omnes Galliae Principes ſubſcripſerunt, ſinguli ſingulas facientes cruces. Et eccleſiaſticus ordo Deo et Principibus laudes referentes, hymnum, Te Deum laudamus, decantaverunt. Et ſic ſoluta eſt Synodus. Their Canons being all firſt approved and ſubſcribed by the Emperors and their Nobles, with ſome Additions, to make them valid.

p. 181The 4. Synod of Arelat, Anno 812.convened Caroh Magni Imperatoris juſ…u, amongſt other prayers to God for him,aaSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 270, 271, 273. Laurentius Bochellus. Decreta Eccleſ. Gal. 5. Tit. 19. cap. 20. Centur. Mag. 9 c. 9. de Synodis.Gal 5 deſire, Carolum noſtrum, Carolum In p…ratorem fidei ſuae conſervatione stabiliat, ut commiſſos ſibi benigne regat,aeque disponat, & jure pietatis modificet. This Synod having drawn up 26. Canons, ſubmitted them to his Royal cenſure, to correct, diſapprove, or ratifie them at his pleaſure. Haec igitur ſub brevitate quae emendatione digna perſperimus, poſcentes ejus Clementiam, ut ſi quid hic minus eſt, ejus prudentia ſuppleatur, ſi quid ſecus quam ſe ratio habeat, ejus judicio emendetur; ſi quid rationabiliter taxatum eſt, ejus adjutorio, divina opitulante Clementia perficiatur. A clear acknowledgement of his Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy in and over Councils themſelves, all their Canons concerning the Confeſſions of Faith, Sacraments, Biſhops, Prieſts, and all Eccleſiaſtical affairs, being thus totally ſubmitted to his judgement to alter, diminiſh, enlarge, reject or ratifie at his pleaſure.

bbSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 274, 278. Centur. Mag. 9. c. 9… de Synod.Synodus Turonenſis 3. Anno 813.ſummoned by the Emperor Charles the Great, commends his extraordinary divine wiſdom, induſtry and government, et eo praecipue quod hic toto animo invigilat, inveſtigando quae ad pietatem et veram religionem pertineant, quorum fructus hominem in bono beatitudinis collocat. Exhorting and admoniſhing all Biſhops and Prieſts, ut operam darent, & actibus eminerent, quibus & ſe bene operando, & ſibi commiſſos verbo & exemplis inſtruendo, regere…t: Whereupon the Biſhops, Abbots, and Clergy in this Synod, quod a tanto Principe nobis injunctum eſt, pro parvitate noſtra, pauca, quae ad tantum opus pertinere advertimus, et quae ſecundum Canonum Regulam emendatione indigent, diſtincte per Capitula adnotavimus, ſereniſſimo Imperatori noſtro oſtendenda. After which, compiling 51. Canons (whereof the firſt is for the inviolable obſervation of their faith and allegiance to, and conſtant praying for the Emperor and his ſons) they thus ſubmit them wholly to his judgement to confirm or diſallow. Haec nos in Conventu noſtro ita ventilavimus; ſed quomodo deinceps piiſsimo Principi noſtro, de his agendum placebit, nos fideles ejus famuli, libenti animo, ad nutum et voluntatem ejus parati ſumus.

The Biſhops, Anno 813.Abbots and Clergy aſſembled in Cabilonenſi Synodo 2. ſub Imperatore Carolo magno, ccSurius Tom. 3. 11. 278. Centur. Mag 9. c. 9. de Synod.thus Preface their Conſtitutions: Quaedam capitula quae ſubter inſerta ſunt [in all 67.] eidem Domino Imperatori praeſentanda, et ad ejus ſacratiſsimum judicium referenda, adnotavimus; quatenus ejus prudenti examine, ea quae rationabiliter decrevimus, confirmentur; ſicubi minus aliquid egimus, illius ſapientia ſuppleatur.Mat. 5.Matt 5 Their Canon 3. begins thus. Oportet etiam, ut ſicut Dominus Imperator Carolus, vir ſingularis manſuetudinis, fortitudinis, prudentiae, juſtitiae & temperantiae praecepit, ſcholas conſtituant, in quibus & literaria ſolertia diſciplinae, & ſacrae ſcripturae documenta diſcantur, & tales ibi audiantur, quibus merito dicatur a Domino; Vos eſtis ſal terrae, &c. Their Canons being drawn up as the Emperor preſcribed: In the Cloze they thus ſubmitted them to him: Haec itaque pauca de pluribus quae neceſſaria perſpeximus, cum magna brevitate Domini Imperatoris prudenti judicio praeſentanda adnotavimus; To confirm, alter, inlarge, or reject, as he thought fit in his Royal Judgement.

The famous ddSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 285. Centur. Mag. 9. c. 9. de Synod.Council of Mentz under Charles the Great who ſummoned it, Anno 813.conſiſted of 3. ſeveral Companies, ſitting diſtinct one from another, The 1. of Biſhops and other Clergymen; The 2. of Abbots and religious perſons; In tertia denique turma ſederunt Comites & Judices, in mundanis legibus decertantes, &c. All which concurred in the 56. Conſtitutions there made, as, In his itaque omnibus omnes decrevimus, &c. with the Acts of this Council atteſt. The Preface of the Biſhops and Clergy to this Council, begins thus. Glorioſiſſimo & Christianiſſimo Imperatori Carolo Auguſto, verae religionis Rectori, ac defenſori Sauctae Dei Eccleſiae; una cum prole ſua ejuſque fidelibus, vita & ſalus, honor & benedictio, cum p. 182victoria ſine fine manſura. Then relating their proceedings ſo ſoon as they aſſembled in this Council; they adde: Conſona voce gratias agimus Deo patri Omnipotenti, quia ſanctae Eccleſiae ſuae tam pium et devotum in ſervitio Dei conceſsit habere Rectorem, qui ſuis temporibus ſacrae ſapientiae fontem aperiens, oves Chriſti indeſinenter ſanctis reficit alimentis, ac divinis inſtruit diſciplinis; Chriſtianumque populum indefeſſo labore amplificare conatur, hilariterque Chriſti honorat Eccleſias, ac de fauce diri draconis multorum animas ſtudet eripere, et ad ſinum ſanctae matris Eccleſiae revocare, atque ad gaudia paradiſi, atque ad regna coeleſtia omnes communiter invitare, ſanctaque ſapientia ſua devotiſsimo ſtudio caeteros Reges terrae tranſcendens. If this were not the principal part of his Imperial, Regal office, care, truſt, duty, theſe Biſhops, Clergymen, and this whole Council, would never have thus bleſſed God, nor applauded the Emperor, nor left this teſtimony of his tranſcendent piety, care of the ſalvation of all his Subjects and peoples ſouls to poſterity: In this Council they compiled 56. Canons and Conſtitutions; which they thus moſt humbly tendred and ſubmitted wholly to the Emperors royal wiſdom or pleaſure. aaSurius. Ibidem p. 286.De his tamen omnibus valde indigemns veſtro adjutorio, atque ſana doctrina, quae et nos jugiter admoneat, atque clementer erudiat, quatenus ea quae paucis ſubter perſtrinximus capitulis, a veſtra authoritate firmentur: ſi tamen veſtra pietas ita dignum eſſe judicaverit, et quicquid in eis emendatione dignum reperitur, veſtra magnifica imperialis dignitas jubeat emendare: ut ita emendata, nobis omnibus et cunctae Chriſtianae plebi, ac poſteris noſtris proficiant ad vitam, et ſalutem, et ad Gloriam ſempiternam, vobiſque inde merces, honor, et laus, et benedictio ac beatitudo permaneat in omnes aeternitates ſeculi, Amen.

Tue Council of Rhemes, Anno 813. Anno 813.(a Domino Carolo piiſsimo Caeſare more priſcorum Imperatorum congregato, bbSurius Concil. Tom. 3. 9. 291, 293.writes Surius) made ſeverall Canons and Conſtitutions which they intreated the Emperor to ratifie: witneſs the 33, 41, 42, 43, 44. Canons, wherein we have theſe paſſages. Domini Imperatoris miſericordia imploranda, ut victum & neceſſaria a ſibi Praelatis conſequi poſſunt ſanctimoniales, & vita illarum & caſtitas ſecundum fragilitatem ſexus diligenter proviſa tueatur. Ʋt Dominus Imperator, ſecundum ſtatutum bonae memoriae Domini Pipini, miſericordiam faciat, ne ſolidi qui in lege habentur, per Quadraginta denarios diſcurrant, ut in ſua eleemoſyna firmiter statuat, ne quilibet in ſuum pergentibus ſervitium, ullatenus prohibere audeat manſionem, neque aliis quibus neceſſitas incumbit: Ʋt ejus magnificum, et cuncto Imperio ejus, ſuis et futuris temporibus firmetur Capitulum, ſive ab anno 30, a quo adhuc teſtes haberi poſſunt, ſeu etiam ab illo, a quo feliciſſimum ejus ſumpſit exordium, qualiter omnes lites & jurgia in ſua miſericordia terminum habere potuiſſent. Ut de falſis teſtibus ejus ſimili modo piiſſimum firmetur capitulum, qualiter & hoc, quod ille Bononiae ſtatuit, firmiſſimum habeatur, & adhuc quaermur, quatenus in ſua piiſſima miſericordia, ſi qua neceſſaria ſunt augeantur, &c. All theſe Canons ſtanding at the Emperors curteſie to ratifie, proves undeniably, that without his approbation and confirmation, they were meer nullities. Wherefore Aistulphus Archbiſhop of Mentz, (as eeEccleſ. Gallicanae decretorum Additamenta ad tit. 20. l. 51. p. 1371.Bochellus informs us) ſpake thus in that Synod; Si Principi placuerit aliiſque fidelibus ſuis, rogamus, ut conlaudetur, et ſubſcribatur. Et conlaudatum eſt, et ſubſcriptum eſt, tam a Principe quam a caeteris omnibus.

ffOtto Friſingenſis Chron. l. 5. c. 33. Abbas Uſpergenſis Chron. p. 180, 181.Ludovicus Pius his ſon ſucceding this Emperor Charles, Anno. 815.in the 1. year of his raign, (before he was crowned Emperor) was informed, that Pope Leo had commanded ſome Chief men in Rome to be ſlain, for conſpiring againſt him. Ad quod perſcrutandum, vocatum ad ſe nepotem ſuum Bernardum, Italiae Regem, Romam miſit: qui in urbe informatus, rei eventum per Heroldum Comitem Auguſto mandavit: Leo quoque miſsis ad Imperatorem nunciis, de his quae ſibi impoſita p. 183erant, ſe expurgavit. Legati de his quae Domino ſuo objiciebantur, regi Ludovico per omnia ſatisfecerunt. Lo here the Emperor in Rome it ſelf, inquired by his Delegates of the Popes crimes for which he was accuſed, who by his ſpecial Legates purged himſelf from them before the King, and gave him full ſatisfaction therein.

This Pope Leo confirmed the forecited Decree of Pope Hadrian his Predeceſſor, Jus eligendi Romanum Pontificem, ordinan… Romanam ſedem, & consedendi inveſtituras Epiſcopis, &c. ratum habens; as aaPontificum Romanorum vitae, p. 91, 92.Dr. Barnes and others record: Neither was this a Novelty in that age, ſince Pope Leo the 1. (as bbDiſtinctio 63 cap. Vota.Gratian reſolves us) by this his Papal Decree, declared it near 270. years before. Vota Civium, teſtimonia populorum, honoratorum arbitrium, & electio Clericorum in ordinationibus Sacerdotum constituantur. Princibus vero atque Imperatoribus electiones Romanorum Pontificum atque aliorum Epiſcoporum referendas, USUS ET CONSTITUTIO TRADIDIT, pro ſchiſmaticorum atque haereticorum diſſentionibus, quibus nonnunquam Eccleſia Dei concuſſa, periclitabatur: contra quos legibus fideliſsimorum Imperatorum frequenter Eccleſia munita legitur. Repreſentabatur ergo electio Cleri coram Principibus, ut eorum authoritate roborata, nullus haereticorum vel ſchiſmaticorum auderet contraire; et ut ipſi Principes tanquam devotiſsimi filii in eum conſentient, quem ſibi in Patrem eligi viderentur, ut in omnibus ſuffragatores exiſterent; ſicut Valentinianus beato Ambroſio legitur diriſſe, Noli timere, quia Deus qui te elegit, ſemper te adjuvabit, et ego adjutor et defenſor tuus ut meum ordinem decet, ſemper eriſtam. On which Bartholomeus Buxienſis, and Dr. Thierry in their Gloſſes, obſerve. Hic duplex ratio redditur quare quondam Regibus et Imperatoribus electiones repreſentabantu: ſcilicet, ut nullus haereticorum et ſchiſmaticorum electionem contraveniret, pro quibus ſaepe Eccleſia periclitabatur, et ut ipſi Principes tanquam filii devotiſsimi, conſentirent in electum, quem ſibi viderint in patrem eligi &c.

ccDr. Barns de Vitis Pontificum in Stephano 4. p. 96. Otto Friſingenſ. Chron. l. 5. c. 33. Abbas Vſpergenſis, Chron. p. 181. Aimonius l. 4. p. 104. Theganus de Geſtis Ludovici, c. 16, 17, 18. Philippus de Morney Myſterium Iniquitatis, p. 151, 152.Pope Leo the 3. deceaſing Anno 816. Stephen the 4th. Anno 816without the Emperor Ludovicus his privity or licenſe, was elected and conſecrated Pope in his place, contrary to Law; and the Decrees of Pope Adrian, Leo, and this ancient uſage: who poſt completam ſolenniter conſecrationem ſuam, quam maximis potuit itineribus ad Imperatorem venire contendit, Legatis cum excuſationibus de ſui conſecratione praemiſſis; qui ejus animum lenirent. Meeting Ludovicus at Rhemes, and giving him an account of his comming to him, to exp…ate his offence, eum impoſitione diadematis coronavit, Romanorum que Imperatorem procla navit, eique omnem populum Romanum ſid litatem cum juramento promittere procuravit. Moreover he publiſhed this decree in confirmation of the Emperors right in electing Popes, though with ſome allay, thus recorded by ddDiſtinctio 63 cap. Quia.Gratian, Stephanus Papaſtatuit, dicens, Quia ſancta Romana Eccleſia (cui Deo authore praeſidemus) a pluribus patitur violentias Pontifice obeunte, quae ob hoc inferuntur, quia abſque Imperiali notitia Pontificis fit electio et conſecratio, nec canonico ritu et conſuetudine, ab Imperatore directi ſunt Nuncii; qui vetent ſcandala fieri; Volumus, ut cum inſtituendus eſt Pontife…, convenientibus Epiſcopis et univerſo Clero, eligant praeſente Senatu et populo qui ordinandus eſt, et ſic ab omnibus electus praeſentibus Legatis Imperialibus conſecretur, nulluſque ſine periculo ſui juramenta vel promiſsiones aliquas nova adinventione audeat extorquere, niſi quae antiqua erigit conſuetudo, ne vel Eccleſia ſcandalizetur, et Imperialis magnificentia minuatur. On which Papal Decree, Dr. Thierry, Bartholomeus Buxienſis, and the ordinary Gloſſe thus deſcant and paraphraſe, Quia, Caſus, Romana Eccleſia ſaepe patiebatur moleſtiam in obitu Papae in electione p. 184ſucceſſoris quia Nuncii Imperatoris defuerant: ideo ſtatuit Stephanus, quod electio Papae non fieret, niſi praeſente populo, et Senatu, et Imperatore, vel ejus Legatis, ut ſcandala removeantur, et eis praeſentibus conſecretur, et nullus audeat extorquere juramenta vel promiſsiones niſi quae fuerint de antiqua conſuetudine.

This Pope Stephanus the 4. durſt not preſume to conſecrate the Biſhop of Reatine when elected by the Clergy and people, Anno 817till his election was firſt approved and ratified by the Emperor Ludovicus his ſpecial Patent, according to ancient cuſtom, as appears by his Letter to Earl Guide, regiſtred by **Diſtinctio 63. c. L…ctis, Platina, Stella. … Stephano 4.Gratiam, who prefixeth this Rubrick to it. Imperatoris Epiſtola in electionis confirmatione deſideratur. Lectis ſagacitatis veſtrae …, quod defuncto Eccleſiae Reatinae Antiſtite, Clerum & Plebem e…uſdem … futurum Antiſtitem & a Nobis conſecrandum, veſtro ſtudio directum eſſ…, ne ipſa Eccleſia diu ſine proprio conſtat Paſtore, fatebantur: nos de obitu prioris dolentes, nunc ipſum …l…ctum unanimitate & Canonica ipſius Eccleſiae electione ut mandaſtis tam citiſſime ordinare omiſimus, eo quod Imperialem nobis (ut mos eſt) abſolutionis minime detulerit Epiſtolam: pro qua ſcilicet re ambiguum eſt nobis; ideo voluntati veſtrae in hoc parere diſtulimus, ne Auguſtalis animus duriſsime hoc quocunque modo perciperet. Sed ſcientes Eccleſiam Dei ſine proprio diu paſtore non debere conſiſtere, gloriae veſtrae Mandamus (quoniam aliter nos agere non debuimus) ut a veſtra ſolertia imperiali, ut priſca conſuetudo dictat, percepta licentia, et nobis, quemadmodum et vos ſcire credimus, Imperatoria directa Epiſtola, tunc voluntati veſtrae de hoc parebimus, eundemque electum Domino adjuvante conſecrabimus, quod Chariſsime fili moleſte nullo modo ſuſcipias. Not long after, this Pope **Platina, …, Barns, Balaeus in Stephano 4. Cent. Magd. 9. col. 49.Stephen Ludovici pii pietate, probitate, & longanimitate animadverſa, fingens jus Carolo & Succeſſoribus ejus, a Pontifice Hadriano 1. & Leone 3. (viz.) eligendi Romani Pontificem, ordinandi Romanam ſedem, et concedendi inveſtituras Epiſcopis, &c.) plurimum mali ſecum trahere, jus illud abrogabat, pronunciatque, jus eligendi Pontificis, debere eſſe penes Clerum, Senatum, populumque Romanum. Ne vero Imperator ſuum jus aſſeret vi, addidit Decreto Hadriani 1. & Leonis 3. interpretationem: Pontificem Romanum eligere licere …ine Imperatoris auctoritate; ſed non licere conſecrare, ſine praeſentia Caſaris, vel Caeſariorum Legatorum. Poſt haec tempora Imperatoribus invitis electionem Pontificis & inveſtituram Epiſcoporum, Romana ſe es (paulatim) ſibi uſurpavit. After which this Emperor by his perſwaſions releaſed his right and Prerogative in electing and confirming the Pope, formerly granted by Pope Adrian, and Leo, illam tantum praerogativam Imperatoribus ſervans, ut electus & conſecratus Pontifex ad stabiliendam amicitiam Legationem mittat Regibus Francorum.

bbGratian, Diſtinctio 63: Anaſtatius, Platina, Balaeus, Barns, & others in Paſchali 1. vita. Naucicrus et Sabellicus.Ego Ludovicus Imperator Romanus Auguſtus, Statuo et concedo per hoc pactum confirmationis noſtrae, tibi beato Petro Principi Apoſtolorum, et per te Vicario tuo Domino Paſchali Summo Pontifici et ſucceſſoribus ejus in perpetuum, ſicut a predeceſſoribus veſtris uſque nunc in veſtra poteſtate, et ditione tenuiſtis et diſpoſuiſtis Romanam Civitatem, cum Ducatu ſuo, et ſuburbanis at que villiculis omnibus et territoriis ejus montanis, et maritimis littoribus et Portubus, ſeu cunctis Civitatibus, Caſtellis, oppidis ac villis in Tuſciae partibus. Idem, quando divina vocatione hujus ſacratiſsimae ſedis Pontifex de hoc ſeculo migraverit, nullus ex regno noſtro aut Francus, aut Longobardus, de quibuſſibet parte homo ſub noſtra poteſtate conſtitutus, licentiam habeat contra Romanos aut publice aut privatim conveniendi aut electionem faciendi, nulluſque in Civitatibus aut in Territoriis ad Eccleſiae beati Petri Apoſtoli poteſtatem pertinentibus, aliquod malum praeterea facere praeſumat, ſed liceat Romanis cum omni veneratione, et ſine qualibet perturbatione p. 185honorificam ſuo Pontifici exhibere ſepulturam, et eum quem divina inſpiratione ad Pontificatus ordinem elegerint, ſine a…qua ambiguitate atque contradictione, more canonico conſecrare, et dum conſecratus fuerit, Legati ad nos, vel ad noſtros ſucceſſores Reges Francorum dirigantur, qui inter nos et inter illum amicitiam, et charitatem, et pacem conſocient.

This Pope Stephen dying within 3. moneths after his return to Rome, Anno 817Paſchalis the 1. was elected by all the Prieſts,aaAbbas V…pe… genſis Chron: An. 817 cap. 110 …: l. 4. c. 110. Phil: …, Hiſtoria …, p. 152. Platina, Dr. Barns & Balaeus in Piſchalis 1. vita … vici, Cent. Magd 9. col. 322, 33… 341. 404. Clergie, as alſo by the Nobles, and all the People of Rome, & conſecrated contrary to the forementioned Decrees of his predeceſſors, without the Emperors licenſe firſt obtained, or his Embaſſadors aſſent to, or preſence thereat. Whereupon poſt completam ſolenniter ordinationem ſuam, to excuſe this his innovation, preſumption and contempt againſt the Emperors Prerogative Royal, munera & excuſatoriam Epiſtolam miſit, ſibi non ſolum nolenti, ſed etiam plurimum poenitenti Pontificatus honorem impactum aſſeverans. Miſſaratum, alia legatione pactum quod cum praedeceſſoribus ſuis factum fuerat, & ſecum fieri & firmari rogavit (to wit, concerning the election of Popes by the Emperors licenſe, and in the preſence of him, or his Ambaſſadors, not otherwiſe, for the tranſgreſſion wherof, he humbly craved the Emperors pardon, upon his repentance of, and enforcement thereunto againſt his will) & ea quae petierat, in petravit. The Emperor Ludovicus accepting this his ſubmiſſion and excuſe, monet Clerum atque populum Romanum, ne in futurum Caeſaream majeſtatem laedant, & ut majorum ſtatuta ſervent in creando Ponifice, wherein they had of late no leſſe then thrice tranſgreſſed. This Emperor ſoon after crowned Lotharius his ſon King of Italy, and his companion in the Empire; who paſſing near Rome, Pope Paſchal invited him to the City, and receiving him there honourably on Eaſter-day, apud ſanctum Petrum, & regni coronam & Imp. Auguſti nomen accepit, from this Popes hands who conſecrated him. After his return from Rome, the Emperor was informed that Theodorus Pincernus, & Leo per ſeditionem privantur oculis, & truncantur capite, quod fideliter juvarent partes Lotharii, which ſedition and murther in Rome was by common fame and juſt ſuſpition, imputed to Pope Paſchal, as the contriver or commander thereof, or at leaſt conniver…at it. Ludovicus thereupon, Legatos deſignat ad perſcrutandam facti veritatem, viz. Adalindum Abbatem, & Humfridum Co…item Curienſem. Pope Paſchal being informed of the Emperors intention, ſent two Delegats, the one a Biſhop, the other an Archdeacon to the Emperor, ad ſe purgandum ab infamia excitatae ſeditionis & perpetratae caedis. Caeſar autem (auditis etiam Ponticis Legatis) being unſatisfied with their excuſes, jubet ſuos Legatos Romam proficiſci, ut quid ſit verum percunctentur. But the buſineſſe being ſo ſmothered at Rome, that they could not find out the truth upon examination; thereupon this Pope, coa…a Synodo … Epiſcoporum, Iurejurando ſe purgat, & interfectores in ea ſeditione abſolvens, cae os reos agit laeſae Majeſtatis, (as if they were Traytors to the Emperor) and ſo iure occiſos eſſe pronunciat. All clear evidences of the Emperors Supremacy over this Pope.

The antient Right of Emperors and Kings to grant Licenſes to elect Biſhops upon Petitions of the Clergy and People, to confirm them after they were choſen Biſhops, and inſtall them in their Biſhopricks, is moſt clearly evidenced by **Printed in Prede…icus Lindebrogus, Codex Legum Antiquarum, p. 1205, &c. 1213, 1214. & Bibliotheca Patrum, Coloniae Agrip. Tom 7. p. 564, 56…, 566.Marculfus a Monk, Anno 81…(flouriſhing as ſome conjectur…, about the year 660. though I conceive he lived nearer Ludevicus his reign,) in his Formulae ſolemnes publicorum privatorumque Negotionum, cap. 1. De Epiſcepatu; conteining the uſual form of Chriſtian Kings Charters in that and former ages, for conferring of a Biſhoprick, and conſecrating a Biſhop, when elected and approved by the King, having ſome memorable expreſſions, evidencing the ſupream care of the Church and Peoples ſouls to belong to Kings, who are to provide able godly Biſhops under them, diligently to preach to the Peoples, as well as govern them, and to pray for Kings proſperity. Ille Rex viro Apoſtolico illo Epiſcopo. Quamlibet nos ad miniſtrandum guberrandumque rerum ſtatum praecelſis occupationibus regis ſollicitudinis cauſa conſtringat: nihil tamen tam principale, quam ut, cum a Paſtorali paululum oberrat plebs deſtituta praeſidio, pro ſalute animarum hujuſmodi perſonis loci Celſioris Pontificalem proſpiciat committere dignitatem, in quibus maneat dupliciter ſermo, ut populus Magiſtrum, actus Chriſti imitetur Diſcipulus. Qui plebem non minus pietate, quam ſeveritate p. 186conſtringat qui ſciat commiſſa ſibi talenta aſſidua praedicatione ſermonibus expolire, et adquiſitam multiplicatamque gregis ſui ſalutem, ad ovile dominicum nullis maculis ſorditatum, valeat praeſentare. Et quia cognovimus ſanctae recordationis Dominum ill. urbis ill. antiſtitem, evocatione divina ab hac luce migraſſe, de cujus ſucceſſione ſollicitudinem congruam una cum Pontificibus vel Proceribus noſtris plenius pertractantes, decrevimus illuſtri viro, aut venerabili ill. in ipſa urbe Pontificalem in Dei nomine committere dignitatem, quem plerunque apud animos nostros & actio probata commendat, et nobilitatis ordo ſublimat, ac morum probitas, vel manſuetudinis & prudentiae honeſtas exornat. Qua de re ſtatutae praeſentibus ordinamus, ut cum adunatorum caterva Pontificum, ad quos tamen noſtrae ſerenitatis devotio ſcripta pervenit, ipſum, ut ordo poſtulat, benedicere vestra induſtria ſtudeat; Et voluntates noſtrae deliberationis reſeratis oraculis publicare. Quatenus dum Eccleſias ſibi a diſpenſatione divina commiſſas, strenue regere atque gubernare videtur, nobis apud aeternum retributorem mercedem ſuffragia largiantur, & ille pro peccatorum noſtrorum mole indeſinenter immenſum Dominum debeat deprecari. Cap. 2. & 3. contein the form of a Mandate to conſecrate a Biſhop elect, and a Petition to the King for a Licenſe to elect a Biſhop. **See Perre de Pithon, Preuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, c. 15, 16.Cap. 4. Carta de Epiſcopatu, runs in this form. Dum juxta Apoſtoli dictum, omnis poteſtas ſublimatur a Domino, et quatenus poſt Dominum in regia manet poteſtate, **…qualiter.taliter cuncta terrena debeant gubernari. Unde oportet nos ſalubri conſilio retractare, ut illi in locis ſanctorum inſtituantur Cuſtodes, qui digne ipſum officium gubernandum apparere noſcuntur. Igitur dum & veſtra, & Cleri, vel Pagenſium Civitatis ipſius adfuit petitio, ut relicta urbe ill. prius regert & gubernare videbamini, in ſupraſcripta urbe ill. Cathedram Pontificalem ſuſcipere deberetis. Et dum vos apud animos nostros & actio commendat probata, & nobilitatis ordo ſublimat, ac morum probitas vel manſuetudo, & prudentiae honeſtas exornat, cum conſilio & voluntate Pontificum Procerumque noſtrorum, juxta voluntatem & conſenſum Cleri & Plebeium ipſius Civitatis, in ſupradicta urbe ill. Pontificalem in Dei nomine vobis commiſimus dignitatem. Propterea per praeſens praeceptum decernimus acjubemus, ut ſupradicta Ʋrbs vel Res Eccleſiae ipſius, & Clerus, ſub veſtro arbitrio & gubernatione conſiſtant, et erga regimen noſtrum ſemper fidem illibatam cuſtodire debeatis, et juxta canonicam inſtitutionem plebem vobis commiſſam aſsiduis praedicationum ſermonibus expolire; & non minus pietate, quam ſeveritate conſtringere ſtudeatis. Et curam pauperum, vel neceſſitatem patientium cum ingenti dilectione procuretis, ut adquiſitam multiplicatamque gregis veſtri ſalutem, ad ovile dominicum nullis maculis ſordidatum valeatis praeſentare. Quatenus dum Eccleſiam vobis diſpenſatione divina commiſſam ſtrenue regere atque gubernare videamini, nobis apud aeternum retributorem Mercedem ſuffragia largiantur, et vos immenſum Chriſtum pro noſtrorum mole peccatorum aſsidue exorare debeatis. Theſe forms extended as well to Popes and Patriarchs, as other Ordinary Biſhops, who were not antiently elected nor conſecrated, but by Kings and Emperors precedent Licenſes, and ſpecial Charters or Letters of approbation, according to theſe forms, as the premiſes evidence.

This Emperor in the year 819. (as bbChronicon, p. 181. Surius Concil. Tom: 3 p. 293, 294. Cent. Magd. 9. cap: 9. col. 403, 404.Ab…as Uſpergenſis & others inform us) ſummoned a General Council at Aquiſgrane: Anno 819wherein, ſecundum ardentiſſimam erga divinum cultū ſibi caelitus inspiratam voluntatem, multa magna & neceſſaria de emendatione ſanctae Dei Eccleſiae, ſcienter & curiosè pertractare caepit; admoniſhing, adviſing, yea aſſiſting this Council what to do, & how to proceed in the reformation of abuſes in ſorts of Clergymen and religious Perſons, whoſe reſpective offices, duties are at large defined by this Council in 145 Chapters, which when they had finiſhed, hujus inſtitutionis formam coram memorato glorioſo Principe prolatam, the whole Council approving and applauding it as uſefull for the Church, and containing nothing in it, which any perſon well adviſed could diſlike; the Emperor when he had heard it read, approved it; and he with all there preſent cried out, Deo gratias; Nec immerito; quippe qui & occulta ſua diſpenſatione, & gratiſſima inspiratione praefatum Principem, ut id fieri moneret, compulit, et ad effectum produceretur, miſerando adiuvet. Proinde omnium ſententia statutum eſt, ab omnibus juxta virium poſſibilitatem modis omnibus obſervandum. In this Council ccAbhas Vſpergenſis, Chron. p. 181.Legibus etiam Capitula quaedam perneceſſaria, quae deceant addita ſunt, as Ʋspergenſis, and the Title p. 187to theſe Additional Lawes aſſure us. Theſe ddFredericus Lindebrogus Codex Legum Antiquarum, p. 127. &c.Additional Lawes are reduced into 4. Books conſiſting of 306. Chapters, concerning Abbots, Abbeſſes, Monks, Nuns, Metropolitans, Biſhops, Prieſts, all ſorts of Eccleſiaſtical perſons, affairs, duties, vices, crimes, and their reſpective puniſhments: to which he prefixed this Preface; Quia Scriptura teſtatur, Quodcunque poſſumus, inſtanter operari debemus quia nulli ad bene operandum craſtinus dies permittitur: Omneſque, ſecundum Apoſtolum, ante Tribunal Chriſti ſtabimus, ut unuſquiſque rationem pro his, quae geſſit, reddat; Nobis praecipue, (qui caeteris mortalibus conditione aequales exiſtimus, & dignitate tantum ſuperiores ſumus, ſecundum Scripturam ſacram, quae dicit; Quoniam interrogab…t opera noſtra et cogitationes ſcrutabitur, rationes reddituri ſumus) ſollicita circumſpectione, totaque mentis intentione ſatagendum eſt, ut bonis operibus jugiter inſiſtendo, his quibus praeeſſe videmur, modis omnibus, quantum nobis divina ſuffragante miſericordia facultas adtributa fuerit, prodeſſe curemus. Sed quia omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum deſurſum eſt, debemus continuis Precibus dominum humiliter exorare, faciemque illius humili confeſſione et congrua, prout ipſe poſſe dederit, emendatione praevenire: ut ſicut ejus eſt muneris quod regnamus, ejus ſit pietatis quod foeliciter regnamus. Quatenus eo miſerante, & regni gubernacula aequiſſimo libramine tenere, & ad eum qui Rex Regum eſt, et Dominus Dominantium, cum multiplici fructu adminiſtrationis noſtrae, juſtitiae ſcilicet, & pietate atque humilitate, ſine fine cum eo regnaturi mereamur pervenire. Et quoniam per Apoſtolum ſuum nos adjutores ſuos appellare dignatus eſt: et Sancta Eccleſia, ejus videlicet ſponſa, in Scripturis ſacris hortus eſt appellata, quotidianis exercitiis adhibito ſarculo bonae operationis eſt excolenda. Ut ſicut ſemper nociva in ea velut in bono agro emergunt: ita ſemper laboris boni ſtudio eradicentur noxia, plantentur utilia. Oportet et Nos cunctis ejus neceſsitatibus niſibus quibus poſſumus devote conſulere: quatenus in ejus emendatione, quantum Dominus poſſe dederit, tota cum mentis devotione elaborantes, in aliqua parte aedificiorum illius, a fabricatore ejus, Domino ſcilicet Ieſu Chriſto, aptari mereamur. Proinde notum ſit omnibus fidelibus Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae noſtriſque Domino diſpenſante ſucceſſoribus, quia cum nos nullis exiſtentibus meritis, divina pietas genitore noſtro a rebus humanis exempto, ad ejus Imperii culmen provexiſſet, quomodo aut qualiter deſiderium divini cultus, quod ab ineunte aetate Chriſto inſpirante, mente conceperam, ad effectum Domino ſuffragante perduceremus, et quid ſtudii, quidve laboris progenitores noſtri, praecipue tamen piae recordationis genitor, in utilitatibus ſanctae Dei Eccleſiae exhibuerit adverteremus, et pia illorum facta non ſolum inviolata conſervare, ſed etiam imitari, pro viribus nobis a Domino conceſsis optaremus. Scilicet, ut ſive in Eccleſiaſticis negotiis, ſive in ſtatu Reipublicae emendatione dignum proſpexiſſemus, quantum Dominus poſſe dabat, noſtro ſtudio emendaretur. Et hactenus hinc inde mundanorum turbinum procellis emergentibus, diverſiſſimiſque occupationibus ingruentibus praepediti, ut optaveramus efficere nequiviſſemus, ejus rei gratia 4. Anno Imperii noſtri accerſitis nonnullis Epiſcopis, Abbatibus, Canonicis, & Monachis, & fidelibus obtutibus nostris ſtuduimus eorum conſulta ſagaciſſima investigare inquiſitione, qualiter unicuique ordini, Canonicorum videlicet & Monachorum, & Laicorum, juxta quod ratio dictabat, & facultas ſuppetebat, Deo opem ferente conſuleremus. Et quoniam licet ſaepe de ſtatu Eccleſiarum, et de ritibus praeterito tempore ordinaſſemus, et miſſos per ſingula loca deſtinaſſemus, ſed invidente Diabolo, per tyrannicam pravitatem praepeditum fuiſſet, oportebat ut hoc tempus paucis indultum ad communem Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae, et omnium noſtrorum utilitatem impenderemus, tribus videlicet modis, ut quae bene inchoata erant, Deo auxiliante effectum obtinerent, et ſi quae p. 188bona voluntate ſed incauta diſcretione, variis praepedientibus cauſis, inchoata fuiſſent, ut diligenter inſpicerentur, et diſcrete, prout facultas ſuppetebat corrigerentur, ſi quae etiam de his, quae neceſsaria erant, deeſse videremus, ut quaererentur, et Deo auxiliante ad effectum perducerentur, quatenus deinceps opus noſtrum a nemine juſte poſſet reprehendi, et tam noſtris quam futuris temporibus multorum ſaluti proficeret, et Deo opitulante ſtabile permaneret. Sed qualiter de his divina cooperante gratia, conſulta fidelium p…o viribus et temporis brevitate, licet non quantum debuimus & voluimus, ſed quantum a Deo poſſe accepimus egerimus, et quid unicuique ordini communi voto, communique conſenſu conſulere ſtuduerimus, ita ut quid Canonicis proprie de his, quidve Monachis obſervandum, quid etiam in Legibus mundanis, quid quoque in Capitulis inferendum foret adnotaverimus, et ſingulis ſingula obſervanda contraderemus. Tamen ut ſive noſtris, ſive ſucceſſorum noſtrorum temporibus rata forent, et inviolabiliter Deo annuente conſervarentur, libuit nobis ea quae geſta ſunt, ob memoriae firmitatiſque gratiam, in unum ſtrictim congerere, et ſubjectis Capitulis annotare, et in publico archivo recondere, ut ſucceſſores noſtri Deo diſpenſante, noſtra pia facta conſervantes, et ipſi nihilominus bona facta ſua ſucceſsoribus ſuis ſervanda perdoceant. Amongſt theſe aaAdditio. 2. cap. 23. Fridericus Lindebrogus, p. 1149.Additional Laws this is one, ſpecially recommended to the Emperor by this Council, as a principal, part of his Kingly office, and duty; Quod in eligendis & conſtituendis Paſtoribus, rectoribuſque in Eccleſiis Dei, Regem magnum studium atque ſolertiſſimam vigilantiam et curam adhibere oporteat. Quia ſi aliter factum fuerit, & ordo Eccleſiaſticus ſuam non habebit dignitatem, & Religio Chriſtiana in multis labefactanda damna detrimenti ſui patiatur, et animae Regiae veſtrae periculum generabitur. Moreover this pious Emperor, and Charles the Great, Univerſos quoque Veteris ac Novi Teſtamenti libros, librariorum imperitia, lectorum oſcitantia, interpretum inſcitia, & incuria temporum depravatos, ad amuſſim et veritatem fontis correxit. Extat publicum **Capitula…ia Caroli & Ludovici, lib. 1. Tit. 20. & lib. …. Tit. 227.Decretum, ut Canonici libri tantum legantur in Eccleſia, nec ſinit in divinis Lectionibus templiſque inter ſacra officia, inconditos ſolae ciſmos, barbariſmo que inconcinnos obſtrepere, in quibus quidam religioſuli noſtra memoria, ſanctitatem collocant; as **Annalium Boiorum. lib. 4. 283, 284.Joannes Aventinus informs us.

All theſe particulars abundantly evidence the Supremacy of Charles the Great, and Ludovicus his ſonne, both as Kings and Emperors, in and over all Eccleſiaſtical perſons, cauſes, and Popes themſelves during their reigns, and that the care, protection, propagation of Religion, the Church, and their peoples ſalvation, belonged principally to, and were managed by them, as the chief branch of their Kingly office.

This Emperor Ludovicus Pius collected, publiſhed ſundry Eccleſiaſtical Lawes and Conſtitutions, which he thus prefaced; aaCapitula…ia Karol. & Ludovici Imperatoris, l. 2. c. 1. 2, 3, 4. Fredericus Lindebrogus, p. 858.Omnibus vobis aut viſu aut auditu notum eſſe non dubitamus, quia genitor noster, & progenitores, poſtquam a Deo ad hoc electi ſunt, in hoc praecipue ſtuduerunt, ut honor Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae, et ſtatus Regni decens maneret. Nos etiam juxta modum noſtrum eorum ſequentes Exemplum, ſaepe veſtram devotionem de his admonere curavimus, et Deo miſerante, multa jam emendata et correcta videmus. Vnde et Deo juſtas laudes perſolvere, & veſtrae bonae intentioni multimodas, debemus gratias referre. Sed quoniam complacuit divinae providentiae noſtram mediocritatem ad hoc conſtituere, ut ſanctae ſuae Eccleſiae et regni huius curam gereremus (obſerve it) ad hoc certare, et nos et filios ac ſocios noſtros diebus vitae noſtrae optamus, ut tria ſpecialiter Capitula, et a nobis, et a vobis, Deo opem ferente, in hujus regni adminiſtratione ſpecialiter conſerventur; id eſt, ut defenſio et exaltatio vel honor ſanctae Dei Eccleſiae, et ſervorum illius congruus maneat, et pax, et Iuſtitia in omni generalitate populi noſtri conſervetur. In his quippe maxime ſtudere, et de his in omnibus placitis quae vobiſcum p. 189Deo auxiliante habituri ſumus, vos admonere optamus, ſicut debitores ſumus. Sed quanquam ſumma hujus miniſterii in noſtra perſona conſiſtere videatur, tamen & divina authoritate, & humana or ſinatione, ita per partes diviſum eſſe cogoſcitur. Vnde apparet, quod ego omnium veſtrum admonitor eſſe debeo, et omnes vos noſtri adiutores eſſe debetis. Nec enim ignoramus, quid unicuique veſtrum in ſibi commiſſa portione conveniat, & ideo praetermittere non poſſumus quin unumquem que juxta ſuum ordinem admoneamus. Sed quoniam ſcimus, quod specialiter pertineat ad Epiſcopos, ut primum ad ſacrum miniſterium ſuſcipiendum juſtè accedant, & in eodem Miniſterio religioſe vivant, & tam bene vivendo, quam recte praedicando populis ſibi commiſſis, it er vitae praebeant: & ut in Monaſteriis in ſuis Parochiis conſtitutis ſancta religio obſervata fiat, unuſquiſque juxta ſuam profeſſionem veraciter vivat, curam impendant. Omnes vos in hoc ſacro ordine conſtitutos, et officio Paſtorali functos, monemus atque rogamus, ut in hoc maxime elaborare ſtudeatis, et per voſmetipſos, et per vobis ſubjectos, quantum ad veſtrum miniſterium pertinet, nobis veri adjutores in adminiſtratione miniſterii nobis commiſſi exiſtatis, ut in judicio non condemnari pro nostra & veſtra negligentia, ſed potius pro utrorumque bono ſtudio remunerari mereamur. Et ubicunque per negligentiam Abbatis aut Abbatiſſae, vel Comitis, ſive **See Fride…ici Lindebrogi Gloſſarium, ti…. Vaſſus.vaſſi noſtri, aut alicujus cujuſlibet perſonae, aliquod vobis difficultatis in hoc apparuerit obſtaculum, noſtrae dignoſcentiae id ad tempus inſinuare non differatis, ut noſtro aurilio ſuffulti, quod veſtra auctoritas expoſcit, famulante, ut decet, poteſtate noſtra, facilius perficere valeatis.

This pious King and Emperor employedaaFridericus Lindebrogus Codex Legum Antiquarum, p. 825, 826, &c. Abbot Anſegiſus to collect all his own, his Fathers King Charls the Great, and other his Predeceſſors Eccleſiaſtical Lawes (made by the advice of their Nobles as well as Biſhops) ſcattered in divers Schedules, into one Volume, and to preſent them to him, for the honour and good of the Church, who accordingly collected, digeſted them into ſeveral Books, Chapters, intituled, Capitularia Caroli Magni, & Ludovici, conſiſting of 7. Books, and near 1600 brief Chapters or Conſtitutions, beſides 4. Books of Additions to them, printed all together in**Francofurt: 1613. Fridericus Lindebrogus his Codex Legum Antiquarum, wherein are compriſed all ſorts of Laws, Canons, Conſtitutions relating to the Orthodox faith, worſhip, ſervice of God, Scriptures, Sacraments, all Eccleſiaſtical perſons, duties, matters, Chriſtians whatſoever, to whom he preſcribed theſe Laws, by his Royal authority, (corrected, augmented by advice of his Nobles, as the Titles to each Book declare) and ſundry penalties, as having the principal care of the Church and people of God committed to him, for which truſt he was to give a ſtrict account at the day of Judgement. In his 7th. Book cap: 375, 376. he thus ratified all the precedent Lawes. Has omnes Conſtitutiones quas ſummatim breviterque perſtrinximus, ſicut plenius in Canone continentur, manere perenni ſtabilitate ſancimus Si quis ergo Clericus aut Laicus harum ſanctionum obediens eſſe noluerit, ſi Clericus fuerit, excommunicationi ſubjaceat. Si vero Laicus fuerit, & honeſtioris loci perſona, medietatem facultatum ſuarum amittat, fiſci juribus profuturam: ſi vero majoris loci perſona est, amiſſione rerum ſuarum multatus, in exilio deputetur. Quaecunque a Parentibus noſtris diverſis ſunt ſtatuta temporibus, manere inv… olata et incorrupta circa ſacroſanctas Eccleſias praecipimus. Nihil igitur a privilegiis immutetur, omnibus qui Eccleſiis ſerviunt tuitio deferatur, Quia temporibus noſtris addi potius reverentiae cupimus, quam ex his, quae olim praeſtituta ſunt, immutari.

About the year 824. Lotharius,Anno 824. both Emperor and King of Italy, in the time of Pope aaPlatina, Ba…nes, & Balaeus, in vita Eugenii 2. Aimonius l. 4. c. 110. Mornay Hiſt. Papatus, p. 154. Author vitae Ludovici.Eugenius the 2d. appointed Magiſtrates in Rome and through all Italy, qui jus Romano populo dicerent, eo quod libertate, qua ſub Carolo Magno & Ludovico uſi eſſent, abuterentur; ſtatuit etiam, juxta antiquum morem, ut ex latere Imp. miterentur qui judiciariam exercentes poteſtatem juſtitiā omni populo facerent, & tempore, quo viſum foret Imp…ratori, aequa lance penderent. Yea he made this Law to prevent the tumults about elections of Popes: Volumus, ut ad electionem Pontificis nemo audeat venire, ne que liber, ne que ſervus qui aliquod impedimentū inferat, exceptis illis tantū Romanis quibus antiqua fuit conſuetudo, per conſtitutionem Sanctorum Patrum, conceſſa eligendi Pontificem. Quod ſi quis contra noſtram juſſionem facere auſus fuerit, exilio afficiatur. Illud enim propter p. 190ſuperiores tumultus adjectum videtur, ut ad vitanda Comitiorum diſſidia,Anno 827. aut Legati Regis, aut Rex ipſe, ſi in Vrbe adeſſent, conſecrationi Pontificis intereſſent, ſic enim ſubſequentibus … eſt obſervatum, & postremo nova lege ſancitum.

By reaſon of this new Law,bbAbbas Uſpergenſis Chron. p. 183. Anaſtatius, Platina, Balaeus, Barnes, in vita Gregorii 4. Gregory the 4th. was elected Pope (Anno 827.) by the people, ſed ante non eſt ordinatus, quam Imperatoris Legatus Romam veniens, electionem populi qualis eſſet, examinavit: Et Gregorius Papatum inire noluit (futura pericula timens) donec Imperator ejus approbaſſet electionem. ThisccAimonius l. 4. c. 14. l. 5. c. 14, 16. Flodoardus Hiſt. Remenſ. l. 2. cap. 20. Theganus de Geſtis Ludovici, Mornay Hiſt. Papatus, p. 155, 156. Centur. Magd. 9. c. 9. …w. 405. Regino & Sigeber…ns. An. 835. Pope coming to the Emperor Ludovicus in France, under pretext to reconcile Lotharius to his Father, but in truth to forment and promote his ſons and ſome French and German Biſhops conſpiracies to deprive him of his Empire, (for which they were afterwards condemned and baniſhed) and to excommunicate thoſe Biſhops who adhered to Ludovicus; they returned him this anſwer: Si excomminaturus adverniret, excommunicatus abiret, who departing thence, returned not with that honour he expected.

The ddSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 421, 422. Centur. Magd. 9. c. 9. col. 404.Synod of Mentz under the Archbiſhop Rabanus Maurus, aſſembled by the Command of this Emperor Ludovicus Pius, Anno 829. ſent all their Canons with a Preface before them to this Emperor, with this inſcription: Domino Sereniſſimo & Chriſtianiſſimo Regi Ludovico, verae Religionis Sereniſſimo Rectori, ac Defenſori Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae: una cum uxore & prole ſua, ejuſque fidelibus, vita & ſalus, Anno 829.honor & benedictio, cum victoria ſine ſive manſura. Digniſſimae reverentiae veſtrae patefecimus nos humiles ſimul veſtri Rabanus cum Coepiſcopis ejus, &c. wherein they have this notable paſſage touching Princes Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction. Petimus, ut ſicut apud anteceſſores veſtros Reges atque Imperatores, qui ante vos fuerunt, honorem ſancta Dei Eccleſia habuit, & per immunitatem eorum poſſeſſiones Eccleſiaſticae inconvulſae perſtiterunt, manenteſque in eis ſemper inlaeſae perſeveraverunt; ita apud vos modernis temporibus incontaminatae permaneant. Zelo enum Dei oportet vos defendere Eccleſias Chriſti, qui vobis Regnum in terra et dominationem tribuit, ut per nullius ſuggestiones iniquas veſtram conceſſionem quam in Eleemoſynam veſtram Eccleſiis Chriſti contuliſtis, ſinatis permutari. Quia inhoneſtum eſt ut hoc, quod non ſolum Chriſtianis temporibus a Chriſtianis Imperatoribus, ſed etiam a Paganis regibus tempore Gentilitatis ad honorem Dei collatum eſt, veſtris temporibus in veſtro Regno permutetur: Nam legimus apud eeEſdr. 7.Eſdram, quod Artaxerxes Rex Eſdrae ſcribae legis Dei per Epiſtolam mandaverit, Ego Artaxerxes, &c. De Chriſtianis vero Regibus & Imperatoribus non neceſſe eſt aliqua exempla ponere, cum omnes qui rectae fidei, et ſani dogmatis fuerint, a Conſtantino Imperatore, (qui primus Imperatorum Chriſtianam Religionem defendere, atque honorem Eccleſiarum Dei amplificare caepit) uſque ad vos, ſemper in hoc ſtudio ſolerter laboraverint, ut Eccleſia Dei pacem et tranquillitatem haberet, quatenus cultus Dei incontaminatus foret, et ſervi…e jus ſine impedimento, Deo delectabiliter deſervirent. At the end of their laſt Chapter they conclude with this Petition to the Emperor: ffIbid. c. 31. p. 428.Haec vero quae vobis tranſmiſſa ſunt, petimus, ut veſtra authoritate firmentur. Et ſi quis adverſarius illis exiſtere voluerit, praevalere non permittatur. Dei enim cooperatores vos eſſe debetis, et adjutores ſanctae ejus Eccleſiae, quatenns Religio Chriſtiana incontaminata temporibus Regni veſtri uſque ad finem ſervetur.

In the year of our Lord 829. the Religious EmperorsggSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 358, 359, 360, 361. Cent. Magd. 9. c. 9. Preuves des Libertez. de Legliſe Gallicane, c. 11. p. 450. 1254. Lewes and Lotharius commanded a general Faſt to be kept throughout their Realms,Anno 829. to divert Gods warth and judgements, and likewiſe ſummoned 4. Councils, at Paris, Mentz, Lyons, and Tholoſe, to reform both in the Clergy and Laity, Church and State, all ſins, vices, errors, corruptions, contrary to Gods word, which had brought plagues, wars, and other judgements on them, to appeaſe Gods wrath againſt them and their Subjects. Et quia nos magis in hoc peccaſſe cognoſcimus, qua forma ſalutis omnibus eſſe debuimus, et omnium curam gerere, et per authoritatem Imperialem pravorum acta ne tantum adcreſcerent, corrigere cupimus, (write theſe Emperors in their ſummons of, and pious prologue to the Council of Paris) wherefore, totius Eccleſiae ſibi commiſſae (mark it) generalitati conſulere geſtientes. they ſummoned theſe Councils to aſſiſt them in this their general deſired reformation. p. 191Conſultu Epiſcoporum, Sacerdotum & Optimatum caeterorum que fidelium noſtrorum. Whereupon the Biſhops and others aſſembled in the Council of Paris, Orthodoxorum Principum juſſionibus obedientes, compiled ſeveral Conſtitutions and Rules for the reformation of themſelves and other Chriſtians, which they digeſted into three Bookes. The firſt, for the reformation of the corruptions, lives of Biſhops, Prieſts, Monks, abuſes in Gods worſhip, and prophanations of the Lords day. The 2d. deſcribing the reſpective duties, and regulating the enormities of Kings, Civil Magiſtrates, Officers, and ſinnes of the people, in relation to Gods worſhip and ſervice. The 3d. relating both to Kings, Biſhops, Prieſts and people.

In the 2d. Book they thus deſcribe the office and duty of a King, Cap. 1. Quid ſit Rex, quid eſſe, quidque cavere debet.aaSurius Concil. Tom. 3 p 389, to 393. Centur, Magd. 9. c. 9. Rex a recte agendo vocatur. Si enim piè, & juſtè, & miſericorditer regit, merito, Rex appellatur: ſi his caruerit, non Rex, ſed Tyrannus est, &c. Quia ergo Rex a regendo dicitur, primò ei ſtudendum est, ut ſemet ipſum ſuamque domum, Chriſti adjuvante gratiâ, ab operibus nequam emaculet, boniſque operibus exuberare faciat, ut ab ea caeteri ſubjecti bonum exemplum ſemper capiant; ipſe etiam ſalutiferis Chriſti praeceptis fideliter atque obedienter obſecundet, & recte agendo eis quibus temporaliter imperat, in pace & concordia atque charitate caeterorum que bonorum operum exhibitione, quantum ſibi divinitus datur, conſiſtere faciat, et dictis atque exemplis ad opus pietatis et juſtitiae, et miſericordiae ſolerter excitet, attendens, quod pro his Deo rationem redditurus ſit, quatenus ita agendo ſanctorum Regum, qui Deo ſyncere ſerviendo, placuerunt, poſt hane peregrinationem conſors efficiatur. De Rege autem qualis eſse, vel quid cavere debeat,Deut. 17.Deut 17 ita in Deuteronomo legitur, Cum ingreſſus fueris terram, quam Dominus Deus tuus dabit tibi, & poſſederis eam, habitaveriſque in illa. et dixeris, Conſtituam ſuper me Regem, ſicut habent omnes per circuitum Nationes: eum conſtitues, quem Dominus Deus tuus elegerit de numero fratrum tuorum. Et poſt pauca. Non habebit Uxores plurimas quae alliciant animum ejus, neque Argenti & Auri immenſa pondera. Poſtquam autem ſederit in ſolio regni ſui, deſcribat ſibi Deuteronomium legis hujus in volumine, accipiens exemplar a Sacerdotibus Leviticae tribus, & habebit ſecum, legetque illud omnibus diebus vitae ſuae, ut diſcat timere Dominum Deum ſuum, & cuſtodire verba, & Ceremonias ejus, quae lege praecepta ſunt: nec extolletur cor ejus in ſuperbiam ſuper fratres ſuos, neque declinet in partem dextram vel ſiniſtram, ut longo tempore regnet ipſe & filii ejus ſuper Iſrael. Attende quod timor Dei & cuſtodia praeceptorum ejus, & humilitas, quae non patitur eum extolli ſuper fratres ſuos, & Juſtitiae rectitudo non ſolum Regem, ſed & filios ejus longo faciet regnare tempore, Ut ergo Princeps extollentiam cavere debeat: Eccleſiaſticus admonens ait,Eccleſ. 32.Sir 32 Principem te conſtituerunt? noli extolli, ſed eſto in illis, quaſi unus ex ipſis. Prov. 29.Prov 29In Proverbiis, Rex qui Judicat in veritate pauperes, Thronus ejus in aeternum firmabitur. Prov. 20.Prov 20Item, Miſericordia & veritas cuſtodiunt Regem, & roboratur Clementia Thronus ejus. Quantae igitur foelicitatis ſit bonus Rex, quantaeve infoelicitatis ſi nequam fuerit; Beatus Cyprianus, eximius Martyr Chriſti, de Duodecim abuſionibus; Scribens, inter caetera ita ait, Nonus inquiens, abuſionis gradus eſt, Rex iniquus; etenim Regem non iniquum, ſed correctorem iniquorum eſſe oportet. Unde in ſemetipſo nominis ſui dignitatem cuſtodire debet. Nomen enim Regis intellectualiter hoc retinet, ut ſubjectis omnibus rectoris officium procuret: ſed qualiter alios corrigere poterit, qui proprios mores, ne iniquiſint, non corrigat? Quoniam Justitia Regis exaltatur ſolium, & veritate ſolidantur gubernacula populorum, Juſtitia vero Regis eſt, neminem injuſte per potentiam opprimere, ſine acceptione perſonarum inter virum & proximum ſuum judicare: advenis & pupillis & viduis defenſorem eſſe: furta cohibere, adulteria punire, iniquos non exaltare, impudicos & hiſtriones non nutrire, impios de terra perdere, parricid is & pejcrantes vivere non ſinere, Eccleſias defendere, paup…res eleemoſynis alere, justos ſuper regni negotia conſtituere, ſenes & ſapientes & ſobrios Conſiliarios habere. Magorum & hariolorum Pythoniſſarumque ſuper stitionibus non intendere, iracundiam differre, patriam & fortiter & juſte contra adverſarios defendere, per omnia in Deo vivere, prosperitatibus non elevare animum, cuncta adverſa paenter ferre, fidem Catholicam in Deum habere, filios ſuos non ſinere impie agere, Eccleſ. 10.Eccl 10certis horis orationibus inſiſtere: ante horas congruas non guſtare cibum: Vae enim terrae, cujus Rex eſt puer, & cujus Principes mane comedunt. Haec regni proſperitatem in praeſenti faciunt, & Regem ad Coeleſtia regna meliora perducunt. Qui p. 192vero ſecundum hanc Legem non diſſenſat, multas nimirum adverſitates imperii tolerat. … enim ſaepe pax populorum rumpitur, & offendicula etiam de regno ſuſcitantur, terrarum quoque fructus diminuuntur, & ſervitia populorum praepediuntur; multi etiam dolores prosperitatem regni inficiunt, …harorum & liberorum mortes triſtitiam conferunt, hoſtium incurſus provincias undi que vaſtant, beſtiae armentorum & pecorum greges dilacerant, tempeſtates veris & hyemis terr…rum foecunditatem, & maris Miniſteria prohibent, & aliquando fulminum ictus ſegetes, & arborum ſtores, & pampinos exurunt. Super omnia vero Regis injuſtitia non ſolum praeſentis Imperii faciem fuſcat, ſed etiam filios ſuos & nepotes, ne post ſe regni haereditatem teneant,… Reg. 12. obſcurat. Propter piaculum enim Solomonis regnum domus, Iſrael Dominus de manibus filiorum ejus diſperſit, & propter meritum David Regis, lucernam de ſemine ejus ſemper in Hieruſalem reliquit. Ecce quantum justitia Regis ſeculo valet, intuentibus perſpicue patet; Pax populorum eſt, tutamentum patriae, immunitas plebis, munimentum gentis, cura larguorum, gaudium hominum, temperies atris, ſerenias maris, terrae foecunditas, ſolatium pauperum, haereditas filiorum, & ſibimetipſi… futurae beatitudinis. Attamen ſciat, quod ſicut in Throno hominum primus conſtitutus eſt, ſic et in poenis, ſi Iuſtitiam non fecerit, primatum habiturus eſt. Omnes namque quoſcunque peccatores ſub ſe in praeſenti habuit, ſupra ſe modo in illa futura poena habebit. (After which they inſert the **Here, p. 126, 127.forecited paſſage of Fulgentius in Libro de veritate Praedeſtinationis & Gratiae.) **Lib. …. Sententiarum cap. 49.Iſiodorus, Qui recte utitur regni poteſtate, ita praeſtare ſe omnibus debet, ut quanto magis honoris celſitudine claret, tanto ſemetipſum mente humiliet. Proponens ſibi exemplum humilitatis David, qui de ſuis meritis non tumuit, ſed humiliter ſeſe dejiciens, dixit; Vilis incedam,2 Reg. 6.2 Kgs 6 & vilis apparebo ante Dominum qui elegit me. Item Iſidorus. Qui intra ſeculum bene temporaliter imperat,Ibidem. c. 48. ſine fine in perpetuum regnat, & de Gloria ſeculi hujus ad a ternam tranſmeat gloriam: qui vero prave regnum exercent, poſt veſtem fulgentem & lumina lapillorum, nudi & miſeri ad inferna torquendi deſcendunt. Reges a recte agendo vocati ſunt, ideoque ſicut recte agendo, Regis nomen tenetur, ita peccando amittitur. Nam & viros ſanctos proinde Reges vocari in ſacris eloquiis, eo quod recte agant, ſenſuſque proprios bene regant, & motus reſiſtentes ſibi rationabili diſcretione componant. Recte igitur illi Reges vocantur, qui tam ſemetipſos, quam ſubjectos bene regendo modificare noverunt. Quidam ipſum nomen regiminis ad immanitatem tranſvertunt crudelitatis; dumque ad culmen poteſtatis venerint, in Apoſtaſiam confeſtim labuntur: tantoque ſe tumore cordis extollunt, ut cunctos ſubditos in ſui comparatione deſpiciant, coſque quibus praeeſſe contigit, non agnoſcant. Et paulo poſt. Dum mundi Reges …blimiores ſe caeteris ſentiunt, mortales tamen ſe eſſe agnoſcant, nec regni Gloriam, qua in ſeculo ſublimantur, adſpiciant: ſed opus quod ſecum deportant, intendant Item non poſt multa. Reges quando boni ſunt, muneris eſſe Dei, quando vero mali, ſceleris eſſe populi. Secundum meritum enim plebium, diſponitur vita rectorum, teſtante Job:Job 34Job 34 Qui regnare facit hypocritam propter peccata populi. Iraſcente enim Deo, talem Rectorem populi ſuſcipiunt qualem pro peccato merentur. Nonnunquam pro malitia plebis, etiam Reges mutantur, & qui ante videbantur eſſe boni, accepto regno ſiunt iniqui. His ita praemiſſis, ſtudendum eſt Regi, ut non ſolum in ſe, verum etiam in ſibi ſubjectis Regis nomen adimpleat: provideatque ut populus ſibi ſubjectus, pietate, pace, charitate, juſtitia et miſericordia, atque concordia, et unanimitate, ceteriſque bonis exuberet operibus, ut haec habentes, Dominum ſecum habere mereantur; ſciat que certiſsime, quod non ſolum de ſe, verum etiam de ipſis Dominus ab eo fructum bonae operationis exacturus eſt. After which they thus proceed, Cap. 2. Quid ſit propriè Miniſterium Regis? Regale Miniſterium ſpecialiter eſt populum Dei gubernare et regere cum aequalitate et juſtitia, et ut pacem et concordiam habeant, ſtudere: ipſe enim debet primo Defenſor eſſe Eccleſiarum et ſervorum Dei, viduarum, orphanorum, caeterorumque pauperum, necnon et omnium indigentium. Ipſius enim terror & ſtudium hujuſcemodi in quantum poſſibile est, eſſe debet primò, ut nulla injuſticia fiat; deinde, ſi evenerit, ut nullo modo ea ſubſiſtere permittat, nec ſpem deliteſcendi, ſive audaciam malè agendi cuiquam relinquat, ſed ſciant omnes, quoniam ſi ad ipſius notitiam pervenerit quippiam mali quod admiſerint, nequaquam incorrectum & …ultum remanebit, ſed juxta ſacti qualitatem, erit & modus juſtae correptionis. Quapropter p. 193in Throno regiminis poſitus eſt, 2 Par. 192 Chr 19ad judicia recta peragenda, ut ipſe per ſe provideat, & perquirat, ne in judicio aliquis a veritate & aequitate declinet: Scire etiam debet, quod cauſa quam juxta miniſterium ſibi commiſſum adminiſtrat, non hominum, ſed Dei cauſa exiſtit, cui pro Miniſterio quod ſuſcepit, in examinis tremendi die rationem redditurus eſt. Et ideo oportet, ut ipſe qui Judex eſt Judicum, cauſam pauperum ad ſe ingredifaciat & diligenter inquirat, ne forte illi, qui ab eo conſtituti ſunt, & vicem eius agere debent in populo, injuſte aut negligenter pauperis oppreſſiones pati permittant.Job 29.Job 29 De Miniſterio autem Regis ita Job loquitur; Cum ſederem quaſi Rex circunſtante exercitu, eram tamen maerentium Conſolator. Auris audiens beatificabat me, & oculus videns teſtimonium reddebat mihi, quod liberaſſem pauperem vociferantem, & pupillam cui non eſſet adjutor. Benedictio perituri ſuper me veniebat, & cor viduae conſolatus ſum: Juſtitia indutus ſum, & veſtivi me ſicut veſtimento & Diademate judicio meo: Oculus fui caeco, & pes claudo: Pater eram pauperum, & cauſam quam neſciebam diligentiſſime inveſtigabam: conterebam molas iniqui, Prov. 20.Prov 20& de dentibus illius auferebam praedam. Solomon: Rex qui ſedet in ſolio judicu diſſipat omne malum intuitu ſuo. Eccl. 10.Eccl 10Item,Prov: 29. Diſſipat impios Rex ſapiens, & curvat ſuper eos fornicem. Item, Judex ſapiens vindicabit populum ſuum, & principatus ſenſati ſtabilis eſt. Item, Rex Juſtus erigit terram, & vir avarus deſtruit eam. Sap. ….In Libro Sapientiae. Diligite Juſtitiam, qui iudicatis terram, ſentite de Domino in bonitate, & ſimplicitate cordis quaerite illum. Item ibi. Audite ergo Reges & intelligite, diſcite Judices finium terrae; praebete aures vos qui continetis multitudines & placetis vobis in turbis Nationum, quoniam data eſt a Domino vobis poteſtas & virtus ab altiſſimo, qui interrogabit opera veſtra, & cogitationes ſcrutabitur; quoniam cum eſſetis Miniſteri ejus, non recte judicaſtis, neque cuſtodiſtis legem Juſtitiae, neque ſecundum Dei voluntatem ambulaſtis; Horrende & cito apparebit vobis, quoniam judicium duriſſimum in his qui praeſunt, fiet; Exiguo enim conceditur miſericordia: Potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur: Non enim ſubtrahet perſonam cujuſquam Dominus; nec reverebitur cujuſquam magnitudinem: quoniam puſillum & magnum ipſe fecit, et aequaliter pro omnibus cura eſt illi. Tortioribus autem fortior inſtat cruciatus. **See here, p 152.Iſiodorus. Principes ſeculi nonnunquam intra Eccleſiam poteſtatis adeptae culmina tenent, ut per eandem poteſtatem diſciplinam Eccleſiaſticam muniant. Caeterum intra Eccleſiam poteſtates neceſſariae non eſſent, niſi ut quod non praevalet Sacerdos efficere per Doctrinae ſermonem, poteſtas hoc imperet per diſciplinae terrorem. Saepe per regnum terrenum, Coeleſte regnum proficit, ut qui intra Eccleſiam poſiti contra fidem et diſclplinam Eccleſiae agunt, rigore principum conterantur ipſamque diſciplinam quam Eccleſiae **Humilitas.utilitas exercere non praevalet, cervicibus ſuperborum poteſtas principalis imponat: et ut venerationem mereatur virtutem poteſtas impertiat. Cognoſcant Principes ſeculi Deo debere ſe reddere rationem propter Eccleſiam, quam a Chriſto tuendam ſuſcipiunt. Nam ſive augeatur pax, & diſciplina Eccleſiae per fideles Principes, ſive ſolvatur, ille ab eis rationem exiget, qui eorum poteſtati ſuam Eccleſiam credidit. Sunt & alia utriuſque teſtamenti cracula copioſa, quibus affatim adſtraitur, quod Rex Miniſterium ſibi commiſſum ſecundum voluntatem Dei exercere & adimplere debet, quae hic ob prolixitatem vitandum praetermittuntur. Cap. 3. De periculo Regis, & quod bene agentes remunerare, & malè vero ag…ntes ſuae Authoritate comprimere, cauſam que pauperum ad ſe ingredi debeat facere. And Cap. 4. Quod aequitas Judicii, stabilimentum Regni, & ejus injuſtitia, ſit ejus everſio: are worthy peruſal to theſe purpoſes, but overtedious to inſert; I ſhall only recite ſome paſſages of Cap. 5. Quod regnum non ab hominibus; ſed a Deo, in cujus manu omnia regna conſiſtunt, d…tur. Nemo regum a progenitoribus regnum ſibi adminiſtrari, ſed a Deo veraciter atque humiliter credere debet dari, &c. which they prove by Prov. 8. 14, 15, 16. Dan. 4. 25. Dan. 5. 21. Jer. 27. 4, 5, 6. Hoſea 8. 4. Job 34. 30. Iſiodorus exponit, Iraſcente Deo, talem rectorem populi ſuſcipiunt, qualem pro peccato merentur. Conſtat ergo quia non actu, non voto, neque brachio fortitudinis humanae, ſed virtute, imo occulto Judicio dispenſationis divinae regnum confertur terrenum. Et idcirco cuicunque ab eo committitur, ita illud ſecundum ejus voluntatem diſponere et gubernare procuret, quatenus cum eo, a quo illud ſuſcepit, feliciter, in perpetuum regnare valeat; quoniam nihil prodeſt cuipiam terreno regno principari, ſi (quod abſit) contigerit eum aeterno extortem fieri. After which deſcription of a p. 194Kings office and duty, they thus humbly ſubmit all their Conſtitutions and Reſolves in this Council to the Emperors wills, and deſire their confirmation of them ſo farr as they ſhould think expedient, as theſe paſſages evidence; aaSurius, Tom. 3. p. 402, 415.Nos fideliſſimi ac devotiſſimi ſalutis veſtrae procuratores, juxta parvitatem ſenſus noſtri, prout brevitas temporis permiſit, ſecundum ſanctam devotionem et ordinationem veſtram, de cauſis ad religionem Chriſtianam, noſtrumque miniſterium atque periculum pertinentibus; necnon et de his quae ad noſtram correctionem et emendationem pertinere perſpeximus; ſive de his, quae populis generaliter annuncianda, & admonenda praevidimus, capitulatim in praecedentibus adnotavimus libellis, veſtraeque Serenitati legenda, immo probanda obtulimus, &c. Et quanquam de his quae praemiſſa ſunt, veſtro ardentiſſimo deſiderio prius ſatisfacere elegerimus, nequaquam tamen haec quae specialiter ad veſtram perſonam miniſterium que pertinere cognovimus, oblivioni tradimus, ſed potius veſtrae ſaluti proſpicientes, nonnulla capitula neceſſaria, in ſecundo hujus operis libello, ad nomen miniſteriumque veſtrum pertinentia, periculumque cavendum, ſolerti ſtudio congeſſimus, & vobis familiarit…r admonitionis gratia, porrigenda devovimus; ut ea diligenter inſpiciendo, legendo & audiendo, aperte & diſtincte Veſtra cognoſcat Celſitudo, de quibus, & pro quibus,ccIbidem, pag. 405, 406, 407, 408. in memoratis conventibus noſtris, ſecundum virium nostrarum poſſibilitatem fideliter ſalubrier que egerimus. Lib. 3. c. 8. to 27. they uſe theſe Petitions, Petimus humiliter Excellentiam veſtram, illud etiam ſpecialiter neceſsarium veſtrae ſuggerere Pietati duximus: ſimiliter etiam obnixe ac ſuppliter veſtrae Celſitudini ſuggerimus: ſimiliter et hoc a veſtra pietate neceſsarium duximus expetendum. Illud etiam obnixe veſtram ſanctam piiſsimamque devotionem ſuppliciter monendo depoſcimus. Iterum, ſuppliciter admonendo veſtrae ſuggerimus Serenitati: Poſtulamus etiam, ut Celſitudo veſtra. Iterum monendo magnitudini veſtrae ſuppliciter ſuggerimus. Similiter depoſcimus, Rogamus etiam veſtram pietatem, et hoc humiliter obſecrando admonemus, &c **Ibid. Page 385.Lib. 1. Cap. 50. De Obſervatione Die Dominicae. Quapropter ſpecialiter atque humiliter a Sacerdotibus Imperialis Celſitudo flagitanda eſt, ut ejus a Deo ordinata poteſtas, ob honorem & reverentiam tanti diei, cunctis metum incutiat, ne in hac ſancta & venerabili die mercatus & placita, & ruralia quaeque opera, necnon & quaſlibet corrigationes, ullius conditionis homines facere praeſumant. And they conclude thus, **Ibid. p. 409, 420.Lib. 3. Cap. 27. Porro de Epiſcopali libertate, quam Deo annuente, veſtroque adminiculo ſuffragante adipiſcivd Dei ſervitium peragendum cupimus, ſuo in tempore vobis dicenda at que vobiſcum conferenda reſervavimus.

aaBibliotheca Patrum, Tom. 9. pa…s 1. p. 553.Agobardus Epiſcopus Lugdunenſis,Anno 830. begins his refutation of the heretical poſition of the depoſed Felicis Orgellitani Epiſcopi, (dedicated to Ludovicus Pius the Emperor) with this Prologue; Chriſtianorum religioſiſſimo, Chriſti amatori, ideo que victori ac triumphatori piiſſimo, Augusto, Domino glorioſiſſimo Ludovico Imperatori. Pie igitur, & Domine Rector, CAPUT ORBIS, decus mundi, Catholicorum omnium inſignis gloriatio, qui illuſtratis fidem, Propagatis et pacem. Obſecro manſuetudinem veſtram, ut in contemplationem Filii Dei, qui veſtrum juvat imperium, praefatum Opuſculum perluſtrare non dedignemini, ut veſtro acerrimo judicio probetur, aut improbetur: quia ſi probatur, illis quibus profuturum eſt, ad legendum commendatur: ſi autem improbatur, auctor eius per vos emendatur. If this learned Biſhop thus wholly ſubmitted his Treatiſe concerning one of the higheſt points of Faith (to wit, the Unity of the two Natures of Chriſt in one perſon) to this Emperors approbation, correction, or rejection, and gave him theſe Titles, no doubt he eſteemed him the ſupreameſt Judge thereof. Moreover, he dedicated to him his Treatiſes bbIbid: p. 562, 563, 564.De inſolentia Judaeorum, & De Judaicis ſuperſtitionibus, Quem Deus omnipotens, & praeordinavit Rectorem pium (Eccleſiae ſuae) futurum temporibus valde neceſſariis, ſublimaverit prudentiam veſtram, & ſtudium Religionis ſuper caeteros veſtri temporis mortales; (whether Popes or Biſhops) unde dubium non eſt praeparari vos ad remedium temporibus periculoſis. Cum haec igitur ita ſe habeant, obſecro tranquilliſſimam longanimitatem veſtram, ut praebeatis patientiſſmam aurem veſtram, vicibus quibus ego infimus ſervorum veſtrorum, minus neceſſarium puto eſſe admonendam p. 195ſanctiſsimam ſollicitudinem veſtram de re tam neceſsaria, quae aut ſola, aut praecipua eſt, cui prae caeteris ſuccurrere debeat gubernatio veſtra &c. Et quidem ſi (ſicut nunc multa neceſſitas poſcit) auſi eſſemus aut val…iſſemus, auribus vestris ingerere damna animarum quae per vaſa Diaboli, fidelibus inſeruntur, adhiberi animis juberet pietas veſtra remedium; Making it one principal part of his Imperial office, care, truſt, to ſuppreſſe all Hereſies, Blaſphemies, and Jewiſh Superſtitions repugnant to the Scriptures, the Honor of God, the De…y of Jeſus Chriſt, and prejudicial to his peoples ſouls. He wrote two Treaſuſes to this Emperor, ccIbid. p. 571. 572. 604.Contra damnabilem opinionem putantium, Divini Judicii veritatem, igne, vel aqua, vel conflictu armorum patefieri; deſiring him to take away ſuch trials, as unjuſt, unreaſonable, unchriſtian, and againſt the word of God.

Pope Gregory the 4th. comming into **Aimonius l. 5. c. 14, 16. Th… ganus … Ludovici. Mo… ney Hiſt. Papatus, p. 155, 156.France about the year 833, Anno 833with an intention (as Ludovicus ſuſpected) to raiſe up a Civil Warr, and joyn with Lotharius his ſonne (conioyned with him in the Empire) to deprive him; this Emperor ſummoned Agobardus, amongſt other Biſhops ſiding with Lotharius, to appear before him; who refuſing to appear, thereupon the Emperor called an Aſſembly of ſuch French Biſhops as ſided with him againſt Agobardus, ccBibl. Patr. Tom 9. pars 1 p. 512.Cujus haec fuerunt capita adverſum ipſius contumaciam, pro co…firo a…do Gallicana libertate. 1. Epiſcopum Romanum vocandum Papam, Fratrem, non autem Patrem, neque Pontificem. 2. Imperialem poteſtatem plus poſſe in adminiſtranda Eccleſia quam Pontificem. 3. Caeſarem non dehoneſtandum praeſumptuoſa excommunicatione. 4. Poſſe unum aliquem Pontificem abjici ſine injuria ſedis Apoſtolicae. 5. Epiſcopos in cauſa fidei Iuſjurandum praeſtare ſolitos Imperatori. 6. Agobardum Primatum Aquitaniae, nullam deinceps habituram poteſtatem in excommunicando, nullamque Iuriſdictionem in caeteras Parochias, ſi obediret potius Pontifici quam Caeſari. 7. Privandum Epiſcopum conſortio et honore, qui potius Pontificis quam Eccleſiae Gallicanae Concilio obediret. In anſwer whereunto, Agobardus writ two particular Treatiſes, wherein he endeavoured, as far as he could, to anſwer theſe particulars, excuſing his not appearing, by reaſon of the publike tumults, and to diminiſh the Emperors Supremacy, as ſubordinate in ſome ſence, to the Pontifical Juriſdiction; which Treatiſes he dedicated and ſent to the Emperor. In his Treatiſe ddBibliotheca Patrum, Tom. 9. p. 616.De Comp…ratione utriuſque Regiminis, Eccleſiaſtici & Politici, & in quibus Eccleſiaſtica dignitas praefulgeat Imperiorum Majeſtati, though he maintains the Popes Supremacy in ſome reſpects; yet he expreſly reſolves; Certe clementiſſime Domiae, ſi nunc Gregorius Papa irrationabiliter, & ad pugnandum venit, merito et pugnatus, et repulſus recedet; ſi autem pro quiete & pace populi & veſtra laborare nicitur, benè & rationab…later obtemperandum eſt, illi non repugnandum. Si enim quod veſtra voluntate, et poteſtate, cum conſenſu Imperii veſtri factum eſt, & poſtea in Apoſtolica ſede roboratum, hoc vult in pristinum reducere statum, ſatis rationabilis & oportunus eſt ejus adventus. Quia nullatenus quod ita eſt conſtitutum a vobis, debetis mutare; nec enim ſine gravi periculo, et reatu animae fieri poteſt in his ſacratiſsimis diebus Paſchalibus. He concludes thus, Quia nemo dubitat de nullo alio opere poteſtatis, tam chare Deum placare, quam de ſollicitudine et adminiſtratione Pacis et unitatis Eccleſiae, veſtra ſolertiſsima Religio elaboret, ut omnis anima fidelis proficeat in fide et cognitione Dei, quae res omnibus rebus Deo cha…or eſt, hujus rei niſus merita veſtra appropinquare faciat Apoſtolicis meritis.

aaSurius, Tom. 3. p. 409, 410, 415, 417, 419, 420, 421. Centur. Magd. 9 c. 9.Synodus Aquiſgranenſis ſummoned by the Emperor Ludovicus Pius Anno 833. Anno 833gave him this account of their proceedings. Ibi de ſtatu Sanctae Eccleſiae, admonente Sereniſsimo atque totius religionis devotiſsimo praefato Imperatore (Ludovico) tractare caepiſſemus: Revolutis igitur a veſtra nobis benigniſsima devotione, collatis tribus Capitulis, id eſt, ut ventilarentur, &c. Vestram ſiquidem nihilominus ſupplici admonitione & affectu charita…is excellentiam admonentes, ſi quae ſunt Eccleſiaſtici p. 196juris veſtra piiſſima gubernatione erigenda, ut per vos veſtroſque Chriſtianae Religionis commilitones, ſubleventur, &c. Haec nos fideles, & devotiſſimi famuli & Oratores veſtri, juxta parvitatem ſenſus noſtri, ſecundum ſanctam ordinationem vestram, de his quae ad noſtram, & conſacerdotum ſubjectorumque noſtrorum correctionem & emendationem pertinere perſ…eximus, &c. Sed nunc quia de his quae praemiſſa ſunt, veſtro ardentiſſimo deſiderio prius ſatisfacere ſtuduimus, illud tamen quod ad veſtram specialiter perſonam miniſteriumque pertinere cognoſcimus, nullatenus oblivioni tradidimus, ſed potius veſtrae ſaluti prospicientes, nonnulla capitula neceſſaria fideliter collegimus; & vobis familiaeriter admonitionis gratia devote que porrigenda devovimus. Similiter quaedam ad filios veſtros pertinentia, quaedam vero ad commilitones veſtros non minus pertinentia. Which Conſtitutions commonly begin thus; being farr from arrogating any ſupream Legiſlative, or Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction to themſelves, but aſcribing all to the Emperor, Petimus humiliter Excellentiam veſtram, &c. Rogamus etiam veſtram Pietatem propter divinam miſericordiam, veſtramqueſalutem. Et hoc humiliter admonemns. Innoteſcimus vobis, quod ea quae in Capitulis veſtris nobis tractanda commiſiſtis, &c. Vestram interea Deo amabilis Auguſte petimus clementiam. Similiter eſt poſtulandum. Meminimus in peſteriis Conventibus nonnulla capitula ab Epiſcopis veſtra admonitione fuiſſe tractata, atque ſtatuta, pro neceſſitate, & communi ſalute, utrorum que ordinum, Eccleſiaſticorum ſcilicet & ſecularium, ſed neſcimus quibus impedientibus obſtaculis, quaſi oblivioni tradita. Ideo que affectu devo…o ſupplici admonitione admonemus, & admonendo precamur, ne iſta quae nunc licet perpaucae praelibavimus, ad ſtatum Sanctae Dei Eccleſiae, ſimili modo oblivioni tradantur, ſed prospeculo omnibus inconvulſa habeantur atque conſerventur, &c. All they concluded being invalid without his imperial Sanction, and care to ſee the ſame put in due execution.

aaJoannes Tritem…u… ▪ De Eccleſiaſticis Scriptoribus. Sigebe…ti chronicon, Anno …43. Bibl. Pat…um, Tom. 9. pars 1. p. …13. Centur. Magd. 9. col. 525. A… monius, l. 5. c. 20. Crantzius Metrapo…an. …. …. c. 27.Theodulphus Abbas Floriacenſis, …poſtea Aurealenſis Epiſcopus, for conſpiring with the Emperor Ludovicus Pius his ſons, and exciting them to depoſe their Father from the Empire, was impriſoned by the Emperor, whom he afterwards preſenting with ſome ſacred Hymnes, was thereupon releaſed by him: After which he preſented him with this Panegyrical Poem, expreſſing his Supremacy over all Eccleſiaſtical as well as Temporal perſons, his extraordinary piety in promoting Religion, protecting, inſtructing, edifying the Church and people committed to his charge, both by his precepts and example.

**Bibl. …atrum, Tom. 9. pars 1: p. 641, 641Inclyte Caeſar ave, Ludovice ſerene, valeque;

Et tibi cunctipotens, det bona cuncta Deus.

Orbis te totus laudat, veneratur, amatque,

Et monitis paret ſedulus unde tuis.

Primus in orbe micas, nulli es virtute ſecundus;

Viribus armipotens, te ſcio nemo parem:

Arma es Pontificum, venerandi culmina juris.

Tu vigil inſtanter, ad m…liora levas.

Tu decus es Cleri, populi, ſeu norma ſalutis.

Judicii callem arbiter aequus ames.

Haec facis, et facienda doces quae ad ſydera tollunt:

Quae mergunt, ſolers ſemper ad ima caves, &c.

Eſt et Scripturis patulus tibi ſenſus in almis,

Lectio te quarum paſcit alitque frequens.

Corporeis epulis ſatiaris corpore parcè;

Sed tua divina mens alimenta ſitit;

Nam cibus illatus ſatiat tua viſcera parcus;

Sed cibus aeternus mentem, animum que cibat.

Plus epulas animae quam carnis diligis ipſe;

His cares ad tempus, has ſine fine ſitis, &c.

Quae mala ſunt refuges, bona quaeque amplecteris ultra.

Inde Deus tecum Rex benedicte manet.

Eccleſiae ſanctae dilectus filius extas,

Quam**Nota. Tibi commiſit, unicus ipſe Patris,

p. 197Hanc tu conſtanter Doctrinis imbuis alimis,

Incolis, augmentas, inſtruis, aedificas:

Nemo fide Chriſti nam te praestantior extat.

… Plus orthodoxus eſt tibi nemo ſuper,

Eſt tibi nemo ſuper, ſimilis, pietate vel actu:

De te vera loqui me tua facta probant.

Divitias mundi cauto ſectaris amore,

Queis tibi conſtanter regna beata paras, &c.

Regius haec faſtus, tua non devotio quaerit,

Cui ſemper dulcis gloria Chriſtus inest.

Moribus eximius, rutilus bonitate coruſcas,

Semper adhaerere eſt tibi velle Deo.

Teque, tuas laudes liquido depromere nulla

Vox potis est, quas nunc noſtra camoena tacet.

aaBibl. Patrum Tom: 9. pa… 1 p. 642.Jonas Aureliauenſis (his Succeſſor) thus ſeconds Theodulphus;Anno 845

En adeſt Caeſar, pius & benignus,

Orbe et in toto rutilat Coruſcus,

At que prae cunctis bonitate pollet.

Hic decus quidem Eccleſiae, Paterque,

Ornat hanc ſolers, juvat, ſo vetque,

Erudit, amat, colit, inſtruitque

Dogmate largo, &c.

This bbDe Cultu l. maginum, l. 1. Bibl. Patrum. Tom: 9. pars 1. p. 98. b.Jonas Aurelianenſis Epiſcopus hath this memorable paſſage concerning Charles the Great, and Ludovicus Pius the Emperors diligence, to protect and inſtruct the Church of God committed to their care, not the Popes; Obeunte piae memoriae, pio Principe Carolo, Eccleſiam i…em inclytus filius ejus (nutu divino) regendam tuendamque ſuſcepit. Ejuſdem piiſsimi Principis ſolertiſsimo ſtudio, Eccleſia ita quotidie, Domino opitulante, ad meliora ſuccreſcit, ut omnibus ſacrae fidei perspicuum ſit, eam et in fidei ſynceritate ſalubriter roborari, et in cognitione divinarum Scripturarum ſapienter dilatari, et ſpiritualiter fructificari, &c. Quia igitur idem clariſſimus Deo Princeps, divino que plenius amore ſuccenſus, & coeleſti gratia adjutus (Ludovicus) eandem Eccleſiam ſibi traditam inſtanter erudit, armiſque ſpiritalibus munit, et dictis et exemplis inceſſanter ad alta ſuſtollit, dignum eſt, ut ſicut Pater illius (Carolus) Magiſtri ejuſdem Claudii (Tauronenſi Epiſcopi) adhibita ſanctarum Scripturarum auctoritate damnavit errorem; ita nihilominus iste glorioſus filius ejus (Ludovicus) nulli pietate, ſapientia, fortitudine & puritate ſecundus; diſcipuli ejuſdem Felicis (Urgilitanenſis Epiſcopi) veſanias damnet blaſphemias, divinarumque Scripturarum telis confodiat, ECCLESIAMQUE SIBI COMMISSAM, Chriſto ſecum regnante, ab his et huiuſcemodi erroribus immunem liberamque reddat. Quod quidem qualiter ejus pio ſagaciſsimoque ſtudio actum ſit,Anno 8…6 in proceſſu huius operis patebit. Moreover, this ccBibl. Patrum, Tom. 9. pars 1. p. 90, 91.Jonas Aurelianenſis, in his Praefatio, Opuſculo Carolo Regi porrecto, adverſus Haereſim Claudii Praeſulis Taurinenſis, (which he writ at the command of his Father Ludovicus Pius the Emperor) gives this character of his religious zeal and care to defend the Faith and Church of Chriſt committed to his Government (not the Popes.) Quantus, Dominus noſter glorioſiſſimus genitor veſtor, Deo dilectiſſimus Ludovicus Caeſar, religioſiſsimus, in fidei ſynceritate, totius bonitatis virtute, proborum morum claritu line, ſapientiae & ſanctitatis dote, divinique amoris ac favoris fervore, et in Eccleſiaſticis negotiis (Domino administrante) ad honorem et cultum divinum pertinentibus augmentandis, et gubernandis emineret, quantumque Eccleſiam Chriſti precioſo ſanguine redemptam, SUOQUE REGIMINI DIVINITUS COMMISSAM (motum Patris tui videlicet pii & omonymi, p. 198Caroh nobi…iſſimi Auguſti imitatus, imo ſupergrediens) diſciplina liberal… um artium educaverit, et utriuſque teſtamenti ſancti paginis, atque eximiorum Patrum dictis, ad propellenda haereticorum dogmata venenata, et inſtrurerat, et inſtrui fecerit, cunctis Catholicae Apoſtolicae que fidei filiis perſpicuum eſſe non ambigitur; quoniam revera id quod dicitur in promptu eſſe cernitur. Is namque Deo dilectiſſimus Princip…, inter cae…era bonitatis, ſuae ſtudia, erga divinum cultum amplificandum multiplici modo ferventia, quendam Presbyterum, &c. ut Ital…cae plebis (quae magna ex part: a ſanctorum Evang…liſtarum ſenſibus procul aberant) ſanae doctrinae conſultum ferret Taurinenſi, praeſulem ſubrogari fecit Eccleſiae, &c. Then giving him an account of his Book againſt Claudius, he thus proſtrates it to his correction. Quicquid minus responſum, minuſque praemiſſis pravis objectis contractum repererit, ſuae ſanioris uberioriſque intelligent…ae ſcriptis et dictis, ob honorem et defenſionem ſanctae Dei Eccleſiae, ſuppleat.