and withdrawing them from publick Churches. Yea such was his Pride that he would be stiled a Saint, and consecrated Churches to his own honour, affirming that he knew many Angells by name: severall of which names S. Boniface had sert down in his Epistle to the said Pope, which were iudged to be the Names rather of Devills then Angells.
3. The other Heretick was so given over to lust that he kept a Concubine by whom he had two children: yet challenged Preisthood to himself, saying that this was agreable to the Old Testament. Further he affirmed that Christ rising from the dead, took with him all that were then in Hell, not leaving any one behind him. All which most detestable Doctrines and practises the Pope likewise con∣demned, saying that S. Boniface rightly stiled the Authours of them Ministers and Precur∣sours of Antichrist, and did well in causing them to be shutt up in prison.
4. The reason which made Saint Boniface more earnest against these Hereticks, particu∣larly Adalbert, was because though his Er∣rours and wicked practises were manifestly contrary to the Doctrin and Tradition of the Church, yet his behaviour was so subtile and hypocriti••all, and such a moving per∣swasivenes he had in his tongue, that he had almost seduced the Religious Prince Carol••man. Now the first time that Saint Boniface entred into dis••ute with him, among others, Stur∣mis the first Abbot of Fulda was present: who earnestly ••ndeavoured to disswade him from that dispute: the like did Lullus and Megin∣guazus. But S. Boniface answerd them, He that is in us is greater then he that is in him. Thereupon reasoning with him, he so con∣vinced him, that he putt him to silence. After which he enclosed him prisoner in the Monastery of Fulda. But more of these He∣reticks, when they shall be sent to Rome, whe∣re their Heresies will be more fully detected.
5 But presently afterward by the false sug∣gestion of certain unknown persons, there had like to have ensued a breach and divi∣sion between the said Pope and S. Boniface, by occasion of a scandalous imputation cast upon the Pope, that he had Simoniacally de∣manded money for the Archiepiscopall Palls which he had lately sent. This report being too easily beleived by S. Boniface, he wrote a sharp Letter to the Pope, telling him he was astonished that Simon Magus his poyson should infect S. Peters Chair, which had heretofore thundred out maledictions against that crime.
6. But the good Popes mild, yet grave an∣swer prevented all progresse of dissention between them: Dearest Brother, said he, I beseech your Charity that hereafter you would forbear to write in such a stile to us: for it is very offensive and injurious to be accused of that which we doe detest. Far be it from us or any of our Clergy to sell for money the Gift which we have received by the Grace of the Holy Ghost. And as for those three Palls, know for certain that not any money at all hath been received by any of my Officers for them. Yea on the contrary, the Fees which by custome was due to our Coffer for your Confirmation, I freely allowd it out of mine own purse.
7. Besides this, in the same Letter, to shew he had blotted out all resentment of this in∣iurious imputation, he not only confirmed the Province granted to Saint Boniface by his Predecessour, but besides Bavaria, enlarged his Iurisdiction through all France, giving him authority in his Name and his Power to correct & reforme whatsoever he found any where to decline from Christian Faith or the Constitutions of Canons.
The year following an occasiō hapned to
S. Boniface to have his turn of reprehension from the same
Pope, which he suffred with the same
Spirit of
Christian meeknes. But before we relate it, certain affairs of
Brittany require to be interposed.