The effect of the Patriarch of Constantinople his letter to Pope Gregory. 9.
IN the which letter the sayd Germanus Patriarch of Constanti∣nople, writing to Pope Gregory, first after his reuerend saluta∣tion and preamble following vpon the same, entring thé toward the matter, sheweth the occasion of his writing, which was by 5. obseruaunt Friers repayring that wayes, whom he gently recei∣uing into his house, had conference with them touching this dis∣cord betwene the two Churches, how it might be reduced again to vnity: and afterward perceiuing the sayd Friers to make theyr iourney towardes to Rome, he thought therefore by thē to write his letters. Wherein he first lamenting this diuision in the house of God, and reciting the inconueniences which come therof, by the example of Iuda and Israel: Ierusalem and Samaria: Cain and Abel: Esau and Iacob: also of other such like, both priuate & pub∣licke societies, where brother sighteth agaynst brother, like as a∣mong fishes the greater deuoureth the lesser, he procedeth then further gently to exhort Pope Gregory to the study of vnity.
And for so much as the Pope had accursed (belike) those Churches of the Greekes before, he therefore taking his groūd vpon the wordes of S. Paule, Gal. 1. where he accurseth euery such person and persons, whatsoeuer they be either man or Angell of heauen, that shall preach any other Gospell then hath bene prea∣ched. &c. willeth the Pope to stand with him vpon the same ground of the Apostles accurse, so that if the stroke of that curse haue light vpon him or his churches, he desireth him to shew the wound, and to helpe to wipe away the bloud, to minister some spirituall emplaister to binde vp the sore, and to saue his brethré from perishing which lay in daunger, according to the saying of the wise man: A brotherly frend is tried in aduersity, &c.
But if we (sayth he) of the Greeke Church be free from the stripe of this accurse of the Apostle, and that you Italians & of the Latine Church be stricken therewith, and lye thereby in daunger of destruction, I trust that you through ignoraunce and wilfull obstinacy will not so suffer your selues to be separated from the Lord, but rather will suffer a thousand deathes before, if it were possible for a man so often to dye.
And as touching this great discord betwene vs, if either cōtra∣rietie of doctrine or sweruing frō the ancient Canons, or diuer∣sity of rites receiued of our forefathers be any cause thereof, we here take heauen and earth to witnesse, that we for our partes are ready, and desire also vpon due triall of profound trueth by Gods word and inuocation of the holy Ghost to ioyne hands with you, or you to ioyne with vs. But to say the very trueth and to tell you playne, this we suppose, that many mighty and noble potentates would sooner encline to your obedience, were it not that they feared your vniust oppressions, your insatiable exactions, and in∣ordinate oppressions wherewith you wring your subiectes. By reason whereof haue risen amongst vs cruell warres, one fighting agaynst an other, desolation of Cittyes, Bulles and Interdictions set vpon Church dores, diuision of brethren, and Churches of the Grecians left without seruice, where God should be praysed. So that now onely one thing lacketh, which I beleue to be predefi∣ned and appoynted from aboue long before to vs Grecians, the time, I meane, of martirdome, which also now hasteneth fast vpon vs, that the tribunall of tyrauntes should be opened and the seats of torments be set, that the bloud of Martyrs should be spilled, & we brought to the stage of Martyrdome, to fight for the crowne of glory.
This that I doe speake, and wherefore I speake it, the noble I∣land of Cyprus doth already know and feele, which hath made many new Martyrs, and hath seene valiaunt soldiours of Christ, which of long time before passing by water and teares of sorow, now at last haue also passed through fire, and so entred into the heauenly rest. How say you, be these good and seemely, O holye Pope, the successor of S. Peter the Apostle? Is this the bidding of that good Peter, the meeke and humble disciple of Christ? Doth he thus instruct the Seniors and Elders in his Epistle, where he writeth in this wise: The Elders which are amōgst you, I beseech which am also a fellow Elder with them, and witnesse of the suf∣ferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shalbe ope∣ned: feed the flocke of God which is amongest you, hauing care & sight ouer it, not of a coaction as compelled agaynst your willes, but willingly of your owne accord, nor for filthy lukere sake, but freely and hartily, neither as bearing dominion and Lordship o∣uer the Church, but shewing your selues as an example to the flocke, and when the chiefe Pastor shall appeare, you shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of eternall glory. &c. And this is the do∣ctrine of Peter, as they shal se, which do not obey it. As for vs the other part of the sayd Epistle is sufficient. Wherein he willeth thē to reioice which are in heauines through manifolde temptations, that the triall of theyr sayth being much more precious thē gold that perisheth, and is tryed in fire, may be theyr laud, honour, and glory, at the appearing of the Lord Iesu. &c. But beare with me I pray you (O holy Father, and of all your Predecessors most mee∣kest) and suffer my wordes though the seme something sharpe: for they be sighings of a sorrowfull hart.
Wherefore gird about your loynes with fortitude, and light vp the candle of your descretion, and seeke the groat that is lost, of the vnity, I meane of sayth. And we will also with like compas∣sion ioyne with your holynesse, and will not spare this weake bo∣dy of mine, in pretending any excuse either of age or lēgth of the way. For the more laborous the trauell is, the moe crownes it bringeth. And S. Paule sayth: Euery man shall receiue reward ac∣cording to his trauell. &c.