A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

Pope SILVERIUS.

THe News of the Death of Agapetus, which happen'd, as we have said, at Constantinople, being carried to Rome, Silverius the Son of Pope Hormisdas, was cohosen in his room. Anastasius af∣firms that this Election was not free, and that King Theodatus forc'd the Clergy to choose Silverius. He alledges also that he gave Money to the Prince to get himself chosen: But Liberatus, an Author more ancient and more credible then Anastasius, supposes that this Election was Canonical; and 'tis very probable that this Calumny against Silverius was invented to justifie the Intrusion of Vigilius. However this be, 'tis certain that Silverius was acknowledg'd by the Clergy and People as lawful Bishop of Rome.

Bellisarius was then at Rome with a powerful Army, and having taken the City of Naples, he ad∣vanced towards Rome. The Goths deposed King Theodatus, and plac'd in his room a brave Captain call'd Vitiges. He not finding himself strong enough to oppose Bellisarius, went out of Rome, and retir'd to Ravenna. The Romans informed Bellisarius of this, and receiv'd him into Rome, accord∣ing to the Pope's Advice. He entred into it victoriously in the Month of December, in the Year 536. But Vitiges returned quickly with an Army of 150000 Men, and laid Siege to Rome, which lasted a year and some days. The Pope Silverius having been chosen under a King of the Goths, and per∣haps by his Interest, was suspected at the Court of the Greek Emperor: besides this, he had decla∣red against Anthimus and the Asephali, whom the Empress Theodora maintained. The Deacon Vigi∣lius remained at Constantinople after the Death of Agapetus, who had for a long time aspired to the Bishoprick, and made use of this Occasion to get himself promoted to it. He promised the Em∣press, that if she would make him Pope he would receive Theodosius, Anthimus, and Severus into his Communion, and that he would approve their Doctrine. The Empress not only promised to make him Pope, but also offer'd him Money if he would do what she desired. Vigilius having given the Empress all the Assurances that she could wish, departed with a secret Order addressed to Bellisarius to make him successful in his Design. Vigilius being come into Italy, found all things well prepared for him; the Siege of Rome was raised when he arrived there; but during the Siege Silverius was suspected to hold Correspondence with the Goths, and so he was rendred odious for refusing expresly to except the Empresses Proposals of receiving Anthimus. Thus Vigilius having deliver'd to Bellisa∣rius the Order which he brought, and having promised him two hundred pieces of Gold over and above the seven hundred which he was to give him, found no great difficulty to perswade him to drive away Silverius. For accomplishing this he made use of two Pretences, which we have alrea∣dy hinted, he caused him to come before him, and accused him of writing to the Goths, and prest him to approve Anthimus. There wanted not Forgers who counterfeited a Letter written in the Name of Silverius to the King of the Goths, to deliver up the City of Rome to him, nor false Wit∣nesses who deposed that he had this design. Bellisarius caused to bring Silverius before him, and sol∣licited him to satisfie the Empress, by approving the Doctrine of Anthimus, and then sent him back again. Silverius refusing to hearken to this Proposal, he caused him to be brought a second time in∣to his Palace, and discover'd to him what he was accused of: but having sworn to him that he should have liberty to go away, he was not seized. He was sent for the third time, and after his en∣trance

the Wife of Bellisarius upbraided him with his perfidiousness, and immediately he was stript of his Sacerdotal Habit, and his Clergy were told that he was Deposed; and an Order was sent to * 1.1 them to choose Vigilius in his room. Silverius was presently banish'd to Patava, a City of the Pro∣vince of Lyria. When he was arrived in this City, the Bishop animated with Zeal for Justice, went to wait upon the Emperor, and remonstrated to him, That it was a thing which •…•…ed to Heaven for vengeance, that the Bishop of a See so considerable as that of Rome, should be unjustly turned out. Justinian, who had no hand in this Negotiation, order'd that Silverius should be sent back into Italy, and that the Letter should be examined which he was charged to have written, that if it was found to be none of his, he should be restored to his See; but if it was found to be his, he should have the Title of a simple Bishop of some City. The Empress sent immediately Pelagius into Italy to hinder the return of Silverius. But the Order of the Emperor was executed so much the more easily, because Vigilius had fail'd in his Promise, both to the Empress, in not doing what she defin'd, and to Bellisarius, in not giving the Money which he had promised. So Silverius was carried back to Italy, but it was only to encrease his misery; for Vigilius fearing to be forced away from the Throne which he had invaded, performed the Promises which he had made, on condition that Silverius should be deliver'd into his hands. This was put in execution, he was deliver'd to the Guards of Vigilius, and he was banish'd into the Isles of Pontienna and Pandataria, which were over against the Mount Cirrellus, where he died of Famine in great misery, if we may believe Liberatus. Pro∣copius in his Secret History seems to insinuate that he was kill'd by one nam'd Eugenius, a Man de∣voted to Antonina the Wife of Bellisarius: but what Procopius says may be understood, not of the Death of Silverius, but rather of his Accusation or Apprehension.

The Letters attributed to Silverius are feigned upon his History.

The first wherein 'tis supposed that he upbraids Vigilius with his Crime, and that he condemns him, is dated under Prince Basil. Now there was not one of this Name in the time of the Pontifi∣cat of Silverius; and besides this it is Mercator's style, full of Barbarisms and Phrases of other Popes. In short, it cannot agree with the History, because 'tis supposed in it, that Silverius after his Depo∣sition assembled a Council, wherein he Anathematized Vigilius, which has not the least probabi∣lity.

The Letter of Amator Bishop of Autun to Silverius, sent with the Presents which this Bishop is supposed to make unto him, is also a Forgery, as well as the Answer of Silverius to this Letter: Both the one and the other are Mercator's style, and have the same Marks of Forgery with the other Letters forged by this Impostor.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Pope Vigilius.