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.

Of the COUNCILS at ROME under Pope Symmachus.

THE Pontificat of Pope Symmachus being very much embroil'd, he was forc'd to assemble many Councils.

Immediately after his Promotion he held one the first day of March in the Year 499. to make Canons, forbidding for the future such Canvassings as were us'd after the death of Pope Anastasius. This Council was compos'd of more then sixty Italian Bishops, and as many Priests, who had all their Titles. Five Deacons of Rome were there present, and sign'd the Regulation of the Council after the Bishops and Priests. It contains, first, That for hindring such frequent Canvassings for the future, as were us'd by those who had a mind to be promoted to the Bishoprick of Rome, which caus'd a great Scandal to the Church, and Commotions among the Peo∣ple, the Council Orders, That if any Priest, Deacon, or any other Person of the Clergy, shall dare, during the Life of the Pope, to make any Promise in writing for the Pontificat, or give any Notes; or make any Oath about it, or promise his Suffrage by any way whatsoever, or do so much as hold Meet••••••s, to consult about it and make Propositions, he shall be depriv'd of his Office, and of the Communion of the Church. 2. That if the Pope happen to die suddenly, without being able to look after the Election of a Successor, he shall be Consecrated who shall be chosen with a common Consent, or by the far greater number. 3. That those shall be rewarded who shall discover the In∣trigues and Cabals which are us'd for the Election of a Pope, contrary to the Order of this Coun∣cil; and that if he who shall discover them had a hand in them, he shall not be molested. These Canons were read by a Notary, and approv'd by the reiterated Acclamations of all the Fathers of the Council.

Anastasius, or the Author of the Pontifical which goes under the Name of Damasus, make menti∣on of a second Council of Rome under Symmachus, in which they pretend that this Pope was ac∣quitted by 115 Bishops, and that Peter of Altinum, who was nam'd Visitor, was Condemn'd, toge∣ther with Laurentius, who had been Symmachus's Competitor. But we have no Monument of this Synod, neither is it probable that there was such a one, since there is no mention made of it in the Synod, which we are now about to speak of, nor in the Apology of this Synod compos'd by Enno∣dius, wherein he would never have fail'd, for the Defence of Symmachus, to alledge the first Judg∣ment that was given in his favour.

The Synod which is now reckon'd the third, was call'd by the Authority of King Theodoric, in the Year 501, to judge of the Accusations charg'd upon Symmachus. The Bishops of Emilia, Liguria,

and of the Country of Venice, went to Ravenna, and enquir'd of the King, for what cause he call'd them together: He answer'd them, That it had been reported to him, that Symmachus was ac∣cus'd of many horrible Crimes, and that he thought it necessary to examin the matter, and deter∣mine in a Council, whether he was guilty of them or no. The Bishops remonstrated that he who was accus'd should have call'd a Council himself, because they were perswaded that the Merit and Primacy of St. Peter, and the Decrees of the Holy Councils had appropriated to his See a superemi∣nent Power, and that it was never heard that the Bishop of Rome submitted to the Judgment of his Inferiors.

The King said, That the Pope himself had consented to the Calling of a Council, and caus'd the Letter to be shown them, wherein he signified that he desir'd it. This Conference is, as it were, the first Session of this Synod. When the Bishops were come to Rome, the Pope came the first time to the Assembly, and having testify'd his Obligation to the King for Calling this Synod, he demand∣ed in the first place, that the Visitor who had been appointed for his Church, contrary to Order, should withdraw, and that all things should be restor'd to him of which he had been depriv'd. The Sy∣nod found his Demand just, but durst not decide any thing without knowing the Will of the Prince: Whereupon a Remonstrance was sent to him, but he would not look upon it, and order'd that Symmachus should first justifie himself, before his Patrimony, and his Churches were restor'd to him.

The Synod being assembled a third time in the Chappel of the Palace, it was desir'd that the Libel might be receiv'd, which contain'd the Articles whereof Symmachus was accus'd; but here the Council found two Difficulties: The first was, That therein it was alledg'd, that the Crimes where∣of Symmachus was accus'd, had been prov'd before the King, which could not be, since he had order'd them to judge of them. The second was, That in this Libel it was desir'd, that Symmachus should be condemn'd to give up his Slaves, that so he might be convicted by their Depositions of of the Crimes wherewith he was charg'd. This Proposition appear'd contrary to the Canons of the Civil Laws, since Slaves were not permitted to accuse any Man in a Court of Judicature. These Difficulties retarded the progress of this Affair, but on the other hand the Pope press'd the Decision of it, and said, That he was set upon as he came, by a Multitude who had abus'd him, as appear'd by his Wounds, and that he should have been kill'd if the King's Officers had not reliev'd him. This Session pass'd in confusion, without being able to do any thing. 'Twas resolv'd to go again and wait upon the King, and inform him how the matter stood. The Deputies at the same time told him, That the Pope had declar'd, that hitherto he was willing to offer himself to the Judgment of the Synod, but at present it was not safe for him to come thither, after he had been in so great dan∣ger of his Life: That the King might do what he pleas'd in this Case, but the Synod could not force him to come thither according to the Canons of the Councils. The King made Answer, That it concern'd the Synod to consider what they had to do; for his part he would not interpose in Ecclesi∣astical Affairs, but only show all due respect to the Determinations of the Bishops; that he would leave the Bishops at their liberty to decide this Cause, or let it alone, provided they restor'd Peace to the City of Rome. The Bishops having receiv'd his Orders, thought that they had nothing more to do but exhort the Romans to Peace: And for this end they sent Deputies to the Senate which was a∣gainst Symmachus, and remonstrate to them the dangerous consequences of urging Pope Symmachus to Extremities, and exhorted them to re-unite themselves unto him. After which they declar'd in a fourth and last Session, That Pope Symmachus, the Bishop of the Holy Apostolical See, against whom many Articles of Accusation had been propos'd, should be acquitted and discharg'd from these Accu∣sations in regard of Men (for with respect to God the Judgment of them was left to him) and that he shall freely perform his Office in all the Churches of his Jurisdiction; and that in consequence of the Prince's Declaration, they exhorted all the Faithful to return to his Communion, and embrace Peace, re∣serving the Judgment of the Justice of this Cause to God. As to his Clergy, who had separated from him, and made a Schism, 'tis ordain'd, That upon their making satisfaction to him, he shall pardon them, and restore them to their Offices; but that those who for the future should dare to Celebrate in any place without communicating with him, should be Excommunicated and treated as Schismaticks.

This is what is contain'd in the Acts of this Council, after which follow the Monuments which concern the Council. The first is a Letter of Theodoric to the Council, written after the second Ses∣sion, dated the ninth of August: The second is another Letter to the same Bishops, written the 28th of the same Month: The third is the Relation of the Council after the third Session, when the Pope had declar'd that he would come no more to the Council: The fourth is the Answer of Theodoric, wherein he exhorts them to determine the Pope's Affair, but leaving them at liberty to do in it as they should think fit, provided they restor'd Peace to Rome. This Letter is dated the last of September. The last is a Memorial of Instructions given to him whom the King sent in his Name to the Council. The Dates of these Monuments serve to fix the Epocha's of the four Assemblies we have spoken of. The Council was call'd about the end of June 501. The Bishops having come by Ravenna, where they saw the King, and held their first Assembly, came to Rome in the Month of July, and held there their second Session. The third Meeting where the Pope was present the second time, was held the first of September. The last was held on the 21th of October, which is the day of the Date of the Acts, or according to another Manuscript on the 13th of the same Month. From whence you may

presently per••eive why this is call'd Synodus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Council of Rome, which appr••v'd the Dis∣course which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 w••ote in Defence of this Synod, since it was the fourth Assembly held about * 1.1 this Cause. It is also call'd P••••n••ris, perhaps because the Bishops carried in it what they had a mind 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

The Decision of this Synod was differently receiv'd: On one side the Enemies of Symmachus blam'd it, and wrote a Discourse on purpose to condemn it, where they call'd it The Synod of the absurd Ab∣solution▪ on the other side, some Bishops thinking that a particular Council of Italian Bishops, had no Power to give a Sentence of Absolution to the Pope, blam'd them for doing it, tho in very re∣spectful words. The Discourse of Symmachus's Enemies was refuted by E••no••ius, and the Complaint of his Complices, is contain'd in a Letter which Avitus Bishop of Vienna wrote upon this Subject in his own Name, and in the Name of all the other Bishops of his Country to the Senators of Rome.

The next year there was held another Council at Rome on the sixth of November, wherein the Pope presided. In it was examin'd a Decree which was made in the time of the Pope Simplicius. By Basil the Pre••••rian Pre••ect, who represented also King O••••acer. This Decree contain'd three Ca∣nons: 1. That the Bishop of Rome should not be chosen without the knowledge and consent of the Soveraign. 2. That the Bishops of Rome should be forbidden under the the Penalty of an Anathe∣ma, to alienate any part of the Ecclesiastical Revenues, and that if they should make any such A∣lienation, it should be null and void. 3. That the precious Moveables and superfluous Ornaments of Churches should be sold, and the price of them distributed among the Poor.

The Council blames the first of these Canons by it self; as to the others, it rejects them as an At∣tempt made by a Lay-man against Ecclesiastical Authority, and against the Priviledges of the Holy See, whose Primacy was subverted by them: But in this Council some Canons were made which a∣mount to the same thing. In it the Pope is forbidden to alienate for ever, or for any certain time, the Possessions of his Church; he is only permitted to lease some Houses whose Repairs were a bur∣den to the Church; The same Prohibition is made to Priests and other Clergy-men, even with re∣spect to things that are moveable; an Anathema also is pronounc'd against those who shall consent to these Alienations▪ or accept them, and all Ecclesiastical Persons are permitted to oppose them.

In the Year 503 there was also a Synod held at Rome, wherein that Discourse is approv'd, which Ennodius wrote in Defence of the Assembly which absolv'd Pope Symmachus. In it is confirm'd what was done in this Council, and the Sheep are forbidden to Rebel against their Pastor. There also a Canon was made, That a Bishop being depriv'd of his Possessions before he is Condemn'd cannot be delated to a Council, until that be restor'd which was taken from him, and he be restor'd to the same Condition wherein he was before his Accusation. These Canons being propos'd by the Pope, were approv'd by the Acclamations of the Council, according to the custom of that time.

The last Council held under Pope Symmachus, was on the last day of September in the Year 504. It pronounced many Anathema's and Curses against those who invaded the Possessions of the Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Coun∣cil of A∣g••t••••.