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.

PAUL I.

STEPHEN the Second being near Death, one Party of the People appointed his Brother Paul to be his Successor. Another Party was for Theophylactus the Arch-Deacon; but af∣ter * 1.1 Stephen's Death, Paul's Party being the stronger, he was preferr'd to the Holy See. He was Pious and Charitable to the Poor, repaired several Churches, and built Monasteries. He wrote to the Emperors Constantine and Leo for Image-Worship, and to Pepin, to implore his Aid against the Lombards, and the Greeks. He Died in June 767.

This is the Catalogue and the Abridgment of this Pope's Letters, written to Pepin, as they are found in a Manuscript of the Vatican, and as they have been set out by Gretser. The Roman Figures mark the order of the Vatican Manuscript, and the Arabick that of Gret∣ser's Collection. Neither of them are exact.

I. 13. He acquaints King Pepin with his Brother Stephen's Death, and his own Ordination. He prays him to continue his Protection and Friendship to him, assuring him of his Fidelity. It was sent by Simon, Pepin's Ambassador.

II. 12. He gives to Pepin the Monastery of S. Sylvester, built on the top of Mount Soracte, together with three circumjacent Monasteries, which Carloman had given to Zachary.

III. 43. He thanks Pepin for defending of him against his Enemies, he promises him, he will take care to teach his Brother's Psalmody to the Monks he had sent him.

IV. 39. He prays him to cause Marinus the Presbyter to be Ordained Bishop in France, and dissuades him from designs contrary to the Holy See.

V. 38. He congratulates Pepin's Prosperity, and Happy Journey, and tells him, that his Legates are not yet come back from Constantinople.

VI. 37. He returns him thanks for protecting the Church of Rome; he tells him, that next after God he puts his confidence in Pepin's assistance; he desires him to send him an Ambassa∣dor, by whose means he may discover to him the Designs and Snares of the Greeks.

VII. 35. He sends him a Copy of the Letters wrote to a Monk by Cosmus Patriarch of Alexandria.

VIII. 33. He sends him word that the Greek Emperor is in Arms to assault Ravenna, and begs his help against the Greeks.

IX. 30. He says, That he shall speak with Desiderius King of Lombardy at Ravenna, and would cause him to make preparations to defend him against the Greeks.

X. 30. He clears himself from the Accusation brought against him, of saying, that Pepin would not help the Romans; he tells him, that they heard nothing of those who had been sent over to Constantinople from him and Pepin. He leaves it to his choice to deal with Mari∣nus, as he shall think fit; he sends him some Letters that he had received from Ravenna.

XI. 31. He enquires of Pepin's Health, and the Success of his Journey; because his Ene∣mies spread a report, that it was not prosperous.

XII. He complains of the Injury done him by the People of Beneventum; he desires Pepin to write sharply to them, and in case they did not Obey, to consent that they may be dealt with as they had designed.

XIII. 29. He lets him know, that he hath made peace with Desiderius. He desires him to give him his Hostages back again, that he may receive the Town of Imola.

XIV. 27. He sends a Copy of the Letters he had received from Sergius Arch-Bishop of Ra∣venna; he desires him to write to Desiderius to help him to defend Ravenna, and the Penta∣polis.

XV. 28. He tells him that the Lombards will restore nothing which they had taken, and that he endeavours the Restauration of Sergius in the Arch-Bishoprick of Ravenna. He re∣commends Bishop Vulchorius to Pepin.

XVI. 26. He commends Pepin for his constant protection of the Church of Rome, of which the Letters brought by Wilfridus were a fresh Testimony. He approves of his detaining the Legates, return'd from Constantinople, till the Synod. He leaves it to him to order things as he shall think best, about the matter of Bishop George, and Peter the Presbyter. He tells him, that Desiderius came to Rome the last Autumn, and that they had agreed, that he should deliver what belong'd to the Church into the hands of Pepin's Ambassadors. He returns him thanks for writing to Desiderius, to warn him to oblige the Neapolitans, and those of Cajeta, to restore the Church Patrimony to the Church, and to let their Bishops, be Consecrated by the Holy See.

XVII. 24. He lets him know that Six Noblemen will come from Constantinople to Rome, and that they will go into France to see him. He complains, that Desiderius hath not kept his promise which he made before Pepin's Envoys. He desires him to send Three Ambassadors, one to Desiderius at Pavia, and the other two to Rome to help him.

XVIII. 25. He sends to Pepin the Rescript which he demanded, to grant the Title of S. Chrysogonus to Marinus the Presbyter. He sends some Books to Pepin, and among the rest S. Denys the Areopagite's Books, written in Greek.

XIX. 23. He thanks him for protecting the Church.

XX. 21. He writes to him about the Treaty made by Remedius a Bishop, and Aut••arius, Pepin's Envoys with Desiderius, and gives him notice, that they are agreed to restore the Church to all her Rights before April; that he had received part of them already, and that he gave him assurance of the rest.

XXI. 19. He gives him notice, that the Ambassadors he had sent have discovered the Fraud of the Lombards, about the Restitution promised.

XXII. 20. He thanks him for imparting to him what had passed between him and the Ambassadors of the Emperor of Constantinople, and the Answers he gave them, with the Letters he had written to that Prince. He intercedes with him for Tassilon, Duke of Bava∣ria. He tells him, the Greek Emperor is vexed at him upon the account of Image-Worship.

XXIII. 18. He thanks him for his constant affection to the Holy See, comparing him to David.

XXIV. 17. He Answers Two Letters of Pepin. He tells him, they have agreed that his Envoys, together with the Deputies of the Cities, should go to Desiderius, because he had not only not restored all, that he had taken, but went about to take again what he had re∣stored.

XXV. 16. He commends Pepin for his protecting the Church, comparing him to Moses; he thanks him for the Monastery he had given him upon Mount Soracte.

XXVI. 15. He complains of the Cruelty and Malice of the Lombards. He says, that he hath given some other Letters to his Legates, whereby he required Desiderius's Hostages to be sent back again. He tells him the reason that forced him to write thus to him, and desires him to do nothing till Desiderius had restored the Church's Patrimony.

XXVII. 14. He complains of the Lombard's Invasions, tho' Desiderius had falsely affirmed the contrary. He thanks him for the Table he had offerd to S. Peter's Tomb. He leaves it to him, to detain Two Bishops, if he thinks fit.

XXVIII, XXIX, XXX. 42, 41, 40. Those Three Letters are directed to Charles and Carloman, Pepin's Sons, whom he exhorts to protect and defend the Church of Rome, fol∣lowing their Father's steps.

The XXXI. 22. Is to all the French Army, which he thanks for their Service to the Church of Rome. There are Ten of his Letters whole in the 6th Vol. of the Councils, with a privilege granted to Paul, for the Monastery of S. Hilary, in the Diocess of Ravenna, and the Foundation of the Monastery of S. Stephen, and S. Sylvester, Erected by this Pope.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paul I.