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.

CHAP. IV. (Book 4)

A Relation of the Contest between Hincmarus and Wulfadus, and other Clerks Ordained by Ebbo, who had been Archbishop of Reims.

HIncmarus had no better success in the Contest with Wulfadus, and some other Clerks Or∣dain'd by Ebbo, after the Deposition of him from his Archbishoprick, than he had in the former with Rothadus. The Story is this: Hincmarus, then Archbishop of Reims, having observed that there were some Clerks in his Diocess Ordain'd by Ebbo, after he was Degraded, would not permit them to Execute their Office of Priest in the Church, nor acknowledge them as Clerks Lawfully Ordained. These Men seeing this, Appealed to the Council held at Soissons, in * 1.1 the Monastery of S. Medardus, in April 853, in which Hincmarus presided with Wenilo Archbishop of Sens, Paul Bishop of Rouen, and Amauri Bishop of Tours, and at which also Thierri Bishop of Cambray, Rothadus Bishop of Soissons, Lupus Bishop of Chalons, Immo Bishop of Noion, Erpuin Bishop of Senlis, Hermenfridus Bishop of Beauvais, Pardulus Bishop of Laon, Hilmeradus Bishop of Amiens, Hubert Bishop of Meaux, Agius Bishop of Orleans, Prudentius Bishop of Troyes, Herimarus Bishop of Nevers, Jonas Bishop of Autun, Godefaldus Bishop of Chalon upon the Saone, Dodo Bishop of Angers, Gontbertus Bishop of Eureux, Hildebrandus Bishop of Seez, Erloinus Bishop of Co••tance, Balfredus Bi∣shop of Baieux, Herrardus Bishop of Lizieux, Ansegaudus Bishop of Auranches▪ Breindigus Bishop of Maion, Lau••us Bishop of Angouleme, Roitbol Suffragan of Reims, several Priests, Abbots, Deacons and Clerks, were present, with Carolus Calous himself. These Prelates being Assembled, and treat∣ing about several Matters, Sigloardus, who supplied the place of the Archdeacon of the Church of Reims, told them, That there were several Clergy-men standing at the Door and desired admit∣tance: They asked him their Names, who told them, That they were Rodoaldus, Gislaldus, Wulfa∣dus, Fredebertus, Canons of the Church of Reims, Sigismund a Monk, of the Monastery of S. Thi∣erri, and three other of the Monastery of S. Remigius. The Council, and Prince, ordered them to come in, and Hincmarus immediately asked them their business. They answered, That they came to desire that they might be restored to their Priestly Function, to which they had been ad∣mitted by Ebbo, but had been Suspended from the Exercise of it by Hincmarus. Hincmarus asked

them, whether they had a Petition in Writing. They answered, No. Whereupon he told them, that in Ecclesiastical Affairs 'tis usual to use Instruments and Records. That the Catechumeni gave in their Names in Writing when they required Baptism. That the Elections of Bishops were con∣firmed by an Instrument Signed by the Electors. That a Bishop when he was Ordained received Letters Testimonial of his Ordination. That all Accusations, Judicial Sentences, Excommunicati∣ons, and Admission to Communion were performed by publick Records, and so they ought to pre∣fer their Petition subscribed by their Hands, that they may determine about their demands. Therefore they drew up a Petition immediately, and presented it to the 3 Archbishops the Presidents of the Council. Hincmarus reading it over, and perceiving that Wulfadus his Name was not to it, because he understood he was sick in the Monastery, he sent a Request to him by his Messengers to sign it as the others had done, which he did. When it was brought back, Hincmarus said, that if their Complaint had been made against any Bishop, it had belonged to him to judge of it, but being made against that Sentence which he had passed upon them, the determination ought to be re∣ferred to Judges chosen by both Parties according to the Canon of the Council of Africk, confirmed in the first Book of the Synodal Articles of the Emperor Charles the Great, Chap. 43. Whereupon he delivered a Writing, in which he declared, that he chooses for his Judges in that Cause Wenilo Arch-Bishop of Sens, Amauri Arch-Bishop of Tours, and Pardulus Bishop of Laon, who should have his place in the Judgment, without any prejudice to the Primacy of the Church of Reims, to his own Rights, and the Respect due to the Apostolick See. After which he retired, and Pardulus took his place. The Complainants were then allowed to choose either the same Judges or others, or to add whom they pleased to them. Whereupon they chose the same, adding only Prudentius Bishop of Troyes, against whom Hincmarus had nothing to object. Wulfadus also consented to this Election, and so the first Action or Session of this Synod ended.

In the Second, the Judges declared first of all, that if Ebbo had Ordained these Clerks before he was deposed, or since his Deposition was declared unjust and his Restoration Canonical, there had been no dispute, but that they ought to exercise their Priestly Office. But since those that Ordained Hincmarus have proved that Ebbo was justly deposed, and that he never was Canonically restored, and that he had the boldness to Ordain these Clerks after his Deposition, it is evident, that they neither can nor ought to exercise their Function. Then Thierri Bishop of Cambray presented the Acts of the Deposition of Ebbo, by which it appears, that he was deposed after he had owned his fault, that he had himself consented to his Degradation, and had notice given him not to exercise any Episcopal Function. It was also set down in the Book of these Acts, that Pope Sergius had confirmed his Condemnation, and ordered him to be allowed only a Lay-communion; that since he had not been Canonically restored, but had dared to Exercise his Priestly Function, of which he had been justly divested.

In the Third Action, Hincmarus's Ordination was Examined. Rothadus Bishop of Soissons brought the Testimonial of his Election, signed by the Clergy and People. Hincmarus himself presented his Letters of Ordination, a Letter of the French Bishops, and the Kings Letters Signed and Sealed, by which his Ordination was confirmed.

In the Fourth Session therefore they concluded, that Hincmarus was Lawfully Ordained Arch-Bishop of Reims, and began to Examine the Validity of the Ordinations made by Ebbo. Imm•• Bishop of Noyon cited a Decretal of Pope Innocents, that they can't receive Orders from them who have no power to Ordain. Whereupon it was in conclusion resolved upon and determined unani∣mously.

In the Fifth Session, that all that Ebbo had done after his Deposition, except Baptism, was null and void, and all those who had been Ordained by him should be deprived of their Orders in what place soever they were. Then Fredebert, who was one of the Canons Ordained by Ebbo, hearing this Sentence, said, that he was Ordained by that Bishop, because he saw the Suffragans of the Archbishop of Reims, of whom Rothadus Bishop of Soissons was one, were come to Reims by the Order of Latharius, and had restored Ebbo. To prove this, he produced a Letter signed by Eight Bishops. It was proved that these Subscriptions were forged, and Immo who was among them, and therefore concerned to clear this Matter, declared, that these Clerks being Excommunicated had no right to accuse a Bishop, but to satisfie the Council and Prince, he presented a Record, by which it appeared, that the Suffragans of Reims had declared, that they ought not to have any thing to do with Ebbo after his Deposition. He adds, that what was said in that Letter of the Staffs and Rings which they affirm that Ebbo had given (to 3 Bishops Ordained in his absence) was absolutely false, and that those Men who dare so boldly to affront and abuse the Bishops, should be punished according to the utmost Rigour allowed by the Canons.

In the Sixth Action, the Cause brought against Hincmarus being thus decided, he resumed his place; and then they handled in particular the Validity of the Ordination of a Priest, Abbot of the Monastery of Haut-Villiers called Halduin, who having been Ordained Deacon by Ebbo, was after∣wards made Priest by Lupus Bishop of Chalons. The Bishop excused himself, that being made Go∣vernor of the Church of Reims during the Vacancy of that See by an Order of the Prince, this Halduin was presented to him by the Arch-Deacon of that Church to be Ordained Priest; The Synod judged, that conformable to the Canons of the Council of Nice and Sardica, the Priest Halduin ought to be deposed.

In the Seventh Action it was demanded, how they ought to be dealt with who had communicated in the Sacrament and Prayer with Ebbo, because the Canons had ordered, that such ought to be Ex∣communicated. especially if they knew that he was deposed. Erpuin shewed, that according to the Canons they might be favoured so far as to enjoy Communion still, if they acknowledged their fault.

Hereupon, in the Eighth Session, the King desired of Hincmarus, that the Clerks which had been Ordained by Ebbo, and those who had Communicated with him, should be granted Lay-communion, which the Council consented to, and when they had begged pardon of their fault, and acknow∣ledged it, it was allowed them. Thus was the Judgment of this Affair managed in the Council, as the Acts of it relate more at large, the substance of which is contained in the first of the Canons.

Hincmarus being desirous to make this Sentence irreversible, used his utmost endeavours to get it * 1.2 confirmed by the Pope. And to this end wrote several Letters to Leo IV. but he refused to approve the Acts of this Council, because they were not sent by some of the Bishops who were at the Coun∣cil, and because he had heard that some of the Persons who were deposed had appealed to the Holy See. Nevertheless Hincmarus was still urgent to have the Judgment confirmed, and the Clerks who were concerned in this matter carried their Complaints to Rome, insomuch, that Leo IV. having re∣gard to what Pope Nicolas had written about it, sent the Bishop of Spoletum his Legate, to hold a Council in which the Case should be decided between the Parties at difference, upon Condition ne∣vertheless, that if the Deposition of the Clerks were confirmed, they should have liberty to appeal to Rome. This was not executed, but Leo being dead Hincmarus addressed his Successor Benedict, and having desired the confirmation of those Priviledges granted by the Popes to the Archbishops of Reims, prayed him also to confirm what had been done against Wulfadus and the other Clerks Ordained by Ebbo, shewing him in what manner that Judgment had been passed. Benedict answered him, That if the Business were so managed as he had related, and as it was set down in the Acts of the Council, he would confirm their Decision with the Apostolick Authority, and would make it to remain in force.

Pope Nicolas, who not long after succeeded Benedict, confirmed the Priviledges granted to Hinc∣marus * 1.3 in the same form, but afterwards being changed in his affections towards Hincmarus, and being sollicited by Wulfadus and his Fellows, he resolved to review this Affair, and to write to Hinc∣marus to shew those Clerks some favour, to restore them, or to have their Cause re examined in a Council of Bishops which should meet at Soissons, and at which Remigius Arch-Bishop of Lyons, Ado Archbishop of Vienna, and Wemlo of Sens should be present, with the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of France and Neustria, where Hincmarus and the Bishops of his Province should meet, and Walfadus and the Clerks in the same Cause, should be summoned: That the whole Matter being Examined, they should determine as they thought fit concerning the Restoration of those Clerks, but if they shall appeal to the Holy See, or desire to be judged there, both Parties should come to Rome, or send their Deputies after the Council, which should begin the 16th of August. In fine, That it ought not to be pleaded in excuse, that those Clerks having not appealed in the year ought not to be received; for besides that this exception is not in the Canons which speak of Appeals to the Holy See, those Clerks did Appeal to Pope Leo within the year concerning the Judgment given against them, as appears by a Letter of that Pope which he had by him. Wherefore he Exhorts Hincma∣rus not to be severe with those Clerks. He answers also to what might be alledged, that he had the Grants of the Holy See, by which this Judgment was confirmed, by saying, that if he read them attentively, he would find, that the final Decision of that Controversie was reserved to the Holy See, which maintains the Rights of other Churches without lessening its own. This Letter of Pope Nicholas's is dated April 2. Indict. 14. anno 866. Hincmarus at the same time wrote a Letter to Herard Arch-Bishop of Tours, and to other Arch-Bishops that were to be at that Council, and prayed King Charles the Bald to call it together. This Prince answered, that he would cause the Council to be holden, but withall, that he had designed to make Wulfadus Arch-Bishop of Bourges, in the place of Rodolphus who was lately dead; that he had been chosen by the Bishops and People of the Diocess, but that he dare not let him be Ordained before his restoration, till he had written to him about it; that he desired he might be Ordained Priest, and then Bishop, or if he would not do it till the Synod was met, that he would permit the Government of that Church to be left to him. The Pope wrote to this Prince, that he should not do any thing concerning Wulfadus till his Cause was Examined and Judged in the Synod.

This Synod therefore met in Aug. 866. Hincmarus Arch-Bishop of Reims presented Four Petitions * 1.4 or Memoirs to it in his own defence. In the first he shews, that Wulfadus and those that had been Ordained by Ebbo after his Deposition were declared deprived of their Holy Orders by the Judg∣ment of a Council of 5 Provinces, and by the Judges they themselves had pitched upon; That afterward he had himself, by the Order of the Council, given an Account of the Matter at Rome, and that the Judgment of the Synod had been confirmed there by Pope Benedict, and also Nicolas; That he did not envy the Happiness of these Clerks in the least; That he was troubled they were degraded after such a manner, and wished they might be restored, but he neither dare, nor could do it after the Judgment of the Synod, it being expressly forbidden by the Canons, and Decretals of the Popes, who had several times declared, that they could not themselves annul the Canons made by the Councils, and approved by their Predecessors. The Second Memoir concerns the

Person of Ebbo. Hincmarus proves by the Popes Letters, that Ebbo owned his Crime, and was de∣posed by 44 Bishops, whose Judgment was afterward confirmed and approved by Pope Sergius, who had ordered him to content himself with a Lay-Communion, and since he was not afterward Canonically restored, he ought not to be looked upon as a Bishop after his Condemnation, and that at this time it ought not in the least to be questioned, because this Judgment being passed in 835, he had a prescription of above 30 years against him. They alledged, that notwithstanding his Deposition he had continued to execute his Episcopal Function to his Death. Hincmarus replies, that this unwarrantable Action was of no use to him, and that the number of those that approved it could not justifie his Carriage, which was so opposite to the Laws of the Church; That it was contrary to all the Canonical Rules for him to exercise all the Offices of a Bishop in the Church of Maience, for the Canons do not permit in any case whatsoever a Bishop who is deprived of his own Diocess to exercise the Expiscopal Function in another. Hincmarus then shews, that his own Or∣dination was Canonical and Lawful, saying, that after the Deposition of Ebbo Fulcus took care of the Church of Reims for 9 years, in which time Ebbo did not claim his Dignity again, nor make any opposition to him. That Noto had done the same for a year and a half, without any demand of restoration from Ebbo. That as for himself he was afterward Ordained in the Synod of the Province of Reims held at Beauvais, being desired by the People and Clergy of the City, and by the Bishops of the Province, and that he was Consecrated by his Arch-Bishop Bishop, and by the Bishops of the Province, with the consent of the Abbot and Monks of the Monastery of which he was a Member. That he was put in possession of it without any opposition from any Man. That his Ordination was approved by the Bishops of France, who wrote about it to Pope Sergius, and confirmed by an Edict of King Charles the Bald. That all these Acts were sent to Leo IV. Sergius being dead in the mean time. That Lotharius himself having in vain sollicited Pope Sergius to have Ebbo restored, agreed to his Ordination; That the Holy See had allowed it, and Leo IV. had granted him the Pall, and had writ to him several Letters; That Pope Benedict and Pope Nicolas had confirmed him by granting him his Priviledges. Lastly, That he was not obliged to enter into any dispute about it with any Man, since Nicolas had not required of him an Account of his Ordi∣nation of him. Lastly, having confirmed that which had passed in the Affair of the Clerks Or∣dained by Ebbo, it belonged to the Bishops to direct what they thought just and regular to satisfie the Pope; That as for himself he would not oppose what they did; That if it were necessary he would explain the Business more at large, and would shew them the Reasons, why they suspended these Clerks at the Synod of Meaux, and degraded them quite in the Council of Soissons. Then he presented to the Synod the Acts of the Council of Soissons, with those of the Synod of Bourges, and the Priviledges of the Popes Benedict and Nicolas.

Hincmarus also presented a 3d Petition, in which after he had set down such Canons and Passages in the Popes Letters, as made it appear, that sometimes Clemency had been used towards them whose Ordinations were dubious, he consented for Peace sake, and to satisfie the Pope, that some gentle Method might be found out to receive and promote to Holy Orders those who had been Ordained by Ebbo, yet with a due care that this fact might not prejudice the Canons of the Church, nor the Judgment given against them and against Ebbo.

The Fourth Memoir of Hincmarus was presented to the Council, but not read, for fear of of∣fending some Persons in the Council. It shews, That it was against his will, that he was forced to declare, that Wulfadus, after he had been condemned by the Council of Soissons, without the con∣sent of the Bishops of that Council, without any authority from the Holy See, and without con∣sulting the Church of Reims, had left the Province wherein he was Baptized, had received the Tonsure of a Clerk, and had executed the Office of a Reader, to go into the Church of Langres, which was then vacant, that he might be Ordained a Bishop there. That he had possessed himself of the Revenues of that Church, which according to the Council of Chalcedon, ought to have been kept by the St••ward for the next Bishop. That having been removed by the Order of the Synod, he had made an Oath that he would never attempt the like again, nor undertake any Ecclesiastical Function for the future. That he had delivered this Declaration in Writing in the presence of Pardulus Bishop of Laon, Gontbertus Bishop of Eureux, and Aeneas Bishop of Paris, before the King, and several Judges chosen by the Synod. That an Oath and Declaration had been required of him, as the Popes had decreed, to prevent a change of his resolution. And that it was for the same cause, that he had desired Pope Nicolas to confirm the Judgment given against him in the Council of Soissons, which had been already confirmed by his Predecessor Benedict. That he did not say this out of Malice, or with a design to do Wulfadus any Injury, nor to hinder the effect of the Popes good will towards him, but only to inform the Council fully of what had passed in that Affair.

After so full an Information, the Bishops of the Council were of the Opinion, that the Synod of Soissons had judged rightly; That Hincmarus had good reason not to restore these Clerks in con∣tempt of the Decrees of that Council; That they might nevertheless be restored without injuring the Authority of the Council of Soissons confirmed by the Holy See, by granting them to continue in their Orders by Favour and D••spensation, and so succeed the Bishops when they died. But they thought it not convenient for them to do it by their own Authority, and judged it best for the Pope to do it by his. Wherefore they wrote to him, and assured him, that they had followed and exe∣cuted his Orders; and that it might not be thought that they had revoked what was decreed in the Council of Soissons, Herardus Arch-Bishop of Tours made a solemn Protestation in the Council in all their

Names, that they would never alter their Opinion, but only would consent, that the Judgment which had been given in strictness of Justice, might by a merciful Charity be moderated, and sweetned. Seven Archbishops were at this Council, viz. Hincmarus of Reims, Remigius of Lyons, Trotarius of Bourdeaux, Herardus of Tours, Wenilo of Rouen, Egilo of Sens, and Liutbert of Maience, and 28 Bishops of France, among whom was Rothadus Bishop of Soissons, who Subscribed the Let∣ter sent to the Pope about the Affair of Wulfadus and his Fellows. Hincmarus wrote in his own Name to Pope Nicolas to excuse himself, that he had not immediately restored those Clerks, be∣cause he dare not Disannul what had been done in a Synod of five Provinces, but that he had submitted to the Synod as he order'd him, and had consented to the Accommodation that his Bre∣thren had found out agreeable to the Canons of the Council of Nice, made concerning those who had been Ordained by Meletius; That he did not conceive it necessary for him to send a Deputy in his stead, since Egilo went in the Name of the Council, and the Pope had not enjoined him to come to Rome, or send his Deputies, unless there were an Appeal from the Judgment of the Synod, either on his own part or Wulfadus's. He beseeches him to confirm what the Council had done, and as∣sures him, that he wished no ill to Wulfadus, and other Clerks Ordained by Ebbo, who were but nine in all, as well Canons and Monks, as City and Country Clergymen. Charles the Bald wrote also a Letter to the Pope, in which he commends Hincmarus for his Obedience, approves the Me∣thod which the Council had taken, to refer the Restoration of Wulfadus to the Pope, and gives him notice that he had, in the mean time, left the Care of the Church of Bourges to him. The King also desired of the Bishops of this Council to Crown his Queen Hermintruda, which was granted him, and the Ceremony was performed by them at the same time in the Church of S. Medardus.

Egilo Archbishop of Sens was sent with these Letters, the Acts of the Council, and a Petition sent by Hincmarus, which is not met withal among his Works, in which he gives the Sum of all that he had alledged in the Council concerning the Deposition of Ebbo, and recites several Authorities out of the Popes Letters, to shew, that he ought not to blame, or condemn, what has been done against that Archbishop, nor Annul the Judg••ment given against Wulfadus, or the Clerks Ordained by Eb∣bo, but only restore them by an Act of Grace.

Pope Nicolas being desirous to Disannul all that had been done in the first Council of Soissons, was * 1.5 not at all pleased with this Judgment, but returned a large Answer to the Bishops, in which he much blames the Transactions of that Council, and says, That the Acts of it are full of Falsities, and that they were never Confirmed at Rome after a full knowledge of the Cause; That Pope Leo, his Predecessor, had ordered that the Matter should be re-examined, and for that end sent his Le∣gat to be present at the Tryal, but it was never Executed, and Pope Benedicts Confirmation was obtain'd by surprize by Hincmarus, and by a false relation of it; and besides, 'twas not Defini∣tive, or without a Reserve; That he had advised Hincmarus to receive those Clerks, and in case he would not, he commanded that a Synod should do it; That he was mightily pleased that there was no difference in the Council, but they had unanimously agreed to restore Wulfadus, and the other Clerks; That all he complained of was, that since they had left their Restoration to him, they had not given him a full account of that Affair, and all that concerned it; That they ought to have made a Declaration at large, of all the circumstance of Ebbo's Deposition, and Restoration, of his second Deprivation, and Translation to another Church; That he wished they had done it in that Cause, and would do it in all others, about which he should order a Council to be held. He ap∣proved of Hincmarus's submission, but could not but smile at his assertion, That 'twas not he that had suspended them, or declared them fallen from the Orders, since he knew what he had done in his Province against them, and how eagerly he had Prosecuted that Affair at Rome, He subjoins, That the Matter being not sufficiently cleared, or examined, he could not pass his definitive Sen∣tence upon it, but because these Clerks were Deposed contrary to the Canons they, ought to be re∣stored, and resettled for the present, till Hincmarus can produce what he hath against them, and prove that they have been lawfully Deposed. He complains, That they had made one of those Clerks a Bishop at the same time that they pretended to leave the Judgment of the Matter to him, and declares, That he will not yield to his Ordination till the thing is ended. Lastly, In the Business of Ebbo, he says, That 'tis no wonder that Pope Sergius would not receive him to his Com∣munion, because he was Condemned, and had not Appealed to the H. See about his Condemnation, nor had his Cause been fully discovered to him, or examined. He speaks the same things to Hinc∣marus in his Letters written to him at the same time, but more especially blames his Carriage, and Administration, in many sharp reflexions; and concludes, telling him, That he takes it ill that he makes use of the Pall on such occasions as were not allowable. In a third Letter, he thanks King Charles the Bald for the satisfaction he had given him, in making the Bishops of France unani∣mously join in the Restoration of those Clerks, but could not blame Hincmarus. Lastly, In his fourth Letter he Congratulates Wulfadus, and the other Clerks, for their Restoration, and Exhorts them to be subject to Hincmarus; and tells them, That he would allow them a Years time to pro∣secute that Affair at Rome, if they thought fit. These four Letters bear Date Dec. 7. 866. [These Letters of Pope Nicolas are extant Tom. 8. of the Councils, p. 268. and 480. They are also Printed with a Collection of his Epistles Published at Rome 1542. Fol.]

By what has been said, it is evident that the Bishops of France would not bring these Causes * 1.6 to Rome, nor be obliged to appear there themselves to maintain the Justice of their Sentence, nor would endure it to be Disanulled, or blamed in the least; the contrary to which, Pope Nicolas

pretended to do. He required, that the Councils which Judged any Causes at the first Hearing should be called by his Authority; That both the Accused and the Accusers, had liberty of Ap∣pealing to Rome, before and after their Sentence; That all Synods should give him a large and full Account of their Proceedings before they passed Sentence; That in case of Appeal, the Holy See might put the Condemned into the Places and Condition they were formerly in, conditionally, and then the Judges should be obliged to come, or send their Deputies to Rome, to maintain their Judgment, where the Cause shall be Examined a-new, as if it had never been decided. From this time the Bishops of France, who were most Learned, and best Skilled in the Canons, to evade the Pretensions contrary to the Canons, which tended directly to the utter ruining of the Episcopal Authority, and overthrow of all Church Discipline, and that without quarrelling with the H. See, Judged all Ecclesiastical Causes that came before them in their Synods; and that their Judgment might be of greater Authority, they caused the Contending Parties to choose their Judges, be∣cause, according to a Maxim of Law, It is not Lawful to Appeal from the Sentence of those Judg∣es whom they had Elected. Lastly, They caused that Judgment to be Executed, and in case the Persons Condemned referred themselves to Rome, they would send the Pope their Reasons, and require his Confirmation, or rather Approbation of their Judgment, but tho' often cited never would go to Rome, nor send their Deputies with a Commission to act in their Names, to call any Matter in Question, but left it to the Pope to do as he pleased, without opposition. And if it so happened, that they were obliged eitheir for the good of the Church, or for Peace sake, or in Obe∣dience to the Will of that Prince, to do as the Pope would have them, they protested that it was without any Abrogation of their Sentence, which was Valid and Just, but only to shew Mercy to the faulty. Thus they behaved themselves in this Cause. Hincmarus, first of all, caused those Clerks to present their Petition in Writing, and to leave it to the Synod of France: He then made them choose their Judges by agreement, after he had withdrawn from the Tryal. After the Judg∣ment was passed he had it executed, and confirmed by the Pope; but at last, Nicolas I. being soli∣cited to it by Wulfadus, and being desirous to have that Cause re-examined in a Synod, Hincmarus ordered the matter so, that not only their Decree was kept in force, but was confirmed without any offence to the Pope, who had resolved to restore these Clerks, or to the Emperor, who fa∣voured Wulfadus; For he perswaded the Bishops not to deal so rigorously with Wulfadus and his Fellows, as in Justice they might, and to consent to their Restoration, if the Pope desired it. This shewed a great deal of complaisance to the Pope, in leaving the thing to his dispose, in respect to the H. See, but it was not what the Pope desired; He would have had the Synod, which he cal∣led, to have quite Disanulled what was done at Soissons, and himself to be made Judge in that Affair; and upon an Appeal, both Parties should have come to Rome to Contest about it. And for this Reason it was that he would not determine the Matter definitively, but satisfied himself to Restore Wulfadus, and the Clerks Ordained by Ebbo, conditionally.

Before Nicolas's Letters were brought by Egilo, Charles the Bald, who had so great a favour for Wulfadus, and would have him Ordained Archbishop of Bourges by all means whatsoever, sent * 1.7 his Son Carolomannus, Abbot of S. Medard, to have him Ordained and Installed, which was done in September, by some Bishops who were not very well Skilled in the Laws of the Church, which Wulfadus had provided, and Carolomannus had scared into it. It was Aldo Bishop of Limoges who Consecrated him; and some have said, that that Bishop, in the midst of the Ceremony, was taken with a Fever, of which he Died soon after. Egilo being returned with four Letters from Pope Ni∣colas in the Year 867, Charles the Bald called a Council at Troyes, at which were the Archbishops * 1.8 of Reims, Tours, Rouen, Bourdeaux, Sens, and Bourges, with those 14 Bishops who were present at the Council of Soissons the Year before; in which, some Bishops favouring Wulfadus to please Caro∣lus Calvus, would encounter Hincmarus, but he defended himself so well, that they only resolved to satisfy the Pope to send a Synodical Epistle, containing a large Relation of what had passed in the Deposition of Ebbo, his pretended Restoration, and the Ordinations of Wulfadus, and others, who had been Consecrated after his Deposition. In it they relate, how the Children of Lewis the God••y would have deprived him of his Estate, and for that end had made use of Ebbo, and some other * 1.9 Bishops, who having obliged that Prince to confess some forged Crimes, had put him in a State of Penance, and deprived him of his Authority; How afterwards, when Lewis the Kind was again re∣stored by the Authority of his Bishops, Ebbo had left his See, and fled; how he was Apprehended, and carried to the Emperor by Rothadus Bishop of Soissons, and by Ercaraus Bishop of Chalons; how he had himself Signed, and Approved the Restoration of Lewis the Kind; and owned, that he was unjustly, and contrary to the Canons, put to Penance; after which manner having ac∣knowledged his fault in Writing at the Council in Thion-ville held 835, in which Year Lewis the Kind Died; how afterward Lotharius being come out of Italy into France, Ebbo met him at Worms, conducted by the Abbot Boso in the Monastery, where he then abode; How Lotharius having gi∣ven order that he should be Restored, he went to Reims, and began to Exercise his Episcopal Function in the presence of the Bishops of the Province, without any contradiction from them; How in that time he had Ordained Wulfadus, and the other Clerks, about whom the Controver∣sie was, who were told. That he was Canonically restored to his Church; How after he had en∣joyed peaceably, one Year, the Archbishoprick of Reims, he withdrew himself into the Kingdom of Lotharius, when King Charles had passed over the Sequana, and Conquered the Country; How great Service he had done Lotharius, who gave him two Abbeys, and had employed him in several

Affairs, and sent him to Rome with Drog••n Bishop of Metz 844, to Pope Sergius, who would net acknowledge him for a Bishop; How having re••u••ed to go Ambassador into Greece, he fell into Dis∣grace with Lotharius, and was turned out of his Abbeys; How afterwards ••etreating into the Em∣pire of Lewis of Germany, he was made Bishop of Hildesheim in Saxony, where he Exercised his Episcopal Function; How in 845, Charles had called a Synod at Beauvais to have a Bishop Ordain∣ed for the Church of Reims, which had been vacant ten Years, yet Governed by the Abbot Fu••cus, and after by Noth••; How Hincmarus had been Canonically Elected and Ordained Bishop and his Ordination had been confirmed by Gontbaldas, whom Pope Sergius had appointed at the Sollicitation * 1.10 of Lotharius to regulate that Affair. They joined to this Relation all that they had Written to the H. See about that Matter, and all that the Pope had given them in Command, declaring to him, that they approved the Restoration of the Clerks Ordained by Ebbo; and consented, that they should Exercise their Office. Lastly, to gratify the Emperor Charles, they required the Pall for Wulfadus. Ordain'd Bishop of Bourges. This Letter was dated Nov. 867, and Sealed up with the Archbishops Seals, and given to Actardus, Bishop of Nantes to be carried to the Pope; But Charles the Bald made him deliver it to him, broke the Seals, Read it, and Wrote another to the Pope, which was more favourable to Ebbo▪ relating every thing that was for him, and concealing what was against him; He s••ys he was the Son o•• a Person that belonged to the Kings Treasury; that having his liberty, he had entred into the Ecclesiastick State, and was made the Kings Library-Keeper; That after the Death of Charles the Great, in the time of Lewis the Kind, Wulfaraus Archbishop of Reims being Dead, and it being left in the power of the People to choose whom they would Bishop, they first chose Gillemarus, but he being presented to the Bishops to be examined, was found uncapable of it; wherefore the Emperor propounding Ebbo as a Person of Merit, the People agreed to choose him; That in the first Rebellion of Lewis the Kind's Sons, Ebbo continued Loyal, but the second time he had engaged himself, and the Party of Lotharius, and acknowledged his fault publickly in the Church of S. Steven at Metz; That to prevent his Deposition, he had sent to the Empress Judith the Ring that she had given him; That that Princess was employed to pacify her Husband Lewis the Kind, and to sollicit for Ebbo; That nevertherless, some Bishops had perswaded him to confess his fault, and after that Confession, had advised him never more to exer∣cise his Priests Office; That the Emperor had written to Pope Gregory to confirm his Deposition, and had received his Letter thereupon, but what was in it they knew not, yet Lewis the Kind did not seem satisfied by it, because he did not make another Archbishop upon it, which he would imme••iately have done, if the Pope had confirmed the Deposition of Ebbo; That after the Death of Lewis the Kind Ebbo was acknowledged by all the Suffragan Bishops, Archbishop of Reims; That they had all communicated with him, and all that had been Ordained Bishops in his absence had received the Ring and Crosier from him, with Letters of Confirmation. This is the account that Charles the Bald gave the Pope in particular about the Deposition of Ebbo, and after excuses himself for having caused Wulfadus to be Ordained, before he had received the Popes Answer, and demanded the ••all for him, and commends the condition of the Bishops oppressed by the Britains to him▪—Hincmarus had also written a private Letter to Pope Nicolas, in Answer to that which he * 1.11 had received from the Pope, full of reproof, and angry reflexions: In it he defends himself with much submission, but as much smartness. He tells him, that he had found in the Letter written to himself, and in that to the Bishops of the Council of Soissons, many reproachful imputations, which he deserved f••r his Sins; That if he were present with him, he would do as S. Benedict or∣dered his Monks to do, when they found their Prior offended with them, cast himself upon the Earth at his feet, but what he could not do with his Body▪ he would do with his Mind and Heart, according to the Advice of S. Gregory, who bids us to have Patience, and Charity in our Hearts towards our Neighbour, who is at a distance from us. In fine, that he had executed the Popes Command in restoring Wulfadus, and the other Clerks Ordained by Ebbo. After he hath thus humbled himself, he assures him that he was much troubled to see him so angry with him, but he imputes that Charge to the false Reports he had received of him, and owns, that had he been real∣ly guilty of those things he is accused of, he should have deserved to be dealt withal more severely, but his Conscience testifies to him, that tho' he be a great Sinner, he is not such an one as the World hath represented him. He says, That he was heretofore accused to Pope Sergius, and Leo, that he had not that respect he ought for the H. See, but he shewed, by his obedient Carriage, how sub∣missive he was to the H. See, and how far from that ambitious Spirit which was charged upon him, as well as from cruelty and falshood; That neither his own Church, nor the Neighboring Churches, ever complained that he was subject to those Vices, and beseeches him never to believe that he hath had any design to delude him, or oppose his Orders, or despise his Admonitions; That as to Eb∣bo, he thought it not convenient to lay open his faults, lest any Man should think that he insulted over the Dead, or would revive an Affair that had been ended and determined above 30 Years. Nevertheless, to satisfy the Pope, he tells him, how he had declared himself unworthy of his Priesthood, without being constrained by violent means to it, or engaged by fraud. He takes no∣ti••e, that of all the Bishops who had Deposed him, there now survived but two, viz. Rothadus and Erpuinus. He then describes the manner how he was Ordained into his place; how Pope Sergius being sollicited by Lotharius to it, had Named Gontbaldus Archbishop of Rouen to examine his Ordination; how Ebbo, when he was Summoned to the Synod by Gontbaldus, dare not appear; whence it was concluded that Ebbo was never restored, and should remain Deposed from his Priest∣ly

Office and Dignity; and that having lost it in his Life time, he should not recover it after his Death. He next gives him an Account of the business of Wulfadus, and the other Clerks Ordained by Ebbo after his Deposition; and because Pope Nicolas chiefly insisted upon this, That Pope Leo had not confirmed the first Judgment given against them at the Council of Soissons, Hincmarus gives him the particulars of all that had passed between him and Pope Leo in that business, viz. That Pope Leo had written to him that he could not confirm what had been done in that Synod, because the Council had not sent their Deputies to him, nor were his Legates present at it, nor had the Em∣peror writ any thing to him about it; and because 'twas said that Wulfadus, and the other Clerks, had Appealed to the H. See. That, besides this, Lotharius had importuned him not to confirm the Judgment of the Council of Soissons; That the Bishops hearing that Lotharius concerned himself in that Matter, had written to him, and that he had nominated two Bishops of Italy to look into it in a Council, which was called by the Authority of the H. See; That after this, that Prince had sent his Deputies to Rome to Pope Leo, who died as they were in their Journey to him; That being ar∣rived there in the Papacy of Benedict, that Pope had granted him a Grant to confirm the Judgment of the Synod of Soissons; that since that, neither the Bishop of Spoletum, Nominated by Lotharius, nor any other Bishop, had held any other Synod about that Affair, but that which was lately cal∣led by the Authority of Pope Nicolas; He defends himself against that Accusation that the Pope laid against him, that he had falsified Benedict's Letter of Priviledge, and assures him, that the Co∣py which he had sent him was a true one, as he will find, if he compares it with the Original Draught, which is in the Registry of the Church of Rome. He adds, that he had not required of the H. See any other special Priviledges, but what were usually granted to all Metropolitans, and were anciently granted to the Metropolis of Reims, but because his Province, and also his Diocess, was partly in one Kingdom and part in another, he thought it necessary to have his Priviledges re∣newed, because men had great regard to them, and carnal men being awed by such marks of di∣stinction, respected him the more. Lastly, as to the Pall, he assures him, that he never used it unless upon the great Festivals of the Passover and Nativity, because on the other Holidays of the Year, tho' 'twas allowed for him to wear them, yet he was obliged through urgent business, and the Affairs of Church and State, to be absent from his Cathedral Church. In fine, that he desired the Pall for no particular use, because the Pall is an Ornament which is suitable for all Metropo∣litans, as a mark of the Dignity or Virtue of him that wears it. Hincmarus had composed this Letter before the Council of Troyes, immediately after he received Nicolas's Letter, but it was not sent in that form, for the Bishops of that Council having given him a large relation of the business of Ebbo, he cut off the beginning of his Letter, and wrote a shorter beginning with his own Ordina∣tion, and the business of Wulfadus. Actardus Bishop of Nantes, the Deputy of the Council to go to Rome, was also entrusted with another Affair by the Council of Soissons. 'Tis thought commonly to be of that of 866, but it was another Council held there in 867, for Actardus, who was the Bearer, * 1.12 went to Rome in that Year only; and Pope Nicolas in his Answers to the Synod, and Bishops of the Council of Soissons in 866, makes no mention of any thing written in this Letter. The Bishops of the last Council tell him, how the Churches of Tours and Nantes were much annoyed by the Bri∣tans, who would not come to the Synods of the Province to which they belonged, nor acknowledge the Metropolitans and Bishops of France, pretending to govern themselves; That they valued not the Pe∣titions that had been made to them; That they had encroached upon Nantes, and attempted the same upon the Bishopricks of Tours, Angers, and Mans; That almost all the Churches of Neustria had endur'd much by their Cruelty; That they had Deposed the Bishops of Dola and Vannes, and put other Bi∣shops in their place; Then they pray the Pope to do them Justice, to give Actardus a favourable Au∣dience, to reduce the Britans to good Order, and to write to their Duke, either to submit to King Charles, or else to make use of the Sword of Excommunication. This Letter is dated▪ Aug. 16.

When Actardus came at Rome he found Pope Nicolas Dead, and Adrian settled in his place, to whom he presented the Synod and Kings Letters. Adrian returned this Answer to the Bishops of * 1.13 the Synod of Troyes, That tho' they had omitted some things as to the Restauration of Ebbo, yet he commends their Zeal; That he was glad that Wulfadus's Innocency had been proved so clearly; That he approved of his Promotion to the Archbishoprick of Bourges, and granted him the Pall; That he desired him to put Pope Nicolas's Name into all their Dypticks, and to oppose all that the Greeks might say, or attempt against this Pope. This Letter is Dated Febr. 11. 868. He sent an Answer also to the Letter of the Bishops of the Council of Soissons, in the beginning of which it evidently ap∣pears, that the Letter before-mentioned was not written by that Council of Soissons held in 866, but in another which met there in 867, before the Council of Troyes. He tells them, that he much pi∣tied the condition of Actardus, who was deprived and dispossessed of his Bishoprick and Orders; that he should be put (incardinari) into the first vacant Church, to exercise his Episcopal Function there. He says, that he had written about it to King Charles. And indeed, in the following Letter which is directed to that Prince, he Answers first to the Letter which he had written to him concern∣ing Ebbo, telling him, that 'tis to no purpose to examine the matters concerning that Bishop, who is now Dead. He thanks him for the Protection which he had given the Churchmen, which the H. See thought fit to restore. He grants the Pall to Wulfadus, and recommends Actardus to his Care to be put into the next vacant See, which was not less then his own. He also recommends him for the same reason to Hincmarus Archbishop of Reims, and Herard Archbishop of Tours, in private Letters to them: He commands this last to give Actardus an Abby, which he had heretofore in his Diocess, and tells

him, that he had written to Solomon Duke of the Britans, and his People, to exhort them to do him Justice; and desires him to be fully assured, that if they should send any one to Rome on their part, they should not obtain any thing to prejudice his Rights. He grants by another Letter the Pall to Actar∣dus, to comfort him for the loss of his Diocess. Thus ended the Contest between Hincmarus and Wulfadus, with the other Clerks Ordained by Ebbo. [These Letters of Pope Adrian are Printed among his other Epistles, which are 26 in all, in Tom. 8. of the Councils, p. 896.]

The End of the Fourth Contest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Soisso••••.
• * 1.2

  The Con∣firmation of the Judg∣ment of the Council of Soissons by Leo IV. and Benedict.
• * 1.3

  Pope Nico∣las's Judg∣ment about Wulfadus
• * 1.4

  The Coun∣cil of Sois∣sons, 866.
• * 1.5

  P. Nicolas's Letter a∣bout the Judgment of the Coun∣cil of Soissons.
• * 1.6

  The Carri∣age of the Bishops of France.
• * 1.7

  Wulfadus Ordained Archbishop of Bourges.
• * 1.8

  The Council of Troyes.
• * 1.9

  The Letter of the Coun∣cil of Troyes to the Pope against Eb∣bo.
• * 1.10

  King Charles's Letter in favour of E••bo.
• * 1.11

  Hincma∣ru's Letter to the Pope.
• * 1.12

  The business of Actardus.
• * 1.13

  Adrian's Answers a∣bout Ebbo and Actar∣dus.