OPPOSITION.
Notwithstanding this strong support, yet were there alwaies some or other who would not endure this Tyrannie. The Church of Rauenna was but lately come to the yoke, and that by the commaund of the Emperours: Wherefore Fe∣lix [ C] succeeding vnto Damian, came and presented himselfe vnto Pope Constantine, to be by him approued, and consecrated at Rome: but sayth Anastasius, he would not enter caution according to the custome, that is, as Platina and Blondus more inge∣nuously deliuer, would not oblige himselfe to a set forme of obedience, and to send a certaine summe of money to Rome; wherein the magistrats themselues of Rome assisted him. The tale goeth, that his Caution being layed by the Pope vpon the holie confession of S. Peter, that is, vpon his Relikes, it was found shortly after all blacke, and as if it had beene burnt with fire. These were the pettie miracles of those times, to put to children: but the matter stayed not here. The Archbishop be∣ing thus repulsed by the Pope, returned to Rauenna, made his moane to his peo∣ple [ D] and Clergie, and thereupon with one consent brake off as before from the Communion of the Romane Church. Pope Constantine on the other part made his plaint to Iustinian, who dispatched thither Theodore with a nauie: the Archbi∣shop with other adjoyning congregations, as of Ceruia, Comachio, Forlim Po∣poli, Cesenae, Imola, Faenza, and others, all great peoples in those daies (as Blondus testifieth) prepare themselues for the encounter. Theodore after manie hot skir∣mishes landed, besieged the Citie, tooke in by composition as well the citizens as the Archbishop, proceeded notwithstanding against the chiefe of them, by sei∣sure of their goods and persons, hanged some, banished others, and the rest he caused to fine deepe for their liues. This they called to be tried by S. Peters iudge∣ment. [ E] As for the Archbishop, they put out his eyes, and banished him into Pon∣tus, vntill that by this pastorall proceeding he being conuerted from that damna∣ble heresie, of not paying money to the Pope (for so Platina is pleased to tearme it) he submitted himselfe to giue such caution as they demaunded, and so doing, was restored to his See. And so saith likewise Anastasius. Yet was this Felix (whom we see so hardly vsed) recommended in Historie for sanctitie of life, and mira∣cles; called in his Epitaph (which Baronius rehearseth) Terbeatissimus Archiepis∣copus. But he would faine persuade vs, that those barbarous and cruell vsages of the Pope were the cause of this his sanctitie. Yet Benedict Archbishop of Mi∣lan,