The mysterie of iniquitie: that is to say, The historie of the papacie. Declaring by what degrees it is now mounted to this height, and what oppositions the better sort from time to time haue made against it. Where is also defended the right of emperours, kings, and Christian princes, against the assertions of the cardinals, Bellarmine and Baronius. By Philip Morney, knight, Lord du Plessis, &c. Englished by Samson Lennard.

26. PROGRESSION.

That Aripert King of the Lumbards bestowed the Cottian Alpes vpon the Pope: and that Iustinian the Emperour sent for Pope Constan∣tine to come to Constantinople.

THe greatnesse of the Bishop of Rome at this time was such, that the Empe∣rours residing in the East, being harassed what with the inuasions of the bar∣barous [ B] abroad, what with ciuile dissentions and rebellions at home, had need of their fauour to maintaine their credit in the West: So had the Exarchs in Italie, to make their partie good against the Lumbards: And the Lumbards themselues were faine vpon occasion to speake them faire: and the Popes, as children of this world, and wise in their generation, made vse of the times for their owne aduance∣ment. In the yeare therefore 705 Iohn the seuenth entred vpon his See. Aripert King of the Lumbards gaue him (as Paulus Diaconus reporteth) the inheritance of the Cottian Alpes: Blondus and Platina say, that he gaue him all betweene Turin and Gennes, and from thence as farre as France; and this they call, Giuing to Saint Peter: and he made no great difficultie to be liberall of another mans. Paulus [ C] saith, That all this did formerly belong to the See Apostolike, meaning, by that pretended donation of Constantine the Great; and that they were taken away by the Lumbards; and that he sent the Act of the donation in letters of gold to Aripert. But Platina marreth all when he sayth, That this is reported without an author, and that seeing there is no certainetie of the donation it selfe, and that the Cano∣nists reckon it as a Palea or chaffe, without corne or substance in it, how can the confirmation hold for good? Wherefore this was either a meere deuice of the Popes to encroach vpon it, or else a humor of Aripert, thereby to redeeme the ma∣nie enormious cruelties by him committed, and mentioned by Sigonius, accor∣ding to the common error of the times: but he, shortly after pursued by his ene∣mie, [ D] was drowned in the passing of a riuer. On the other part Iustinian the second wearied with his homebred trauerses, being now at length restored to the Em∣pire which he had lost, purposing to be reuenged of his enemies, thought good first to gratifie the Pope, and therefore sent him the Acts of the fixt Councell by two Metropolitans, exhorting him to receiue them. Anastasius the Popes Libra∣rie keeper sayth it was with request, to strike out what he thought fit: But Platina their Historian sayth, That it was absolutely to haue him subscribe vnto them: but both of them agree in this, that he sent them backe againe, as wanting courage to contradict or censure them. But in the yeare 708 Pope Constantine made better vse of the times: for Iustinian hauing made away the chiefe of the aduerse facti∣on, [ E] and hauing pulled out Callinicus the Patriach of Constantinople his eyes, sent him prisoner to Rome, thinking thereby to doe the Pope no little pleasure: and thereupon sent to him to come into the East, with purpose to vse his aduice in matters, and to oblige him to himselfe with honors which he means to doe vn∣to him. The Historie sayth, That he gaue order to haue him receiued in all places as his owne person, That he fell at his feet, and kissed them, with his diademe vpon his head: but withall it letteth vs vnderstand, that he vsed his authoritie to make him come. Paulus Diaconus saith, That he commaunded the Pope Constantine to come vnto

[ A] him: not, as Sigonius an author of these dayes, that he beseeched him. And Ana∣stasius himselfe sayth, That he sent his sacred Patent, by which he commaunded him to come vp to the royall Citie, and that he with all readinesse to obey the Emperours behests, caused shipping to be prouided; and these are the authors who liued neerer vnto the times: so that Baronius is idle when he interpreteth his commaunds to be but prayers and requests: Wherefore the rest that the Emperour did, was in deuotion and compunction, and not in dutie or obedience. And indeed Paulus Diaconus repor∣teth, That the Emperour renewed vnto him all the former priuiledges of his Church, so that he was to hold them from him in time to come. And Anastasius giueth the cause, Requesting him (saith he) to pray for his sinnes; for these were the [ B] satisfactions which those times required: and so (saith he) the Emperour dismissed him to returne to Rome. Who durst speake thus in these daies? But Platina after all, Iustinian (saith he) for all these calamities changed nothing of his former life, onely he had the Apostolike See in a greater awe and reuerence than before, and so long, as good friends as might be.

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,

a man of reputed holinesse, found a little better vsage. Hee pretended, That [ A] Pauia the chiefe seat of the Lombards, was belonging to his Diocesse: But com∣ming in kindnesse to see the Pope, was faine to haue the cause heard at Rome; where it was agreed, That anciently the Bishops of Pauia were consecrated by the Bi∣shops of Rome, whereas yet Pauia was euer of the Prouince of Milan: but the Pope was judge in his owne cause.

Notes

• An. 705.
• Anastas. in Joh. 7. Paul. Diacon. l. 6. c. 28. Blond. Dec. 1. l. 10.
• Sigon. de Reg. Jtal. l. 2.
• Plat. in Ioh. 7.
• An. 708.
• Paul. Diaco. de gest. Longobard. l. 6. c. 31.
• Anastas. in Con∣stanti.
• Anastas. & Plat. in Con∣stanti. Blond. lib. 10. Dec. 1.
• Blond. ib.
• Sigon. de Reg. Jtal. l. 2.
• Hieronym. Ru∣baeus.
• Paul. Diacon. l. 6. c. 29.
• Anastas. in Constanti.