238 CAUSES ACCOUNTING FOR THE GROWTH OF THE PAPACY. used the help of each to compass his designs on the other; by the authority of princes oppressing bishops, and by the assistance of bishops mating princes. 28. When any body would not do as he would have them, he in- cessantly clamoured or whined that "St Peter was injured."1 29. The forgery of the Decretal Epistles (wherein the ancient popes are made expressly to speak and act according to some of his highest pretences, devised long after their times, and which they never thought of, good men!) hugely conduced to his purpose, autho- rizing his encroachments by the suffrage of ancient doctrine and practice. Agreat part of his canon law is extracted out of these, and grounded on them. The donation of Constantine, fictitious acts of councils, and the like counterfeit stuff, helped thereto; which were soon embraced, as we see in Pope Gregory II., &c. As also legends, fables of miracles, and all such " deceivableness of unrighteousness." s 30. Popes were so cunning as to form grants, and impute that to privileges derived from them which princes enjoyed by right or custom.' 31. Synods of bishops, called by him at opportune seasons, con- sisting of his votaries or slaves. None dared therein to whisper any thing to the prejudice of his authority. He carried whatever he pleased to propose, without check or contradiction. Who dared to question any thing done bysuch numbers of pastors, styling them- selves the " representatives of Christendom?" 32. The having hampered all the clergy with strict oaths of uni- versal obedience to him (beginning about the times of Pope Gregory VII.) greatly assured his power. 33. When intolerable oppressions and exactions constrained princes to struggle with him, if he could not utterly prevail, things were brought to composition, whereby he was sure to be for that time a gainer, and gained establishment in some points, leaving the rest to be got afterward in more favourable junctures. Witness the Concordats between Henry II. and Pope Alexander III., anno 1172. Edward III. and Pope Gregory XI., anno 1373. Henry V. and Pope Martin V., anno 1418. 34. When princes were fain to curb their exorbitances by "Prag- matical Sanctions," they were restless till they had got those sane- Quando et apostolica prteceptio ad injuriam B. Petri in illis partibus non obser- vatur, et a to spernitur et violatur.P. Nie. I., Ep. xxxvii. 2 'Agámn mñs 2ÓIxíae. -2 Thess. ii. 10. 8 Twisd., p. 17. Non necessitatis, sed honoris causa peto. Extortis assentationi- bus.P. Leo, .dp. ad Syn. Chale.
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