14 INTRODUCTION. Indeed, certain it is that this man, in most downright strains, held the doctrine, and most smartly applied it to practice; yet he disclaimed the invention or introduction of it, professing that he fol- lowed the notions and examples of his predecessors, divers of which he alleges in defence of his proceedings. " We," says he, " hold- ing the statutes of our holy predecessors, do by apostolical authority absolve those from their oath who are obliged by fealty or sacrament to excommunicate persons, and by all means prohibit that they observe fealty to them."' And so it is, that (although for many successions before Pope Hil- debrand the popes were not in condition or capacity to take so much upon them, there having been a row of persons intruded into that see void of virtue and of small authority, most of themverybeasts, who depended upon the favour of princes for their admittance, con- firmation, or support in the place, yet) we may find some popes be- fore him, who had a great spice of those imperious ,conceits, and upon occasion made very bold with princes, assuming power over them, and darting menaces against them; for Pope Leo IX. tells us that Constantine M. [Magnus, or the Great] " thought it very unbecoming that they should be subject to an earthly empire whom the Divine Majesty had set over an heavenly; "' and surely he was of his author's mind whom he alleged, although, indeed, this pope may be supposed to speak this and other sayings to that purpose by suggestion of Hildebrand, by whom he was much governed. Pope Stephanus VI. told theEmperor Basilius, " that he ought to be subject with all veneration to the Roman church."3 Pope John VIII., or IX. (anno 873), pretended obedience due to him from princes; and in default thereof threatened to excommuni- cate them.' Pope Nicholas I. (anno 858) cast many imperious sayings and threats at king Lotharius; these among others : " We do, therefore, by apostolical authority, under obtestation of the divine judgment, ceant populum, quod malls regibus nullam debeant subjectionem, et licet ei sacramen- tu n fidelitatis fecerint, nullam tarnen fidelitatem debeant; nec perjuri dicantur, qui contra regem senserint; imo, qui regi paruerit pro excommunicato habeatur; qui con- tra regem fecerit, a noxa injustitice et perjurii absolvatur.Sigeb. Chron., anno 1088. Nos, sanctorum praedecessorum statuta tenentes, eos qui excommunicatis fidelitate eut sacramento constricti stint, apostolica auctoritate a sacramento absolvimus, et ne eis fidelitatem observent omnibus modis prohibemus.Greg. VIL. Ep. viii. 21. Caus. xv. qu. 7, cap. 4. 2 Valde indignum fore arbitratus, terreno imperio subdi, quos Divina Majestas prm- fecit ccelesti. P. Leo. IX., .hp. i. cap. 12. 3 Plat. in Vita Leon. IX. Quis to seduxit, utpontificem cecumenicum scommatibus lacesseres, et S. Romanam ecclesiam maledictis incesseres, cui cum omni veneration subditus esse debes ?Steph. VI., Ep. i.; Baron., anno 885, § 11. e cuncti venire per inobedientiamneglexistis.Joh. VIII, Ep. 119. Dainceps excommunicamus omnes,
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