their Councils abriclued. a67 theyfell apraying to Godfor mercy, fuddenlya mifhapen Thunderbolt, like a fieryDragon,pierced and tore the Church , and at oneftroke killed three men among all the multitude, ( though thole three flood in feveral places) that is, e one Prieft thatflood at St. Peter'sAltar, one Deacon that flood at St.l)enis's Altar, and one Lay-man at St. Mary's, Altar : And fax others were(ruck al- ' molt dead, but recovered. At Trevirs alfo were many Prodigies. § 17. Pope Nicolas t. is chofen by the Emperor Ludovicots content, and all the People. He greatly advanceth theRoman Seat by his ahtivity , and much bydoing juffice to the People that were oppreffed by Tyrannical Pre- lates. He hadagreat conflibt with John Bithop of Ravenna, who long de- fpifed him, and denied him his fubje& ion: But the Emperor took the Pope's part, and fo poor Phis was fain to fubmit, and cry mifiremini mei, peso mife- reni mei, Anaft. in Bin. p. 667. and to take an Oath of fubjec`tion to the Pope. i 8. The great Schifm now rofe at Conftantinople, whether Ignatius or Photiits fhould be Patriarch ; Michael the Emperor depofing Ignatius by the counfel of his Uncle Bardar, and putting in Photine. ThePope kept up his power by interpofing, uncalled,into all fuchmatters. Hevent fòme Bifbops asLegates to counfel them bya Synod to decide the difference : When there Bithops came thither, they confented to Photius againft Ignatius. The Pope faid they were bribed,and falfe to their truft, anddepofed them, ( though he thought he chofe the bell he had ;) of whichmore anon. § i 9. Yet we have not done with worldlyPrelates. King Lotharius was weary of his Wife, and loved aWhore (Waldrada.) He openeth his cafe to the Bithops. They call a Council, and approve of his Divorce , and his Marriage with Waldrada. The two great Archbifhops of Cole; and Triers, are the Leaders. ThePope is againít it, and accufeth the Bithops of own- ing Adultery ; They appear at Rome,and he condemneth themof Impuden- cy, while ( with fome immodeftwords) they undertake to juftifie thething, ( of which more 'anon.) He chargeth the Bithops of heinousVillany , and they defpifed him. He condemneth the Concilium Metenfe *, in which the *A mete. Adultery was allowed. § ao. This Pope falls out with Hincmarus Bithop of Rhemes, juflifying againit him the caufe of Rothaldus,whom hehaddepofed. He fends Meffengers to the King of Bulgaria converted inhisdays,whom theEmperors Officers flop and abufe. TheAdverfaries of Images were hill ftrong at Confiantinople. Aiaaft. er Bin. p. 670, &c. Epi.th t. He ufeth a notable Argument for Images, viz. God isknown on- ly in the Image of. his Works : Why then may we not make Images of the Saints ? ( But why mull Menbe compelled to do it, or elfe be Hereticks ? and why muff they be worfhipped? ) Epift. S. He is pitifully put to it, to juftifie the Elel Lion of Nehlarius and Ambrofe, and yet to condemn that of Photius for being a Lay-man. And Ep. 6. the fame again in the inrance allo of Tarafus. § ai. The 8th Epiftle of this Pope Ncolas to the Emperor Michael,dotti M m a Thew
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