We hold it necessary to notify to all the Sons of the Church, both present and future, how we Bishops, set over the Empire* of our Lord and most glorious Emperor Lotharius, An. 833. the first year of the said Prince in October, did generally meet at the Palace at Compendium, (Compeigne) ⟨p. 255⟩and humbly heard the said Prince*; And we took care, according to the Ministry enjoined us, to manifest to him or his Nobles, the generality of all the People, what is the Vigour, and Power, or Priestly Ministry, and with what Sentence of Damnation he deserveth to be damned, who will not obey the warnings of the Priestsa
And next both to the said Prince, (Lotharius) and to all the People, we studied to denounce, that they should study most devoutly to please God, and should not delay to appease him in whatever they had offended him: For many things were examined,b, which by negligence happened in this Empire, which manifestly tended to the scandal of the Church, and the ruin of the People, or the destruction of the Kingdom; which must necessarily be quickly corrected, and by all means for the future preventedc.
Among other things we mentioned, and remembered all Men, how by God that Kingdom, by the administration of the most excellent Emperor Charles of good memory, and the Valour of his Predecessors, was peaceable, and united, and nobly enlarged, and committed to the Lord Emperor Lewis by God in great peace to be governed; and by God's protection remained so preserved, as long as that Prince studied God, and used his Father's example, and was careful to acquiesce in the counsels of good Men: And how in progress of time, as is manifest to all, by his improvidence or negligence, it fell into so great ignominy and baseness, that it became not only the grief of Friends, but the derision of Enemies.
But because the said Prince hath negligently managed the Ministry committed to him, and did both do and compel others to do many things displeasing to God and Man, or permitted others to do itd, and provoked God in many wicked counsels, and scandalized the Church; and that we may omit innumerable other things) at last drew all his Subjects to a common destruction, and by God's just judgment, suddenly his Imperial Power was taken from hime.
We hold it necessary to notifie to all the Sons of the Church, both present and future, how we Bishops, set over the Empire* of our Lord and most glorious Emperor Lotharius, An. 833. the first year of the said Prince in October, did generally meet at the Palace at Compendium, (Compeigne) ⟨p. 255⟩and humbly heard the said Prince*; And we took care, according to the Ministry enjoined us, to manifest to him or his Nobles, the generality of all the People, what is the Vigor, and Power, or Priestly Ministry, and with what Sentence of Damnation he deserveth to be damned, who will not obey the warnings of the Priestsa
And next both to the said Prince, (Lotharius) and to all the People, we studied to denounce, that they should study most devoutly to please God, and should not delay to appease him in whatever they had offended him: For many things were examined,b, which by negligence hapned in this Empire, which manifestly tended to the scandal of the Church, and the ruine of the People, or the destruction of the Kingdom; which must necessarily be quickly corrected, and by all means for the future preventedc.
Among other things we mentioned, and remembred all Men, how by God that Kingdom, by the administration of the most excellent Emperor Charles of good memory, and the Valor of his Predecessors, was peaceable, and united, and nobly enlarged, and committed to the Lord Emperor Lewis by God in great peace to be governed; and by God's protection remain'd so preserved, as long as that Prince studied God, and used his Father's example, and was careful to acquiesce in the counsels of good Men: And how in progress of time, as is manifest to all, by his improvidence or negligence, it fell into so great ignominy and baseness, that it became not only the grief of Friends, but the derision of Enemies.
But because the said Prince hath negligently managed the Ministry committed to him, and did both do and compel others to do many things displeasing to God and Man, or permitted others to do itd, and provoked God in many wicked counsels, and scandalized the Church; and that we may omit innumerable other things) at last drew all his Subjects to a common destruction, and by God't just judgment, suddenly his Imperial Power was taken from him
- *Here is a High Court of Prelatical Justice against a good Emperor.
- *Lotharius accusing his Father
- aNo doubt but you made this known too far.
- bBy what Authority?
- cWho made you the Governors of the Empire, & Judges of such matters? Are Rebellions of Sons, the Fathers fault?
- dMust the King answer to a Court of Bishops, all the evils that he permitteth the Bishops and such others to do?
- eLotharius had got the Nobles to begin.
