Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

§ 62. Yet this Council in Breviar. in Bin. p. 905. determine of the Pope, that being but one Patriarch, he cannot absolve one that is condemned by the other many Patriarchs.

§ 63. Laying all together I cannot perceive by historical notice, but that both Ignatius and Photius were both better Bishops than most were to be found; the first being a very pious man, and the other also a man of great learning and diligence. But the old contention WHO SHOULD BE CHIEF or greatest, made them both the great calamity of the Church.

I think it not in vain here to transcribe part of the sum of the life of Ignatius as written by Nicetas, David, Paphlago who was devoted to him, though somewhat said already be repeated. Ignatius (being of the blood Royal) was in quiet possession, when denying entrance or ⟨p. 279⟩Church Communion to Bardas Caesar for his reported Adultery, he provoked that indignation in him which deposed him. Bardas first persuaded the Emperor Michael to assume the Government and not leave the Empire any longer to his Mother and Sisters. One Gebo then pretending to be the Son of Queen Theodora, and claiming the Crown, and many following him, Ignatius is accused as being then on Gebo's side, The Emperor commandeth Ignatius to shear his Mother and Sisters, and put them into a Monastery: He refuseth: The Emperor is angry and suspecting him, causeth it to be done by others, and sendeth Ignatius to the Island Terebinth and killeth Gebo. Within three days some of the Bishops who had subscribed and sworn to Ignatius, even that they would sooner deny the supreme Majesty of the Trinity, than without a public damnation they would suffer their Pastor to be deposed, became agents to draw him to renounce his Place. &c. He refusing, Photius is made one day a Monk, the next day a Lector, the next a Subdeacon, the next a Deacon, the next a Presbyter, and on Christs birth-day is made Patriarch; a great and noble Courtier, the Emperors Secretary or privy Councillor, famous for skill in things politic and civil, so flourishing in the skill of Grammar, Poetry, Oratory, Philosophy, Physic, and the study of almost all Liberal Arts and Sciences, as that he was absolutely in them the Prince of his age, yea, and might contend with the ancients. For he had a confluence of natural aptitude and force, of felicity, riches, by which he got a library of all sorts of books; and being desirous of Glory and Praise, spent whole nights in sleepless Studies, and after studied divinity, and Ecclesiastical Volumes. Gregorius Bishop of Syracuse (a censured Bishop) ordained him: Ignatius is cruelly used, and its laid on Photius: He sendeth some Bishops to Rome, and by them saith, that Ignatius gave up his Place. It's said that some held Ignatius's hand, and by force wrote his mark, and others wrote the rest: but what's the truth is hard to know. A General Council is called: