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

Next he tells us how the Emperor, by Photius's persuasion, called a General Council, which deposed Pope Nicolas, as he had done Phocas^*. The other Patriarchs and the Bishops were assembled, and the Pope anathematized: And the Historian blames it as causeless; but it was then commonly held, that a Council might judge and depose any Patriarch.

Next he tells us how the Emperor, by Photius's persuasion, called a General Council, which deposed Pope Nicolas, as he had done Phocas^*. The other Patriarchs and the Bishops were assembled, and the Pope anathematized: And the Historian blames it as causless; but it was then commonly held, that a Council might judge and depose any Patriarch.

1. *Did the Church then hold that the Pope was the Supreme Ruler and Judge?

The Acts of the Council Photius sent to King Ludovicus and others in Italy and France, that they might depose the Pope (by two Bishops, viz. of Calcedon, and Laodicea.) It's said he spake evil to the Emperor of Basilius, and to Basilius of the Emperor. Basilius murdereth the Emperor, and the next day deposeth Photius, and thrusts him into an Hospital, and calls home Ignatius; and so gets Ignatius's Party on his side, to which he resolved to add the Pope: Therefore sending to Photius for the Patriarchate Writings, and he saying he had left them all behind him, the Servants of Photius were seen striving about seven Bags of sealed Papers; which being surprised, were found to be the Acts of the Council, and the Condemnation of Pope Nicolas. Ignatius was odiously accused and abused in them. Many Pictures made of him: over one written Diabolus: over another Principium peccati: over another Filius perditionis: over another Avaritia Simonis Magi: over another, [Qui se extollit supra omne id quod dicitur aut colitur Deus:] over the sixth, Abominatio desolationis: and over the seventh, [Antichristus.] Reader,