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

But the Popes Historians say that the Emperor brake his Covenant. It is a hard thing for a King that promiseth Subjection and Obedience to a Pope to be sure to keep his word, unless he foreknew what would be commanded him: when he hath taken away his Power and Kingdom by parts, he may command his life. It's a great doubt to me, when God hath made Princes the Rulers of Prelates, and Procurators of his Church; whether it be not a sin against God and their undertaken office, for these Princes to cast off this trust and work, because a Pope or Prelate claimeth it. The Pope still charged him with sacrilege. But I doubt he expounded his meaning when he deposed him for diminishing the Majesty of the Church, that is, of the Pope and Prelates.

But the Popes Historians say that the Emperor brake his Covenant. It is a hard thing for a King that promiseth Subjection and Obedience to a Pope to be sure to keep his word, unless he foreknew what would be commanded him: when he hath taken away his Power and Kingdom by parts, he may command his life. It's a great doubt to me, when God hath made Princes the Rulers of Prelates, and Procurators of his Church; whether it be not a sin against God and their undertaken office, for these Princes to cast off this trust and work, because a Pope or Prelate claimeth it. The Pope still charged him with sacriledge. But I doubt he expounded his meaning when he deposed him for diminishing the Majesty of the Church, that is, of the Pope and Prelates.

To proceed in the History: In the 3d. or 4th. battle it was that Rodulph was slain; and It was the Popes denial to disown or excommunicate Rodulph after so low a submission of the Emperor, that enraged Henry, and made him think of another remedy than to be a Prelates slave. The Pope called all the Bishops that cleaved to the Emperor seditious: He condemneth Roland the German Legate and sendeth into Germany Legates of his own with a Mandamus, We command that no King, Arch-Bishop, Bishop, ¹Duke, Earl, Marquess, or Knight dare resist our Legates, &c. And the Penalty to the disobedient is terrible, viz. [We accurse him from Christ,