Charles Martel the great French Conqueror was the Pope's Patron against the Emperor who was his Sovereign. Gratian. d. 16. q. 1. post Can. 59. tells it us as a matter of Church-credit, that when he was dead, he was damned to Hell (much blood, and defending Popes that rebel against their Sovereign are a very likely proof.) Carolomannus succeeded him, who, after two years Reign, resigned his Crown, and chose a Monastery. Chilperic that came after, proved very dull and sensual, and giving himself to his pleasure, let the business of Government lie most on the hands of Pepin, who was his Major Domûs, who thereby got the power and the respect that was proper to ⟨p. 209⟩the King, while the King grew into contempt. (And if Kings cannot keep up their Power and Honour by the mere dignity of their place, without personal worth and performance; why should Popes, Prelates and Priests, (whose Power and Honour, as a Physicians, depend upon their Worth and Work) expect to keep up their Power and Honour merely by their Offices?) Pepin won first the Nobles of France, and then the Pope; For, as Baronius and Binnius (p. 197.) tell us, [It seemed to the most Potent Pepin (Major Domus) *and to the rest of the chief Men, and to all the People, that he that had not the Matter and Force of the Kingdom, should not have the name of a King; and on the contrary, he that had the Riches, Power and Virtue, should also have the name of King: And because these Princes and People were Christians, they judged that these their Councils would neither stand ratified to Posterity, nor be acceptable enough to God, unless they received Authority and Force from the common Father and Pastor of the Christian Church, the Vicar of the Lord Christ, and Successor of St. Peter. Therefore they send Legates to Rome to Zechariah, of whom Bishop Burchardus Herbipol. was the chief, who were to ask the things aforesaid of him. He consented, and decreed, and wrote back, that Chilperic being thrust into a Monastery,* St. Boniface should declare and anoint Pepin King in Germany and France: Boniface, Bishop of Mentz, obeyed Pope Zechariah, and by the Authority of the See Apostolic, deposed Chilperic, (called also Childeric) and placed Pepin in his stead. Thus Jeginhart in Vit. Car. Mag. Annal. Franc. an. 751. Paul. Diac. li. 22. Marianus Scotus li. 3. Regino li. 2. an. 749. Sigebert in Chron. Lambert in Hist. Germ.
Charles Martell the great French Conqueror was the Pope's Patron against the Emperor who was his Sovereign. Gratian. d. 16. q. 1. post Can. 59. tells it us as a matter of Church-credit, that when he was dead, he was damned to Hell (much blood, and defending Popes that rebel against their Sovereign are a very likely proof.) Carolomannus succeeded him, who, after two years Reign, resigned his Crown, and chose a Monastery. Chilperic that came after, proved very dull and sensual, and giving himself to his pleasure, let the business of Government lie most on the hands of Pepin, who was his Major Domûs, who thereby got the power and the respect that was proper to ⟨p. 209⟩the King, while the King grew into contempt. (And if Kings cannot keep up their Power and Honour by the meer dignity of their place, without personal worth and performance; why should Popes, Prelates and Priests, (whose Power and Honour, as a Physicians, depend upon their Worth and Work) expect to keep up their Power and Honour meerly by their Offices?) Pepin won first the Nobles of France, and then the Pope; For, as Baronius and Binnius (p. 197.) tell us, [It seemed to the most Potent Pepin (Major Domus) *and to the rest of the chief Men, and to all the People, that he that had not the Matter and Force of the Kingdom, should not have the name of a King; and on the contrary, he that had the Riches, Power and Virtue, should also have the name of King: And because these Princes and People were Christians, they judged that these their Councils would neither stand ratified to Posterity, nor be acceptable enough to God, unless they received Authority and Force from the common Father and Pastor of the Christian Church, the Vicar of the Lord Christ, and Successor of St. Peter. Therefore they send Legates to Rome to Zachary, of whom Bishop Burchardus Herbipol. was the chief, who were to ask the things aforesaid of him. He consented, and decreed, and wrote back, that Chilperic being thrust into a Monastery,* St. Boniface should declare and anoint Pepin King in Germany and France: Boniface, Bishop of Mentz, obeyed Pope Zachary, and by the Authority of the See Apostolic, deposed Chilperic, (called also Childeric) and placed Pepin in his stead. Thus Ieginhart in Vit. Car. Mag. Annal. Franc. an. 751. Paul. Diac. li. 22. Marianus Scotus li. 3. Regino li. 2. an. 749. Sigebert in Chron. Lambert in Hist. Germ.
- *No wonder.
- *Were not Monks holy men then?
