1 who told you that Leo died the sixteenth day before the kalends of August? Anastasius writes, that Leo the Fourth Papa obdormivit in Domino 16 Calend. August. but that is but the fifteenth day before the kalends of August, and not the sixteenth. Thirdly, whereas, to win credit to this your author, you commend him as a man of great reputation; it is worth the noting, which is noted by one of your own friends, that, in the age wherein he lived, Doctissimi censebantur, qui vel solam Grammaticam callerent; they were counted great clerks, who were skilled so much as in the grammar. That, in this chronicle of Anastasius, the phrase is harsh, rude, and barbarous; that many things are avowed therein, which are far from true; that, therein, there are many errors in the account of time, and some things wherein he crosseth himself; which censure, for the main point, is approved by many of your own mother's children; for many papists, in many particulars, condemn it; as for example, this man of great reputation reckons Anicetus before Pius, and Anterius before Pontianus, whereas, your chroniclers reckon Pius before Anicetus, and Pontianus before Anterus. This man of great reputation records, that Marcellinus, one of your popes, was brought to offer incense unto idols, and that he did so; whereas your Baronius inclines rather unto the contrary. This man of great reputation records, that the priests of Rome, by the advice of Liberius, chose Felix, a priest, to be a bishop, instead of Liberius; whereas your chroniclers, of greatest esteem, maintain, that Felix was chosen priest by hereticks only, and not by consent of Liberius. This man of great reputation 10 records, that Liberius subscribed to the Arian heresy, which neither " Pighius nor Onuphrius can abide to hear of. This man of great reputation 13 records, that Anastasius, the second pope of that name, communicated with Photinus the heretick, who was all one with Acacius the Eutychian; and that he purposed with himself to restore Acacius, who was deposed by his predecessors, but could not effect it, because God struck him with sudden death; all which is false and fabulous in " Bellarmine's opinion. This man of great reputation 15 records, that, after Marcellinus, the bishoprick of Rome lay void, seven years, six months, and five and twenty days; whereas, by 16 Baronius, it lay void but twenty-five days in all. This man of great reputation " records, that the cross of Christ was found in Eusebius the Pope's days, about the year 310; whereas, by " Baronius, it was not found till the year 316. This man of great reputation "reckons Honorius the First among the hereticks called Monothelites; whereas the 20 most of your side, and, by name, Bellarmine," would gladly clear Honorius from this imputation. This 9 6 In vita Marcel. 8 In vita Liberii. 13 12 1 In vita Leo nis iv. page £93. ? Joh. Albinus Typographus Mogunt. Præf. ad amicum Lectorem, quæ præfigitur Anastasio. Qui sciret tantum grammaticam isto seculo rudi, doctissimus habebatur. Baron. Annal. tom. ix. ad ann. 802, num. xii. 3 Albinus loco citato. 4 Anastas. de Vit. Pontif. in vita Aniceti, &c. 5 Platina de Vitis Pontif in vita Aniceti, & Onur h. in Chron. Rom. Pontif. 7 Annal. tom. ii. ad ann. 302. num. 95, 96, &c. 9 Baron. tom. iii. ad an. 355. num. 57. 11 Pigh. Hierar. Eccles. lib. iv. cap. viii. 12 Anno in Plat. 13 In vit. Anast. ii. 14 Lib. iv. de Rom. Pont. cap. x. & 15 In vita Marcellini cessavit episcop. ann. 7, 16 Annal. tom. ii. ad ann. 304. num. 25 and 26. 17 In vit. Euseb. 19 In vit. Hon. i. 21 Lib. iv. de Rom. pont. cap. xi. 10 In vita Liberii. in vit. Fel. cap. it. Append. ad lib. de summo Pont. cap. xiv. m. 6, dieb. 25. 20 Onuph. Annotat. in Plat, in vita Honorii. i. &c. 3 8 man' tells us, that Alexander the First sat but eight years, and a few odd months; whereas Baronius tells us, that he sat ten years, and odd months. This man giveth to Pius nineteen years, four months, and three days; whereas Baronius gives him but ten years. This man makes Soter sit nine years, and upward; whereas, by Baronius, he sat not full four years. This man' saith, that Anterus sat twelve years, one month, and twelve days; whereas Baronius saith, he sat not a whole month. This man alloweth Dennis but two years, and a little more; whereas, 10 Baronius allows him eleven years, and more. This man "writes, that Stephen the Fifth sat seven years, and seven months; whereas, by " Baronius's reckoning, he sat but seven months, and two or three odd days. And so, in many other things, this man of great reputation alloweth of that, whereof you allow not, and disalloweth that which you allow: And therefore what reason have you to press us with his authority in this controversy? Pap. Great reason; for, though he missed sometimes the truth, yet he aimed always at it; and, though he was unkindly dealt withal by some of the popes, yet he was not carried away with malice, and moved thereby, as many are, to write an untruth. Prot. What? Was Anastasius, the man of great reputation, unkindly dealt withal by some of the popes? Who told you that tale? Pap. I had it of 13 Florimondus; and I think he was induced to say so, because we read, in Leo the Fourthi's time, one Anastasius was degraded by Pope Leo and a council of sixty-seven bishops. Prot. That Anastasius, who was degraded by Leo the Fourth and the council, was he, as " Platina sheweth who stood up antipope against Benedict the Third; it was not this Anastasius; which you may learn of him who made the index alphabetical for the more ready finding out of the most memorable points in Anastasius's Chronicle; for he distinguisheth Anastasius Bibliothecarius from Anastasius degraded by Leo, and set up in opposition against Benedict the Third. But, let Anastasius be of as great reputation, as you are disposed to have him of: How soon after Leo's death, doth Anastasius report, that the clergy chose Benedict the Third? Can you tell me that? 15 Pap. Yea; the see was void, after Leo the Fourth, just fifteen days, and no more; and then not Joan, but Benedict the Third was chosen. Prot. Who told you so? Pap. Marry, Onuphrius," Bellarmine,18 Bernartius,19 Florimondus, and Papyrius Massonus; for they say, that these are Anastasius's own words: Sanctissimus Leo Papa. IV. obdormivit in Domino, 16. Calend. Aug. sepultus ad Sanctum Petrum; & cessavit Episcopatus dies 15. Quo mortuo, mox omnis Clerus Romanæ sedis, universi proceres, cunctusque populus ac senatus congregati sunt, &c, uno conamine Benedictum Pontificem promulgârunt.' That is, The most holy Pope, Leo the Fourth, died in the Lord, the sixteenth of the 1 In vit. Alex. i. 2 Baron. Annal. tom. ii. ad an. 132. num. 1. 3 In vit. Pii. i. 4 Baron. tom. ii. ad ann. 167. num. 1. 5 In vit. Soteris. 6 Baron. tom. ii. ad ann. 179. num. 51. 8 Baron. tom. ii. ad ann. 238. num. 1. 11 In vita Stephani v. 9 In vita Dionysii. 7 In vita Anteri. 10 Tom. i. ad an. 272. num. 21. 12 Annal. tom. ix. ad ann. 887. num. 1. 14 De Vitis Pont. in vit. Bened. 111. 16 Annot. in Plat. in vit. Johan. viii. 18 De Utilitate Legend. Hist. Benedict. III. 13 Florim. cap. xiv. num. 1. 19 Cap. xiv. pag. 123. 20 De Urbis Episc. in calends of August, and was buried at St. Peter's; and the bishoprick was void fifteen days. Now, presently upon his death, the whole Roman clergy, with all the nobles, and commons, and officers of the city, met, and, as one man, agreed that Benedict should be pope. 1 Prot. They all lye falsely, for the wordes (Et cessavit Episcopatus dies 15.) are not to be found, as before I told you, in Anastasius; so that whatsoever they build upon this circumstance, as the most of their building is, is built upon a false foundation, and therefore cannot stand: Yet, besides, I would have you know, that Anastasius purposely passed over in silence divers things which touched the Popes; for, Multa de Sergio desiderari videntur apud Anastasium, saith Baronius: Anastasius wants many things touching Sergius. Again, 'Johannis VIII. res gestæ desiderantur apud Anastasium, fortassis prætermissæ ob odiosam Photii restitutionem,' saith the same Baronius.' The acts of John the Eighth are wanting in Anastasius, perhaps, because he was loth to record that odious restoring of Photius. 3 2 Anastasius forbears to speak of Luitprandus's sacking of St. Peter's church, which is without the walls of Rome; and so doth Paulus Diaconus too; not for that he was ignorant of the fact, since he lived in the same time, but for that he was loth, by telling truth, to discredit Luitprandus: Besides, under Benedicite be it spoken, I fear Anastasius, when he was printed, passed ill fingers; I fear something was put out of him, which was in his manuscript. Pap. What presumptions have you of it? Prot. Great: For I read in Platina, and in Volaterran, that Bibliothecarius (by whom they mean Anastasius, who lived three. hundred years before Sigebert) made mention, in his history, That Adrian the First first gave power to Charles the Great to confirm the election of the Bishop of Rome, and to nominate other bishops within his dominions; and yet I find not this in the printed Anastasius. Now I think it more probable, that some put this out of Anastasius, when he came to the press, which was Anno 1602, than that Platina and Volaterran should helye his manuscript. Pap. Methinks, Anastasius should not have written any such thing; for Baronius and Binnius do confidently affirm, that no man writ so before Sigbert, who lived ad Annum 1112. Prot. Tut, they both lye therein grosly; for Gregory the Sixth, who lived and died anno 1047, a good many years before Sigebert, in an oration, which he made to his cardinals upon his death-bed, testified as much in effect, as Sigebert: For, Laudatus est olim prædecessor noster Hadrianus prædicandæ memoriæ, quod investituras ecclesiarum concessit Carolo Magno, ita ut nullus electus consecraretur ab Epis 2 Ibid. ad Annum 882. uum 6. 1 Annal. Tom. x. ad Ann. 947. num 6. 3 Multa prætermissa ab Anastasio inveniuntur, & inter alia depredatio Bafilicæ S. Petri, quæ in vaticanis collibus extra urbis mania posita erat Baron. Annal. Tom. ix. ad Ann. 739. num. 6. Plurima de eodem Rege (viz. Luitprando) P. Diaconus prætermisisse convincitur; sed haud rerum ignoratione, sed ne tanto viro notam inureret, &c. Baron. Annal. tom. ix. ad Ann. 744. num. 22. In vita Paschal. I. Anthropol, 22. lib. Annal. Tom. ix. ad Ann. 774. Not. in Vitam Hadriani, Tom. iii. Conc. pag. 252. Apud Antoninum, Num. Hist. Part. II. tit. 16. cap. i. 4 9 6 man' tells us, that Alexander the First sat but eight years, and a few odd months; whereas Baronius tells us, that he sat ten years, and odd months. This man' giveth to Pius nineteen years, four months, and three days; whereas Baronius gives him but ten years. This man makes Soter sit nine years, and upward; whereas, by Baronius, he sat not full four years. This man' saith, that Anterus sat twelve years, one month, and twelve days; whereas Baronius saith, he sat not a whole month. This man alloweth Dennis but two years, and a little more; whereas, 10 Baronius allows him eleven years, and more. This man " writes, that Stephen the Fifth sat seven years, and seven months; whereas, by " Baronius's reckoning, he sat but seven months, and two or three odd days. And so, in many other things, this man of great reputation alloweth of that, whereof you allow not, and disalloweth that which you allow: And therefore what reason have you to press us with his authority in this controversy ? 13 Pap. Great reason; for, though he missed sometimes the truth, yet he aimed always at it; and, though he was unkindly dealt withal by some of the popes, yet he was not carried away with malice, and moved thereby, as many are, to write an untruth. Prot. What? Was Anastasius, the man of great reputation, unkindly dealt withal by some of the popes? Who told you that tale? Pap. I had it of 13 Florimondus; and I think he was induced to say so, because we read, in Leo the Fourthi's time, one Anastasius was degraded by Pope Leo and a council of sixty-seven bishops. Prot. That Anastasius, who was degraded by Leo the Fourth and the council, was he, as " Platina sheweth who stood up antipope against Benedict the Third; it was not this Anastasius; which you may learn of him who made the index alphabetical for the more ready finding out of the most memorable points in Anastasius's Chronicle; for he 15 distinguisheth Anastasius Bibliothecarius from Anastasius degraded by Leo, and set up in opposition against Benedict the Third. But, let Anastasius be of as great reputation, as you are disposed to have him of: How soon after Leo's death, doth Anastasius report, that the clergy chose Benedict the Third? Can you tell me that? Pap. Yea; the see was void, after Leo the Fourth, just fifteen days, and no more; and then not Joan, but Benedict the Third was chosen. Prot. Who told you so? 16 Pap. Marry, Onuphrius," Bellarmine," Bernartius," Florimondus, and Papyrius Massonus; for they say, that these are Anastasius's own words: Sanctissimus Leo Papa. IV. obdormivit in Domino, 16. Calend. Aug. sepultus ad Sanctum Petrum; & cessavit Episcopatus dies 15. Quo mortuo, mox omnis Clerus Romanæ sedis, universi proceres, cunctusque populus ac senatus congregati sunt, &c, uno conamine Benedictum Pontificem promulgârunt.' That is, The most holy Pope, Leo the Fourth, died in the Lord, the sixteenth of the 1 In vit. Alex. i. 2 Baron. Annal. tom. ii. ad an. 132. num. 1. 4 Baron. tom. ii. ad ann. 167. num. 1. 5 In vit. Soteris. ad ann. 179. num. 51. 9 In vita Dionysii. 7 In vita Anteri. 3 In vit. Pii. i. 6 Baron. tom. ii. 8 Baron, tom. ii. ad ann. 238. num. 1. 11 In vita Stephani v. 10 Tom. i. ad an. 272. num. 21. 12 Annal. tom. ix. ad ann. 887. num. 1. 14 De Vitis Pont. in vit. Bened. 1II. 16 Annot. in Plat. in vit. Johan. viii. 18 De Utilitate Legend. Hist. Benedict. III. 13 Florim. cap. xiv. num. 1. 19 Cap. xiv. pag. 123. 20 De Urbis Episc. in calends of August, and was buried at St. Peter's; and the bishoprick was void fifteen days. Now, presently upon his death, the whole Roman clergy, with all the nobles, and commons, and officers of the city, met, and, as one man, agreed that Benedict should be pope. Prot. They all lye falsely, for the wordes (Et cessavit Episcopatus dies 15.) are not to be found, as before I told you, in Anastasius; so that whatsoever they build upon this circumstance, as the most of their building is, is built upon a false foundation, and therefore cannot stand: Yet, besides, I would have you know, that Anastasius purposely passed over in silence divers things which touched the Popes; for, Multa de Sergio desiderari videntur apud Anastasium, saith 1 Baronius: Anastasius wants many things touching Sergius. Again, 'Johannis VIII. res gestæ desiderantur apud Anastasium, fortassis prætermissæ ob odiosam Photii restitutionem,' saith the same Baronius.' The acts of John the Eighth are wanting in Anastasius, perhaps, because he was loth to record that odious restoring of Photius. 2 'Anastasius forbears to speak of Luitprandus's sacking of St. Peter's church, which is without the walls of Rome; and so doth Paulus Diaconus too; not for that he was ignorant of the fact, since he lived in the same time, but for that he was loth, by telling truth, to discredit Luitprandus: Besides, under Benedicite be it spoken, I fear Anastasius, when he was printed, passed ill fingers; I fear something was put out of him, which was in his manuscript. Pap. What presumptions have you of it? Prot. Great: For I read in Platina, and in Volaterran, that Bibliothecarius (by whom they mean Anastasius, who lived three hundred years before Sigebert) made mention, in his history, That Adrian the First first gave power to Charles the Great to confirm the election of the Bishop of Rome, and to nominate other bishops within his dominions; and yet I find not this in the printed Anastasius. Now I think it more probable, that some put this out of Anastasius, when he came to the press, which was Anno 1602, than that Platina and Volaterran should belye his manuscript. Pap. Methinks, Anastasius should not have written any such thing; for Baronius and Binnius do confidently affirm, that no man writ so before Sigbert, who lived ad Annum 1112. Prot. Tut, they both lye therein grosly; for Gregory the Sixth, who lived and died anno 1047, a good many years before Sigebert, in an oration, which he made to his cardinals upon his death-bed, testified as much in effect, as Sigebert: For, Laudatus est olim prædecessor noster Hadrianus prædicandæ memoriæ, quod investituras ecclesiarum concessit Carolo Magno, ita ut nullus electus consecraretur ab Epis 1 Annal. Tom, x, ad Ann. 947. num 6. 2 Ibid. ad Annum 882. uum 6. 3 Multa prætermissa ab Anastasio inveniuntur, & inter alia depredatio Bafilicæ S. Petri, quæ in Vaticanis collibus extra urbis moenia posita erat Baron. Annal. Tom. ix. ad Anu. 739. num. 6. Plurima de eodem Rege (viz. Luitprando) P. Diaconus prætermisisse convincitur; sed haud rerum ignoratioue, sed ne tanto viro notam inureret, &c. Baron. Annal. tom. ix. ad Ann. 744. num. 22. In vita Paschal. I. Anthropol, 22. lib. Annal. Tom. ix. ad Ann. 774. Not. in Vitam Hadriani, Tom. iii. Conc. pag. 252. Apud Antoninum, Num. Hist. Part. II. tit. 16. cap. i. |