382
TEMPORAL
AND SPIRITUAL POWERS.
Thomas Carlyle
.
.
absolute
et libere compromiseris. . . . Nos tamen
ad tuam cautelam et ut eecurius in
nostra puritate quiescas, serenitati
tuse presontium tenore prsedicimus,
et expresee promittimus, quod prseter
contenta in iis quse jam pronuntiata
noscuntur, nostrse nequaquam inten-
tionis existit ad aliquam in reliquis
pronuntiationem, vel diffinitionem in
hujusmodi negotio ex predicto compro-
misso procedere, sine tuo expresso
consensu prehabito, a te per patentes
litteras tuas, et per specialem nuntium
destinando. "
>> Cf. Boniface vTH. Register, 2810,
2811.
>> Id. id. , 1567, " Clericis Laicos " :
" Nos igitur talibus iniquis actibus
obviare volentes, de fratrum nostrorum
consilio, apostolica auctoritate statui-
mus quod quicunque prelati ecclesias-
ticeque persone religiosi vel soculares,
quorumcunque ordinum, conditioni 9
seu statuum, collectas vel tallias, deci-
mam, vicesimam seu centesimam suo-
rum et ecclesiarum proventuum vel
bonorum laicis solverint vel promi-
serint, vel se soluturos consenserint,
aut quamvis aliam quantitatem, por-
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE Vffl. AND PHILIP THE FAIR.
377
The bull produced a violent opposition in England and
France. In England, Archbishop Winchelsey, at the Parlia-
ment held in November 1296, maintained that the clergy
could not, in view of the papal prohibition, grant the aid
which the king demanded. The king replied by putting the
clergy out of the royal protection, and the clergy were com-
pelled to give way, the archbishop recommending the clergy
to act each on his own individual responsibility. 1 In France
the opposition was equally determined, and Boniface himself
in the course of a year had to give way. In September 1296
he assured Philip that the Bull " Clericis Laicos " did not
forbid the clergy to grant him aids for the defence and other
necessities of the kingdom, but only forbade them to do this
without the papal permission, his object being to protect
the clergy against intolerable exactions ; and he added that
the bull had no reference to the obligations and aids which
the clergy were bound to render in respect of their feudal
tenures. 2 In February and March 1297, in response to the
tionem, aut quotam proventuum vel
honorum, extimationia vel valoris
ipsorum sub adiutorii, mutui, subven-
tionis, subsidii, vel doni nomine, seu
quovis alio titulo, modo vel quesito
colore, absque auotoritate sedis eius-
dem; neenon imporatores reges seu
principes, duces, comites, vel barones,
potestates, capitanei, officiales, vel
rectores, quocunque nomine censeantur,
civitatum, castrorum seu quorum-
cunque locorum constitutorum ubili-
bet, et qui vis alius cuiuscunque pre-
minentise, conditionis et status, qui
talia imposuerint, exegerint vel re-
ceperint, aut apud edes sacras deposit*
eccleeiarum vel ecclesiasticarum per-
son arum ubilibet arestaverint . . .
necuon omnes qui scienter in predictis
dederint auxilium, consilium vel favo-
rem, publice vel occulte, eo ipso sen-
tentiam excommunicationis incurrant
. . . a supradictis autom excom-
municationum et interdicte sententiis
nullus absolvi valeat prrctorquam
in mortis articulo absque sedis
apostolice auctoritate et licentia
spetiali. "
1 Cf. Stubbe' ' Constit. Hist. ,' vol. ii.
cbap. 14, sect. 180.
>> Id. id. , 1653," Inefiabilis Amoris " :
" Non enim precise stat uimus, pro
defensione ac necessitatibus tui vel
regni tui ab eisdem prelatis, ecclesi-
asticisve personis pecuniarium subsi-
dium non prestari, sed adjecimus id
non fieri sine nostra licentia speciali ;
aductis in considerationem nostram,
exactionibus intolerabilibus ecclesiis et
personis ecclesiasticis, religiosis et
secularibus dicti regni, ab officialibus
tuis auctoritate tua impositis atquo
factis ; de futuris potius verisimiliter
formidantes, cum ex preteritis certitudo
presumi valeat de futuris .
Sunt et alii, sicut ad nostram
notitiam est deductum, qui maligne
surripiunt, dicentes, jam non poterunt
prelati et persone ecclesiastice regni
? ? tui servire de feudis, vel subventiones
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? 378 TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. [PABT II.
request of the archbishops and bishops of France, he gave
them permission to make a reasonable subvention to the
King of France, provided it was made freely and without
coercion ; they were to inform the Pope of the amount granted,
that he might see whether it was moderate. The grant was
to be for that year only, and was not to be repeated without
the renewed permission of the Pope. 1 In March and May
1297 we find Boniface authorising a contribution of one-
tenth to the king by all the ecclesiastical persons and bodies
in France. 2 In August 1297 he granted the first fruits of all
ecclesiastical dignities in France, except those of archbishops,
bishops, and abbots, to Philip during the time of the war. 3
He had, however, already, in July 1297 in a letter addressed
to the bishops, clergy, nobles, and others in France, substan-
tially withdrawn the prohibition of the " Clericis Laicos. "
His decree, he says, had been misinterpreted; it was not
intended to prohibit a voluntary grant by the bishops or
ecclesiastical persons, even if this were demanded by Philip
or his successors, or other temporal lords. The decree had
no reference to feudal dues and other customary services to
the crown ; and he adds that it should not apply to the
case of the imminent danger or necessity of the kingdom.
The king, therefore, might demand and the clergy might
sciphum, unum equum dare liberaliter
regj mo. Non fertur ad tales
et consimiles interpretationes sub-
dolas diete nostra constitutionis
intentio. '*
1 Id. id. , 2333 : " Veetris itaque in
hao parte supplicationibus annuentes
. . . liceat vobis et eisdem prelatis
ecclesie et personis ecclesiasticis, absque
metu constitutionis nostre predicte,
ipsi regi pro hujusmodi vestre ac
ipsorum regis et regni intrinsece defen-
sionis subsidio, subventionem con-
pruam, prout vobis et ceteris prelatis
regni prefati sou majori parti vestrum
et ipsorum videbitur, voluntariam,
liberalem et liberam, non coactam,
absque omni concussionc, exactione
et executione temporali vel laycali
exigendam, hac vice presente nostra
fretis lioentia impertiri, eamque simi-
liter regi liceat recipere memorato.
Volumus autem quod, si subventionem
hujusmodi prsestari contingat, formam
et modum et quantitatem etiam ac
quicquid super hoc factum extiterit
nobis per vestras litteras seriosius
intimare curetis, ut quantum discrete
vel indiscrete, moderate vel immoderate
premissa precesserint et acceptationem
vel moderationem exegerint clarius
videamus. Scire quoque vos volumus
nostre intentionis existere quod sine
iterata licentia hujusmodi subventio
annualem terminam non exoedat. "
Cf. id. id. , 1933.
>> Id. id. , 1822, 1829.
" Id. id. , 2367.
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE YiH. AND PHILIP THE FAIR. 379
grant an aid or contribution for the defence of the realm
without consulting the Pope, notwithstanding the terms of
the decree (" Clericis Laicos ") or any privilege granted by the
Apostolic See. He assures them that he had had no intention
by this decree of destroying any of the laws, liberties, privi-
leges, or customs of the king or kingdom. 1
It would seem evident that Boniface had been worsted
in his second conflict with the temporal powers, and had
to withdraw his claim.
It is with these claims of Boniface to forbid the taxation
of the clergy that the unknown author of the tract entitled
' Disputatio inter Clericum et Militem ' seems specially to
deal; and, though it cannot be dated with any precision, it
1 Id. id. ,2364,"NoveritisNos": "N03
igitur declaramus, quod constitutio ipsa
vel ejus prohibitio ad donsria vel mutua
seu quevis alia voluntaria prelatorum
et pereonarum ecclesiasticarum ejus-
dem regni, cujuscunque status, ordinis
vel conditioni a existant, omni prorsus
occasione aut exactione cessante, se
aliquatemus non extendat, licet ad id
forsitan . . . Philippi Regis . . . vel
successorum suorum . . . aut nooilium
vel aliorum dominorum temporalium
de regno predioto, requisitio curialis et
amica precedat; quodque feudalia,
censuaria sive jura qu&libet in rerum
ecelesiasticarum datione retenta, vel
alia servitia consueta regi ejusque suc-
cessoribus, ducibus, comitibus, baro-
nibus, nobilibus et aliis temporalibus
dominis supradictis, tam de jure quam
de consuetudine a personis ecclesiasticis
debits, prefata constitutio non inoludat
vel aliquatenus comprehendat . . .
Adjicimus innuper hujusmodi declara-
cioni nostre quod, si prefatis regi
et succcssoribus suis pro universali
vel particulars ejusdem regni defen-
sione periculosa nocossitas immineret,
ad hujusmodi necessitatis casum
se nequaquam extendat constitutio
memorata.
Quin potius idem rex ac succes-
sores ipaius possint a prelatis et per-
sonis ecclesiasticis dicti regni petere
ac recipe re pro hujusmodi defensione
subsidium vel contributionom, illudque
aut illam prelati et persons? predicti
sepefato regi suis successoribus incon-
sulto etiam Romano pontifice, tenean-
tur et valeant, sub quote nomine aut
alias etiam, impertiri, non obstantibus
oonstitutione predicta, seu quovis
exemptionis vel alio quolibet privi-
legio, sub quacunque forma confecto,
a sedc apostolica impetrato.
Quodque praterea intentionis nos-
trse, non extitit, neo existet, per con-
stitutionem predictam seu declara-
tionem presentem jura, libertates,
franchysias, seu consuetudines, quio
prefatis regi et regno, ducibus, comi-
tibus, baronibus, nobilibus et quibusvis
aliis temporalibus dominis, editionis
prefati constitutionis tempore, ac etiam
ante illud competero noscebantur, tol-
? ? lere, diminuere vel quovis modo
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? 380
[PAET H.
TE51PORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS.
seems probable that it belongs to the years from 1296 to
1298. 1
The tract is noteworthy for its explicit and reasoned repudi-
ation of the claim of the supremacy of Church Law and the
Holy See over Secular Law and secular authorities. It is
in the form of a dialogue between a clerk and a knight, and
begins with a complaint on the part of the clerk that the
Church and its liberty was oppressed by financial exactions
and disregard of its laws. The knight asks what he means
by law (jus). The clerk replies that he means the decrees
of the Fathers and the statutes of the Eoman Pontiff. The
knight replies roundly that these laws, so far as they refer to
temporal matters, may be law to the clergy, but have no
authority over the laity, for no one can make laws where he
has no " dominium " ; and as the princes have no authority
to make law on spiritual matters, the clergy have none to do
this in temporal matters.
The clerk then argues that Christ is Lord of all, and Peter
is his vicar: how can they refuse to recognise that the vicar
of Christ has the same authority as Christ t The knight replies
by saying that he had heard that there were two " tempora "
in Christ, one of humility, the other of power. Peter was
Christ's vicar, " pro statu humilitatis, non pro statu glorie
et majestatis. " Christ said that his kingdom was not of this
world, and refused to act as a judge. Christ in the world
neither exercised the temporal authority nor committed it
to Peter. The clerk then urges the authority of the Church
in matters of sin, and therefore of justice. The knight replies
that the authority of judging according to the law, in ques-
tions of justice and injustice, belongs to him who has authority
to make the laws. The clerk contends that temporal things
should serve the spiritual, and that the spiritual power should
rule the temporal. The knight replies that he quite recognises
that spiritual persons should receive such things as they need
for their support, but this does not mean that they have
authority in temporal matters. He then turns upon the
1 For a full discussion of the date Scholz, ' Die Publizistik zur Zeit
and authorship of this work, cf. R. Philipps des Schdnen,' <fec.
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? CHAP. VIH. ] BONIFACE ViH. AND PHILIP THE FAIR. 381
clerk and warns him that the temporal power is concerned
with the use which the clergy make of that which is given
them for pious purposes. The clerk complains that the
kings have been annulling the privileges which had been
conferred upon the Church by law, and the knight argues
that this had been justified by necessity. When finally the
clerk contends that the emperor might have such powers,
but not a king, the knight describes this as flat blasphemy,
for the King of France is in every respect of the same dignity
and authority as the emperor. 1
1 ' Disputatio inter Clerioum et
Militem,' p. 75 :
" Clerictjs : Ecclesia facta est vobis
omnibus prada; exiguntur a nobis
multa, dantur nulla; si nostra bona
non damns, rapiuntur a nobis, con-
culcantur jura nostra, libertates
effringimtur, . . . immo oerte con-
tra omno jus, injurias innumeras
sustinemus. . . .
Miles : Scire vellom quid vocatis
jus ?
Clerictts : Jus vero decreta patrum,
et statutum Romanorum Pontificum.
Miles : Quss illi statuunt, si de
temporalibus statuunt vobis possunt
jura esse, nobis vero non sunt; nullus
enim potest de iis statuere, super quos
constat ipsum dominium non habere.
Sic nec Franoorum rex potest statuere
super imperium : nec imperator super
regnum Francise. Et quemadmodum
terreni principes non possunt nliquid
statuere do vestris spiritualibus, super
quse non acceperunt poteetatem, sic
nec vos de temporalibus eorum super
quse non habetis auctoritatem. . . .
Unde semper mihi risus magnus fuit
cum audissem noviter statutum esse
a domino Bonifacio octavo, quod
ipse est et esse debet super omnes
principatus et regna, et sic facile
potest sibi jus acquirere super rem
quamlibet. . . .
Miles : Nullo modo divinse potes-
tati vel dominationi resisto: quia
Christianus sum ct esse volo, et ideo,
si per diversas scripturas ostenderitis,
summon pontifices esse super omnia
temporalia dominus, necesse est om-
nino reges et principes summis ponti-
fibus tam in spiritualibus quam in
temporalibus esse subjectos.
Cleriotjs : Facile hoc est, ex supe-
rioribus posse ostendi. Tenet enim
fides nostra Petrum Apostolum pro
se et suis succossoribus institutum
esse plenum vicarium Jesu Christi. . . .
Si ergo non negatis Christum de vestris
temporalibus statuere posse qui domi-
nus est coeli et terrse, non potestis sine
rubore eandem potestatem Christi
pleno vicario denegare.
Miles : Audivi a viris aanctis ac
dootissimia duo tempora in Christi
distingui, . . . alteram humilitatis ct
alterum potestatis. . . . Petrus autem
constituitur Christi vicarius pro statu
? ? humilitatis, non pro statu glorise et
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?
382 TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. [PAST II.
Another tract which seems to belong to this time
argues with similar determination for the principle that the
king has the right to demand contributions from the clergy
towards the necessities of the country. It begins with the
assertion that the Church consists not only of the clergy but
of the laity, and that the clergy must not speak as though
the liberty of the Church meant only the liberty of the clergy.
There are, indeed, special liberties of the clergy granted by
the popes, with the goodwill and permission of the secular
princes, but these liberties cannot take away the authority
of kings in the government and defence of their kingdoms.
Those members of the body, whether clergy or laity, noble
or ignoble, who refuse their help to the head--that is, the
king--show that they are useless members. It is a matter
of astonishment that the vicar of Christ should forbid (men)
si am cognoscere de peccato. . . . Cum
ergo jus tum et injustum in negociis
rerum temporalium sit, consequens
etiam est ut de causis temporalibus
debet judicare. . . .
Miles : Manifestum est ergo ilium
debere secundum leges judicare, et
secundum easdem de justo et in jus to
cognoscere, cujus est leges condere, et
habere interpretari, exponere et custo-
dire, facere et gravare et mollire, cum
vidobitur expedire. . . .
Clericus : Nonne debent temporalia
spiritualibus deservire. Ergo tem-
poralia debent esse subjecta spiritua-
libus, et spiritualis potestas tempo-
ralem debet regere potestatem.
Miles : Vere debent spiritualibus
temporalia deservire suo casu, quia
tenentur Dei cultoribus necessaria
ministrare. . . . Videtis quod temporalia
conceduntur vobis non ad dominium,
sed ad vitas subsidium et ad spiritualis
ministerii sumptum. . . . Dictum enim
vobis est superius, quod hsec accipistis
omnia ad vitse subsidium et ad sanctss
militise stipendia ad victum habendum
et vestitum. . . . Et quicquid superest,
in pios Usus pauperum et miserias
segrotantium expendere debetis. Quod
si non feceritis multum nostra interest,
de eisdem curam habere, ne animas
mortuorum salutemque vivorum de-
fraudetis. . . .
Clericus : Num quid per reges
tollendse sunt gratise nobis per
leges concesse, et per beatorum
principum privilegia sanctae ecclesise
concessa. . . .
Miles : Igitur non est dubium quin
pro regni necessititibus gratias vobis
indultas, legibusque sancitas, possunt
altissimi principes consultiori suspen-
dere rations, et secundum exigentiam
temporis ut arc.
Clericus : Imperatores sanxerunt
ista, non reges, ed ideo per bonos im-
peratores, o miles, nunc erit legum
gubernacula moderari.
Miles : Hoc responsum est bias-
phemia. . . . Et ideo domine clerice
linguam vestram ooercite et agnoscite
legem legibus, consuetudinibus, et
? ? privilegiis vestris et libertatibus datis,
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE VIII. AND PTTTT/TP THE FAIR. 383
to pay tribute to Csesar, and to render assistance to their
king and kingdom against an unjust attack. 1
It is then clear, as we have said, that Boniface VIII. had
been compelled to withdraw from the two positions which
he had taken up: the claim that he had the right to inter-
vene authoritatively in the conflicts between the northern
countries, and the claim to forbid the taxation of the clergy :
the Bull " Noveritis Nos " does represent a very complete
withdrawal.
It is not our part here to describe the history of the events
between 1297 and 1301, when the relations between Boniface
Vlil. and Philip the Fair again became openly hostile. We
find Boniface VIII. complaining in January 1299 that his
1 Dupuy, ' Histoiro du Diflerend,'
*c. , ' Preuves,' p. 21: " Sancta Mater
Ecclesia, sponsa Christi, non solum
ex clericis, sed etiam ex laicia: imo
sacra testante Scriptura sicut est unus
Dominus, una fides, una baptisma, sic
a primo usque ad ultimum, ex omnibus
Christi fidelibus, una est Ecclesia, ipsi
Christo, coelesti sponso, anulo fidei
desponsata, quam ipse a servitute
peccati, et jugo veteria legis, ac
dominio hostia antiqui, per mortem
auam misericorditer liberavit; qua
libertate gaudere voluit omnes illos,
tam laicos quam clericos. . . . Et quia
clerici in Ecclesia, ut patet per predicta,
aunt, et merito, et numero potiores,
non debent, non possunt, nisi forsitan
per abusum sibi appropriare, quasi
aliis excludendo, ecclesiaaticam liber-
tatem, loquendo de libertate, qua
Christus nos sua gratia liberavit.
Multse vero sunt libertates aingu-
lares, non universalis Ecclesise, sponsio
Christi, sed solum ejus ministrorum,
qui cultui divino ad sedificationom
populi sunt, vel esse debent spirituali-
bus deputati: quse quidem libertates
per statuta Romanorum Pontificum, de
benignitate vel saltem permissione
Principum secularium sunt concessse,
quse quidem libertates, sic concessse
vel permissse ipsia Regibus suorum
gubernationem ac defensionem auferre
non possunt: nec ea quse dicta. " guber-
nationi et defensioni necessaria, seu
expedientia, deliberato bonorum ac
prudentium consilio judicantur, dicente
Domino Pontificibus Templi, ' Reddite
ergo quse sunt Csssaris, Csesari, et quse
sunt Dei, Deo. '
Et quia turpis est pars quse suo
non congruit universo, et membrum
inutile, et quasi paralyticum, quod
corpori suo subsidium ferre recusat,
quicunque sive clerici, sive laici, sive
nobiles, sive ignobiles, qui capiti suo,
vel corpori, hoo est domino Regi et
regno . . . auxilium ferre recusant,
semetipsos partes incongruas, et mem-
bra inutilia, et quasi paralytica de-
monstrant.
Et quis, sapiens et intelligens hsec,
non incidit in vehementem stuporem,
audiens vicarium Jesu Christi prohi-
? ? bentem tributum dari Csesari, et sub
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? 384 TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. [PABT ri.
grant of the first fruits had been misinterpreted and misused,
and in April of the same year that Philip would not surrender
the " Eegalia " of the diocese of Eheims, which he had occu-
pied during its vacancy.
It was in December 1301 that the storm broke. Three
letters, or bulls, contain the record of this. On 4th December
Boniface had issued the Bull, " Salvator Mundi," by which
he suspended, at the discretion of the Holy See, all the
special "privilegia" and favours which he had conferred
upon Philip, on the ground that they had been abused to
the great injury of the churches and ecclesiastics of the
kingdom of Prance. 1
On 5th December Boniface wrote to Philip that he had
heard that he had caused the Bishop of Pamiers to be brought
before him, and had committed him to the custody of the
Archbishop of IJarbonne. He therefore asks and exhorts and
commands Philip to set the bishop at liberty, and to permit
him to come to Eome, and warns him that unless he can
show some reasonable cause for his action, he must be held
to have incurred the sentence imposed by the canons on
those who laid their hands on a bishop. 2
1 Boniface VIII. Register, 4422
(" Salvator Mundi "): " Nos igitur
attondentee quod nonnulla privilegia,
indulgentias et gratias carissimo in
Christo filio nostro Philippo Regi
Fran corum illustri ej usque succes-
soribus, et specialiter pro defensione
regni sui sub certis formis duximus
concedenda, et gratiose aliqua con-
oessimus clericis et laicis, qui de suo
et successorum suorum stricto consilio
fuerint vel majori parti eorum: quo-
rum privilegiorum, gratiarum, indul-
gentiarum et concessionum occasione,
per abusum, ecclesiis et ecclesiarum
prelatis ac personis religiosis et secu-
laribus dicti regni magna dispendia et
gravamina sunt illata, et gravia scan-
dala sunt exorta et i nan tea possunt
oriri : ac precaventes ne tali pretextu
supradictse ecclesise, prelati ac personse
ecclesiasticse plus graventur, provi-
dimus super hoc salubre remedium.
Unde ilia omnia quantum ad omnem
ipso rum effectum, de fratrum nostro-
rum consilio, usque ad predicti sedia
bene placitum diximus suspendenda:
ilia maximo que occasione guerrarum,
quibus dicti regni status pacifieus
turbabatur tunc temporis, fuere con-
cessa. "
* Id. id. , Register, 4432 (" Secundum
divina "): " Sane ad nostrum pervenit
auditum, quod tu venerabilem fratrem
nostrum Appamiarum Episcopum per-
sonaliter ad prsesentiam tuam deduci
fecisti sub tuorum cauta custodia,
utinam non invitum ! Quem sub
colore securitatis personse ipeius, cus-
todiendum dixeris eommisisse fratri
nostro Narboniensi Archiepiscopo,
Metropolitano ipsius. Magnitudinem
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE VHI. AND PHILIP THE FAIR. 385
On the same day Boniface issued the Bull " Asculta Fili,"
in which he enumerated his complaints against Philip, and
asserted his authority in very strong terms. He begins with
the assertion that God had placed him over all kings and
kingdoms, with authority to destroy and to build up, and
he warns Philip not to allow any one to persuade him that
he had no superior, and that he was not subject to the head
of the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. He who should pertina-
ciously assert this was an infidel and outside of the fold of
the good Shepherd. 1
The principal complaints which he made against the conduct
of Philip were that he was oppressing his subjects, the clergy,
the counts and nobles, the communities and the whole people
of his kingdom; that he prevented the Holy See from exer-
cising its legal rights with regard to vacant dignities, benefices,
canonries, and prebends ; that he compelled prelates and
other ecclesiastical persons to appear in his courts, in regard
to personal questions, rights, and goods, which were not held
from him by feudal tenure, while laymen had no authority
in such cases ; that he did not permit the free exercise of the
spiritual sword against those who injured the clergy, or the
igitur tuam rogamii s et hortamur
attente, per apostolica tibi scripts
maudantes, quatenus eumdem epis-
copum, cujus volumus habere prsesen-
tiam, abire libera, et ad nostram prse-
sentiam securum venire permittas,
omniaque bona mobilia etc. . . . sibi
restitui facias . . . neo in antea ad
similia per te vel tuos occupatrices
manus extendas ; habiturus te taliter
in premissis, quod majestatem non
offendas Divinam, nec sedis apostolica
dignitatem, neo oporteat nos aliud
remedium adhibere: sciturus, quod,
nisi ad excusationem tuam aliquid
rationabilem coram nobis propositum
fuerit vel ostensum, et premissis Veritas
suffragetur, quin incurreris sententiam
canonis, propter injectionem temeraria-
rum manuum in dictum episcopum,
non videmus. "
VOL. V.
1 Id. id. , 4424 ("Asculta Fili")i
" Sane fili, cur ista direxerimus, immi-
nente necessitate et urgente conscientia,
expressius aperimus. Constituit enim
nos Deus, licet insufficientibus mentis,
super reges et regna, imposito nobis
jugo apostolicse servitutis, ad evellen-
dum, destruendum, edificandum atque
plantandum, sub ejus nomine et doo-
trina, et ut, gregem pascentes domini-
cum, consolidemus infirmos, sanemus
segrota, alligemus fracta, et reducamus
abjecta, vinumque infundamus et
olium vulneribus sanciatis. Quare,
fili carissime, nemo tibi suadeat, quod
superiorem non habeas et non subsis
sammo ierarchse ecclesiastics e ierarchise,
nam desipit qui sic sapit, et pertina-
citer hoc amrmans, convincitur infi-
delis, nec est intra boni pallor is
ovile. "
? ? 2B
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? 386
[PAB. T II.
TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS.
exercise of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in monasteries of which
he claimed to hold the guardianship. 1
After enumerating other complaints about abuses against
which he had made constant remonstrance in vain, he an-
nounced that he had therefore summoned the archbishops,
bishops, abbots, and some other ecclesiastical persons from
France that he might consult with them in November of the
following year, and determine what should be done for the
amendment of these things, and the good of the kingdom.
He invites Philip to send some faithful men who knew him
well, to take part in the consultation, but warns him that
they will proceed without his representatives if they did not
eome. 2
1 Id. id. id. : " Nec possumus cum
non debeamus, prseterire silentio quin
ea per quse oculos Divinse majestatis
offendis, nos perturbas, gravas sub-
ditos, ecclesias et ecclesiasticas socu-
laresve personas opprimis et affligas,
nec non pares, eomites, et barones,
aliosque nobiles, et universitates ac
pepulum dicti regni, multisque diversis
angustiis scandalises, tibi apertius
exprimamus. Profecto ergo hactenus
servasso nos novimus ordinem caritatis.
. . . Te, opportunis studiis et temporibus,
inducendo, ut errata corrigeris. . . .
Sea quod te correxeris, quod in te
salutis semina sata, ut vellemus, fruc-
ticaverint, non videmus. . . . Et ut
aliqua explicabiliter inferamus : ecoe
quod licet pa teat manifesto, ac explo-
red juris existat, quod in ecclesiasticis
dignitatibus, personatibus et bene-
ficiis, canonicatibus et prebendis vacan-
tibus in curia vel extra curiam Roma-
nam, pontifex summam et potiorem
obtinet potestatem, ad te tamen hujus-
modi ecclesiarum, dignitatum, persona-
tum, beneficiorum, canonicatuum, col-
latio non potest quomodolibet perti-
nere nec pertinet. . . . Nihilominus tu,
metas et terminos tibi positos irreve-
renter excedens, et factus impatiens
super hoc, injuriose obvias ipsi sedi.
ej usque collationes, canonice factas,
executioni mandari non sustines, sed
impugnas, quamvis tuas, qualiter
cunque factas, precedere dinoscuntur.
Prelatos insuper et alias personas
ecclesiasticas, tam religiosas quam
seculares regni tui, etiam super per-
sonal i bus actiordbus, juribus, et immo-
bilibus bonis, quse a te non tenentur
in feudum, ad tuum judicium pertrahis
et coarctas, et inquestas fieri facias, et
detineri tales, licet in clerioos et per-
sonas ecclesiasticas nulla sit laicis
attributa potestas: prseterea contra
injuriatores et molestatores prelato-
rum et personarum ecclesiasticarum
eos spirituali gladio qui eis com-
petit uti libere non permittis;
nec jurisdictionem eis competentem
in monasteriis seu locis ecclesiasticis,
quorum recipis guardiam vel custo-
? ? diam, vel a predecessoribus tuis reoep-
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE VHI. AND PHILIP THE PAIR. 387
These claims of Pope Boniface met with the most violent
resistance. The claim of authority was indeed expressed in
the bull in sufficiently strong terms, but it was apparently
almost immediately represented as being more extreme than
it actually was. A spurious form of the bull was produced,
in which Boniface VIII. was represented as having claimed
that the king was subject to him in temporal as well as spiritual
things. 1 Boniface was charged with heresy, in a statement
attributed to Pierre Dubois. The author contends that the
Pope was endeavouring to take from Philip those rights of
supreme jurisdiction and freedom from all other authority
in temporal matters which he had possessed for a period of
more than a thousand years. If the popes claimed that they
had at one time possessed temporal authority over the Kings
of France, they had lost them by prescription. He contends
also that if the Donation of Constantine had any validity,
which he doubts, it could be revoked by the emperor. 2
piscopos, episcopos, ac dilectos filios
electos et Cisterciensis, Cluniacensis,
Premonstratensis, nec non sancti Dyo-
nisii in Franc ia, Parisiensis diocesis,
et majoris Turonensis, ordinis Sancti
Benedicts, monasteriorum abbates, et
capitula ecclesiarum cathedralium regni
tui, ac magistros in theologia et in
jure canonico et civili, et nonnullas
alias personas ecclesiasticas oriundaa
de regno predicto, per alias nostras
patentes litteras, certo modo ad nos-
trum presentiam evocamus. . . . Cum
quibus, sicut cum personis apud to
suspicione carentibus, quin potius
acceptis et gratis, ac diligentibus nomen
tuum, et affectantibus statum pros-
perum regni tui, tractare consultius
et ordinare salubrius valeamus que ad
premissorum emendationem, tuamque
directionem, quietem atque salutem
ac bonum et prosperum regimen ipsius
regni videbimus expedire. Si tuam
itaque rem agi putaveris, eodem tem-
pore per te vel fideles viros et providos,
tuse conscios voluntatis, ac diligenter
instructos, de quibus plene valeas
habere fiduciam, Wis poteris interesse,
alioquin tuam vel ipsorum absentiam
divina replente presentia, in premisais
et ea contingentibus ac aliis, prout
superna nobis ministraverit gratia et
expedire videbitur, procedcmus. "
Cf. id. id. , 4425 and 4426.
1 Dupuy, ' Histoire du Differend,'
&o. , ' Preuves,' p. 44 (Deum Time):
" Scire te volumus quod in spiritua-
libus et temporalibus nobis subes.
Beneflciorum et prebendarum ad te
collatio nulla spectat: et si aliquorum
vacantium custodiam habeas, fructus
coram successoribus reserves: et si
quse contulisti, collationem hujusmodi
irritam decernimus, et quantum de
facto processerit, revocamus.
et libere compromiseris. . . . Nos tamen
ad tuam cautelam et ut eecurius in
nostra puritate quiescas, serenitati
tuse presontium tenore prsedicimus,
et expresee promittimus, quod prseter
contenta in iis quse jam pronuntiata
noscuntur, nostrse nequaquam inten-
tionis existit ad aliquam in reliquis
pronuntiationem, vel diffinitionem in
hujusmodi negotio ex predicto compro-
misso procedere, sine tuo expresso
consensu prehabito, a te per patentes
litteras tuas, et per specialem nuntium
destinando. "
>> Cf. Boniface vTH. Register, 2810,
2811.
>> Id. id. , 1567, " Clericis Laicos " :
" Nos igitur talibus iniquis actibus
obviare volentes, de fratrum nostrorum
consilio, apostolica auctoritate statui-
mus quod quicunque prelati ecclesias-
ticeque persone religiosi vel soculares,
quorumcunque ordinum, conditioni 9
seu statuum, collectas vel tallias, deci-
mam, vicesimam seu centesimam suo-
rum et ecclesiarum proventuum vel
bonorum laicis solverint vel promi-
serint, vel se soluturos consenserint,
aut quamvis aliam quantitatem, por-
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE Vffl. AND PHILIP THE FAIR.
377
The bull produced a violent opposition in England and
France. In England, Archbishop Winchelsey, at the Parlia-
ment held in November 1296, maintained that the clergy
could not, in view of the papal prohibition, grant the aid
which the king demanded. The king replied by putting the
clergy out of the royal protection, and the clergy were com-
pelled to give way, the archbishop recommending the clergy
to act each on his own individual responsibility. 1 In France
the opposition was equally determined, and Boniface himself
in the course of a year had to give way. In September 1296
he assured Philip that the Bull " Clericis Laicos " did not
forbid the clergy to grant him aids for the defence and other
necessities of the kingdom, but only forbade them to do this
without the papal permission, his object being to protect
the clergy against intolerable exactions ; and he added that
the bull had no reference to the obligations and aids which
the clergy were bound to render in respect of their feudal
tenures. 2 In February and March 1297, in response to the
tionem, aut quotam proventuum vel
honorum, extimationia vel valoris
ipsorum sub adiutorii, mutui, subven-
tionis, subsidii, vel doni nomine, seu
quovis alio titulo, modo vel quesito
colore, absque auotoritate sedis eius-
dem; neenon imporatores reges seu
principes, duces, comites, vel barones,
potestates, capitanei, officiales, vel
rectores, quocunque nomine censeantur,
civitatum, castrorum seu quorum-
cunque locorum constitutorum ubili-
bet, et qui vis alius cuiuscunque pre-
minentise, conditionis et status, qui
talia imposuerint, exegerint vel re-
ceperint, aut apud edes sacras deposit*
eccleeiarum vel ecclesiasticarum per-
son arum ubilibet arestaverint . . .
necuon omnes qui scienter in predictis
dederint auxilium, consilium vel favo-
rem, publice vel occulte, eo ipso sen-
tentiam excommunicationis incurrant
. . . a supradictis autom excom-
municationum et interdicte sententiis
nullus absolvi valeat prrctorquam
in mortis articulo absque sedis
apostolice auctoritate et licentia
spetiali. "
1 Cf. Stubbe' ' Constit. Hist. ,' vol. ii.
cbap. 14, sect. 180.
>> Id. id. , 1653," Inefiabilis Amoris " :
" Non enim precise stat uimus, pro
defensione ac necessitatibus tui vel
regni tui ab eisdem prelatis, ecclesi-
asticisve personis pecuniarium subsi-
dium non prestari, sed adjecimus id
non fieri sine nostra licentia speciali ;
aductis in considerationem nostram,
exactionibus intolerabilibus ecclesiis et
personis ecclesiasticis, religiosis et
secularibus dicti regni, ab officialibus
tuis auctoritate tua impositis atquo
factis ; de futuris potius verisimiliter
formidantes, cum ex preteritis certitudo
presumi valeat de futuris .
Sunt et alii, sicut ad nostram
notitiam est deductum, qui maligne
surripiunt, dicentes, jam non poterunt
prelati et persone ecclesiastice regni
? ? tui servire de feudis, vel subventiones
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? 378 TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. [PABT II.
request of the archbishops and bishops of France, he gave
them permission to make a reasonable subvention to the
King of France, provided it was made freely and without
coercion ; they were to inform the Pope of the amount granted,
that he might see whether it was moderate. The grant was
to be for that year only, and was not to be repeated without
the renewed permission of the Pope. 1 In March and May
1297 we find Boniface authorising a contribution of one-
tenth to the king by all the ecclesiastical persons and bodies
in France. 2 In August 1297 he granted the first fruits of all
ecclesiastical dignities in France, except those of archbishops,
bishops, and abbots, to Philip during the time of the war. 3
He had, however, already, in July 1297 in a letter addressed
to the bishops, clergy, nobles, and others in France, substan-
tially withdrawn the prohibition of the " Clericis Laicos. "
His decree, he says, had been misinterpreted; it was not
intended to prohibit a voluntary grant by the bishops or
ecclesiastical persons, even if this were demanded by Philip
or his successors, or other temporal lords. The decree had
no reference to feudal dues and other customary services to
the crown ; and he adds that it should not apply to the
case of the imminent danger or necessity of the kingdom.
The king, therefore, might demand and the clergy might
sciphum, unum equum dare liberaliter
regj mo. Non fertur ad tales
et consimiles interpretationes sub-
dolas diete nostra constitutionis
intentio. '*
1 Id. id. , 2333 : " Veetris itaque in
hao parte supplicationibus annuentes
. . . liceat vobis et eisdem prelatis
ecclesie et personis ecclesiasticis, absque
metu constitutionis nostre predicte,
ipsi regi pro hujusmodi vestre ac
ipsorum regis et regni intrinsece defen-
sionis subsidio, subventionem con-
pruam, prout vobis et ceteris prelatis
regni prefati sou majori parti vestrum
et ipsorum videbitur, voluntariam,
liberalem et liberam, non coactam,
absque omni concussionc, exactione
et executione temporali vel laycali
exigendam, hac vice presente nostra
fretis lioentia impertiri, eamque simi-
liter regi liceat recipere memorato.
Volumus autem quod, si subventionem
hujusmodi prsestari contingat, formam
et modum et quantitatem etiam ac
quicquid super hoc factum extiterit
nobis per vestras litteras seriosius
intimare curetis, ut quantum discrete
vel indiscrete, moderate vel immoderate
premissa precesserint et acceptationem
vel moderationem exegerint clarius
videamus. Scire quoque vos volumus
nostre intentionis existere quod sine
iterata licentia hujusmodi subventio
annualem terminam non exoedat. "
Cf. id. id. , 1933.
>> Id. id. , 1822, 1829.
" Id. id. , 2367.
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE YiH. AND PHILIP THE FAIR. 379
grant an aid or contribution for the defence of the realm
without consulting the Pope, notwithstanding the terms of
the decree (" Clericis Laicos ") or any privilege granted by the
Apostolic See. He assures them that he had had no intention
by this decree of destroying any of the laws, liberties, privi-
leges, or customs of the king or kingdom. 1
It would seem evident that Boniface had been worsted
in his second conflict with the temporal powers, and had
to withdraw his claim.
It is with these claims of Boniface to forbid the taxation
of the clergy that the unknown author of the tract entitled
' Disputatio inter Clericum et Militem ' seems specially to
deal; and, though it cannot be dated with any precision, it
1 Id. id. ,2364,"NoveritisNos": "N03
igitur declaramus, quod constitutio ipsa
vel ejus prohibitio ad donsria vel mutua
seu quevis alia voluntaria prelatorum
et pereonarum ecclesiasticarum ejus-
dem regni, cujuscunque status, ordinis
vel conditioni a existant, omni prorsus
occasione aut exactione cessante, se
aliquatemus non extendat, licet ad id
forsitan . . . Philippi Regis . . . vel
successorum suorum . . . aut nooilium
vel aliorum dominorum temporalium
de regno predioto, requisitio curialis et
amica precedat; quodque feudalia,
censuaria sive jura qu&libet in rerum
ecelesiasticarum datione retenta, vel
alia servitia consueta regi ejusque suc-
cessoribus, ducibus, comitibus, baro-
nibus, nobilibus et aliis temporalibus
dominis supradictis, tam de jure quam
de consuetudine a personis ecclesiasticis
debits, prefata constitutio non inoludat
vel aliquatenus comprehendat . . .
Adjicimus innuper hujusmodi declara-
cioni nostre quod, si prefatis regi
et succcssoribus suis pro universali
vel particulars ejusdem regni defen-
sione periculosa nocossitas immineret,
ad hujusmodi necessitatis casum
se nequaquam extendat constitutio
memorata.
Quin potius idem rex ac succes-
sores ipaius possint a prelatis et per-
sonis ecclesiasticis dicti regni petere
ac recipe re pro hujusmodi defensione
subsidium vel contributionom, illudque
aut illam prelati et persons? predicti
sepefato regi suis successoribus incon-
sulto etiam Romano pontifice, tenean-
tur et valeant, sub quote nomine aut
alias etiam, impertiri, non obstantibus
oonstitutione predicta, seu quovis
exemptionis vel alio quolibet privi-
legio, sub quacunque forma confecto,
a sedc apostolica impetrato.
Quodque praterea intentionis nos-
trse, non extitit, neo existet, per con-
stitutionem predictam seu declara-
tionem presentem jura, libertates,
franchysias, seu consuetudines, quio
prefatis regi et regno, ducibus, comi-
tibus, baronibus, nobilibus et quibusvis
aliis temporalibus dominis, editionis
prefati constitutionis tempore, ac etiam
ante illud competero noscebantur, tol-
? ? lere, diminuere vel quovis modo
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? 380
[PAET H.
TE51PORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS.
seems probable that it belongs to the years from 1296 to
1298. 1
The tract is noteworthy for its explicit and reasoned repudi-
ation of the claim of the supremacy of Church Law and the
Holy See over Secular Law and secular authorities. It is
in the form of a dialogue between a clerk and a knight, and
begins with a complaint on the part of the clerk that the
Church and its liberty was oppressed by financial exactions
and disregard of its laws. The knight asks what he means
by law (jus). The clerk replies that he means the decrees
of the Fathers and the statutes of the Eoman Pontiff. The
knight replies roundly that these laws, so far as they refer to
temporal matters, may be law to the clergy, but have no
authority over the laity, for no one can make laws where he
has no " dominium " ; and as the princes have no authority
to make law on spiritual matters, the clergy have none to do
this in temporal matters.
The clerk then argues that Christ is Lord of all, and Peter
is his vicar: how can they refuse to recognise that the vicar
of Christ has the same authority as Christ t The knight replies
by saying that he had heard that there were two " tempora "
in Christ, one of humility, the other of power. Peter was
Christ's vicar, " pro statu humilitatis, non pro statu glorie
et majestatis. " Christ said that his kingdom was not of this
world, and refused to act as a judge. Christ in the world
neither exercised the temporal authority nor committed it
to Peter. The clerk then urges the authority of the Church
in matters of sin, and therefore of justice. The knight replies
that the authority of judging according to the law, in ques-
tions of justice and injustice, belongs to him who has authority
to make the laws. The clerk contends that temporal things
should serve the spiritual, and that the spiritual power should
rule the temporal. The knight replies that he quite recognises
that spiritual persons should receive such things as they need
for their support, but this does not mean that they have
authority in temporal matters. He then turns upon the
1 For a full discussion of the date Scholz, ' Die Publizistik zur Zeit
and authorship of this work, cf. R. Philipps des Schdnen,' <fec.
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? CHAP. VIH. ] BONIFACE ViH. AND PHILIP THE FAIR. 381
clerk and warns him that the temporal power is concerned
with the use which the clergy make of that which is given
them for pious purposes. The clerk complains that the
kings have been annulling the privileges which had been
conferred upon the Church by law, and the knight argues
that this had been justified by necessity. When finally the
clerk contends that the emperor might have such powers,
but not a king, the knight describes this as flat blasphemy,
for the King of France is in every respect of the same dignity
and authority as the emperor. 1
1 ' Disputatio inter Clerioum et
Militem,' p. 75 :
" Clerictjs : Ecclesia facta est vobis
omnibus prada; exiguntur a nobis
multa, dantur nulla; si nostra bona
non damns, rapiuntur a nobis, con-
culcantur jura nostra, libertates
effringimtur, . . . immo oerte con-
tra omno jus, injurias innumeras
sustinemus. . . .
Miles : Scire vellom quid vocatis
jus ?
Clerictts : Jus vero decreta patrum,
et statutum Romanorum Pontificum.
Miles : Quss illi statuunt, si de
temporalibus statuunt vobis possunt
jura esse, nobis vero non sunt; nullus
enim potest de iis statuere, super quos
constat ipsum dominium non habere.
Sic nec Franoorum rex potest statuere
super imperium : nec imperator super
regnum Francise. Et quemadmodum
terreni principes non possunt nliquid
statuere do vestris spiritualibus, super
quse non acceperunt poteetatem, sic
nec vos de temporalibus eorum super
quse non habetis auctoritatem. . . .
Unde semper mihi risus magnus fuit
cum audissem noviter statutum esse
a domino Bonifacio octavo, quod
ipse est et esse debet super omnes
principatus et regna, et sic facile
potest sibi jus acquirere super rem
quamlibet. . . .
Miles : Nullo modo divinse potes-
tati vel dominationi resisto: quia
Christianus sum ct esse volo, et ideo,
si per diversas scripturas ostenderitis,
summon pontifices esse super omnia
temporalia dominus, necesse est om-
nino reges et principes summis ponti-
fibus tam in spiritualibus quam in
temporalibus esse subjectos.
Cleriotjs : Facile hoc est, ex supe-
rioribus posse ostendi. Tenet enim
fides nostra Petrum Apostolum pro
se et suis succossoribus institutum
esse plenum vicarium Jesu Christi. . . .
Si ergo non negatis Christum de vestris
temporalibus statuere posse qui domi-
nus est coeli et terrse, non potestis sine
rubore eandem potestatem Christi
pleno vicario denegare.
Miles : Audivi a viris aanctis ac
dootissimia duo tempora in Christi
distingui, . . . alteram humilitatis ct
alterum potestatis. . . . Petrus autem
constituitur Christi vicarius pro statu
? ? humilitatis, non pro statu glorise et
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?
382 TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. [PAST II.
Another tract which seems to belong to this time
argues with similar determination for the principle that the
king has the right to demand contributions from the clergy
towards the necessities of the country. It begins with the
assertion that the Church consists not only of the clergy but
of the laity, and that the clergy must not speak as though
the liberty of the Church meant only the liberty of the clergy.
There are, indeed, special liberties of the clergy granted by
the popes, with the goodwill and permission of the secular
princes, but these liberties cannot take away the authority
of kings in the government and defence of their kingdoms.
Those members of the body, whether clergy or laity, noble
or ignoble, who refuse their help to the head--that is, the
king--show that they are useless members. It is a matter
of astonishment that the vicar of Christ should forbid (men)
si am cognoscere de peccato. . . . Cum
ergo jus tum et injustum in negociis
rerum temporalium sit, consequens
etiam est ut de causis temporalibus
debet judicare. . . .
Miles : Manifestum est ergo ilium
debere secundum leges judicare, et
secundum easdem de justo et in jus to
cognoscere, cujus est leges condere, et
habere interpretari, exponere et custo-
dire, facere et gravare et mollire, cum
vidobitur expedire. . . .
Clericus : Nonne debent temporalia
spiritualibus deservire. Ergo tem-
poralia debent esse subjecta spiritua-
libus, et spiritualis potestas tempo-
ralem debet regere potestatem.
Miles : Vere debent spiritualibus
temporalia deservire suo casu, quia
tenentur Dei cultoribus necessaria
ministrare. . . . Videtis quod temporalia
conceduntur vobis non ad dominium,
sed ad vitas subsidium et ad spiritualis
ministerii sumptum. . . . Dictum enim
vobis est superius, quod hsec accipistis
omnia ad vitse subsidium et ad sanctss
militise stipendia ad victum habendum
et vestitum. . . . Et quicquid superest,
in pios Usus pauperum et miserias
segrotantium expendere debetis. Quod
si non feceritis multum nostra interest,
de eisdem curam habere, ne animas
mortuorum salutemque vivorum de-
fraudetis. . . .
Clericus : Num quid per reges
tollendse sunt gratise nobis per
leges concesse, et per beatorum
principum privilegia sanctae ecclesise
concessa. . . .
Miles : Igitur non est dubium quin
pro regni necessititibus gratias vobis
indultas, legibusque sancitas, possunt
altissimi principes consultiori suspen-
dere rations, et secundum exigentiam
temporis ut arc.
Clericus : Imperatores sanxerunt
ista, non reges, ed ideo per bonos im-
peratores, o miles, nunc erit legum
gubernacula moderari.
Miles : Hoc responsum est bias-
phemia. . . . Et ideo domine clerice
linguam vestram ooercite et agnoscite
legem legibus, consuetudinibus, et
? ? privilegiis vestris et libertatibus datis,
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE VIII. AND PTTTT/TP THE FAIR. 383
to pay tribute to Csesar, and to render assistance to their
king and kingdom against an unjust attack. 1
It is then clear, as we have said, that Boniface VIII. had
been compelled to withdraw from the two positions which
he had taken up: the claim that he had the right to inter-
vene authoritatively in the conflicts between the northern
countries, and the claim to forbid the taxation of the clergy :
the Bull " Noveritis Nos " does represent a very complete
withdrawal.
It is not our part here to describe the history of the events
between 1297 and 1301, when the relations between Boniface
Vlil. and Philip the Fair again became openly hostile. We
find Boniface VIII. complaining in January 1299 that his
1 Dupuy, ' Histoiro du Diflerend,'
*c. , ' Preuves,' p. 21: " Sancta Mater
Ecclesia, sponsa Christi, non solum
ex clericis, sed etiam ex laicia: imo
sacra testante Scriptura sicut est unus
Dominus, una fides, una baptisma, sic
a primo usque ad ultimum, ex omnibus
Christi fidelibus, una est Ecclesia, ipsi
Christo, coelesti sponso, anulo fidei
desponsata, quam ipse a servitute
peccati, et jugo veteria legis, ac
dominio hostia antiqui, per mortem
auam misericorditer liberavit; qua
libertate gaudere voluit omnes illos,
tam laicos quam clericos. . . . Et quia
clerici in Ecclesia, ut patet per predicta,
aunt, et merito, et numero potiores,
non debent, non possunt, nisi forsitan
per abusum sibi appropriare, quasi
aliis excludendo, ecclesiaaticam liber-
tatem, loquendo de libertate, qua
Christus nos sua gratia liberavit.
Multse vero sunt libertates aingu-
lares, non universalis Ecclesise, sponsio
Christi, sed solum ejus ministrorum,
qui cultui divino ad sedificationom
populi sunt, vel esse debent spirituali-
bus deputati: quse quidem libertates
per statuta Romanorum Pontificum, de
benignitate vel saltem permissione
Principum secularium sunt concessse,
quse quidem libertates, sic concessse
vel permissse ipsia Regibus suorum
gubernationem ac defensionem auferre
non possunt: nec ea quse dicta. " guber-
nationi et defensioni necessaria, seu
expedientia, deliberato bonorum ac
prudentium consilio judicantur, dicente
Domino Pontificibus Templi, ' Reddite
ergo quse sunt Csssaris, Csesari, et quse
sunt Dei, Deo. '
Et quia turpis est pars quse suo
non congruit universo, et membrum
inutile, et quasi paralyticum, quod
corpori suo subsidium ferre recusat,
quicunque sive clerici, sive laici, sive
nobiles, sive ignobiles, qui capiti suo,
vel corpori, hoo est domino Regi et
regno . . . auxilium ferre recusant,
semetipsos partes incongruas, et mem-
bra inutilia, et quasi paralytica de-
monstrant.
Et quis, sapiens et intelligens hsec,
non incidit in vehementem stuporem,
audiens vicarium Jesu Christi prohi-
? ? bentem tributum dari Csesari, et sub
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? 384 TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS. [PABT ri.
grant of the first fruits had been misinterpreted and misused,
and in April of the same year that Philip would not surrender
the " Eegalia " of the diocese of Eheims, which he had occu-
pied during its vacancy.
It was in December 1301 that the storm broke. Three
letters, or bulls, contain the record of this. On 4th December
Boniface had issued the Bull, " Salvator Mundi," by which
he suspended, at the discretion of the Holy See, all the
special "privilegia" and favours which he had conferred
upon Philip, on the ground that they had been abused to
the great injury of the churches and ecclesiastics of the
kingdom of Prance. 1
On 5th December Boniface wrote to Philip that he had
heard that he had caused the Bishop of Pamiers to be brought
before him, and had committed him to the custody of the
Archbishop of IJarbonne. He therefore asks and exhorts and
commands Philip to set the bishop at liberty, and to permit
him to come to Eome, and warns him that unless he can
show some reasonable cause for his action, he must be held
to have incurred the sentence imposed by the canons on
those who laid their hands on a bishop. 2
1 Boniface VIII. Register, 4422
(" Salvator Mundi "): " Nos igitur
attondentee quod nonnulla privilegia,
indulgentias et gratias carissimo in
Christo filio nostro Philippo Regi
Fran corum illustri ej usque succes-
soribus, et specialiter pro defensione
regni sui sub certis formis duximus
concedenda, et gratiose aliqua con-
oessimus clericis et laicis, qui de suo
et successorum suorum stricto consilio
fuerint vel majori parti eorum: quo-
rum privilegiorum, gratiarum, indul-
gentiarum et concessionum occasione,
per abusum, ecclesiis et ecclesiarum
prelatis ac personis religiosis et secu-
laribus dicti regni magna dispendia et
gravamina sunt illata, et gravia scan-
dala sunt exorta et i nan tea possunt
oriri : ac precaventes ne tali pretextu
supradictse ecclesise, prelati ac personse
ecclesiasticse plus graventur, provi-
dimus super hoc salubre remedium.
Unde ilia omnia quantum ad omnem
ipso rum effectum, de fratrum nostro-
rum consilio, usque ad predicti sedia
bene placitum diximus suspendenda:
ilia maximo que occasione guerrarum,
quibus dicti regni status pacifieus
turbabatur tunc temporis, fuere con-
cessa. "
* Id. id. , Register, 4432 (" Secundum
divina "): " Sane ad nostrum pervenit
auditum, quod tu venerabilem fratrem
nostrum Appamiarum Episcopum per-
sonaliter ad prsesentiam tuam deduci
fecisti sub tuorum cauta custodia,
utinam non invitum ! Quem sub
colore securitatis personse ipeius, cus-
todiendum dixeris eommisisse fratri
nostro Narboniensi Archiepiscopo,
Metropolitano ipsius. Magnitudinem
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE VHI. AND PHILIP THE FAIR. 385
On the same day Boniface issued the Bull " Asculta Fili,"
in which he enumerated his complaints against Philip, and
asserted his authority in very strong terms. He begins with
the assertion that God had placed him over all kings and
kingdoms, with authority to destroy and to build up, and
he warns Philip not to allow any one to persuade him that
he had no superior, and that he was not subject to the head
of the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. He who should pertina-
ciously assert this was an infidel and outside of the fold of
the good Shepherd. 1
The principal complaints which he made against the conduct
of Philip were that he was oppressing his subjects, the clergy,
the counts and nobles, the communities and the whole people
of his kingdom; that he prevented the Holy See from exer-
cising its legal rights with regard to vacant dignities, benefices,
canonries, and prebends ; that he compelled prelates and
other ecclesiastical persons to appear in his courts, in regard
to personal questions, rights, and goods, which were not held
from him by feudal tenure, while laymen had no authority
in such cases ; that he did not permit the free exercise of the
spiritual sword against those who injured the clergy, or the
igitur tuam rogamii s et hortamur
attente, per apostolica tibi scripts
maudantes, quatenus eumdem epis-
copum, cujus volumus habere prsesen-
tiam, abire libera, et ad nostram prse-
sentiam securum venire permittas,
omniaque bona mobilia etc. . . . sibi
restitui facias . . . neo in antea ad
similia per te vel tuos occupatrices
manus extendas ; habiturus te taliter
in premissis, quod majestatem non
offendas Divinam, nec sedis apostolica
dignitatem, neo oporteat nos aliud
remedium adhibere: sciturus, quod,
nisi ad excusationem tuam aliquid
rationabilem coram nobis propositum
fuerit vel ostensum, et premissis Veritas
suffragetur, quin incurreris sententiam
canonis, propter injectionem temeraria-
rum manuum in dictum episcopum,
non videmus. "
VOL. V.
1 Id. id. , 4424 ("Asculta Fili")i
" Sane fili, cur ista direxerimus, immi-
nente necessitate et urgente conscientia,
expressius aperimus. Constituit enim
nos Deus, licet insufficientibus mentis,
super reges et regna, imposito nobis
jugo apostolicse servitutis, ad evellen-
dum, destruendum, edificandum atque
plantandum, sub ejus nomine et doo-
trina, et ut, gregem pascentes domini-
cum, consolidemus infirmos, sanemus
segrota, alligemus fracta, et reducamus
abjecta, vinumque infundamus et
olium vulneribus sanciatis. Quare,
fili carissime, nemo tibi suadeat, quod
superiorem non habeas et non subsis
sammo ierarchse ecclesiastics e ierarchise,
nam desipit qui sic sapit, et pertina-
citer hoc amrmans, convincitur infi-
delis, nec est intra boni pallor is
ovile. "
? ? 2B
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? 386
[PAB. T II.
TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL POWERS.
exercise of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in monasteries of which
he claimed to hold the guardianship. 1
After enumerating other complaints about abuses against
which he had made constant remonstrance in vain, he an-
nounced that he had therefore summoned the archbishops,
bishops, abbots, and some other ecclesiastical persons from
France that he might consult with them in November of the
following year, and determine what should be done for the
amendment of these things, and the good of the kingdom.
He invites Philip to send some faithful men who knew him
well, to take part in the consultation, but warns him that
they will proceed without his representatives if they did not
eome. 2
1 Id. id. id. : " Nec possumus cum
non debeamus, prseterire silentio quin
ea per quse oculos Divinse majestatis
offendis, nos perturbas, gravas sub-
ditos, ecclesias et ecclesiasticas socu-
laresve personas opprimis et affligas,
nec non pares, eomites, et barones,
aliosque nobiles, et universitates ac
pepulum dicti regni, multisque diversis
angustiis scandalises, tibi apertius
exprimamus. Profecto ergo hactenus
servasso nos novimus ordinem caritatis.
. . . Te, opportunis studiis et temporibus,
inducendo, ut errata corrigeris. . . .
Sea quod te correxeris, quod in te
salutis semina sata, ut vellemus, fruc-
ticaverint, non videmus. . . . Et ut
aliqua explicabiliter inferamus : ecoe
quod licet pa teat manifesto, ac explo-
red juris existat, quod in ecclesiasticis
dignitatibus, personatibus et bene-
ficiis, canonicatibus et prebendis vacan-
tibus in curia vel extra curiam Roma-
nam, pontifex summam et potiorem
obtinet potestatem, ad te tamen hujus-
modi ecclesiarum, dignitatum, persona-
tum, beneficiorum, canonicatuum, col-
latio non potest quomodolibet perti-
nere nec pertinet. . . . Nihilominus tu,
metas et terminos tibi positos irreve-
renter excedens, et factus impatiens
super hoc, injuriose obvias ipsi sedi.
ej usque collationes, canonice factas,
executioni mandari non sustines, sed
impugnas, quamvis tuas, qualiter
cunque factas, precedere dinoscuntur.
Prelatos insuper et alias personas
ecclesiasticas, tam religiosas quam
seculares regni tui, etiam super per-
sonal i bus actiordbus, juribus, et immo-
bilibus bonis, quse a te non tenentur
in feudum, ad tuum judicium pertrahis
et coarctas, et inquestas fieri facias, et
detineri tales, licet in clerioos et per-
sonas ecclesiasticas nulla sit laicis
attributa potestas: prseterea contra
injuriatores et molestatores prelato-
rum et personarum ecclesiasticarum
eos spirituali gladio qui eis com-
petit uti libere non permittis;
nec jurisdictionem eis competentem
in monasteriis seu locis ecclesiasticis,
quorum recipis guardiam vel custo-
? ? diam, vel a predecessoribus tuis reoep-
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? CHAP. VIII. ] BONIFACE VHI. AND PHILIP THE PAIR. 387
These claims of Pope Boniface met with the most violent
resistance. The claim of authority was indeed expressed in
the bull in sufficiently strong terms, but it was apparently
almost immediately represented as being more extreme than
it actually was. A spurious form of the bull was produced,
in which Boniface VIII. was represented as having claimed
that the king was subject to him in temporal as well as spiritual
things. 1 Boniface was charged with heresy, in a statement
attributed to Pierre Dubois. The author contends that the
Pope was endeavouring to take from Philip those rights of
supreme jurisdiction and freedom from all other authority
in temporal matters which he had possessed for a period of
more than a thousand years. If the popes claimed that they
had at one time possessed temporal authority over the Kings
of France, they had lost them by prescription. He contends
also that if the Donation of Constantine had any validity,
which he doubts, it could be revoked by the emperor. 2
piscopos, episcopos, ac dilectos filios
electos et Cisterciensis, Cluniacensis,
Premonstratensis, nec non sancti Dyo-
nisii in Franc ia, Parisiensis diocesis,
et majoris Turonensis, ordinis Sancti
Benedicts, monasteriorum abbates, et
capitula ecclesiarum cathedralium regni
tui, ac magistros in theologia et in
jure canonico et civili, et nonnullas
alias personas ecclesiasticas oriundaa
de regno predicto, per alias nostras
patentes litteras, certo modo ad nos-
trum presentiam evocamus. . . . Cum
quibus, sicut cum personis apud to
suspicione carentibus, quin potius
acceptis et gratis, ac diligentibus nomen
tuum, et affectantibus statum pros-
perum regni tui, tractare consultius
et ordinare salubrius valeamus que ad
premissorum emendationem, tuamque
directionem, quietem atque salutem
ac bonum et prosperum regimen ipsius
regni videbimus expedire. Si tuam
itaque rem agi putaveris, eodem tem-
pore per te vel fideles viros et providos,
tuse conscios voluntatis, ac diligenter
instructos, de quibus plene valeas
habere fiduciam, Wis poteris interesse,
alioquin tuam vel ipsorum absentiam
divina replente presentia, in premisais
et ea contingentibus ac aliis, prout
superna nobis ministraverit gratia et
expedire videbitur, procedcmus. "
Cf. id. id. , 4425 and 4426.
1 Dupuy, ' Histoire du Differend,'
&o. , ' Preuves,' p. 44 (Deum Time):
" Scire te volumus quod in spiritua-
libus et temporalibus nobis subes.
Beneflciorum et prebendarum ad te
collatio nulla spectat: et si aliquorum
vacantium custodiam habeas, fructus
coram successoribus reserves: et si
quse contulisti, collationem hujusmodi
irritam decernimus, et quantum de
facto processerit, revocamus.