947-948 operations. the quarrel. The pettiness of the numerous 942-954 squabbles forbids many details. We may only notice, that, after insulting Arnoul's territory, Military Hugh-le-Grand and the Parvulus besieged Rheims, and failed. Louis on his part was equally unsuccessful in his attempt to gain possession of Mouzon,-the important border fortress of Champagne,-which held out firmly for the pretending Prelate. These operations were interrupted by a tremendous tempest, which ravaged Rheims, accompanied—as it is said-by an earthquake. Louis, however, partly carried on the war for the purpose of masking his proceedings, for he had, considerately, com- Louis negomenced negotiations with Otho, in order that otho. the Archiepiscopal disputes might be settled by proceedings more conformable to the character and importance of the points at issue, a course which would also result to his own advantage. § 64. The Parvulus had incurred the censure of the ecclesiastical law, equally by his contempt of the Papal brief and his acts of violence, and, at the same time, Duke Hugh, despoiler of the Church, had in like manner exhibited himself as a delinquent. Moreover, the private claims of the competitors involved matters which concerned all the Churches of Germany and the Gauls. tiates with Five successive Councils were therefore held, Councils for the purpose of ventilating this great ecclesi- the pur held for 942-954 astical cause. Inasmuch as the Church was, under some aspects, the State, and the State the 947-948 Church, it is not always practicable to distinguish between a Synod and a Secular Assembly. Yet, there is one test, never did any truly cussing the claims. ecclesiastical Synod or Council allow the Laity to discuss faith or doctrine. On the present Aug-947 occasion a mixed convention of Prelates and -Mixed "Placi Council or Nobles, for such unquestionably is the import tum" held of the term "Placitum," was held in the Royal encampment hard by the river Cher. near the banks of the Cher. The two Kings presided; they treated each other as equals. Yet Otho always preceded Louis when they entered the place of meeting, whilst Louis did not always sit by Otho's side. Hugh-le-Grand was summoned; he approached the vicinity, but he did not come close, and jealously watched the result. He declined appearing before the Convention in person. Being, however, desirous at this juncture to avoid any semblance of contumacy, he despatched, as his Proctor, a household Chaplain or Clerk, sly Sigibaldus. But the main object which Sigibaldus sought to effect, was not so much the exoneration of Hugh-le-Grand, as the protection of the Parvulus; and with this intent he tendered an instrument purporting to be signed by Artaldus himself, whereby he resigned all his pretensions the See, which said instrument Sigibaldus yed he had brought from Rome. The mem 948-949 bers of the "Parliament," for thus the meeting 942-954 is incidentally denominated, were strangely perplexed by such an unexpected plea in bar. There was the document, but they could not believe in it, and, evading the difficulty, they adopted the prudent resolution that the matter should be referred to a purely ecclesiastical Synod, appointed to be held at Verdun. Jan.-Sy dun-re circum tending it. Fully and solemnly was this Synod attended, 948-13th assembled in the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Ru- nod of Verprecht or Robert, Archbishop of Treves, presided, markable and the Primate of Germany thus assumed the stances atright of sitting in judgment upon the primacy of the Gauls, a token, slight, yet indisputable, denoting the encreasing ascendancy which "Eastern France" was gaining, or striving to gain, over the other members of the Carlovingian empire. Amongst those who assisted, Israel Scotigena from Ireland, the representative of the Celtic Church, the greatest Greek scholar of his age, he who had educated Bruno, King Otho's youngest brother, might attract the public curiosity and here also was Bruno himself, the future Archbishop of "Kolln am Rhein," already distinguished by his talent and energy. Hugo Parvulus was also cited, due respect being rendered to the rank he claimed, although that rank might be contested, inasmuch as Adalbero and Goceline, the Prelates of Metz and Tulle, were despatched to accompany and conduct him. VOL. II. Q Q 948-949 942-954 But the stout Parvulus would not come: therefore in his absence, an interlocutory decree was Jan. 948-passed, empowering Artaldus to take possession Mouzon. of the See, and the Synod adjourned to Mouzon. Synod of propounds Bull on be Parvulus. § 65. When the time arrived, the Parvulus made a feint of appearing; he entered Saint Peter's portal, the Church where the Synod was sitting; but when he had proceeded thus far, he stopped, turned round, and marched back again; Sigibaldus and Sigibaldus, now acting as his Proctor, prea forged sented another writing, a most suspicious bull, half of the issued in the name of good Pope Agapet, purporting to enjoin the restoration of Hugh as Archbishop. Forgery flourished during the mediæval period. The fabrication of papal bulls was an established manufacture. When our venerable old London Bridge was demolished, a pair of forceps, of the same fashion as those which are used abroad to "plomber" your baggage, was found in the bed of the river, being the machine by which some ingenious artist in the old time had been accustomed to supply dispensations or pardons. Possibly some clever apparitor who may have lodged in one of the houses projecting from the bridge had accidentally dropped his tool out of the window. Antient manuscripts contain rules for detecting the cheat, such as counting the dots which compose the borders of the reverse and obverse impressed upon the leaden seal; but in most 948-949 cases the document is so clumsily penned, that 949-954 the falsity is self-detected; and such was the case with the instrument propounded by Sigibaldus. Had this alleged bull been genuine, it was so informal that it would have been destitute of legal validity, therefore the Prothonotary turned down the face of the parchment when he laid it on the table. And the Fathers of the Synod having consulted the famous canons of the Council of Carthage, they decreed that Artaldus should retain possession of the See, whilst Hugh, comporting himself as Archbishop, having been contumacious, had incurred the penalties of excommunication, and so should continue excommunicate, unless he cleared himself of the default in a general Council of the Gauls, to be held at Engleheim on the Rhine. vigour of 66. So deliberate and consistent was the Moral system which Hugh-le-Grand, aided by the Nor- Louis. mans, was pursuing against Louis, so dogged the enmity of the King's opponents, that he had no reason to expect they would ever cease from concerting his destruction. But this prospect of perils only excited him the more to exert his inventive activity. Louis confided in the sanctity of the royal character. Well did Louis know, and thoroughly did he appreciate, the veneration commanded by the crowned and anointed Sovereign. He cheered himself by the dawn. Support of the support which he expected to obtain from which Louis ex |