Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/327

Cor Conflict between Gregory VII arid Henry IV 291 From this have sprung the prevalent vices of simoniacal heresy and ambition, at times so strong that episcopal sees were filled without any previous election. Occasionally investiture has even taken place while the bishop holding the office was still alive. Alarmed by these and many other evils which had come about, owing chiefly to the method of investiture, our prede- cessors, the pontiffs Gregory VII and Urban II of blessed memory, in the councils of the bishops which they frequently held, condemned investitures by lay hands, and decreed that those who had obtained churches in this manner should be deposed and the donors also should be excluded from the communion, in accordance with that chapter of the Apostolic Canons which runs : " If any bishop do employ the powers of the world to obtain a church, he shall be deposed and isolated, as well as all who communicate with him." We also, following in the path of these examples, have confirmed their decision in an episcopal council. So, most beloved son, King Henry, now through our sanction, by the grace of God, emperor of the Romans, we decree that those royal appurtenances are to be restored to thee and to thy kingdom which clearly belonged to that kingdom in the time of Charles, Louis, and of thy other predecessors. We forbid and prohibit, under penalty of anathema, any bishop or abbot, present or future, from in- truding upon these same royal appurtenances ; in which are included the cities, duchies, margravates, counties, mints, tolls, market rights, manors, rights of royal bailiffs, and rights of the judges of the courts of the hundreds, which manifestly belong to the king, together with what pertains to them, the military posts and camps of the kingdom. Nor shall they henceforth, unless by favor of the king, have aught to do with these royal appurtenances. Neither shall it be allowable for our successors, who shall follow us in the apos- tolic chair, to disturb thee or thy kingdom in this matter. In addition we decree that the churches, with their offer- ings and hereditary possessions which plainly do not belong to the kingdom, shall remain free ; as on the day of thy