Fraudistheresourceofweaknessandcunning；andthestrong，thoughignorant，Barbarianwasoftenentangledinthenetofsacerdotalpolicy。TheVaticanandLateranwereanarsenalandmanufacture，which，accordingtotheoccasion，haveproducedorconcealedavariouscollectionoffalseorgenuine，ofcorruptorsuspicious，acts，astheytendedtopromotetheinterestoftheRomanchurch。Beforetheendoftheeighthcentury，someapostolicscribe，perhapsthenotoriousIsidore，composedthedecretals，andthedonationofConstantine，thetwomagicpillarsofthespiritualandtemporalmonarchyofthepopes。ThismemorabledonationwasintroducedtotheworldbyanepistleofAdriantheFirst，whoexhortsCharlemagnetoimitatetheliberality，andrevivethename，ofthegreatConstantine。^68
Accordingtothelegend，thefirstoftheChristianemperorswashealedoftheleprosy，andpurifiedinthewatersofbaptism，bySt。Silvester，theRomanbishop；andneverwasphysicianmoregloriouslyrecompensed。HisroyalproselytewithdrewfromtheseatandpatrimonyofSt。Peter；declaredhisresolutionoffoundinganewcapitalintheEast；andresignedtothepopesthefreeandperpetualsovereigntyofRome，Italy，andtheprovincesoftheWest。^69Thisfictionwasproductiveofthemostbeneficialeffects。TheGreekprinceswereconvictedoftheguiltofusurpation；andtherevoltofGregorywastheclaimofhislawfulinheritance。Thepopesweredeliveredfromtheirdebtofgratitude；andthenominalgiftsoftheCarlovingianswerenomorethanthejustandirrevocablerestitutionofascantyportionoftheecclesiasticalstate。ThesovereigntyofRomenolongerdependedonthechoiceofaficklepeople；andthesuccessorsofSt。PeterandConstantinewereinvestedwiththepurpleandprerogativesoftheCaesars。Sodeepwastheignoranceandcredulityofthetimes，thatthemostabsurdoffableswasreceived，withequalreverence，inGreeceandinFrance，andisstillenrolledamongthedecreesofthecanonlaw。
^70Theemperors，andtheRomans，wereincapableofdiscerningaforgery，thatsubvertedtheirrightsandfreedom；andtheonlyoppositionproceededfromaSabinemonastery，which，inthebeginningofthetwelfthcentury，disputedthetruthandvalidityofthedonationofConstantine。^71Intherevivaloflettersandliberty，thisfictitiousdeedwastranspiercedbythepenofLaurentiusValla，thepenofaneloquentcriticandaRomanpatriot。^72Hiscontemporariesofthefifteenthcenturywereastonishedathissacrilegiousboldness；yetsuchisthesilentandirresistibleprogressofreason，that，beforetheendofthenextage，thefablewasrejectedbythecontemptofhistorians^73andpoets，^74andthetacitormodestcensureoftheadvocatesoftheRomanchurch。^75Thepopesthemselveshaveindulgedasmileatthecredulityofthevulgar；^76butafalseandobsoletetitlestillsanctifiestheirreign；and，bythesamefortunewhichhasattendedthedecretalsandtheSibyllineoracles，theedificehassubsistedafterthefoundationshavebeenundermined。
[Footnote68:PiissimoConstantinomagno，perejuslargitatemS。
R。Ecclesiaelevataetexaltataest，etpotestateminhisHesperiaepartibuslargiriolignatusest……QuiaeccenovusConstantinushistemporibus，&c。，CodexCarolin。epist。49，intom。iii。partii。p。195。PagiCritica，A。D。324，No。16
ascribesthemtoanimpostoroftheviiithcentury，whoborrowedthenameofSt。Isidore:hishumbletitleofPeccatorwasignorantly，butaptly，turnedintoMercator:hismerchandisewasindeedprofitable，andafewsheetsofpaperweresoldformuchwealthandpower。]
[Footnote69:FabriciusBibliot。Graec。tom。vi。p。4—7hasenumeratedtheseveraleditionsofthisAct，inGreekandLatin。
ThecopywhichLaurentiusVallarecitesandrefutes，appearstobetakeneitherfromthespuriousActsofSt。SilvesterorfromGratian\'sDecree，towhich，accordingtohimandothers，ithasbeensurreptitiouslytacked。]
[Footnote70:Intheyear1059，itwasbelievedwasitbelieved?byPopeLeoIX。CardinalPeterDamianus，&c。MuratoriplacesAnnalid\'Italia，tom。ix。p。23，24thefictitiousdonationsofLewisthePious，theOthos，&c。，deDonationeConstantini。SeeaDissertationofNatalisAlexander，seculumiv。diss。25，p。335—350。]
[Footnote71:SeealargeaccountofthecontroversyA。D。1105
whicharosefromaprivatelawsuit，intheChroniconFarsense，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。ii。parsii。p。637，&c。，acopiousextractfromthearchivesofthatBenedictineabbey。
Theywereformerlyaccessibletocuriousforeigners，LeBlancandMabillon，andwouldhaveenrichedthefirstvolumeoftheHistoriaMonasticaItaliaeofQuirini。ButtheyarenowimprisonedMuratori，ScriptoresR。I。tom。ii。parsii。p。269
bythetimidpolicyofthecourtofRome；andthefuturecardinalyieldedtothevoiceofauthorityandthewhispersofambition，Quirini，Comment。parsii。p。123—136。]
[Footnote72:IhavereadinthecollectionofSchardiusdePotestateImperialiEcclesiastica，p。734—780thisanimateddiscourse，whichwascomposedbytheauthor，A。D。1440，sixyearsaftertheflightofPopeEugeniusIV。Itisamostvehementpartypamphlet:VallajustifiesandanimatestherevoltoftheRomans，andwouldevenapprovetheuseofadaggeragainsttheirsacerdotaltyrant。Suchacriticmightexpectthepersecutionoftheclergy；yethemadehispeace，andisburiedintheLateran，Bayle，DictionnaireCritique，Valla；Vossius，deHistoricisLatinis，p。580。]
[Footnote73:SeeGuicciardini，aservantofthepopes，inthatlongandvaluabledigression，whichhasresumeditsplaceinthelastedition，correctlypublishedfromtheauthor\'sMs。andprintedinfourvolumesinquarto，underthenameofFriburgo，1775，Istoriad\'Italia，tom。i。p。385—395。]
[Footnote74:ThePaladinAstolphofounditinthemoon，amongthethingsthatwerelostuponearth，OrlandoFurioso，xxxiv。
80。
Divarifioreadungrandmontepassa，Ch\'ebbegiabuonoodore，orpuzzaforte:
Questoeraildonoseperodirlece
CheConstantinoalbuonSilvestrofece。
YetthisincomparablepoemhasbeenapprovedbyabullofLeoX。]
[Footnote75:SeeBaronius，A。D。324，No。117—123，A。D。1191，No。
51，&c。ThecardinalwishestosupposethatRomewasofferedbyConstantine，andrefusedbySilvester。Theactofdonationheconsidersstrangelyenough，asaforgeryoftheGreeks。]
[Footnote76:Baroniusn\'enditguerrescontre；encoreena—t\'iltropdit，etl\'onvouloitsansmoi，CardinalduPerron，quil\'empechai，censurercettepartiedesonhistoire。J\'endevisaiunjouraveclePape，etilnemereponditautrechose\"chevolete?iCanonicilatengono，\"illedisoitenriant，Perroniana，p。77。]
WhilethepopesestablishedinItalytheirfreedomanddominion，theimages，thefirstcauseoftheirrevolt，wererestoredintheEasternempire。^77UnderthereignofConstantinetheFifth，theunionofcivilandecclesiasticalpowerhadoverthrownthetree，withoutextirpatingtheroot，ofsuperstition。Theidolsforsuchtheywerenowheldweresecretlycherishedbytheorderandthesexmostpronetodevotion；andthefondallianceofthemonksandfemalesobtainedafinalvictoryoverthereasonandauthorityofman。LeotheFourthmaintainedwithlessrigorthereligionofhisfatherandgrandfather；buthiswife，thefairandambitiousIrene，hadimbibedthezealoftheAthenians，theheirsoftheIdolatry，ratherthanthephilosophy，oftheirancestors。Duringthelifeofherhusband，thesesentimentswereinflamedbydangeranddissimulation，andshecouldonlylabortoprotectandpromotesomefavoritemonkswhomshedrewfromtheircaverns，andseatedonthemetropolitanthronesoftheEast。Butassoonasshereignedinherownnameandthatofherson，IrenemoreseriouslyundertooktheruinoftheIconoclasts；andthefirststepofherfuturepersecutionwasageneraledictforlibertyofconscience。
Intherestorationofthemonks，athousandimageswereexposedtothepublicveneration；athousandlegendswereinvertedoftheirsufferingsandmiracles。Bytheopportunitiesofdeathorremoval，theepiscopalseatswerejudiciouslyfilledthemosteagercompetitorsforearthlyorcelestialfavoranticipatedandflatteredthejudgmentoftheirsovereign；andthepromotionofhersecretaryTarasiusgaveIrenethepatriarchofConstantinople，andthecommandoftheOrientalchurch。Butthedecreesofageneralcouncilcouldonlyberepealedbyasimilarassembly:^78theIconoclastswhomsheconvenedwereboldinpossession，andaversetodebate；andthefeeblevoiceofthebishopswasreechoedbythemoreformidableclamorofthesoldiersandpeopleofConstantinople。Thedelayandintriguesofayear，theseparationofthedisaffectedtroops，andthechoiceofNiceforasecondorthodoxsynod，removedtheseobstacles；andtheepiscopalconsciencewasagain，aftertheGreekfashion，inthehandsoftheprince。Nomorethaneighteendayswereallowedfortheconsummationofthisimportantwork:theIconoclastsappeared，notasjudges，butascriminalsorpenitents:thescenewasdecoratedbythelegatesofPopeAdrianandtheEasternpatriarchs，^79thedecreeswereframedbythepresidentTaracius，andratifiedbytheacclamationsandsubscriptionsofthreehundredandfiftybishops。Theyunanimouslypronounced，thattheworshipofimagesisagreeabletoScriptureandreason，tothefathersandcouncilsofthechurch:buttheyhesitatewhetherthatworshipberelativeordirect；whethertheGodhead，andthefigureofChrist，beentitledtothesamemodeofadoration。OfthissecondNicenecounciltheactsarestillextant；acuriousmonumentofsuperstitionandignorance，offalsehoodandfolly。Ishallonlynoticethejudgmentofthebishopsonthecomparativemeritofimage—worshipandmorality。
Amonkhadconcludedatrucewiththedaemonoffornication，onconditionofinterruptinghisdailyprayerstoapicturethathunginhiscell。Hisscruplespromptedhimtoconsulttheabbot。\"RatherthanabstainfromadoringChristandhisMotherintheirholyimages，itwouldbebetterforyou，\"repliedthecasuist，\"toentereverybrothel，andvisiteveryprostitute，inthecity。\"^80Forthehonoroforthodoxy，atleasttheorthodoxyoftheRomanchurch，itissomewhatunfortunate，thatthetwoprinceswhoconvenedthetwocouncilsofNicearebothstainedwiththebloodoftheirsons。ThesecondoftheseassemblieswasapprovedandrigorouslyexecutedbythedespotismofIrene，andsherefusedheradversariesthetolerationwhichatfirstshehadgrantedtoherfriends。Duringthefivesucceedingreigns，aperiodofthirty—eightyears，thecontestwasmaintained，withunabatedrageandvarioussuccess，betweentheworshippersandthebreakersoftheimages；butIamnotinclinedtopursuewithminutediligencetherepetitionofthesameevents。Nicephorusallowedagenerallibertyofspeechandpractice；andtheonlyvirtueofhisreignisaccusedbythemonksasthecauseofhistemporalandeternalperdition。SuperstitionandweaknessformedthecharacterofMichaeltheFirst，butthesaintsandimageswereincapableofsupportingtheirvotaryonthethrone。Inthepurple，LeotheFifthassertedthenameandreligionofanArmenian；andtheidols，withtheirseditiousadherents，werecondemnedtoasecondexile。Theirapplausewouldhavesanctifiedthemurderofanimpioustyrant，buthisassassinandsuccessor，thesecondMichael，wastaintedfromhisbirthwiththePhrygianheresies:heattemptedtomediatebetweenthecontendingparties；andtheintractablespiritoftheCatholicsinsensiblycasthimintotheoppositescale。Hismoderationwasguardedbytimidity；buthissonTheophilus，alikeignorantoffearandpity，wasthelastandmostcrueloftheIconoclasts。
Theenthusiasmofthetimesranstronglyagainstthem；andtheemperorswhostemmedthetorrentwereexasperatedandpunishedbythepublichatred。AfterthedeathofTheophilus，thefinalvictoryoftheimageswasachievedbyasecondfemale，hiswidowTheodora，whomhelefttheguardianoftheempire。Hermeasureswereboldanddecisive。Thefictionofatardyrepentanceabsolvedthefameandthesoulofherdeceasedhusband；thesentenceoftheIconoclastpatriarchwascommutedfromthelossofhiseyestoawhippingoftwohundredlashes:thebishopstrembled，themonksshouted，andthefestivaloforthodoxypreservestheannualmemoryofthetriumphoftheimages。A
singlequestionyetremained，whethertheyareendowedwithanyproperandinherentsanctity；itwasagitatedbytheGreeksoftheeleventhcentury；^81andasthisopinionhasthestrongestrecommendationofabsurdity，Iamsurprisedthatitwasnotmoreexplicitlydecidedintheaffirmative。IntheWest，PopeAdriantheFirstacceptedandannouncedthedecreesoftheNiceneassembly，whichisnowreveredbytheCatholicsastheseventhinrankofthegeneralcouncils。RomeandItalyweredociletothevoiceoftheirfather；butthegreatestpartoftheLatinChristianswerefarbehindintheraceofsuperstition。ThechurchesofFrance，Germany，England，andSpain，steeredamiddlecoursebetweentheadorationandthedestructionofimages，whichtheyadmittedintotheirtemples，notasobjectsofworship，butaslivelyandusefulmemorialsoffaithandhistory。AnangrybookofcontroversywascomposedandpublishedinthenameofCharlemagne:^82underhisauthorityasynodofthreehundredbishopswasassembledatFrankfort:^83theyblamedthefuryoftheIconoclasts，buttheypronouncedamoreseverecensureagainstthesuperstitionoftheGreeks，andthedecreesoftheirpretendedcouncil，whichwaslongdespisedbytheBarbariansoftheWest。^84Amongthemtheworshipofimagesadvancedwithasilentandinsensibleprogress；butalargeatonementismadefortheirhesitationanddelay，bythegrossidolatryoftheageswhichprecedethereformation，andofthecountries，bothinEuropeandAmerica，whicharestillimmersedinthegloomofsuperstition。
[Footnote77:Theremaininghistoryofimages，fromIrenetoTheodora，iscollected，fortheCatholics，byBaroniusandPagi，A。D。780—840。NatalisAlexander，Hist。N。T。seculumviii。
PanopliaadversusHaereticosp。118—178，andDupin，Bibliot。
Eccles。tom。vi。p。136—154；fortheProtestants，bySpanheim，Hist。Imag。p。305—639。Basnage，Hist。del\'Eglise，tom。i。p。
556—572，tom。ii。p。1362—1385，andMosheim，Institut。Hist。
Eccles。secul。viii。etix。TheProtestants，exceptMosheim，aresouredwithcontroversy；buttheCatholics，exceptDupin，areinflamedbythefuryandsuperstitionofthemonks；andevenLeBeau，Hist。duBasEmpire，agentlemanandascholar，isinfectedbytheodiouscontagion。]
[Footnote78:SeetheActs，inGreekandLatin，ofthesecondCouncilofNice，withanumberofrelativepieces，intheviiithvolumeoftheCouncils，p。645—1600。Afaithfulversion，withsomecriticalnotes，wouldprovoke，indifferentreaders，asighorasmile。]
[Footnote79:Thepope\'slegateswerecasualmessengers，twopriestswithoutanyspecialcommission，andwhoweredisavowedontheirreturn。SomevagabondmonkswerepersuadedbytheCatholicstorepresenttheOrientalpatriarchs。ThiscuriousanecdoteisrevealedbyTheodoreStudites，epist。i。38，inSirmond。Opp。
tom。v。p。1319，oneofthewarmestIconoclastsoftheage。]
[Footnote80:Thesevisitscouldnotbeinnocentsincethedaemonoffornication，&c。Actioiv。p。901，Actiov。p。1081]
[Footnote81:SeeanaccountofthiscontroversyintheAlexiusofAnnaCompena，l。v。p。129，andMosheim，Institut。Hist。
Eccles。p。371，372。]
[Footnote82:TheLibriCarolini，Spanheim，p。443—529，
composedinthepalaceorwinterquartersofCharlemagne，atWorms，A。D。790，andsentbyEngeberttoPopeHadrianI。，whoansweredthembyagrandisetverbosaepistola，Concil。tom。
vii。p。1553。TheCarolinespropose120objectionsagainsttheNicenesynodandsuchwordsasthesearetheflowersoftheirrhetoric—Dementiam……priscaeGentilitatisobsoletumerrorem……argumentainsanissimaetabsurdissima……derisionedignasnaenias，&c。，&c。]
[Footnote83:TheassembliesofCharlemagnewerepolitical，aswellasecclesiastical；andthethreehundredmembers，Nat。
Alexander，sec。viii。p。53，whosatandvotedatFrankfort，mustincludenotonlythebishops，buttheabbots，andeventheprincipallaymen。]
[Footnote84:Quisuprasanctissimapatresnostriepiscopietsacerdotesomnimodisservitiumetadorationemimaginumrenuentescontempserunt，atqueconsentientescondemnaverunt，Concil。tom。
ix。p。101，Canon。ii。Franckfurd。Apolemicmustbehard—heartedindeed，whodoesnotpitytheeffortsofBaronius，Pagi，Alexander，Maimbourg，&c。，toeludethisunluckysentence。]
ChapterXLIX:ConquestOfItalyByTheFranks。
PartIV。
ItwasaftertheNycenesynod，andunderthereignofthepiousIrene，thatthepopesconsummatedtheseparationofRomeandItaly，bythetranslationoftheempiretothelessorthodoxCharlemagne。Theywerecompelledtochoosebetweentherivalnations:religionwasnotthesolemotiveoftheirchoice；andwhiletheydissembledthefailingsoftheirfriends，theybeheld，withreluctanceandsuspicion，theCatholicvirtuesoftheirfoes。Thedifferenceoflanguageandmannershadperpetuatedtheenmityofthetwocapitals；andtheywerealienatedfromeachotherbythehostileoppositionofseventyyears。InthatschismtheRomanshadtastedoffreedom，andthepopesofsovereignty:
theirsubmissionwouldhaveexposedthemtotherevengeofajealoustyrant；andtherevolutionofItalyhadbetrayedtheimpotence，aswellasthetyranny，oftheByzantinecourt。TheGreekemperorshadrestoredtheimages，buttheyhadnotrestoredtheCalabrianestates^85andtheIllyriandiocese，^86whichtheIconociastshadtornawayfromthesuccessorsofSt。Peter；andPopeAdrianthreatensthemwithasentenceofexcommunicationunlesstheyspeedilyabjurethispracticalheresy。^87TheGreekswerenoworthodox；buttheirreligionmightbetaintedbythebreathofthereigningmonarch:theFrankswerenowcontumacious；
butadiscerningeyemightdiscerntheirapproachingconversion，fromtheuse，totheadoration，ofimages。ThenameofCharlemagnewasstainedbythepolemicacrimonyofhisscribes；
buttheconquerorhimselfconformed，withthetemperofastatesman，tothevariouspracticeofFranceandItaly。InhisfourpilgrimagesorvisitstotheVatican，heembracedthepopesinthecommunionoffriendshipandpiety；kneltbeforethetomb，andconsequentlybeforetheimage，oftheapostle；andjoined，withoutscruple，inalltheprayersandprocessionsoftheRomanliturgy。Wouldprudenceorgratitudeallowthepontiffstorenouncetheirbenefactor?HadtheyarighttoalienatehisgiftoftheExarchate?HadtheypowertoabolishhisgovernmentofRome?ThetitleofpatricianwasbelowthemeritandgreatnessofCharlemagne；anditwasonlybyrevivingtheWesternempirethattheycouldpaytheirobligationsorsecuretheirestablishment。BythisdecisivemeasuretheywouldfinallyeradicatetheclaimsoftheGreeks；fromthedebasementofaprovincialtown，themajestyofRomewouldberestored:theLatinChristianswouldbeunited，underasupremehead，intheirancientmetropolis；andtheconquerorsoftheWestwouldreceivetheircrownfromthesuccessorsofSt。Peter。TheRomanchurchwouldacquireazealousandrespectableadvocate；and，undertheshadowoftheCarlovingianpower，thebishopmightexercise，withhonorandsafety，thegovernmentofthecity。^88