pe and the fathers perceived that times were
already altered, that sovereigns were not likely to submit tamely to
such an assumption of authority, and that their proceedings must be
managed with more craft than formerly. Still the deposing power was
established by implication, in the ratification of the decrees of the
Lateran council; and we know that it was exercised at a subsequent
period against Queen Elizabeth. Parsons declared, in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, that it was the doctrine of all learned men, and agreeable to
the apostolic injunctions; and that the power of deposing kings has not
only been claimed, but acted upon, may easily be proved. It was not
always treated as a speculative doctrine. History shows that many wars
have been waged through this very principle. In some cases the papal
sentence has been carried into effect, and in others it has led to war
and bloodshed, some states having always been ready to attempt to carry
the sentence into effect.
The following list will show how frequently the Roman pontiffs in the
days of their glory, claimed and exercised the power of deposing
sovereigns.
A.D.
1075. Gregory VII. deposed Henry IV. the emperor.
1088. Urban II. deposed Philip, king of France.
1154. Adrian IV. deposed _William_, king of Sicily.
1198. Innocent III. deposed the Emperor Philip, and King John
of England.
1227. Gregory IX. deposed the Emperor Frederic II.
1242. Innocent IV. deposed the emperor.
1261. Urban IV. deposed Manphred, king of Sicily.
1277. Nicholas III. deposed Charles, king of Sicily.
1281. Martin IV. deposed Peter of Arragon.
1284. Boniface VIII. deprived Philip the Fair[30].
1305. Clement V. deposed the Emperor Henry V.
1316. John XXII. deprived the Emperor Lodovic.
1409. Alexander V. deposed the king of Naples.
1538. Paul III. deprived Henry VIII. of England.
1570. Pius V. deprived Queen Elizabeth, as did also some of his
successors.
[Footnote 30: This pope in his bull says, _"We declare and
pronounce it as necessary to salvation, that all mankind be
subject to the Roman pontiff."_ This bull is a part of the
_canon law_.]
This is a sample of papal attempts against kings; and it proves that the
popes have always lost sight of St. Peter's character, though acting as
his successors. Our own sovereigns have often felt the weight of the
papal power. King Edgar was enjoined by Dunstan, the abbot of
Glas
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