LorenzoValla,

DiscourseontheForgery
oftheAllegedDonationofConstantine
InLatinandEnglish
EnglishtranslationbyChristopherB.Coleman
(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1922).
HanoverHistoricalTextsProject
ScannedandproofreadbyJonathanPerry,February2001.

TheDiscourseofLorenzoValla
ontheForgeryoftheAllegedDonationofConstantine.
20183

[Page20]
LAURENTIIVALLENSIS
DEFALSOCREDITAETEMENTITA
CONSTANTINIDONATIONE
DECLAMATIO.[1]
Pluresamelibricompluresqueemissisunt
inomniferedoctrinarumgenere.Inquibus
quodanonnullismagnisqueetlongoiam
aevoprobatisauctoribusdissentiocumsint,
quiindigneferantmequeuttemerarium
sacrilegumquecriminentur,quidtandem
nuncfacturiquidamputandisunt?
Quantopereinmedebacchaturi,etsifacultas
detur,quamavidemeadsupplicium
festinanterquerapturi,quinontantum
adversusmortuosscribo,sedadversusetiam
vivosnecinunumalterumve,sedin
plurimosneccontraprivatosmodo,verum
etiamcontramagistratus!Atquos
magistratus!Nempesummumpontificem,
quinontemporalisolumarmatusestgladio,
regumacprincipummore,sedecclesiastico
quoque,utabeonequesubteripsum,utsic
loquar,clipeumalicuiusprincipis[2]
protegeretepossis,quominus
excommunicatione,anathemate,
exsecratione[3]feriare.Quodsiprudenter,ut
dixit,sicfecisseexistimatusest,quiinquit,
"Noloscribereineosquipossunt

[Page21]
THEDISCOURSEOFLORENZOVALLAON
THE
FORGERYOFTHEALLEGED
DONATIONOFCONSTANTINE
Ihavepublishedmanybooks,agreatmany,in
almosteverybranchoflearning.Inasmuchasthere
arethosewhoareshockedthatintheseIdisagree
withcertaingreatwritersalreadyapprovedbylong
usage,andchargemewithrashnessandsacrilege,
whatmustwesupposesomeofthemwilldonow!
Howtheywillrageagainstme,andifopportunityis
affordedhoweagerlyandhowquicklytheywill
dragmetopunishment!ForIamwritingagainstnot
onlythedead,butthelivingalso,notthismanor
that,butahost,notmerelyprivateindividuals,but
theauthorities.Andwhatauthorities!Eventhe
supremepontiff,armednotonlywiththetemporal
swordasarekingsandprinces,butwiththespiritual
also,sothatevenundertheveryshield,sotospeak,
ofanyprince,youcannotprotectyourselffromhim
frombeingstruckdownbyexcommunication,
anathema,curse.Soifhewasthoughttohaveboth
spokenandactedprudentlywhosaid"Iwillnot
writeagainstthosewhocanwrite'Proscribed,'"how
muchmorewoulditseemthatIoughttofollow

proscribere,"quantomihimagisidem
faciendum
[Page22]essevideaturineumquine
proscriptioniquidemrelinquat[4]locum,
quiqueinvisibilibusmepotestatissuae
iaculispersequatur,utiurepossimdicere,
"Quoiboaspiritutuoetquoatuafugiam
facie!"Nisiforteputamuspatientiushaec
esselaturumsummumpontificem[5]quam
ceteri[6]fecerent.Nihilminus,siquidem
Paulo,quodbonaseconscientia
conversatumessedicerat,Ananias,princeps
sacerdotum,coramtribunoquiiudexsedbat,
iussitosverberari[7]etPhasureadem
praeditusdignitate,Ieremiamobloquendi
libertatemconiecitincarcerem.Sedillum
tribunusacpraeses,huncrexadversus
iniuriampontificistutarietpotuitetvoluit.
Meveroquistribunus,quispraeses,quisrex
emanibussummisacerdotis,simerapuerit
ille,etiamutveliteriperepoterit?
Verumnonestcausacurmeduplexhic
periculiterrorconturbetarceatquea
proposito.Namnequecontraiusfasque
summopontificilicetautligare
quempiam[8]autsolvere,etindefendenda
veritateatqueiustitiaprofundereanimam
summaevirtutis,summaelaudis,summi
praemiiest.Anveromultiobterrestrem
patriamdefendendammortisadiere
discrimen?Egoobcaelestem[9]patriam
assequendam(assequunturautemeamqui
Deoplacent,nonquihomnibus)mortis
discriminedeterrebor?Facessatigitur
trepidatioproculabeantmetustimores
excidant!Fortianimo,magnafiducia,bona
spe,defendendaestcausaveritatis,causa
iustitiae,causaDei!

[Page23]thesamecoursetowardhimwhogoesfar
beyondproscription,whowouldpursuemewiththe
invisibledartsofhisauthority,sothatIcouldrightly
say,"WhithershallIgofromthyspirit,orwhither
shallIfleefromthypresence?"[1]Unlessperhaps
wethinkthesupremepontiffwouldbearthese
attacksmorepatientlythanwouldothers.Farfrom
itforAnanias,thehighpriest,inthepresenceofthe
tribunewhosatasjudge,orderedPaulwhenhesaid
helivedingoodconsciencetobesmittenonthe
mouthandPashur,holdingthesamerank,threw
Jeremiahintoprisonfortheboldnessofhisspeech.
Thetribuneandthegovernor,indeed,wereableand
willingtoprotecttheformer,andthekingthelatter,
frompriestlyviolence.Butwhattribune,what
governor,whatking,evenifhewantedto,could
snatchmefromthehandsofthechiefpriestifhe
shouldseizeme?
Butthereisnoreasonwhythisawful,twofoldperil
shouldtroublemeandturnmefrommypurposefor
thesupremepontiffmaynotbindnorlooseanyone
contrarytolawandjustice.Andtogiveone'slifein
defenseoftruthandjusticeisthepathofthehighest
virtue,thehighesthonor,thehighestreward.Have
notmanyundergonethehazardofdeathforthe
defenseoftheirterrestrialfatherland?Inthe
attainmentofthecelestialfatherland(theyattainit
whopleaseGod,notmen),shallIbedeterredbythe
hazardofdeath?Awaythenwithtrepidation,let
fearsfarremove,letdoubtspassaway.Withabrave
soul,withutterfidelity,withgoodhope,thecauseof
truthmustbedefended,thecauseofjustice,the
causeofGod.

Norishetobeesteemedatrueoratorwhoknows
howtospeakwell,unlesshealsohasthecourageto
speak.Soletushavethecouragetoaccusehim,
Nequeenimisverusesthabendusoratorqui whoeverheis,thatcommitscrimescallingfor
benescit[10]dicerenisietdicereaudeat.
accusation.Andlethimwhosinsagainstallbe
Audeamusitaqueaccusareeum[11]
calledtoaccountbythevoiceofonespeakingfor
quicumquedignacommittitaccusatione.Et all.YetperhapsIoughtnottoreprovemybrotherin
quiinomnespeccat,uniusproomniumvoce public,butbyhimself.Rather,"Themthatsin"and
carpatur.Atnondebeopalamobiurgare
donotacceptprivateadmonition"rebukebeforeall,
fratrem,sedintermeetipsum.Immo,
thatothersalsomayfear."[2]OrdidnotPaul,
"publicepeccans,"etquiprivatumconsilium whose
nonadmitteret,"publicearguendusest,ut
ceteritimoremhabeant."AnnonPaulus,
cuiusverbismodosumusus,in
[Page24]osPetrumcoramecclesia
[Page25]wordsIhavejustused,reprovePeterto
reprehendit,quiareprehensibiliserat?Ethoc hisfaceinthepresenceofthechurchbecausehe

adnostramdoctrinamscriptumreliquit.At
nonsumPaulus,quiPetrumpossim
reprehendere.ImmoPaulussum,quiPaulum
imitor.Quemadmodum,quodmultoplusest,
unuscumDeospiritusefficior,cumstudiose
mandatisilliusobtempero.Nequealiquem
suadignitasabincrepationibustutumreddit
quaePetrumnonreddidit,multosquealios
eodempraeditosgraduutMarcellumquod
diislibasset,utCelestinumquodcum
Nestoriohaeretico[12]sentiret,utquosdam
etiamnostramemoriaquosabinferioribus
(quisenimnonestinferiorpapa?)
reprehensosscimus,uttaceamcondemnatos.

neededreproof?Andheleftthiswrittenforour
instruction.ButperhapsIamnotaPaulthatIshould
reproveaPeter.Yea,IamaPaulbecauseIimitate
Paul.Justas,andthisisfargreater,Ibecomeonein
spiritwithGodwhenIdiligentlyobservehis
commandments.Norisanyonemadeimmunefrom
chidingbyaneminencewhichdidnotmakePeter
immune,andmanyotherspossessedofthesame
rankforinstance,Marcellus,[3]whooffereda
libationtothegods,andCelestine[I]who
entertainedtheNestorianheresy,andcertaineven
withinourownmemorywhomweknowwere
reproved,tosaynothingofthosecondemned,by
theirinferiors,forwhoisnotinferiortothePope?[4]

Nequeveroidagoutquemquam[13]cupiam
insectarietineumquasiPhilippicasscribere,
hocenimamefacinusproculabsit,sedut
erroremamentibushominumconvellam,ut
eosavitiissceleribusqueveladmonendovel
increpandosummoveam.Nonausimdicere
utaliipermeedoctiluxuriantemnimiis
sarmentispapalemsedem,quaeChristivinea
est,ferrocoerceant,etplenasuvasnon
gracileslabruscasferrecompellant.Quod
cumfacio,numquis[14]eritquiautmihios
autsibiauresvelitoccludere,nedicam
suppliciummortemqueproponere?Hunc
ego,sihocfaciat,etiamsipapasit,quid
dicamesse,bonumnepastorem,anaspidem
surdamquaenolitexaudirevocem
incantantis,veliteiusdemmembramorsu
venenoquepraestringere?

Itisnotmyaimtoinveighagainstanyoneandwrite
socalledPhilippicsagainsthimbethatvillainyfar
frommebuttorootouterrorfrommen'sminds,to
freethemfromvicesandcrimesbyeither
admonitionorreproof.Iwouldnotdaretosay[that
myaimis]thatothers,taughtbyme,shouldprune
withsteelthepapalsee,whichisChrist'svineyard,
rankwithoverabundantshoots,andcompelittobear
richgrapesinsteadofmeagerwildings.WhenIdo
that,isthereanyonewhowillwanttocloseeither
mymouthorhisownears,muchlesspropose
punishmentanddeath?Ifoneshoulddoso,evenifit
werethePope,whatshouldIcallhim,agood
shepherd,oradeafviperwhichwouldnotchooseto
heedthevoiceofthecharmer,buttostrikehislimbs
withitspoisonousbite?

[Page26]falsamcognoscerentdefenderunt,
dedecorantespontificatusmaiestatem,
dedecorantesveterumpontificum
memoriam,dedecorantesreligionem
Christianam,etomniacaedibus,ruinis,[19]
flagitiisquemiscentes.Suamesseaiunt
urbemRomamsuumregnumSiciliae

[Page27]havedefendedastruewhattheyknewto
befalse,dishonoringthemajestyofthepontificate,
dishonoringthememoryofancientpontiffs,
dishonoringtheChristianreligion,confounding
everythingwithmurders,disastersandcrimes.They
saythecityofRomeistheirs,theirsthekingdomof
SicilyandofNaples,[5]thewholeofItaly,the

Iknowthatforalongtimenowmen'searsare
waitingtoheartheoffensewithwhichIchargethe
Scioiamdudumexspectare[15]aures
Romanpontiffs.Itis,indeed,anenormousone,due
hominumquidnampontificibusRomanis
eithertosupineignorance,ortogrossavaricewhich
criminis[16]impingam.Profectoingens,sive istheslaveofidols,ortoprideofempireofwhich
supinaeignorantiae,siveimmanisavaritiae
crueltyiseverthecompanion.Forduringsome
quaeestidolorumservitus,siveimperandi
centuriesnow,eithertheyhavenotknownthatthe
vanitatiscuiuscrudelitassemperestcomes. DonationofConstantineisspuriousandforged,or
Namaliquotiamsaeculisautnon[17]
elsetheythemselvesforgedit,andtheirsuccessors
intellexeruntdonationemConstantini
walkinginthesamewayofdeceitastheirelders
commenticiam[18]fictamqueesse,autipsi
finxerunt,siveposterioresinmaiorum
suorumdolisvestigiaimprimentesprovera
quam

NeapolitanumquesuamuniversamItaliam,
Gallias,Hispanias,[20]Germanos,
Britannossuumdeniqueoccidentemhaec
enimcunctainipsadonationispagina
contineri.Ergohaecomniatuasunt,summe
pontifex?Omniatibiinanimoest
recuperare?Omnesregesacprincipes
occidentisspoliareurbibus,autcogereut
annuatibitributapensitent,sententiaest?

Gauls,theSpains,theGermans,theBritons,indeed
thewholeWestforallthesearecontainedinthe
instrumentoftheDonationitself.[6]Soalltheseare
yours,supremepontiff?Anditisyourpurposeto
recoverthemall?Todespoilallkingsandprincesof
theWestoftheircitiesorcompelthemtopayyoua
yearlytribute,isthatyourplan?

[Page28]papadegerevitamposset.Quarto,
falsodicidonationisexemplumautapud
DecretarepeririautexhistoriaSilvestriesse
sumptum,quodnequeinillanequein[23]
ullahistoriainvenitur.Ineoquequaedam
contraria,impossibilia,stulta,barbara,
ridiculacontineri.Praeterealoquarde
quorundam[24]aliorumCaesarumvel
simulatavelfrivoladonatione.Ubiex
abundantiadiciam,siSilvesterpossedisset,
tamen,siveillosivequovisaliopontificea
possessionedeiecto,posttantamtemporis
intercapedinemnecdivinonechumanoiure
posserepeti.Postremo,eaquaeasummo
pontificetenenturnulliustemporis
longitudinepotuisse[25]praescribi.

[Page29]siderable,forthemeresubsistenceofthe
Pope.Fourth,thatitisnottrueeitherthatacopyof
theDonationisfoundintheDecretum[ofGratian],
orthatitwastakenfromtheHistoryofSylvester
foritisnotfoundinitorinanyhistory,anditis
comprisedofcontradictions,impossibilities,
stupidities,barbarismsandabsurdities.FurtherI
shallspeakofthepretendedormockdonationof
certainotherCaesars.ThenbywayofredundanceI
shalladdthatevenhadSylvestertakenpossession,
nevertheless,heorsomeotherpontiffhavingbeen
dispossessed,possessioncouldnotberesumedafter
suchalongintervalundereitherdivineorhuman
law.Last[Ishallshow]thatthepossessionswhich
arenowheldbythesupremepontiffcouldnotinany
lengthoftime,bevalidatedbyprescription.

I,onthecontrary,thinkitfairertolettheprinces
despoilyouofalltheempireyouhold.For,asIshall
Ategocontraexistimoiustiuslicere
show,thatDonationwhencethesupremepontiffs
principibusspoliareteimperioomniquod
willhavetheirrightderivedwasunknownequallyto
obtines.Nam,utostendam,donatioillaunde SylvesterandtoConstantine.
natumessesuumiussummipontifices
ButbeforeIcometotherefutationoftheinstrument
voluntSilvestropariteretConstantinofuit
oftheDonation,whichistheironedefense,notonly
incognita.
falsebutevenstupid,therightorderdemandsthatI
Verumantequamadconfutandamdonationis gofurtherback.Andfirst,Ishallshowthat
paginamvenio,quodunumistorum
ConstantineandSylvesterwerenotsuchmenthat
patrociniumest,nonmodofalsumverum
theformerwouldchoosetogive,wouldhavethe
etiamstolidum,ordopostulatutaltius
legalrighttogive,orwouldhaveitinhispowerto
repetam.Etprimumdicamnontalesfuisse
givethoselandstoanother,orthatthelatterwould
ConstantinumSilvestrumque,illumquidem bewillingtoacceptthemorcouldlegallyhavedone
quidonarevellet,quiiuredonareposset,qui so.Inthesecondplace,ifthiswerenotso,thoughit
utinmanumalterieatraderetinsuahaberet isabsolutelytrueandobvious,[Ishallshowthatin
potestate,huncautemquivelletaccipere,
fact]thelatterdidnotreceivenortheformergive
quiqueiureaccepturus[21]foret.Secundo
possessionofwhatissaidtohavebeengranted,but
loco,sihaecnonessent,quaeverissima
thatitalwaysremainedundertheswayandempire
atqueclarissimasunt,nequehuncacceptasse oftheCaesars.Inthethirdplace,[Ishallshowthat]
nequeillumtradidissepossessionemrerum
nothingwasgiventoSylvesterbyConstantine,but
quaedicunturdonatae,sedeassemperin
toanearlierPope(andConstantinehadreceived
arbitrioetimperioCaesarumpermansisse.
baptismevenbeforethatpontificate),andthatthe
Tertio,nihildatumSilvestroaConstantino, grantswereincon
sedprioripontificiantequemetiam
baptismum[22]acceperat,donaqueilla
mediocriafuisse,quibus

Atquequodadprimampartemattinet,
loquamurautemdeConstantinoprius,
deindedeSilvestro.

Andsototakeupthefirstpoint,letusspeakfirstof
Constantine,thenofSylvester.

Itwouldnotdotoargueapublicandquasiimperial
Nonestcommittendumutpublicametquasi casewithoutmoredignityofutterancethanisusual
Caesareamcausamnonmaiorequam
inprivatecases.Andsospeakingasinanassembly
privataesolentoreagamus.Itaquequasi
ofkingsandprinces,asIassuredlydo,forthis
in[26]contione[27]regumacprincipum
orationofminewillcomeintotheirhands,Ichoose
orans,utcertefacio,nammeahaecoratioin toaddressanaudience,asitwere,facetoface.Icall
manuseorumventuraest,libettamquam
uponyou,kingsandprinces,foritisdifficultfora
praesentesetinconspectupositosalloqui.
privatepersontoformapictureofaroyalmindI
Vosappehoregesacprincipes,difficileest
seekyourthought,Isearchyourheart,Iaskyour
enimprivatumhominemanimiregii
testimony.Isthereanyoneofyouwho,hadhebeen
concipereimaginem,vestrammentem
inConstantine'splace,wouldhavethoughtthathe
inquiro,conscientiamscrutor,testimonium
mustsetaboutgivingtoanotheroutofpure
postulo.Numquid[28]vestrumquispiam,si generositythecityofRome,hisfatherland,thehead
fuissetConstantiniloco,faciendumsibi
oftheworld,thequeenofstates,themostpowerful,
putassetuturbemRomam,patriamsuam,
thenoblestandthemostopulentofpeoples,the
caputorbisterrarum,reginamcivitatum,
victorofthenations,whoseveryformissacred,and
potentissimam,nobilissimam,ditissimam
betakinghimselfthencetoanhumblelittletown,
populorum,triumphatricemnationum,et
ByzantiumgivingwithRomeItaly,notaprovince
ipsoaspectusacram,liberalitatisgratia
butthemistressofprovincesgivingthethreeGauls
donaretalteri,etseadhumileoppidum
givingthetwoSpainstheGermanstheBritonsthe
conferretdeindeByzantium?donaret
wholeWestdeprivinghimselfofoneofthetwo
praetereaunacumRomaItaliam,non
eyesofhisempire?Thatanyoneinpossessionof
provinciamsedprovinciarumvictricem:
hissenseswoulddothis,Icannotbebroughtto
donarettresGallias:donaretduasHispanias: believe.
donaretGermanos:donaretBritannos:totum
Whatordinarilybefallsyouthatismorelooked
donaretoccidentem:etsealteroex
duobus[29]Imperiioculisorbaret?Hocego, forwardto,
utquisfaciatcomposmentis,adducinon
possumutcredam.
Quidenimvobisexspectatius,quid
iucundius,[30]quidgratiuscon
[Page30]tingeresolet,quamaccessionem
imperiisvestrisvosregnisqueadiungere,et
longelatequequammaximeproferre
dicionem?Inhoc,utviderevideor,omnis
vestracura,omniscogitatio,omnislabor
dies[31]noctesqueconsumitur.Exhoc
praecipuaspesgloriae,propterhoc
voluptatesrelinquitis,propterhocmille
periculaaditis,propterhoccarissima[32]
pignora,propterhocpartemcorporisaequo
animoamittitis.Siquidemneminemvestrum
autaudiviautlegiaconatuampliandi
imperiifuissedeterritum,quodautluminis,
autmanus,autcruris,autalteriusmembri
iacturamfecisset.Quinipsehicardoratque
haeclatedominandicupiditas,utquisque
maximepotensest,itaeummaximeangit
atqueagitat.Alexandernoncontentus

[Page31]morepleasing,moregrateful,thanforyou
toincreaseyourempiresandkingdoms,andto
extendyourauthorityasfarandwideaspossible?In
this,asitseemstome,allyourcare,allyour
thought,allyourlabor,nightanddayisexpended.
Fromthiscomesyourchiefhopeofglory,forthis
yourenouncepleasuresforthisyousubject
yourselvestoathousanddangersforthisyour
dearestpledges,forthisyourownfleshyousacrifice
withserenity.Indeed,Ihaveneitherheardnorread
ofanyofyouhavingbeendeterredfromanattempt
toextendhisempirebylossofaneye,ahand,aleg,
oranyothermember.Nay,thisveryardorandthis
thirstforwidedominionissuchthatwhoeveris
mostpowerful,himitthustormentsandstirsthe
most.Alexander,notcontenttohavetraversedon
footthedesertsofLibya,tohaveconqueredthe
Orienttothefarthestocean,tohavemasteredthe

desertaLibyaepedibusperagrasse,orientem
adextremumusqueOceanumvicisse,
domuisseseptentrionem,intertotvulnera,
totcasus,recusantibusiam,detestantibus[33]
tamlonginquas,tamasperasexpeditiones
militibus,ipsesibinihileffecissevidebatur,
nisietoccidentem,etomnesnationesautvi,
autnominissuiauctoritatesibitributarias
reddidisset.Parumdico:iamOceanum
transireetsiquisaliusorbisessetexplorare,
acsuosubicerearbitriodestinaverat.In
caelum[34]tandem,utopinor,tentasset
ascendere.Talisfereestomniumregum
voluntas,etsinonomniumtalisaudacia.
Taceoquantascelera,quotabominanda
propterimperiumassequendum
ampliandumveadmissasunt,utnecfratresa
fratrum,necfiliiaparentum,necparentesa
filiorumsanguinenefariasabstineantmanus.
Adeonusquammagis,nusquamatrocius
grassarisolethumanatemeritas.Etquod
miraripossis,nonsegnioresadhocvideas
animossenumquamiuvenum,orborum
quamparentum,regumquamtyrannorum.
Quodsitantoconatupetidominatussolet,
quantomaiorenecesseestconservetur!
Nequeenimtantoperemiserumestnon
ampliareimperiumquamimminuereneque
tamdeformetibialteriusregnumnon
accederetuoquamtuumaccederealieno.
Nam
[Page32]quodabregealiquoautpopulo
legimusnonnullospraepositosregnoaut
urbibus,idfactumestnondeprimanecde
maxima,seddepostremaquodammodoac
minimaimperiiparte,atqueearationeut
donantemquidonatusestquasidominumet
seministrumilliussemperagnosceret.
Nuncquaeso,nonneabiectoanimoet
minimegenerosovidenturesse,qui
opinanturConstantinummelioremase
imperiialienassepartem?NondicoRomam,
Italiamqueetcetera,sedGallias,ubiipse
proeliagesserat,ubisolumdiudominatus
fuerat,ubisuaegloriasuiqueimperii
rudimentaposuerat.Hominem,qui
cupiditatedominandinationibusbella
intulisset,sociosaffinesquebellocivili
persecutusimperioprivassetcuinondum
perdomitaeacprofligataereliquiaeessent
alteriusfactionis,quicummultisnationibus
bellagererenonmodosoleretspegloriae

North,amidsomuchbloodshed,somanyperils,his
soldiersalreadymutinousandcryingoutagainst
suchlong,suchhardcampaigns,seemedtohimself
tohaveaccomplishednothingunlesseitherbyforce
orbythepowerofhisnameheshouldhavemade
theWestalso,andallnations,tributarytohim.Iput
ittoomildlyhehadalreadydeterminedtocrossthe
ocean,andiftherewasanyotherworld,toexploreit
andsubjectittohiswill.Hewouldhavetried,I
think,lastofalltoascendtheheavens.Somesuch
wishallkingshave,eventhoughnotallaresobold.
Ipassoverthethoughthowmanycrimes,howmany
horrorshavebeencommittedtoattainandextend
power,forbrothersdonotrestraintheirwicked
handsfromthestainofbrothers'blood,norsons
fromthebloodofparents,norparentsfromthe
bloodofsons.Indeed,nowhereisman'srecklessness
apttorunriotfurthernormoreviciously.Andto
yourastonishment,youseethemindsofoldmenno
lesseagerinthisthanthemindsofyoungmen,
childlessmennolesseagerthanparents,kingsthan
usurpers.
Butifdominationisusuallysoughtwithsuchgreat
resolution,howmuchgreatermustbetheresolution
topreserveit!Foritisbynomeanssodiscreditable
nottoincreaseanempireastoimpairit,norisitso
shamefulnottoannexanother'skingdomtoyour
ownasforyourowntobeannexedtoanother's.And
when

[Page33]wereadofmenbeingputinchargeofa
kingdomorofcitiesbysomekingorbythepeople,
thisisnotdoneinthecaseofthechieforthe
greatestportionoftheempire,butinthecaseofthe
lastandleast,asitwere,andthatwiththe
understandingthattherecipientshouldalways
recognizethedonorashissovereignandhimselfas
anagent.
NowIask,dotheynotseemofabaseandmost
ignoblemindwhosupposethatConstantinegave
awaythebetterpartofhisempire?Isaynothingof
Rome,Italy,andtherest,buttheGaulswherehehad
wagedwarinperson,whereforalongtimehehad
beensolemaster,wherehehadlaidthefoundations
ofhisgloryandhisempire!Amanwhothrough
thirstfordominionhadwagedwaragainstnations,
andattackingfriendsandrelativesincivilstrifehad
takenthegovernmentfromthem,whohadtodeal
withremnantsofanopposingfactionnotyet
completelymasteredandoverthrownwhowaged
warwithmanynationsnotonlybyinclinationandin

imperiiquesedetiamnecessehaberet,utpote
quotidie[35]abarbarislacessitusquifiliis,
quiconiunctissanguine,quiamicitiis[36]
abundaretquisenatumpopulumque
Romanumhuicfactorepugnaturumnosset
quiexpertusessetinstabilitatemvictarum
nationum,etadomnemfereRomani
principismutationemrebellantiumquise
meminissetmorealiorumCaesarum,non
electionepatrumconsensuqueplebis,sed
exercitu,armis,bellodominatumoccupasse
quaetamvehemenscausaeturgensaderat,
utistanegligeretettantaliberalitateuti
vellet?

thehopeoffameandempirebutbyverynecessity,
forhewasharassedeverydaybythebarbarians
whohadmanysons,relativesandassociateswho
knewthattheSenateandtheRomanpeoplewould
opposethisactwhohadexperiencedtheinstability
ofconquerednationsandtheirrebellionsatnearly
everychangeofruleratRomewhoremembered
thatafterthemannerofotherCaesarshehadcome
intopower,notbythechoiceoftheSenateandthe
consentofthepopulace,butbyarmedwarfarewhat
incentivecouldtherebesostrongandurgentthathe
wouldignoreallthisandchoosetodisplaysuch
prodigality?

Aiunt,quiaeffectuseratChristianus.Ergone
Imperiioptimaparteseabdicaret?Credo
sceluserat,flagitium,nefasiamregnare,nec
cumChristianareligioneconiungipoterat
regnum!Quiinadulteriosunt,quiusurisrem
auxerunt,quialienapossident,ii[37]post
baptismumalienamuxorem,alienam
pecuniam,alienabonaredderesolent.Hanc
cogitationemsihabes,Constantine,
restituereurbibuslibertatem,nonmutare
dominumdebes.Sednonidin

Theysay,itwasbecausehehadbecomeaChristian.
Wouldhethereforerenouncethebestpartofhis
empire?Isupposeitwasacrime,anoutrage,a
felony,toreignafterthat,andthatakingdomwas
incompatiblewiththeChristianreligion!Thosewho
liveinadultery,thosewhohavegrownrichby
usury,thosewhopossessgoodswhichbelongto
another,theyafterbaptismarewonttorestorethe
stolenwife,thestolenmoney,thestolengoods.If
thisbeyouridea,Constantine,youmustrestoreyour
citiestoliberty,notchangetheirmaster.Butthatdid
notenterintothe

[Page34]causafuittantuminhonorem
religionisutfaceresadductuses.Quasi
religiosumsitmagisregnumdeponerequam
protutelareligionisilludadministrare!Nam
quodadaccipientesattinet,nequehonesta
eritillisnequeutilisistadonatio.Tuverosi
Christianumteostendere,sipietatem
indicaretuam,siconsultumnondico
RomanaeecclesiaevissedecclesiaeDei,
nuncpraecipue,nuncprincipemagas,ut
pugnesproiis[38]quipugnarenonpossunt
necdebent,uteostuaauctoritatetutos
reddasquiinsidiisiniuriisqueobnoxiisunt.
Nabuchodonosor,Cyro,Assuero,multisque
aliisprincipibussacramentumveritatisDeus
aperirivoluitanullotameneorumexegitut
imperiocederet,utpartemregnidonaret,sed
tantumlibertatemHebraeis[39]redderet
eosqueabinfestantibusfinitimisprotegeret.
HocsatisfuitIudaeishocsateritet
Christianis.Factuses,Constantine,
Christianus?Atindignissimaresest
Christianumtenuncimperatoremminori[40]
esseprincipatuquamfuerasinfidelis.Est
enimprincipatuspraecipuumquoddamDei
munus,adquemgentilesetiamprincipesa
Deoeligiexistimantur.

[Page35]caseyouwereledtodoasyoudidsolely
forthegloryofyourreligion.Asthoughitwere
morereligioustolaydownakingdomthanto
administeritforthemaintenanceofreligion!Forso
farasitconcernstherecipients,thatDonationwill
beneitherhonorablenorusefultothem.Butifyou
wanttoshowyourselfaChristian,todisplayyour
piety,tofurtherthecause,IdonotsayoftheRoman
church,butoftheChurchofGod,nowofalltimes
acttheprince,sothatyoumayfightforthosewho
cannotandoughtnottofight,sothatbyyour
authorityyoumaysafeguardthosewhoareexposed
toplotsandinjuries.ToNebuchadnezzar,toCyrus,
toAhasuerus,andtomanyotherprinces,bythewill
ofGod,themysteryofthetruthwasrevealedbutof
noneofthemdidGoddemandthatheshouldresign
hisgovernment,thatheshouldgiveawaypartofhis
kingdom,butonlythatheshouldgivetheHebrews
theirlibertyandprotectthemfromtheiraggressive
neighbors.ThiswasenoughfortheJewsitwillbe
enoughfortheChristiansalso.Youhavebecomea
Christian,Constantine?Thenitismostunseemlyfor
younowasaChristianemperortohaveless
sovereigntythanyouhadasaninfidel.For
sovereigntyisanespecialgiftofGod,towhicheven
thegentilesovereignsaresupposedtobechosenby
God.

Ateratlevatusalepra.Ideoverisimileest
referregratiamvoluisse,etmaioremensura
redderequodacceperat.Itane?Naaman[41]
illeSyrusabHeliseocuratusmuneratantum
offerrevoluit,nondimidiumbonorum.
ConstantinusdimidiumImperiiobtulisset?
Pigetmeimpudentifabellaetamquam
indubitataehistoriaerespondere,sicenim
haecfabulaexhistoriaNaamanetHelisei,ut
altera[42]draconisexfabulosodraconeBeli
adumbrata

Buthewascuredofleprosy!Probably,therefore,he
wouldhavewishedtoshowhisgratitudeandgive
backalargermeasurethanhehadreceived.Indeed!
NaamantheSyrian,curedbyElisha,wishedmerely
topresentgifts,notthehalfofhisgoods,andwould
Constantinehavepresentedthehalfofhisempire?I
regrettoreplytothisshamelessstoryasthoughit
wereundoubtedandhistorical,foritisareflection
ofthestoryofNaamanandElishajustasthatother
storyaboutthedragonisareflectionofthefabulous
dragonofBel.[7]Butyieldingthispoint,is

[Page36]est.Sed,utistaconcedam,
numquidinhachistoriadedonationefit
mentio?Minime.Verumdehoccommodius
postea.[43]

[Page37]thereinthisstoryanymentionmadeofa
"donation"?Notatall.Butofthis,morelater.

Hewascuredofleprosy?Hetookonthereforea
ChristianspirithewasimbuedwiththefearofGod,
Levatusestalepra?Cepit[44]obidmentem withtheloveofGodhewishedtohonorhim.
ChristianamDeitimoreDeiamoreimbutus NeverthelessIcannotbepersuadedthathewishedto
illihonoremhaberevoluit.Nontamen
giveawaysomuchfor,sofarasIsee,noone,
persuaderipossumeumtantadonare
eitherpagan,inhonorofthegods,orbeliever,in
voluisse,quippecumvideamneminem,aut honorofthelivingGod,hasresignedhisempireand
gentileminhonoremdeorum,autfidelemin givenittopriests.Insooth,ofthekingsofIsrael
honoremDeiviventis,imperiumdeposuisse nonecouldbebroughttopermithispeopletogo,
sacerdotibusquedonasse.Siquidemex
accordingtotheformercustom,tosacrificeatthe
regibusIsraelnemoadducipotuitutpristino templeinJerusalemforfearlest,movedbythat
moreadtemplumIerusalempopulos
solemnreligiousceremonyandbythemajestyofthe
sacrificaturosirepermitteret,eovidelicet
temple,theyshouldreturntothekingofJudahfrom
timoreneforteadregemIudaeaquo
whomtheyhadrevolted.Andhowmuchmoreis
defecerantredirent,sacroillocultureligionis Constantinerepresentedtohavedone!Andthatyou
admonitiactemplimaiestate.Etquanto
maynotflatteryourselfwiththecureofleprosy,[let
maiusesthocquodfecissedicitur
mesaythat]Jeroboamwasthefirstonechosenby
Constantinus!Acnequidtibipropter
GodtobekingofIsraelandindeedfromaverylow
curationemlepraeblandiaris,Ieroboam
estate,whichtomymindismorethanbeinghealed
primusaDeoinregemIsraelelectusest,et
ofleprosyneverthelesshedidnotpresumeto
quidemexinfimacondicione,quodmea
entrusthiskingdomtoGod.Andwillyouhave
sententiaplusestquamesselepralevatum
ConstantinegivetoGodakingdomwhichhehad
[45]ettamenisnonestaususregnumsuum notreceivedfromhim,andthat,too,whenhewould
Deocredere.EttuvisConstantinumregnum offendhissons(whichwasnotthecasewith
Deodonassequodabillononaccepisset,qui Jeroboam),humiliatehisfriends,ignorehis
praesertim(idquodinIeroboamnon
relatives,injurehiscountry,plungeeverybodyinto
cadebat)offenderetfilios,deprimeret
grief,andforgethisowninterests!
amicos,negligeretsuos,laederetpatriam,
Butif,havingbeensuchamanashewas,hehad
maeroreomnesafficeret,suique
beentransformedasitwereintoanotherman,there
olbivisceretur!
wouldcertainlynothavebeenlackingthosewho
Quisietiamtalisfuisset,etquasiinalium
wouldwarnhim,mostofallhissons,hisrelatives,
hominemversus,certenondefuissentqui
andhisfriends.Whodoesnotthinkthattheywould
eumadmonerent,etimprimisfilii,propinqui havegoneatoncetotheemperor?Picturethemto
amiciquosquisestquinonputetprotinus
yourself,whenthepurposeofConstantinehad
Imperatoremfuisseadituros?Poniteigitur
becomeknown,trembling,hasteningtofallwith
illosanteoculos,menteConstantiniaudita,
groansandtearsatthefeetoftheprince,andsaying:
trepidos,festinantescumgemitu
"Isitthusthatyou,afatherhithertomost
lacrimisque[46]adgenuaprincipis
affectionatetowardyoursons,despoilyoursons,

procumbentes,ethocvoceutentes:
"Itane,paterantehacfiliorumamantissime,
filiosprivas,exheredas,[47]abdicas!Nam
quodteoptimamaximaqueImperiiparte
exuerevis,nontamquerimurquam
miratnur.Querimurautem

disinheritthem,disownthem?Wedonotcomplain
ofthefactthatyouchoosetodivestyourselfofthe
bestandlargestpartoftheempiresomuchaswe
wonderat

[Page38]quodearnadaliosdefers,cum
nostraetiacturaetturpitudine.Quidenim
causaeestquodliberostuosexspectata
successionaImperiifraudas,quiipseuna
cumpatreregnasti?Quidintecornmisimus?
Quainte,quainpatriam,quainnomen
RomanumacmaiestatemImperiiimpietate
dignividemurquospraecipuaoptimaque
privesprincipatusportione,quiapatriis
laribus,aconspectunatalissoli,abassueta
aura,avetustaconsuetudinerelegemur![48]
Penates,fana,[49]sepulchraexules
relinquemus,nescioubiautquaterrarum
regionevicturi!

[Page39]it.Butwedocomplainthatyougiveitto
otherstoourlossandshame.Whydoyoudefraud
yourchildrenoftheirexpectedsuccessiontothe
empire,youwhoyourselfreignedinpartnership
withyourfather?Whathavewedonetoyou?By
whatdisloyaltytoyou,toourcountry,totheRoman
nameorthemajestyoftheempire,arewedeemedto
deservetobedeprivedofthechiefestandbestpart
ofourprincipalitythatweshouldbebanishedfrom
ourpaternalhome,fromthesightofournativeland,
fromtheairweareusedto,fromourancientties!
Shallweleaveourhouseholdgods,ourshrines,our
tombs,exiles,toliveweknownotwhere,norin
whatpartoftheearth?

"Quidnospropinqui,quidnosamici,qui
tecumtotiensinaciestetimus,quifratres,
parentes,filioshostilimucroneconfossos
palpitantesqueconspeximus,necaliena
morteterritisumus,etipsiproteparati
mortemoppetere,nuncabsteuniversi
deserimur![50]QuiRomaegerimus
magistratus,quiurbibusItaliae,quiGalliis,
quiHispaniis,quiceterisprovinciis[51]
praesumus,autpraefuturisumus,[52]
omnesnerevocamur!Omnesprivatiiubemur
esse!Aniacturamhancaliundepensabis?Et
quomodopromeritoacprodignitatepoteris,
tantaorbisterrarumpartealteritradita?Num
quipraeeratcentumpopulis,eumtu,Caesar,
unipraeficies?Quomodotibiistudin
mentemvenirepotuit?Quomodosubita
tuorumtecepitoblivio,utnihiltemisereat
amicorum,nihilproximorum,nihilfiliorum?
Utinamnos,Caesar,salvatuadignitateatque
victoria,inbellocontigissetoccumbere
potiusquamistacernamus!

"Andwe,yourkindred,yourfriends,whohave
stoodsooftenwithyouinlineofbattle,whohave
seenbrothers,fathers,sons,piercedandwrithing
underhostilesword,andhavenotbeendismayedat
thedeathofothers,butwereourselvesreadytoseek
deathforyoursake,whyarewenowdesertedone
andallbyyou!Wewhoholdthepublicofficesof
Rome,whogovernoraredestinedtogovernthe
citiesofItaly,theGauls,theSpains,andtheother
provinces,areallofustobedeposed?Areallofus
tobeorderedintoprivatelife?Orwillyou
compensateuselsewhereforthisloss?Andhowcan
you,whensuchalargepartoftheworldhasbeen
giventoanother?Willyourmajestyputtheman
whohadchargeofahundredpeoplesoverone?
Howcouldyouhaveconceivedsuchaplan?Howis
itthatyouhavesuddenlybecomeobliviousofyour
subjects,sothatyouhavenoconsiderationforyour
friends,noryourkindred,noryoursons?Wouldthat
ithadbeenourlot,yourMajesty,whileyourhonor
andyourvictorywereunimpaired,tofallinbattle
ratherthantoseethis!

"Ettuquidemdeimperiotuoadtuum
arbitratumagerepotes,atqueetiamdenobis,
unodumtaxatexcepto,inquo[53]admortem
usqueerimuscontumacesneacultudeorum
immotaliumdesistamusmagnoetiamaliis
exemplo,utsciastuaistalargitasquid
mereaturdereligioneChristiana.Namsinon
largirisSilvestroImperium,tecumChristiani
essevolumus,multisfactumnostrum

"Youhavethepower,indeed,todowithyour
empirewhatyouwill,andevenwithus,onething
howeverexcepted,whichwewillresisttothedeath
wewillnotgiveuptheworshipoftheimmortal
gods,justforthesakeofaconspicuousexampleto
others,thatyoumayknowhowmuchthatbountyof
yourswillbeworthtotheChristianreligion.Forif
youdonotgiveyourempiretoSylvester,weare
willingtobeChristianswithyou,andmanywill

imitaturis:sinlargiris,nonmodoChristiani
fierinonsustinebimus,

imitateus.Butifyoudogiveit,notonlywillwenot

[Page40]sedinvisum,detestabile,
exsecrandumnobishocnomenefficies,
talesquereddesuttandemtuetvitaeet
mortisnostraemiserearis,necnossedte
ipsumduritiaeaccuses."

[Page41]enduretobecomeChristians,butyouwill
makethenamehateful,detestable,excretabletous,
andyouwillputusinsuchapositionthatatlastyou
willpityourlifeandourdeath,norwillyouaccuse
us,butonlyyourself,ofobstinacy."

NonnehacorationeConstantinus,nisi
exstirpatam[54]abeovolumus
humanitatem,sisuaspontenonmovebatur,
motusfuisset?Quidsihosaudirenoluisset,
nonneerantquihuicfactoetoratione
adversarenturetmanu?Ansenatus
populusqueRomanussibitantainrenihil
agendumputasset?Nonneoratorem,utait
Virgilius,gravempietateacmeritis
advocasset,quiapudConstantinumhanc
haberetorationem?

WouldnotConstantine,unlesswewouldhavehim
totallydevoidofhumanity,ifhewerenotmovedof
hisownaccord,havebeenmovedbythisspeech?
Butifhehadnotbeenwillingtolistentothesemen,
wouldtherenothavebeenthosewhowouldoppose
thisactwithbothwordanddeed?Orwouldthe
SenateandtheRomanpeoplehavethoughtthatthey
hadnoobligationtodoanythinginamatterofsuch
importance?Woulditnothaveputforwardsome
orator"distinguishedincharacterandservice,"as
Virgilsays,whowouldholdforthtoConstantineas
follows:

"Caesar,situtuorumimmemoresatque
etiamtui,utnecfiliishereditatem,nec
propinquisopes,necamicishonores,nectibi
Imperiumesseintegrumvelis,nontamen
senatuspopulusqueRomanusimmemor
potestessesuiiurissuaequedignitatis.
Etenimquomodotibitantumpermittisde
ImperioRomanoquodnontuosednostro
sanguineparatum[55]est!Tuneunum
corpusinduassecabispartes,etexunoduo
efficiesregna,duocapita,duasvoluntateset
quasiduobusfratribusgladiosquibus[56]de
hereditatedecernantporriges!Nos
civitatibusquaedehacurbebenemeritae
suntiuracivitatisdamus,utcivesRomani
sint:tuanobisdimidiumImperiiaufers,ne
hancurbemparentemsuamagnoscant!Etin
alveisquidemapiumsiduoregesnatisunt,
alterumquideteriorestoccidimus:tuin
alveoImperiiRomani,ubiunusetoptimus
princepsest,[57]alterumethunc
deterrimum,etnonapemsedfucum,
collocandumputas!Prudentiamtuam
vehementerdesideramus,Imperator.Nam
quidfuturumest,siveltevivo,velpost
tuammortem,authuicpartiquamalienas,
autalteriquamtibirelinquis,belluma
barbarisnationibusinferatur?Quo
[Page42]roboremilitum,quibuscopiis
occurremus?VixnunctotiusImperiiviribus
possumustuncpoterimus?Anperpetuo
membrumhoccumilloinconcordiaerit?Ut
reor,necessepoterit,cumRomadominari

"YourMajesty,ifyouareheedlessofyoursubjects
andyourself,norcaretogiveyousonsan
inheritance,noryourkindredriches,noryourfriends
honors,nortokeepyouempireintact,theSenate
andtheRomanpeopleatleastcannotbeheedlessof
itsrightsanditsdignity.Howcomeyoutotakesuch
libertieswiththeRomanEmpire,whichhasbeen
builtup,notfromyourblood,butfromours!Will
youcutonebodyintotwoparts,andoutofone
kingdommaketwokingdoms,twoheads,twowills,
and,asitwere,reachouttotwobrothersswords
withwhichtofightovertheirinheritance!Wegive
tostateswhichhavedeservedwellofthiscitythe
rightsofcitizenship,sothattheymaybeRoman
citizensyoutakeawayfromusthehalfofthe
empire,,sothattheywillnotknowthiscityastheir
mother.Inbeehives,iftwokingsareborn,wekill
theweakeronebutinthehiveoftheRoman
Empire,wherethereisoneprince,andthatthebest,
youthinkthatanothermustbeintroduced,andthat
theweakestone,notabee,butadrone.[8]
"Weseeasorelackofprudenceonyourpart,your
Majesty.Forwhatwillhappen,ifeitherduringyour
lifeorafteryourdeath,warshouldbewagedby
barbariantribesagainstthepartoftheempirewhich
youarealienating,oragainsttheother,
[Page43]whichyouleaveforyourself?Withwhat
militaryforce,withwhatresourcescanwegoto
meetthem?Evennowwiththetroopsofthewhole
empirewehavescarcelyenoughpowershallwe
haveenoughthen?Orwillthispartbeforeverat

velit,nolitparsillaservire.Quinettevivo
breveintratempus,revocatisveteribus
praesidibus,[58]suffectisnovis,teintuum
regnumprofectoetlongeagente,hicaltero
dominante,nonneomnianova,idestdiversa
atqueadversa,erunt?Regnofereinterduos
fratresdiviso,protinusetpopulorumanimi
dividuntur,etpriusaseipsisquamab
externishostibusbellumauspicantur.Idem
eventuruminhocImperioquisnonvidet?
Anignorashancolimimprimisfuisse
causamoptimatibus,curdicerentcitiussein
conspectupopuliRomaniessemorituros
quamrogationemillamferrisinerentutpars
senatusacparsplebisadincolendumVeios
mitteretur,duasqueurbescommunes[59]
populiRomaniessesieniminunaurbe
tantumdissensionumesset,quidinduabus
urbibusfuturum!Itahoctempore,sitantum
discordiaruminunoImperio,testor
conscientiamtuamaclabores,quidin
duobusimperiisfiet!
"Agevero,putasnehincforequitibibellis
occupatoesseauxilioautvelintautsciant?
Itaabarmisatqueabomnirebellica
abhorrenteseruntquipraeficienturmilitibus
atqueurbibus,utillequipraeficit.Quid,
nonnehunctamimperitumregnandiet
iniuriaefacilemautRomanaelegionesaut
ipsaeprovinciae[60]spoliaretentabunt,ut
quemsperabuntvelnonrepugnaturum,vel
poenasnonrepetiturum?Credo,mehercule,
neunumquidemmensemillosinofficio
mansuros,sedstatimetadprimum
profectionistuaenuntium[61]rebellaturos.
Quidfacies?Quidconsiliicapies,cum
dupliciatqueadeomultiplicibellourgebere?
Nationesquassubegimuscontinerevix
possumusquomodoillisaccedenteex
liberisgentibusbelloresistetur?
[Page44]"Tu,Caesar,quidadtespectet
ipsevideris.Nobisautemhaecresnonminus
quamtibicuraeessedebet.Tumortalises:
ImperiumpopuliRomanidecetesse
immortale,etquantuminnobisesterit,
nequeImperiummodo,verumetiampudor.
Scilicetquorumreligionemcontemnimus
eorumaccipiemusimperium,et,principes
orbisterrarum,huiccontemptissimohomini
serviemus!UrbeaGalliscapta,Romani
senesdemulcerisibibarbamavictoribus
passinonsunt:nuncsibitotsenatoriiordinis,

peacewiththat?Inmyopinionitcannotbe,for
Romewillwanttoruleandtheotherpartwillnot
wanttobesubject.Nay,eveninyourlifetime,
shortly,whentheoldofficialsareremovedandnew
onesputintheirplaces,whenyouwithdrawtoyour
kingdomandfarefarforthandanotherisruling
here,willnotallinterestsbedifferent,thatis,
diverseandcontrary?Usuallywhenakingdomis
dividedbetweentwobrothers,atoncetheheartsof
thepeoplealsoaredivided,andwararisesfrom
withinsoonerthanfromforeignenemies.Thatthat
willhappeninthisempire,whodoesnotseeit?Or
doyounotknowthatitwaschieflyonthisground
thatthepatriciansoncesaidthattheywouldrather
diebeforetheeyesoftheRomanpeoplethanallow
themotiontobecarriedthatpartoftheSenateand
partoftheplebeiansshouldbesenttoliveatVeii
andthattheRomanpeopleshouldhavetwocitiesin
commonforifinonecitythereweresomany
dissensions,howwoulditbeintwocities?Soinour
time,iftherearesomanydisordersinoneempire,
yourownknowledgeandyourlaborsareawitness,
howwillitbeintwoempires!
"Comenow,doyouthinkthatwhenyouare
engagedinwars,therewillbemenherewillingor
abletobearyouaid?Thosewhowillbeincommand
ofoursoldiersandcitieswillalwaysshrinkfrom
armsandwarfare,aswillhewhoappointsthem.
Indeed,willnoteithertheRomanlegionsorthe
provincesthemselvestrytodespoilthisman,so
inexperiencedinrulingandsoinvitingtoviolence,
hopingthathewillneitherfightbacknorseek
revenge?ByHercules!Ibelievetheywillnotremain
inallegianceasinglemonth,butimmediately,atthe
firstnewsofyourdeparturetheywillrebel.What
willyoudo?Whatplanwillyoufollowwhenyou
arepressedwithatwofoldandevenamanifoldwar?
Thenationswhichwehaveconqueredwecan
scarcelyholdhowcanwewithstandthemifin
additionwehavewarwithfreepeoples?
[Page45]"Asforyourinterests,yourMajesty,that
isforyoutoseeto.Butthisoughttoconcernusno
lessthanyou.YouaremortaltheEmpireofthe
Romanpeopleoughttobeimmortal,andsofarasin
uslies,itwillbe,andnottheEmpirealonebut
respectforitaswell.Shallwe,forsooth,acceptthe
governmentofthosewhosereligionwedespise
shallwe,rulersoftheworld,servethisaltogether
contemptiblebeing!Whenthecitywascapturedby
theGaulstheagedRomansdidnotsuffertheir
beardstobestrokedbythevictors.Willallthese
mensenatorial,praetorian,tribunician,consularand

totpraetorii,tottribunicii,[62]totconsulates,
triumphalesquevirieosdominaripatientur,
quosipsitamquam[63]servosmalosomni
contumeliarumgeneresuppliciorumque
affecerunt!Istinehominesmagistratus
creabunt,provinciasregent,bellagerent,de
nobissententiascapitisferent?Subhis
nobilitasRomanastipendiafaciet,honores
sperabit,muneraassequetur?Etquodmaius
quodquealtiuspenetretvulnusaccipere
possumus?Nonitaputes,Caesar,Romanum
degenerassesanguinemutistudpassurussit
aequoanimoetnonquavisratione
devitandumexistimet:quodmediusfidius
nequemulieresnostrae[64]sustinerent,sed
magisseunacumdulcibusliberissacrisque
penatibusconcremarent,utnon
Carthaginienses[65]feminae[66]fortiores
fuerintquamRomanae.

triumphalranknowsufferthosetorulethem,upon
whomasuponguiltyslavestheythemselveshave
heapedeverykindofcontumelyandpunishment!
Willthosemencreatemagistrates,governprovinces,
wagewar,passsentencesofdeathuponus?willthe
Romannobilitytakewagesunderthem,hopefor
honorsandreceiverewardsattheirhands?What
greater,whatdeeperwoundcanwereceive?Donot
think,yourMajesty,thattheRomanbloodhasso
degeneratedastoendurethiswithequanimityand
notdeemitathingtobeavoidedbyfairmeansor
foul.Bymyfaith,notevenourwomenwouldsuffer
it,buttheywouldratherburnthemselveswiththeir
dearchildrenandtheirhouseholdgods,for
Carthaginianwomenshouldnotbebraverthan
Roman.

[Page46]Caesarvidominatumoccupavit,
[70]Augustusetinvitiumsuccessitet
adversariorumpartiumprofligationese
dominumfecit,Tiberius,Gaius,Claudius,
Nero,Galba,Otho,Vitellius,Vespasianus,
ceteriqueauteademautsimilivialibertatem
nostrampraedatisunt,tuquoque,aliis
expulsisautinteremptis,dominuseffectus
es.Sileoquodexmatrimonionatusnonsis.

[Page47]theRomanpeople,forCaesarseizedthe
supremepowerbyforceAugustuswastheheirof
hiswrongdoingandmadehimselfmasterbytheruin
oftheopposingfactionsTiberius,Gaius,Claudius,
Nero,Galba,Otho,Vitellius,Vespasian,andthe
rest,inthesamewayornearlyso,madespoilofour
libertyandyoualsobecamerulerbyexpellingor
killingothers.Isaynothingofyourbeingbornout
ofwedlock.

"Quare,uttibinostrammentemtestificemur,
Caesar,sinonlibette[71]Romae
principatumtenere,habesfilios,quorum
aliqueminlocumtuum,nobisquoque

"Wherefore,tospeakourmind,yourMajestyifyou
donotcaretokeepthegovernmentofRome,you
havesons,andbythelawofnature,withour
permission,also,andonourmotion,youmay

"Tobesure,yourMajesty,ifwehadchosenyou
king,youwouldhaveagreatmeasureofcontrol
overtheRomanEmpireindeed,yetnotsuchthat
"Etenim,Caesar,siregemtedelegissemus,
youcouldintheleastdiminishitsgreatness,forthen
haberestuquidemmagnumdeImperio
wewhoshouldhavemadeyouking,bythatsame
Romanoagendiarbitrium,sednonitautvel tokenwouldorderyoutoabdicateyourkingdom.
minimumdeipsiusimminueresmaiestate,
Howmuchlessthencouldyoudividethekingdom,
alioquinquitefecissemusregem,eadem
alienatesomanyprovinces,anddelivereventhe
facultateabdicareteregnoiuberemusnedum capitalofthekingdomovertoamanwhoisa
possesregnumdividere,nedumtot
strangerandaltogetherbase.Weputawatchdog
provincias[67]alienare,nedumipsumregni overthesheepfold,butifhetriesrathertoactlikea
caputperegrinoatquehumillimohomini
wolf,weeitherdrivehimoutorkillhim.Nowwill
addicere.Canemovilipraeficimus[68]
you,whohavelongbeenthewatchdogofthe
quemsilupimavultofficiofungi,aut
Romanfoldanddefendedit,atthelastinthe
eicimusautoccidimus.Nunctu,cumdiu
unprecedentedmannerturnintoawolf?
canisofficioinoviliRomanodefendendosis
"Butyoumustknow,sinceyoucompelustospeak
functus,adextremuminlupumnullo
harshlyindefenseorourrights,thatyouhaveno
exemploconverteris?
rightovertheEmpireof
"Atque,utintelligas,quandoquidemnospro
iurenostrocogis[69]asperiusloqui,nullum
tibiinpopuliRomaniImperioiusesse.

permittentibusacrogantibus,naturaelege
substituas.Sinminus,nobisinanimoest
publicamamplitudinemcumprivata
dignitatedefendere.Nequeenimminorhaec
iniuriaQuiritumquamolimfuitviolata
Lucretia,nequenobisdeeritBrutusqui
contraTarquinium[72]seadlibertatem
recuperandamhuicpopulopraebeatducem.
Etinistosprimumquosnobispraeponis,
deindeetinteferrumstringemus,quodin
multosImperatoresetquidemlevioresob
causasfecimus."
HaecprofectoConstantinum,nisilapidem
eumauttruncumexistimamus,
permovissent.Quaesipopulusnondixisset,
tamendicereapudseethispassimverbis
fremerecredibileerat.Eamusnuncet
dicamusConstantinumgratificarivoluisse
Silvestro,quemtothominumodiis,tot
gladiissubiceretutvix,quantumsentio,
unumSilvesterdieminvitafuturusfuisset.
Nameopaucisquealiisabsumptis,
videbatur[73]omnissublatumiride
pectoribusRomanorumtamdiraeiniuriae
contumeliaequesuspicio.[74]

substituteoneoftheminyourplace.Ifnot,itisour
purposetodefendthepublichonorandourpersonal
dignity.Forthisisnolessanactofviolenceagainst
theQuiritesthanwasoncetherapeofLucretia,nor
willtherefailusaBrutustoofferhimselftothis
peopleasaleaderagainstTarquiniusforthe
recoveryofliberty.Wewilldrawourswordsfirst
uponthosewhomyouareputtingoverus,andthen
uponyou,aswehavedoneagainstmanyemperors,
andforlighterreasons."
ThiswouldsurelyhaveprevailedonConstantine,
unlesswedeemhimmadeofstoneorwood.Andif
thepeoplewouldnothavesaidthis,itcouldbe
believedthattheyspokeamongthemselvesand
ventedtheirrageinaboutthesewords.Letmegoon
astepandsaythatConstantinewishedtobenefit
Sylvester,theonewhomhewouldsubjecttothe
hatredandtheswordsofsomanymenthathe,
Sylvester,wouldscarcelyhavesurvived,Ithink,a
singleday.Foritseemedthatwhenheandafew
othershadbeenremovedalltraceofsuchacruel
outrageandinsultwouldhavebeenobliteratedfrom
thebreastsoftheRomans.

Letussuppose,however,ifpossible,thatneither
prayers,northreats,noranyargumentavailedaught,
Ageporro,sifieripotest,concedamusneque andthatstillConstantinepersistedandwasnot
preces,nequeminas,nequeullamrationem
willingtoyieldthroughpersuasionthepositionhe
aliquidprofecisse,perstarequeadhuc
hadtaken.Whowouldnotacknowledgehimself
Constantinum,necvelleasusceptasemel
movedbythespeechofSylvester,thatis,ifthe
persuasionerecedere.[75]Quisnonad
eventhadeveractuallyoccurred?Itwoulddoubtless
Silvestriorationem,siresverafuisset
havebeensomethinglikethis:
umquam,[76]commotum[77]assentiatur?
Quaetalishauddubiefuisset:
[Page48]"Princepsoptimeacfili,Caesar,
pietatemquidemtuamtampronamtamque
effusamnonpossumnonamareatque
amplecti,verumtmnenquodinofferendis
Deomuneribusimmolandisquevictimis
nonnihilerres,minimedemirorquippequi
adhucesinChristianamilitiatiro.Utnon
decebatolimasacerdoteomnempecudem
feramqueetavem[78]sacrificari,itanon
omneabeodemaccipiendumestmunus.Ego
sacerdossumacpontifex,quidispicere
debeoquidadaltarepatiarofferri,neforte,
nondicoimmundumanimalofferatur,sed
viperaautserpens.Itaquesichabeas.Siforet
tuiiuris,partemImperiicumreginaorbis,
Roma,alteritraderequamfiliis(quod
minimesentio)sipopulushic,siItalia,si
ceteraenationessustinerent,utquosoderunt
etquorumreligionemadhucrespuunt,capti

[Page49]"Mostworthyprinceandson,Caesar,
thoughIcannotbutlikeandembraceyourpiety,so
abjectandeffusive,neverthelessyouhavefallen
somewhatintoerrorinofferinggiftstoGodand
immolatingvictims,andIamnotatallsurprisedat
it,foryouarestillanoviceintheChristianservice.
Asonceitwasnotrightforthepriesttosacrifice
everysortofbeastandanimalandfowl,sonowhe
isnottoaccepteverysortofgift.Iamapriestand
pontiff,andIoughttolookcarefullyatwhatIpermit
tobeofferedonthealtar,lestperchancetherebe
offered,Idonotsayanuncleananimal,butaviper
oraserpent.Andthisiswhatyouwoulddo.Butifit
wereyourrighttogiveapartoftheEmpire
includingRome,queenoftheworld,toanotherthan
yoursons,athingIdonotatallapproveifthis
people,ifItaly,iftheothernations,shouldsuffer
themselvestobewillingtosubmittothe
governmentofthosewhomtheyhateandwhose

illecebrissaeculi,eorumimperioobnoxii
essevellent(quodimpossibileest):tamen,si
quidmihicredendumputas,filiamantissime,
uttibiassentirer[79]ullaadducirationenon
possem,[80]nisivellemmihiipsiesse
dissimilisetcondiconemmeamoblivisciac
propemodumdominumIesum[81]abnegare.
Tuaenimmunera,sive,uttuvis,tuae
remunerationesetgloriametinnocentiamet
sanctimoniammeamatqueomniumquimihi
successurisuntpolluerentacprorsus
everterent,viamqueiisquiadcognitionem
veritatisventurisuntintercluderent.

religion,snaredbytheenticementsofthisworld,
theyhavehithertospitupon,animpossible
suppositionifyouneverthelessthinkIamtobe
givenanything,mymostlovingson,Icouldnotby
anyargumentbebroughttogiveyoumyassent,
unlessIweretobefalsetomyself,toforgetmy
station,andwellnighdenymyLordJesus.Foryour
gifts,orifyouwish,yourpayments,wouldtarnish
andutterlyruinmyhonorandpurityandholiness
andthatofallmysuccessors,andwouldclosethe
waytothosewhoareabouttocometothe
knowledgeofthetruth.

[Page50]nus,'darequamaccipere.'Eadem
mihiatqueadeomaiorestcausa,cuietiama
Dominopraecipiturdicente,'Infirmoscurate,
mortuossuscitate,leprososmundate,
daemoneseicitegratisaccepistis,gratis
date.'Egonetantumflagitiumadmittam,
Caesar,utDeipraecepte[84]nonexsequar
utgloriammeampolluam?'Meliusest,'ut
inquitPaulus,'mihimoriquamutgloriam
meamquisevacuet.'Glorianostraestapud
Deumhonorificareministeriumnostrum,ut
ideminquit,'Vobisdicogentibusquamdiu
egoquidemsumgentiumapostolus,
glorificaboministeriummeum.'

[Page51]blessedtogivethantoreceive."[9]Iamin
thesamecase,onlymoreso,whomtheLordtaught,
saying,'Healthesick,cleansethelepers,raisethe
dead,castoutdevils:freelyyehavereceived,freely
give."[10]ShallIcommitsuchadisgrace,your
Majesty,asnottofollowthepreceptsofGodasto
tarnishmyglory?'Itwerebetter,'saysPaul,'forme
todiethanthatanymanshouldmakemyglorying
void."[11]Ourgloryistohonorourministryinthe
sightofGod,asPaulalsosaid'Ispeaktoyou
Gentiles,inasmuchasIamtheapostleofthe
Gentiles,Imagnifymineoffice."[12]

"Elishawasnotwilling,washe,toacceptareward
"AnveroHeliseus,[82]NaamanSyroalepra whenNaamantheSyrianwascuredoftheleprosy?
curato,mercedemacciperenoluit:egote
ShouldIacceptonewhenyouarecured?He
curatoaccipiam?Illemunerarespuitego
rejectedpresentsshouldIallowkingdomstobe
regnamihidarisinam?Illepersonam
giventome?Hewasunwillingtoobscurethe
prophetaemacularenoluitegopersonam
propheticofficecouldIobscuretheofficeofChrist,
Christiquaminmegeromacularepotero?
whichIbearinme?Butwhydidhethinkthatthe
Curautemilleaccipiendismuneribus
propheticofficewouldbeobscuredbyhisreceiving
personamprophetaemaculariputavit?
gifts?Doubtlessbecausehemightseemtosell
Nempequodvideripoteratvenderesacra,
sacredthings,toputthegiftofGodoutatusury,to
faeneraredonumDei,indigerepraesidiis
wantthepatronageofmen,tolowerandlessenthe
hominum,elevareatqueimminuerebeneficii worthofhisbenefaction.Hepreferred,therefore,to
dignitatem.Maluitergosibiprincipesac
makeprincesandkingshisbeneficiariesratherthan
reges[83]beneficiariosfacere,quamipse
tobehimselftheirbeneficiary,oreventoallow
beneficiariusillorumesseimmonemutua
mutualbenefactions.For,assaystheLord,'Itis
quidembeneficentiauti.'Beatiusestenim
more
multo,'utinquitDomi

"YourMajesty,shouldevenIbebothanexample
andacausefortheapostasyofothers,I,aChristian,
"Ego,Caesar,aliisquoquesimetexemplum apriestofGod,pontiffofRome,vicarofChrist!For
etcausadelinquendiChristianushomo,
how,indeed,willtheblamelessnessofpriests
sacerdosDei,pontifexRomanus,vicarius
remainuntouchedamidriches,magistracies,andthe
Christi?Iamveroinnocentiasacerdotum
managementofsecularbusiness?Dowerenounce
quomodoincolumiseritinteropes,inter
earthlypossessionsinordertoattainthemmore
magistratus,interadministrationem
richly,andhavewegivenupourownpropertyin
saeculariumnegotiorum?[85]Ideoneterrenis ordertopossessanother'sandthepublic's?Shallwe
renuntiamus,uteademuberioraassequamur havecities,tributes,tolls?Howthencanyoucallus

etprivataabiecimus,utalienapossideamus
etpublica?Nostraeerunturbes?nostra
tributa?nostravectigalia?Etcurclericos,si
hoc[86]fecerimus,nosvocarilicebit?Pars
nostrasivesors,quaeGraecedicitur_____,
[87]estnonterrenasedcaelestis.Levitae,
quiiidem[88]clericisunt,partemcum
fratribusnonfueresortiti:ettunosiubes
etiamfratrumsortiriportionem!

'clergy'ifwedothis?Ourportion,orourlot,which
inGreekiscalledkleros,isnotearthly,butcelestial.
TheLevites,alsoclergy,werenotallottedaportion
withtheirbrethren,anddoyoucommandustotake
evenourbrothers'portion!

[Page52]habebatetportabatquae
mittebantur,praevaricatusestetamore
pecuniae,cuiassueveratMagistrum,
Dominum,Deumetreprehenditetprodidit.
Itaquevereor,Caesar,nemeexPetrofacias
Iudam.

[Page53]pursesandcarriedthealms,wasaliar,
andfortheloveofmoney,towhichhehadbecome
accustomed,chidedandbetrayedhisMaster,his
Lord,hisGod.SoIfearyourMajesty,lestyou
changemefromaPeterintoaJudas.

"Whatarerichesanddominionstomewhoam
commandedbythevoiceoftheLordnottobe
anxiousforthemorrow,andtowhomhesaid'Lay
notupforyourselvestreasuresuponearth,possess
"Quomihidivitasatqueopes,quiDomini
notgoldnorsilvernormoneyinyourpurses,"[13]
voceiubeornecdecrastinoessesollicitus,et and'Itisharderforarichmantoenterintothe
cuidictumestabillo:'Nolitethesaurizare
kingdomofheaven,thanforacameltogothrough
superterramnolitepossidereaurum,neque theeyeofaneedle.'[14]Thereforehechosepoor
argentum,nequepecuniaminzonisvestris' menashisministers,andthosewholeftalltofollow
et,'Difficiliusestdivitemintroireinregnum him,andwashimselfanexampleofpoverty.Even
caelorum,quamcamelumperforamenacus soisthehandlingofrichesandofmoney,not
transire?'Ideoquepauperessibiministros
merelytheirpossessionandownership,theenemyof
elegitetquiomniarelinquerent[89]eteum
uprightness.Judasalone,hethathadthe
sequerenturetpaupertatisipsefuit
exemplum.Usqueadeodivitiarum
pecuniarumquetractatioinnocentiaeinimica
est,nonmodopossessioillarumatque
dominatus.UnusIudas,quiloculos

"AudietiamquidPaulusdicat:'Nihil
intulimusinhuncmundum:hauddubium,
quodnecauferrequidpossumus.Habentes
autemalimenta,etquibustegamur,his
contentisimus.Namquivoluntdivitesfieri,
inciduntintentationemetinlaqueumdiaboli
etdesideriamultaetinutiliaetnociva,quae
mergunthominesininteritumet
perditionem.Radixenimomniummalorum
estcupiditas,quamquidamappetentes
erraveruntafide,etinserueruntsedoloribus
multis.Tuautem,homoDei,haecfuge.'Et
tumeaccipereiubes,Caesar,quaevelut
venenumeffugeredebeo!

"HearalsowhatPaulsays:'Webroughtnothinginto
thisworld,anditiscertainwecancarrynothingout.
Andhavingfoodandraiment,letusbetherewith
content.Buttheythatwillberichfallinto
temptationandasnareofthedevil,andintomany
foolishandhurtfullusts,whichdrownmenin
destructionandperdition.Fortheloveofmoneyis
therootofallevil,whichwhilesomecovetedafter,
theyerredfromthefaith,andpiercedthemselves
throughwithmanysorrows.Butthou,0manof
God,fleethesethings."[15]Andyoucommandme,
yourMajesty,toacceptwhatIoughttoshunas
poison!

"Andconsiderbesides,forprudence'sake,your
Majesty,whatchancewouldtherebeinallthisfor
"Etquispraeterea,protuaprudentia,Caesar, divineservice?Tocertainwhocomplainedthattheir
consideres,quisinterhaecdivinisrebus
destitutewereneglectedinthedailydistribution,the
faciendislocus?Apostoli,quibusdam
apostlesansweredthatitwasnotreasonthatthey
indignantibusquodviduaeipsorumin
shouldleavethewordofGod,andservetables.[16]
ministerioquotidianodespicerentur
Yettofeedwidows,howdifferentisthatfrom
responderuntnonesseaequumrelinquerese exactingtolls,runningthetreasury,hiringsoldiers,
verbumDeietministraremensis.Ettamen
andengaginginathousandothercaresofthissort!

viduarummensisministrare,quantoaliudest
quamexigerevectigalia,curareaerarium,
stipendiumnumeraremilitibus,etmillealiis
huiusmodicurisimplicari?'Nemomilitans
Deoimplicatsenegotiissaecularibus,'inquit
Paulus.NumquidAaron,cumceteris
Leviticigeneris,aliudquamDomini
tabernaculumprocurabat?Cuius[90]filii,
quiaignemalienuminthuribulasumpserant,
ignicaelesticonflagraverunt.Ettuiubesnos
ignemsaeculariumdivitiarum,vetitumac
profanum,[91]insacratathuribula,idestin
sacerdotaliaoperasumere!NumEleazar,
numPhinees,numceteripontifices
ministriqueauttabernaculiauttempli
quicquamnisiquodadremdivinam
pertineretadministrabant?Administrabant
dico?Immoadministratepoterant,siofficio
suosatisfacerevolebant?Quodsinolint,
audiantexsecrationemDominidicentis:
'Maledicti,quiopusDomini

'NomanthatwarrethforGodentanglethhimself
withtheaffairsofthislife,"[17]saysPaul.Did
AaronandothersofthetribeofLevitakecareof
anythingexceptthetabernacleoftheLord?Andhis
sons,becausetheyhadputstrangefireintheir
censers,wereconsumedbyfirefromheaven.And
youorderustoputthefireofworldlyriches,
forbiddenandprofane,inoursacredcensers,thatis,
ourpriestlyduties!DidEleazar,didPhinehas,did
theotherpriestsandministers,eitherofthe
tabernacleorofthetemple,administeranything
exceptwhatpertainedtothedivineservice?Isaydid
theyadminister,nay,couldtheyhaveadministered
anything,iftheywishedtofulfiltheirownduty?
Andiftheydidnotwishto,theywouldhearthe
curseoftheLord,saying,'Cursedbetheythatdothe
workoftheLord

[Page54]faciuntnegligenter.'Quae
exsecratio,caminomnes,tuminpontifices
maximecadit.

[Page55]deceitfully.'[18]Andthiscurse,thoughit
impendsoverall,yetmostofallitimpendsoverthe
pontiffs.

"Oquantumestpontificalemunus!Quantum
estcaputesseecclesiae!Quantumest
praeponipastoremtantoovili,ecuiusmanu
uniuscuiusqueagniovisqueamissaesanguis
exigiturcuidictumest:'Siamasme
plusquamalii,utfateris,pasceagnosmeos.'
Iterum,'siamasme,utfateris,pasceoves
meas.'Tertio,'siamasme,utfateris,pasce
ovesmeas!'Ettumeiubes,Caesar,capras
etiampascereetporcos,quinequeuntab
eodempastorecustodiri!

"Ohwhataresponsibilityisthepontificaloffice!
Whataresponsibilityitistobeheadofthechurch!
Whataresponsibilitytobeappointedoversucha
greatflockasashepherdatwhosehandisrequired
thebloodofeverysinglelambandsheeplostto
whomitissaid,'Ifthoulovestmemorethanthese,
asthousayest,feedmylambs.'Again,'Ifthoulovest
me,asthousayest,feedmysheep.'Andathirdtime,
'Ifthoulovestme,asthousayest,feedmy
sheep.'[19]Andyouorderme,yourMajesty,to
shepherdalsogoatsandswine,whichcannotbe
herdedbythesameshepherd!

"Quid,quodmeregemfacerevis,autpotius
Caesarem,idestregumprincipem?Dominus
IesusChristus,Deusethomo,rexet
sacerdos,cumseregemaffirmaret,audide
quoregnolocutusest:'Regnummeum,'
inquit,'nonestdehocmundo:sienimdehoc
mundoessetregnummeum,ministrimei
utiquedecertarent.'Etquaefuitprimavox,
acfrequentior[92]clamorpraedicationis
eius,nonnehic:[93]'Paenitentiamagite
appropinquavitenimregnumcaelorum.
AppropinquavitregnumDei,cui
comparabiturregnumcaeli?'Nonne,cum
haecdixit,regnumsaecularenihiladse
pertineredeclaravit?Eoquenonmodo
regnumhuiusmodinonquaesivit,sed
oblatumquoqueacciperenoluit.Namcum

"What!youwanttomakemeking,orratherCaesar,
thatisrulerofkings!WhentheLordJesusChrist,
Godandman,kingandpriest,affirmedhimself
king,hearofwhatkingdomhespoke:'Mykingdom,'
hesaid,'isnotofthisworldifmykingdomwereof
thisworld,thenwouldmyservantsfight.'[20]And
whatwashisfirstutteranceandtheoftrepeated
burdenofhispreaching,butthis:'Repent,forthe
kingdomofheavenisathand.'[21]Thekingdomof
Godisathandforhimforwhomthekingdomof
heavenisprepared.'Whenhesaidthis,didhenot
makeclearthathehadnothingtodowithsecular
sovereignty?Andnotonlydidhenotseeka
kingdomofthissort,butwhenitwasofferedhim,
hewouldnotacceptit.Foroncewhenhelearned
thatthepeopleplannedtotakehimandmakehim

intelligeretaliquandopopulosdestinasseut
eumraperentregemquefacerent,inmontium
solitudinesfugit.Quodnobisquilocum
eius[94]tenemusnonsolumexemplodedit
imitandum,sedetiampraecepto,inquiens:
'Principesgentiumdominantureorum,etqui
maioressuntpotestatemexercentineos.
Nonitaeritintervossedquicumque
volueritintervosmaiorfierisitvester
minister,etquivolueritprimusintervosesse
eritvesterservus:sicutfiliushominisnon
venitutministreturei,sedutministretetdet
animamsuamin[95]redemptionempro
multis.'

king,hefledtothesolitudeofthemountains.Henot
onlygavethistouswhooccupyhisplaceasan
exampletobeimitated,buthetaughtusbyprecept:
'TheprincesoftheGentilesexercisedominionover
them,andtheythataregreatexerciseauthorityupon
them.Butitshallnotbesoamongyoubut
whosoeverwillbegreatamongyou,lethimbeyour
ministerandwhosoeverwillbechiefamongyou,
lethimbeyourservantevenastheSonofman
camenottobeministeredunto,buttominister,and
togivehislifearansomformany.'[22]

[Page56]"IudicesolimDeus,utscias,
Caesar,constituitsuperIsrael,nonreges,
populumquesibinomenregiumpostulantem
detestatusest.Necaliterobduritiam[96]
cordisillorumregemdedit,quamquod
repudiumpermiserat,quodinnovalege
revocavit.Etegoregnumaccipiamquivix
iudexessepermittor?'Annescitis,'inquit
Paulus,'quodsanctidehocmundo
iudicabunt?Etsiinvobisiudicabitur
mundus,indigniestisquideminimis
iudicetis.Nescitisquodangelos
iudicabimus?Quantomagissaecularia?
Saeculariaigituriudiciasihabueritis,
contemptibilesquisuntinecclesia,eos
constituiteadiudicandum.'Atquiiudicesde
rebusetcontroversiis[97]tantummodo
iudicabant,nonetiamtributaexigebant.Ego
exigam,quiscioaDominointerrogatum
Petrum:'Aquibusnamregesterrae
acciperenttributumcensumve,afiliisanab
alienis?'etcumhicrespondisset'Abalienis,'
adeodemdictum:'Ergoliberisuntfilii?'
Quodsiomnesfiliimeisunt,Caesar,utcerte
sunt,omnesliberieruntnihilquisquam
solvet.Igiturnonestopusmihitua
donatione,quanihilassecuturussumpraeter
laboremquem,utminimedebeo,itaminime
possumferre.

[Page57]"Knowthis,yourMajestyGodformerly
establishedjudgesoverIsrael,notkingsandhe
hatedthepeoplefordemandingakingfor
themselves.Andhegavethemakingonaccountof
thehardnessoftheirhearts,butonlybecausehe
permittedtheirrejection,whichherevokedinthe
newlaw.AndshouldIacceptakingdom,whoam
scarcelypermittedtobeajudge?'Ordoyenot
know,'saysPaul,'thatthesaintsshalljudgethe
world?andiftheworldshallbejudgedbyyou,you
arenottheonestojudgethesmallestmatters.Know
yenotthatweshalljudgeangels?Howmuchmore
thingsthatpertaintothislife!Ifthenyehave
judgementsofthingspertainingtothislife,setthem
tojudgewhoareleastinthechurch.'[23]Butjudges
merelygavejudgementconcerningmattersin
controversy,theydidnotlevytributealso.ShouldI
doit,withtheknowledgethatwhenPeterwasasked
bytheLord,'Ofwhomdothekingsoftheearthtake
customortribute?oftheirownchildrenorof
strangers?andanswered'Ofstrangers,'theLord
said,'Thenarethechildrenfree.'[24]Butifallmen
aremychildren,yourMajesty,astheycertainlyare,
thenwillallbefreenobodywillpayanything.
ThereforeyourDonationwillbenogoodtome,and
IshallgetnothingoutofitbutlaborwhichIam
leastabletodo,asalsoIamleastjustifiedindoing
it.

"Quidquodnecessehaberempotestatem
exerceresanguinis,puniresontes,bella
gerere,urbesdiripere,regionesferroignique
vastare!Aliternonestquodsperemposse
metueriquaetradidisses.Etsihaecfecero,
sacerdos,pontifex,Christivicarius,sum?Ut
illuminmetonantemaudiamatque
dicentem:'Domusmeadomusorationis
vocabituromnibusgentibus,ettufecistiearn

"Naymore,Ishouldhavetousemyauthorityto
shedbloodinpunishingoffenders,inwagingwars,
insackingcities,indevastatingcountrieswithfire
andsword.OtherwiseIcouldnotpossiblykeepwhat
youhavegivenme.AndifIdothisamIapriest,a
pontiff,avicarofChrist?RatherIshouldhearhim
thunderoutagainstme,saying,'Myhouseshallbe
calledofallnationsthehouseofprayer,butyehave
madeitadenofthieves.'[25]'Iamnotcomeintothe
world,saidtheLord,'tojudgetheworld,buttosave

speluncamlatronum.''Nonveniinmundum,' it.'[26]AndshallIwhohavesucceededhimbethe
inquitDominus,'utiudicemmundum,sedut causeof
liberemeum.'Etegoquiillisuccessicausa
mor
[Page58]tiumero,cuiinpersonaPetri
dictumest:'Convertegladiumtuuminlocum
suum:omnesenimquiacceperintgladium
gladioperibunt?'Nedefenderequidemnobis
ferronoslicet,siquidemdefendere
DominumPetrusvolebatcumauriculam
absciditservo.Ettudivitiarumaut
comparandarumauttuendarumcausauti
ferronosiubes?

[Page59]men'sdeath,Itowhominthepersonof
Peteritwassaid,'Putupagainthyswordintohis
place,foralltheythattaketheswordshallperish
withthesword'?[27]Itisnotpermittedusevento
defendourselveswiththesword,forPeterwished
onlytodefendhisLord,whenhecutoffthe
servant'sear.Anddoyoucommandustousethe
swordforthesakeofeithergettingorkeeping
riches?

"Nostrapotestasestpotestasclavium,
dicenteDomino,'Tibidaboclavesregni
caelorum.Quodcumque[98]ligaverissuper
terrameritligatumetincaelis,et
quodcumquesolverissuperterramerit
solutumetincaelis.Etportaeinferinon
praevalebuntadversuseas.'Nihiladhanc
potestatem,nihiladhancdignitatem,[99]
nihiladhocregnumadicipotest.Quoqui
contentusnonest,aliudsibiquoddama
diabolopostulat,quietiamDominodicere
aususest:'Tibidaboomniaregnamundi,si
cadensinterramadoraverisme.'Quare,
Caesar,cumpacetuadictumsit,nolimihi
diabolusefficiquiChristum,idestme,regna
mundiatedataaccipereiubeas.Maloenim
illaspernerequampossidere.

"Ourauthorityistheauthorityofthekeys,asthe
Lordsaid,'Iwillgiveuntotheethekeysofthe
kingdomofheaven:andwhatsoeverthoushaltbind
onearthshallbeboundinheaven:andwhatsoever
thoushaltlooseonearthshallbeloosedin
heaven'[28]'Andthegatesofhellshallnotprevail
againstit.'[29]Nothingcanbeaddedtothis
authority,nottothisdignity,nottothiskingdom.He
whoisnotcontentedtherewith,seekssomething
morefromthedevil,whodaredeventosaytothe
Lord,'Iwillgivetheeallthekingdomsoftheworld,
ifthouwilfalltotheearthandworshipme.'[30]
Wherefore,yourMajesty,byyourleaveletmesay
it,donotplaythepartofthedeviltomebyordering
Christ,thatis,me,toacceptthekingdomsofthe
worldatyourhand.ForIpreferrathertoscornthan
topossessthem.

"Etutaliquiddeinfidelibus,sed,utspero,
futurisfidelibus,loquarnolimedeangelo
lucisreddereillisangelumtenebrarum,
quorumcordaadpietateminducerevolo,
nonipsorumcerviciiugumimponere,et
gladioquodestverbumDei,nongladio
ferreo,[100]mihisubicerenedeteriores
efficiantur,nerecalcitrent,necornuferiant,
nenomenDeimeoirritatierrore
blasphement.[101]Filiosmihi
carissimos[102]voloreddere,nonservos
adoptare,nonemeregenerare,nonmanu
capereanimaseorumofferresacrificium
Deo,nondiabolocorpora.'Disciteame,'
inquitDominus,'quiamitissumethumilis
corde.Capiteiugummeum,etinvenietis
requiemanimabusvestris.Iugumenim
meumsuave[103]etpondusmeumleve.'

"Andtospeakoftheunbelievers,futurebelievers
though,Ihope,donottransformmeforthemfrom
anangeloflightintoanangelofdarkness.Iwantto
wintheirheartstopiety,notimposeayokeupon
theirneckstosubjectthemtomewiththeswordof
thewordofGod,notwithaswordofiron,thatthey
shouldnotbemadeworsethantheyare,norkick,
norgoreme,nor,angeredbymymistake,blaspheme
thenameofGod.Iwanttomakethemmymost
belovedsons,notmyslavestoadoptthem,notcast
themouttohavethembornagain,nottoseizethem
outofhandtooffertheirsoulsasacrigicetoGod,
nottheirbodiesasacrificetothedevil.'Comeunto
me,'saystheLord,'forIammeekandlowlyin
heart.Takemyyokeuponyou,andyeshallfindrest
foryoursouls.Formyyokeiseasyandmyburden
islight.'[31]

"Cuiusadextremum,utiam[104]finem
faciam,illamde[105]hacre

"Finally,tocometoanendatlast,inthismatter
acceptthat

[Page60]sententiamaccipequamquasi
intermeettetulit.'Redditequaesunt
CaesarisCaesarietquaesuntDeiDeo.'Quo
fitutnectu,Caesar,tuarelinquere,neque
egoquaeCaesarissuntacciperedebeam
quaevelsimilliesofferasnumquam
accipiam."
AdhancSilvestriorationemapostolicoviro
dignam,quidessetquodamplius
Constantinuspossetopponere?Quodcumita
sit,quiaiuntdonationemessefactamnonne
iniuriosisuntinConstantinum,quemsuos
privareimperiumqueRomanumvoluisse
convellereiniuriosiinsenatumpopulumque
Romanum,Italiam,totumqueoccidentem,
quemcontraiusfasquemutariimperium
permississeiniuriosiinSilvestrum,quem
indignamsanctovirodonationemacceptam
habuisseiniuriosiinsummumpontificatum
cuilicereterrenispotiriregnisetRomanum
moderariImperiumarbitrantur?Haectamen
omniaeopertinent,utappareat
Constantinumintertotimpedimenta
numquamfuissefacturum,utremRomanam
Silvestroexmaximapartedonaretutisti
aiunt.
Ageporro,utcredamusistamdonationemde
quafacitpaginavestramentionem,debet
constareetiamdeacceptationeSilvestri.
Nuncdeillanonconstat.Atcredibileest,
dicitis,ratamhunchabuissedonationem.Ita
credo,necratamhabuissemodo,verum
etiampetiisse,rogasse,precibusextorsisse,
credibileest.Quidvoscredibile,quod
praeteropinionemesthominum,dicitis?Nec
quiainpaginaprivilegiidedonationefit
mentio,putandumestfuisseacceptatum:
[106]sedecontrario,quianonfitmentiode
acceptatione,dicendumestnonfuisse
donatum.[107]Itapluscontravos

[Page62]facit,huncdonumrespuisse,quam
illumdarevoluisseetbeneficiumininvitum
nonconfertur.Nequeverotantumdonata
respuisseSilvestrumsuspicaridebemus,sed
taciteetiamindicassenecillumdare
iure[108]necseiureaccipereposse.
Sedocaecamsemperinconsultamque

[Page61]sentenceofhis,whichhespokeasthough
tomeandtoyou'RenderuntoCaesarthethings
whichareCaesar'sanduntoGod,thethingsthatare
God's.'[32]Accordingly,therefore,yourMajesty,
youmustnotsurrenderthethingsthatareyours,and
ImustnotacceptthethingsthatareCaesar'snor
willIeveracceptthem,thoughyouofferthema
thousandtimes."
TothisspeechofSylvester's,worthyofanapostolic
hero,whatcouldtherebefurtherforConstantineto
bringoutinopposition?Sincethecasestandsthus,
donottheywhosaythattheDonationtookplacedo
violencetoConstantinewhentheywouldhavehim
robhisownfamilyandteartheRomanEmpire
asunder?DotheynotdoviolencetotheSenateand
theRomanpeople,toItaly,andtothewholeWest,
whichaccordingtothemallowedthegovernmentto
bechangedcontrarytolawandjustice?Dotheynot
doviolencetoSylvester,whoaccordingtothem
acceptedagiftnotbefittingaholyman?violenceto
thesupremepontificate,whentheythinkthatit
wouldtakechargeofearthlykingdomsandruleover
theRomanEmpire?Verily,allthistendstoshow
plainlythatConstantine,inthefaceofsomany
obstacles,wouldneverhavethoughtofgiving
practicallythewholeRomanstatetoSylvester,as
theysayhedid.
Proceedtothenextpointtomakeusbelieveinthis
"donation"whichyourdocumentrecites,something
oughtstilltobeextantconcerningSylvester's
acceptanceofit.Thereisnothingconcerningit
extant.Butitisbelievable,yousay,thathe
recognizedthis"donation."Ibelieveso,toothat[if
itwasgiven]henotonlyrecognizedit,butsoughtit,
askedforit,extorteditwithhisprayersthatis
believable.Butwhydoyoureversethenatural
conjectureandthensayitisbelievable?Forthefact
thatthereismentionofthedonationinthedocument
ofthedeedisnoreasonforinferringthatitwas
acceptedbutonthecontrary,thefactthatthereisno
mention[anywhere]ofanacceptanceisreasonfor
sayingthattherewasnodonation.Soyouhave
strongerproof
[Page63]thatSylvesterrefusedthegiftthanthat
Constantinewishedtogiveit,andabenefactionis
notconferreduponamanagainsthiswill.Indeed,
wemustsuspectnotsomuchthatSylvesterrefused
thegrantsasthathetacitlydisclosedthatneither
couldConstantinelegallymakethemnorcouldhe
himselflegallyaccept.

avaritiam![109]Demusuttabulasquoquede
assensuSilvestriproferrepossitisveras,
incorruptas,sinceras:numprotinusdonata
suntquaeintalibus[110]continentur?Ubi
possessio?Ubiinmanustraditio?Namsi
chartammodoConstantinusdat,non
gratificariSilvestrovoluit,sedilludere.
Verisimileest,dicitis,quidonatquippiam
eumetpossessionemtradere.Videtequid
loquamini!cumpossessionemnonesse
datamconstet,etandatumsitiusambigatur.
Verisimileestquipossessionemnondedit,
eumneiusquidemdarevoluisse.
Annonconstatpossessionemnumquam
fuissetraditam?Quodnegare
impudentissimumest.NumquidSilvestrum
ConstantinusinCapitoliumquasi
triumphanteminterfrequentiumQuiritum,
sedinfidelium,plausumduxit?Insellaaurea
adsistenteuniversosenatucollocavit?
Magistratusprosuaquemquedignitate
regemsalutareetadorareiussit?Hoc[111]
erganovosprincipesfierisolet,nontantum
aliquodpalatiumvelutLateranensetradi.
NumposteaperuniversamItaliam
circumduxit?[112]AdiitcumilloGallias
adiitHispanos[113]adiitGermanos,
ceterumqueoccidentem?Autsi
gravabantur[114]ambotantumobire
terrarum,quibusnamtamingensofficium
delegarunt,quietCaesarisvicetraderent
possessionemetSilvestriacciperent?Magni
ii[115]viriatqueeximiaeauctoritatisesse
debuerunt:ettamenquifuerintignoramus.
Etquantuminhisduobusverbis,tradereet
accipere,subestpondus![116]Nostra
memoria,utexemplavetustaomittam,
numquamaliterfacitatumvidimus,cumquis
auturbisautregionisautprovinciaedominus
factusestitademumtraditamexistimari
possessionem,simagis

0avarice,everblindandilladvised!Letussuppose
thatyoumaybeabletoadduceevengenuine
documentsfortheassentofSylvester,nottampered
with,authentic:evenso,werethegrantsactually
madewhicharefoundinsuchdocuments?Whereis
anytakingpossession,anydelivery?Forif
Constantinegaveacharteronly,hedidnotwantto
befriendSylvester,buttomockhim.Itislikely,you
say,thatanyonewhomakesagrant,gives
possessionofit,also.Seewhatyouaresayingforit
iscertainthatpossessionwasnotgiven,andthe
questioniswhetherthetitlewasgiven!Itislikely
thatonewhodidnotgivepossessiondidnotwantto
givethetitleeither.
Orisitnotcertainthatpossessionwasnevergiven?
Todenyitisthesheerestimpudence.Did
ConstantineeverleadSylvesterinstatetothe
CapitolamidtheshoutsoftheassembledQuirites,
heathenastheywere?Didheplacehimonagolden
throneinthepresenceofthewholeSenate?Didhe
commandthemagistrates,eachintheorderofhis
rank,tosalutetheirkingandprostratethemselves
beforehim?This,ratherthanthegivingofsome
palacesuchastheLateran,iscustomaryinthe
creationofnewrulers.Didheafterwardsescorthim
throughallItaly?DidhegowithhimtotheGauls?
DidhegototheSpains?DidhegototheGermans,
andtherestoftheWest?Oriftheyboththoughtit
toooneroustotraversesomanylands,towhomdid
theydelegatesuchanimportantfunction,to
representCaesarintransferringpossessionand
Sylvesterinreceivingit?Distinguishedmen,and
menofeminentauthority,theymusthavebeen:and
neverthelesswedonotknowwhotheywere.And
howmuchweightthereishereinthesetwowords,
giveandreceive!Topassbyancientinstances,Ido
notremembertohaveseenanyotherprocedure
whenanyonewasmadelordofacity,acountry,or
aprovinceforwedonotcountpossessionasgiven

[Page64]tratuspristinisummoveantur
noviquesubrogentur.HocsituncSilvester
fierinonpostulasset,tamenmagnificentiae
Constantiniintererat,utdeclararetnonverbo
se,sedrepossessionemtradere,suos
praesidesamoverealiosqueabillosubstitui
iubere.Nontraditurpossessioquaepenes
eosdemremanetquipossidebant,etnovus
dominusillossummoverenonaudet.

[Page65]untiltheoldmagistratesareremovedand
thenewonessubstituted.IfthenSylvesterhadnot
demandedthatthisbedone,neverthelessthedignity
ofConstantinerequiredthatheshowthathegave
possessionnotinwordsbutinfact,thatheordered
hisofficerstoretireandotherstobesubstitutedby
Sylvester.Possessionisnottransferredwhenit
remainsinthehandsofthosewhohaditbefore,and
thenewmasterdaresnotremovethem.

Sedfacistudquoquenonobstare,et

Butgrantthatthisalsodoesnotstandintheway,

nihilominusputariSilvestrumpossedisse,
atqueomniapraetermorempraeterque
naturamtuncessedicamusadministrata.
Postquamilleabiit,quosprovinciis
urbibusquerectoresSilvesterpraeposuit
quaebellagessitquasnationesadarma
spectantesoppressitperquoshaec
administravit?Nihilhorumscimus,
respondetis.Itaputo,nocturnotemporehaec
omniagestasunt,etideonemovidit.

that,notwithstanding,weassumeSylvestertohave
beeninpossession,andletussaythatthewhole
transactiontookplacethoughnotinthecustomary
andnaturalway.AfterConstantinewentaway,what
governorsdidSylvesterplaceoverhisprovincesand
cities,whatwarsdidhewage,whatnationsthattook
uparmsdidhesubdue,throughwhomdidhecarry
onthisgovernment?Weknownoneofthese
circumstances,youanswer.So!Ithinkallthiswas
doneinthenighttime,andnoonesawitatall!

Age,fuitinpossessioneSilvester?Quiseum
depossessionedeiecit?Namperpetuoin
possessionenonfuit,nequesuccessorum
aliquissaltemusqueadGregoriumMagnum,
quietipsecaruitpossessione.Quiextra
possessionemest,necseabeadeiectum
probarepotest,isprofectonumquam
posseditetsisepossedissedicat,insanit.
Videsutteinsanumetiamprobo!Alioquin,
dicquispapamdeiecit?IpseneConstantinus,
aneiusfilii,anIulianus,anquis[117]alius
Caesar?Profernomenexpulsoris,profer
tempus,undeprimum,undesecundo,ac
deincepsexpulsusest.Numper
seditionem[118]etcaedes,ansinehis?
Coniuraruntineumpariternationes,anquae
prima?Quid!Nemoomniumauxiliofuit:ne
illorumquidemquiperSilvestrumaliumve
papampraepositiurbibusacprovinciis
erant?Unodieuniversaamisitanpaulatim
etperpartes?Restititipsesuique
magistratusanadprimumsetumultum
abdicarunt?Quid!Ipsivictoresnonineam
faecem[119]hominum,quamindignam
imperioducebant,ferrograssatisunt,in
ultionem[120]contumeliae,intutelam
occupataedominationis,in

Comenow!WasSylvestereverinpossession?Who
dispossessedhim?Forhedidnothavepossession
permanently,nordidanyofhissuccessors,atleast
tillGregorytheGreat,andevenhedidnothave
possession.Onewhoisnotinpossessionandcannot
provethathehasbeendisseizedcertainlyneverdid
havepossession,andifhesayshedid,heiscrazy.
Yousee,Ievenprovethatyouarecrazy!Otherwise,
tellwhodislodgedthePope?DidConstantine
himself,orhissons,orJulian,orsomeotherCaesar?
Givethenameoftheexpeller,givethedate,from
whatplacewasthePopeexpelledfirst,wherenext,
andsoinorder.Wasitbyseditionandmurder,or
withoutthese?Didthenationsconspiretogether
againsthim,orwhichfirst?What!Didnotoneof
themgivehimaid,notoneofthosewhohadbeen
putovercitiesorprovincesbySylvesteroranother
Pope?Didheloseeverythinginasingleday,or
graduallyandbydistricts?Didheandhis
magistratesofferresistance,ordidtheyabdicateat
thefirstdisturbance?What!Didnotthevictorsuse
theswordonthosedregsofhumanity,whomthey
thoughtunworthyoftheEmpire,torevengetheir
outrage,tomakesureofthenewlywonmastery,to

[Page66]contemptumreligionisnostrae,in
ipsumetiamposteritatisexemplum?Omnino
eorumquivictisuntnemofugamcepit?
nemolatuit?nemotimuit?0admirabilem
casum!ImperiumRomanumtantis
laborious,tantocruorepartum,tamplacide,
tamquieteaChristianissacerdotibusvel
partumest,velamissum,utnulluscruor,
nullumbellum,nullaquerelaintercesseritet
quodnonminusadmiraridebeas,perquos
hocgestumsit,quotempore,quomodo,
quamdiu,prorsusignotum.Putesinsilvis
interarboresregnasseSilvestrum,non
Romae,etinterhominesetabhibernis[121]
imbribusfrigoribusque,nonabhominibus

[Page67]showcontemptforourreligion,noteven
tomakeanexampleforposterity?Didnotoneof
thosewhowereconqueredtaketoflightatall?Did
noonehide?Wasnooneafraid?0marvellous
event!TheRomanEmpire,acquiredbysomany
labors,somuchbloodshed,wassocalmly,soquietly
bothwonandlostbyChristianprieststhatno
bloodshed,nowar,nouproartookplaceandnot
lessmarvellous,itisnotknownatallbywhomthis
wasdone,norwhen,norhow,norhowlongit
lasted!YouwouldthinkthatSylvesterreignedin
sylvanshades,amongthetrees,notatRomenor
amongmen,andthathewasdrivenoutbywinter
rainsandcold,notbymen!

eiectum.

Whothatisatallwidelyread,doesnotknowwhat
Romankings,whatconsuls,whatdictators,what
Quisnonbabetcognitum,quipauloplura
tribunesofthepeople,whatcensors,whataediles
lectitarit,quotregesRomae,quotconsules,
werechosen?Ofsuchalargenumberofmenin
quotdictatores,quottribuniplebis,quot
timessolongpast,noneescapesus.Weknowalso
censores,quotaediles[122]creatifuerint?
whatAtheniancommanderstherewere,andTheban,
Nemoqueextantahominumcopia,extanta andLacedemonianweknowalltheirbattlesonland
vetustatenosfugit.Scimusitemquot
andsea.NorarethekingsofthePersiansunknown
Atheniensiumduces,quotThebanorum,quot tousoftheMedesoftheChaldeansofthe
Lacedaemoniorumexstiterintpugnaseorum Hebrewsandofverymanyothersnorhoweachof
terrestresnavalesqueuniversastenemus.
thesereceivedhiskingdom,orheldit,orlostit,or
NonignoramusquiregesPersarum,
recoveredit.ButhowtheRomanEmpire,orrather
Medorum,[123]Chaldaeorum,Hebraeorum theSylvestrian,began,howitended,when,through
fuerint,aliorumqueplurimorumetquomodo whom,isnotknowneveninthecityofRomeitself.
horumquisqueautacceperitregnum,aut
Iaskwhetheryoucanadduceanywitnessesofthese
tenuerit,autperdiderit,autrecuperaverit.
events,anywriters.None,youanswer.Andareyou
Romanumautem,siveSilvestrianum,
notashamedtosaythatitislikelythatSylvester
Imperium,quarationeinceperit,autqua
possessedevencattle,tosaynothingofmen!
desierit,quando,perquos,inipsaquoque
urbenescitur.Interrogonum[124]quos
Butsinceyoucannot[proveanything],Iformypart
harumrerumtestesauctoresqueproferre
willshowthatConstantine,totheverylastdayof
possitis.Nullos,respondetis.Etnonpudet
hislife,andthereafteralltheCaesarsinturn,did
vos,nontamhomines,quampecudesdicere havepossession[oftheRomanEmpire],sothatyou
verisimileessepossedisseSilvestrum!
willhavenothinglefteventomutter.Butitisavery
difficult,and,Isuppose,averylaborioustask,
Quodquiavosnonpotestis,egoecontrario forsooth,todothis!LetalltheLatinandtheGreek
docebo,adultimumusquediemvitae
historiesbeunrolled,lettheotherauthorswho
Constantinum,etgradatimdeincepsomnes
mentionthosetimesbebroughtin,andyouwillnot
Caesarespossedisse,utnequidhabeatis
findasinglediscrepancyamongthemonthispoint.
quodhiscerepossitis.Atperdifficileestet
Ofathousandwitnesses,onemaysufficeEutropius,
magni,utopinor,operishocdocere!
whosawConstantine,whosawthethreesonsof
EvolvanturomnesLatinaeGraecaeque
Constantinewhowereleft
historiaecitenturceteriauctoresquideillis
memineretemporibus:ac[125]neminem
reperiesinhacreabaliodiscrepare.Unum
exmilletestimoniissufficiat.[126]
Eutropius,quiConstantinum,quitres
Constantinifiliosapatrerelictos
[Page68]dominosorbisterrarumvidit,qui
deIulianofiliofratrisConstantiniitascribit:
"HicIulianus,quifuitsubdiaconus[127]in
Romanaecclesia,Imperator[128]effectus
apostatavitinidolorumcultu,[129]rerum
potitusest,ingentiqueapparatuParthis
intulitbellum,cuiexpeditioniegoquoque
interfui."NecdedonationeImperii
occidentistacuissetnecpaulopostde
Ioviano,quisuccessitIuliano,itadixisset:
"PacemcumSaporenecessariamquidemsed
ignobilemfecit,mutatisfinibusacnonnulla
ImperiiRomanipartetradita.Quodante,ex
quoRomanumImperiumconditumerat,
numquamaccidit.Quinetiamlegiones

[Page69]mastersoftheworldbytheirfather,and
whowrotethusinconnectionwithJulian,thesonof
Constantine'sbrother:"ThisJulian,whowas
subdeaconintheRomanchurchandwhenhe
becameEmperorreturnedtotheworshipofthe
gods,seizedthegovernment,andafterelaborate
preparationsmadewaragainsttheParthiansin
whichexpeditionIalsotookpart."[33]Hewouldnot
havekeptsilentaboutthedonationoftheWestern
Empire[haditbeenmade],norwouldhehave
spokenashedidalittlelateraboutJovian,who
succeededJulian:"HemadewithSaporapeace
whichwasnecessary,indeed,butdishonorable,the
boundariesbeingchangedandapartoftheRoman
Empirebeinggivenup,athingwhichhadnever

nostraeapudCaudiumperPontium
Telesinum[130]etinHispaniaapud
NumantiametinNumidiasubiugomissae
sunt,utnihiltamenfiniumtraderetur."
Hoclocolibetvos,[131]nuperrime
licet[132]defunctiestis,convenire,
pontificesRomani,ette,Eugeni,quivivis
cumFelicis[133]tamenvenia.Cur
donationemConstantinimagnooreiactitatis,
frequenterquevosultoresereptiImperii
quibusdamregibusprincipibusqueminamini,
etconfessionemquandamservitutisa
Caesaredumcoronandusestetanonnullis
aliisprincipibusextorquetis,velutiabrege
NeapolitanoatqueSiciliaeidquod
numquamaliquisveterumRomanorum
pontificumfecit,nonDamasusapud
Theodosium,nonSyriciusapudArcadium,
[134]nonAnastasiusapudHonorium,non
IoannesapudIustinianum,nonaliiapud
aliossanctissimipapaeapudoptimos
Caesares,sedsemperillorumRomam
Italiamque,cumprovinciisquasnominavi,
fuisseprofessisunt?Eoquenumismata
aurea,utdealiismonumentissileam
templisqueurbisRomanae,circumferuntur,
nonGraecissedLatinislitterisinscripta,
ConstantiniiamChristianietdeinceps
[Page70]cunctorumfermeImperatorum,
quorummultapenesmesuntcumhac
plerumquesubscriptionesubterimaginem
crucis,"Concordiaorbis."Qualiainfinita
reperirentursummorumpontificum,si
umquamRomaeimperassetis!Quaenulla
reperiuntur,nequeaurea,nequeargentea,
nequeabaliquovisamemorantur.Ettamen
necesseeratillotemporepropriumhabere
numismaquisquisimperiumRomaeteneret
saltemsubimagineSalvatorisautPetri.

beforehappenedsincetheRomanstatewasfounded
no,noteventhoughourlegions,attheCaudine
[Forks]byPontiusTelesinus,andinSpainat
Numantia,andinNumidia,weresentunderthe
yoke,wereanyofthefrontiersgivenup."[34]
HereIwouldliketointerrogateIyou,mostrecent,
thoughdeceased,Popes,andyou,Eugenius,who
live,thanksonlytoFelix.[35]Whydoyouparade
theDonationofConstantinewithagreatnoiseand
allthetime,asthoughavengersofastolenEmpire,
threatencertainkingsandprincesandextortsome
servileconfessionorotherfromtheEmperorwhen
heiscrowned,andfromsomeotherprinces,suchas
thekingofNaplesandSicily?Noneoftheearly
Romanpontiffseverdidthis,Damasusinthecaseof
Theodosius,norSyriciusinthecaseofArcadius,nor
AnastasiusinthecaseofHonorius,norJohninthe
caseofJustinian,northeothermostholyPopes
respectivelyinthecaseoftheothermostexcellent
Emperors:rathertheyalwaysregardedRomeand
ItalyandtheprovincesIhavenamedasbelongingto
theEmperors.Andso,tosaynothingofother
monumentsandtemplesinthecityofRome,there
areextantgoldcoinsofConstantine'safterhe
becameaChristian,withinscriptions,

[Page71]notinGreek,butinLatinletters,andof
almostalltheEmperorsinsuccession.Thereare
manyoftheminmypossessionwiththisinscription
forthemostpart,undertheimageofthecross,
"Concordiaorbis[ThePeaceoftheWorld]."What
aninfinitenumberofcoinsofthesupremepontiffs
wouldbefoundifyoueverhadruledRome!But
nonesucharefound,neithergoldnorsilver,norare
anymentionedashavingbeenseenbyanyone.And
yetwhoeverheldthegovernmentatRomeatthat
timehadtohavehisowncoinage:doubtlessthe
Pope'swouldhavebornetheimageoftheSavioror
Pro[135]imperitiamhominum!Noncernitis, ofPeter.
sidonatioConstantiniveraest,Caesaride
Latinoloquornihilrelinqui.Enqualis
Alasforman'signorance!Youdonotseethatifthe
Imperator,qualisrexRomanuserit,cuius
DonationofConstantineisauthenticnothingisleft
regnumsiquishabeat,necaliudhabeat,
totheEmperor,theLatinEmperor,Imean.Ah,what
omninonilhabet!Quodsiitaquepalamest
anEmperor,whataRomanking,hewouldbe,when
Silvestrumnonpossedissehocest,
ifanyonehadhiskingdomandhadnoother,he
Constantinumnontradidissepossessionem, wouldhavenothingatall!Butifitisthusmanifest
hauddubiumeritneiusquidem,utdixi,
thatSylvesterdidnothavepossession,thatis,that
dedissepossidendi:nisidicitisiusquidem
Constantinedidnotgiveoverpossession,thenthere
datum,sedaliquacausapossessionemnon
willbenodoubtthathe[Constantine],asIhave
traditamitaplanedabatquodminime
said,didnotgiveeventherighttopossess.Thatis,
futurumintelligebatdabatquodtraderenon unlessyousaythattherightwasgiven,butthatfor

poteratdabatquodnonpriusvenirein
manuseiuscuidabaturpossibileeratquam
essetextinctumdabatdonumquodante
quingentosannosautnumquamvaliturum
foret.Verumhocloquiautsentireinsanum
est.
Sediamtempusest,nelongiorfiam,causae
adversariorumiamconcisaeatquelaceratae
letale[136]vulnusimprimereetunoeam
iugulareictu.Omnisferehistoria,quae
nomenhistoriaemeretur,Constantinuma
puerocumpatreConstantio[137]
Christianumrefertmultoetiamante
pontificatumSilvestriutEusebius
ecclesiasticaescriptorhistoriae,quem
Rufinus,[138]noninpostremisdoctus,in
Latinuminterpretatusduovoluminadeaevo
suoadiecit,quorum
[Page72]uterquepaene[139]Constantini
temporibusfuit.Addehuctestimonium
etiamRomanipontificisquihisrebus
gerendisnoninterfuitsedpraefuit,nontestis
sedauctor,nonalieninegotiisedsui
narrator.IsestMelchiadespapa,qui
proximusfuitanteSilvestrum,quiitaait:
"Ecclesiaadhocusquepervenit,utnon
solumgentessedetiamRomaniprincipes,
quitotiusorbismonarchiamtenebant,ad
fidemChristiet[140]fideisacramenta
concurrerent.Equibusvirreligiosissimus
Constantinus,primusfidemveritatispatenter
adeptus,licentiamdeditperuniversum
orbem[141]suodegentibusimperionon
solumfieriChristianos,sedetiamfabricandi
ecclesias,etpraediaconstituittribuenda.
Deniqueidempraefatusprincepsdonaria
immensacontulit,etfabricamtempliprimae
sedisbeatiPetriinstituitadeoutsedem
imperialemrelinqueretetbeatoPetro
suisquesuccessoribusprofuturam
concederet."EnnihilMelchiadesa
Constantinodatumait,nisipalatium
Lateranense,etpraedia,dequibusGregorius
inregistrofacitsaepissimementionem.Ubi
suntquinos[142]indubiumvocarenon
sinuntdonatioConstantinivaleatnecne,cum
illadonatiofueritetanteSilvestrumetrerum
tantummodoprivatarum?

somereasonpossessionwasnottransferred.Inthat
casehemanifestlygavewhatheknewwouldnever
intheleastexisthegavewhathecouldnottransfer
hegavewhatcouldnotcomeintothepossessionof
therecipientuntilafteritwasnonexistentbegavea
giftwhichwouldnotbevalidforfivehundredyears,
orneverwouldbevalid.Buttosayortothinkthisis
insanity.
Butitishightime,ifIamnottobetooprolix,to
givetheadversaries'cause,alreadystruckdownand
mangled,themortalblowandtocutitsthroatwitha
singlestroke.Almosteveryhistoryworthyofthe
namespeaksofConstantineasaChristianfrom
boyhood,withhisfatherConstantius,longbefore
thepontificateofSylvesteras,forinstance,
Eusebius,authoroftheChurchHistory,which
Rufinus,himselfagreatscholar,translatedinto
Latin,addingtwobooksonhisowntimes.[36]Both
ofthese
[Page73]menwerenearlycontemporarywith
Constantine.Addtothisalsothetestimonyofthe
Romanpontiffwhonotonlytookpart,butthe
leadingpartintheseevents,whowasnotmerelya
witnessbuttheprimemover,whonarrates,not
another'sdoings,buthisown.IrefertoPope
Melchiades,Sylvester'simmediatepredecessor.He
says:"Thechurchreachedthepointwherenotonly
thenations,buteventheRomanrulerswhoheld
swayoverthewholeworld,cametogetherintothe
faithofChristandthesacramentsofthefaith.One
oftheirnumber,amostdevoutman,Constantine,
thefirstopenlytocometobeliefintheTruth,gave
permissiontothoselivingunderhisgovernment,
throughoutthewholeworld,notonlytobecome
Christians,buteventobuildchurches,andhe
decreedthatlandedestatesbedistributedamong
these.Finallyalsothesaidrulerbestowedimmense
offerings,andbeganthebuildingofthetemple
whichwasthefirstseatoftheblessedPeter,going
sofarastoleavehisimperialresidenceandgiveit
overfortheuseoftheblessedPeterandhis
successors."[37]Yousee,incidentally,that
Melchiadesdoesnotsaythatanythingwasgivenby
ConstantineexcepttheLateranpalace,andlanded
estates,whichGregorymentionsveryfrequentlyin
hisregister.Wherearethosewhodonotpermitusto
callintoquestionwhethertheDonationof
Constantineisvalid,whenthe"donation"both
antedatedSvlvesterandconferredprivate
possessionsalone?

[Page74]Quaeresquamquamplanaet
apertasit,tamendeipsoquodististolidi
proferresolentprivilegiodisserendumest.

[Page75]Butthoughitisallobviousandclear,yet
thedeedofgiftitself,whichthosefoolsalwaysput
forward,mustbediscussed.

EtanteomnianonmodoillequiGratianus
viderivoluit,quinonnullaadopusGratiani
adiecit,improbitatisarguendusest,verum
etiaminscitiaequiopinanturpaginam
privilegiiapudGratianumcontineriquod
nequedoctiumquamputarunt,etin
vetustissimisquibusqueeditionibus[143]
decretorumnoninvenitur.Etsiquoinloco
huiusreiGratianusmeminisset,noninhoc
ubiisticollocantseriemipsamorationis
abrumpentes,sedineoubiagitde
Ludovici[144]pactionememinisset.
Praetereaduomillialocorumindecretissunt
quaeabhuiuslocifidedissentientquorum
unusestubi,quaesuperiusretuli,Melchiadis
verbaponuntur.Nonnullieumquihoc
capitulumadiecitaiuntvocatumPaleamvel
veronomine,velideoquodquaedesuo
adiunxitadGratianumcomparatainstar
palearumiuxtafrumentaexistimentur.
Utcumquesit,indignissimumestcredere,
quaeab[145]hocadiectasunt,ea
decretorumcollectoremautignorasse,aut
magnifecissehabuissequeproveris.Bene
habet,sufficitvicimus.Primumquodhoc
Gratianusnonaitutistimentiebantur,immo
adeo,prout[146]exinfinitislocisdatur
intelligi,negatatqueconfutat.Deindequod
unumetignotumetnulliusauctoritatisac
minimi[147]hominemafferunt,itaetiam
stolidum,uteaGratianoaffinxerit,quaecum
ceterisilliusdictiscongruerenonpossent.
Huncergovosauctoremprofertis?Huius
uniustestimonionitimini?[148]Huius
chartulamadtantaereiconfirmationem
contrasexcentaprobationumgenera
recitatis?Ategoexspectaveramutaurea
sigilla,marmoratostitulos,milleauctores
ostenderetis.

Andfirst,notonlymustIconvictofdishonestyhim
whotriedtoplayGratianandaddedsectionstothe
workofGratian,butalsomustconvictofignorance
thosewhothinkacopyofthedeedofgiftis
containedinGratianforthewellinformedhave
neverthoughtso,norisitfoundinanyoftheoldest
copiesoftheDecretum.AndifGratianhad
mentioneditanywhere,hewouldhavedoneso,not
wheretheyputit,breakingthethreadofthe
narrative,butwherehetreatsoftheagreementof
Louis[thePious].Besides,therearetwothousand
passagesintheDecretumwhichforbidthe
acceptanceofthispassageforexample,thatwhere
thewordsofMelchiades,whichIhavecitedabove,
aregiven.Somesaythathewhoaddedthischapter
[theDonationofConstantine]wascalledPalea,[38]
eitherbecausethatwashisrealnameorbecause
whatheaddedofhisown,comparedwithGratian,is
asstraw[palea]besidegrain.Howeverthatmaybe,
itismonstroustobelievethatthecompilerofthe
Decretumeitherdidnotknowwhatwasinterpolated
bythisman,oresteemedithighlyandhelditfor
genuine.Good!Itisenough!Wehavewon!First,
becauseGratiandoesnotsaywhattheylyingly
quoteandmoreespeciallybecauseonthecontrary,
ascanbeseenininnumerablepassages,hedenies
anddisprovesitandlast,becausetheybring
forwardonlyasingleunknownindividual,ofnotthe
leastauthority,soverystupidastoaffixtoGratian
whatcannotbeharmonizedwithhisother
statements.Thisthenistheauthoryoubring
forward?Onhissoletestimonyyourely?His
charter,inamatterofsuchimportance,youreciteas
confirmationagainsthundredsofkindsofproof?
ButIshouldhaveexpectedyoutoshowgoldseals,
marbleinscriptions,athousandauthors.
But,yousay,Paleahimselfadduceshisauthor,
showsthe

Sedipse,dicitis,Paleaauctoremprofert,
fontemhistoriaeos
[Page76]tendit,etGelasium[149]papam
cummultisepiscopisintestimoniumcitat.
"ExGestis,"inquit,"Silvestri,quaebeatus
Gelasiusinconcilioseptuaginta
episcoporumacatholicislegicommemorate
etproantiquousumultashocdicitecclesias
imitariinquibuslegitur,Constantinuset
cetera."Multosuperius,ubidelibris

[Page77]sourceofhisnarrative,andcitesPope
Gelasiusandmanybishopsaswitnessesitis,he
says,"fromtheActsofSylvester(whichtheblessed
PopeGelasiusintheCounciloftheSeventyBishops
recountsasreadbythecatholic,andinaccordance
withancientusagemanychurcheshesaysfollow
thisexample)whichreads:'Constantine...,etc.'"
[39]Considerablyearlier,wherebookstoberead

legendisetnonlegendisagitur,etiam
dixerat,"ActusbeatiSilvestripraesulis,licet
eiusquiscripsitnomenignoremus,amultis
tamenaburbeRomacatholicislegi
cognovimus,etproantiquousuhoc
imitanturecclesiae."Mirahaecauctoritas,
mirumtestimonium,inexpugnabilis
probatio!Donovobishoc,Gelasiumdumde
concilioseptuagintaepiscoporumloquiturid
dixisse.Numiddixit,paginamprivilegiiin
beatissimiSilvestriGestislegi?Isvero
tantumaitGestaSilvestrilegi[150]ethoc
Romae,cuiusecclesiaeauctoritatemmultae
aliaesequuntur,[151]quodegononnego
concedo,fateormequoqueunacumGelasio
testemexhibeo.Verumquidvobisistares
prodest,nisiutinadducendistestibus
mentirivoluissevideamini?Ignoraturnomen
eiusquihocinDecretisascripsit,etsolus
hocdicit.Ignoraturnomeneiusquiscripsit
historiam,etsolusisetfalsotestisaffertur.
Etvos,boniviriatqueprudentes,hocsatis
superqueesseadtantaereitestimonium
existimatis?Atvidete,quantumintermeum
intersitvestrumqueiudicium.Egonesihoc
quidemapudGestaSilvestriprivilegium
contineretur,proverohabendumputarem,
cumhistoriaillanonhistoriasit,sedpoetica
etimpudentissimafabula,utposterius
ostendamnecquisquamaliusalicuius
dumtaxat[152]auctoritatisdehocprivilegio

andbooksnottobereadaretreated,hehadsaid
also"TheActsoftheblessedSylvester,chiefpriest,
thoughweknownotthenameofhimwhowroteit,
weknowtobereadbymanyoftheorthodoxofthe
cityofRome,andinaccordancewithancientusage
thechurchesfollowthisexample."[40]Wonderful
authoritythis,wonderfulevidence,irrefutableproof!
Igrantyouthis,thatGelasiusinspeakingofthe
CounciloftheSeventyBishopssaidthat.Butdidhe
saythis,thatthedeedofgiftistobereadintheActs
ofthemostblessedSylvester?Hesays,indeed,only
thattheActsofSylvesterareread,andthatinRome,
andthatmanyotherchurchesfollowherauthority.I
donotdenythis,Iconcedeit,Iadmitit,Ialsostand
upwithGelasiusasawitnesstoit.Butwhat
advantageisthistoyou,exceptthatyoumaybe
showntohavedeliberatelyliedinadducingyour
witnesses?Thenameofthemanwhointerpolated
this["Donation"ofyours]isnotknown,andheis
theonlyonewhosaysthis[thattheDonationisin
theActsofSylvester]thenameofthemanwho
wrotethehistoryofSylvesterisnotknown,andhe
istheonlyonecitedaswitness,andthat
erroneously.Andgoodmenandprudentasyouare,
youthinkthisisenoughandmorethanenough
evidenceforsuchanimportanttransaction!Well!
howyourjudgmentdiffersfrommine!Evenifthis
grantwerecontainedintheActsofSylvester,I
shouldnotthinkitwastobeconsideredgenuine,for
thathistoryisnothistory,butfancifulandmost
shamefulfiction,asIshalllatershownordoesany
oneelseofanyauthoritywhatevermakementionof
thisgrant.And

[Page78]habeatmentionem.EtIacobus
Voraginensis,propensusinamorem
clericorumutarchiepiscopus,tamenin
GestissanctorumdedonationeConstantini,
utfabulosanecdignaquaeinterGesta
Silvestriponeretur,silentiumegitlata
quodammodosententiacontraeos,siqui
haeclitterismandavissent.

[Page79]evenJamesofVoragine,thoughasan
archbishopdisposedtofavortheclergy,yetinhis
ActsoftheSaints[41]preservedsilenceonthe
DonationofConstantineasfictitiousandnotfitto
figureintheActsofSylvesteraconclusive
judgment,inaway,againstthose,iftherewereany,
whowouldhavecommittedittowriting.

Sedipsumfalsariumacvere"paleam,"non
triticum,obtortocolloiniudiciumtrahere
volo.Quidais,falsarie?Undefitquodistud
privilegiuminterSilvestriGestanon
legimus?Credohicliberrarusest,difficilis
inventu,necvulgohabetur,sedtamquam
fastiolimapontificibus,autlibri
Sibyllini[153]adecemviriscustoditur!
LinguaGraecaautSyriacaautChaldaica
scriptusest!TestaturGelasiusamultis

ButIwanttotaketheforgerhimself,trulya"straw"
manwithoutwheat,bytheneck,anddraghiminto
court.Whatdoyousay,youforger?Whencecomes
itthatwedonotreadthisgrantintheActsof
Sylvester?Thisbook,forsooth,israre,difficultto
get,notownedbythemanybutratherkeptasthe
Fastioncewerebythepontifices,ortheSibylline
booksbytheDecemvirs!ItwaswritteninGreek,or
Syriac,orChaldee!Gelasiustestifiesthatitwasread
bymanyoftheorthodoxVoraginementionsitwe
alsohaveseenthousandsofcopiesofit,andwritten

catholicislegiVoraginensisdeeomeminit
nosquoquemilleetantiquescripta
exemplariavidimusetinomnifere
cathedraliecclesia,cumadestSilvestri
natalisdies,lectitantur:ettamennemose
illiclegisseistudaitquodtuaffingis,nemo
audisse,nemosomniasse.Analiaquaedam
fortassishistoriaest?Etquaenamistaerit?
Egoaliamnescio,necabstealiamdici
interpretor,quippedeeatuloquerisquam
Gelasiusapudmultasecclesiaslectitari
refert.Inhacautemtuumprivilegiumnon
invenimus.QuodSiistudinVitaSilvestri
nonlegitur,quidtuitalegitradidisti?Quid
intantareiocariaususes,etlevium
horninumcupiditatemeludere?
Sedstultussumquiilliuspotiusinsector
audacium,quamistorumdementiamqui
crediderunt.SiquisapudGraecos,apud
Hebraeos,apudbarbarosdicerethocesse
memoriaeproditum,nonneiuberetis
nominariauctorem,proferricodicem,et
locumabinterpretefideliexponiantequam
crederetis?Nuncdelingua

longagoandinalmosteverycathedralitisread
whenSylvester'sDaycomesaround.[42]Yet
neverthelessnoonesaysthathehasreadtherewhat
youputinitnoonehasheardofitnoonehas
dreamtofit.Oristhereperhapssomeotherhistory
ofSylvester?Andwhatcanthatbe?Iknowno
other,nordoIunderstandthatanyotherisreferred
tobyyou,foryouspeakoftheonewhichGelasius
saysisreadinmanychurches.Inthis,however,we
donotfindyourgrant.Butifitisnotfoundinthe
LifeofSylvester,whydoyoudeclarethatitis?How
didyoudaretojestinamatterofsuchimportance,
andtomakesportofthecupidityofsillymen?
ButIamfoolishtoinveighagainsttheaudacityof
this[forger],insteadofinveighingagainstthe
insanityofthosewhogivehimcredence.Ifanyone
shouldsaythatthishadbeenrecordedfor
remembranceamongtheGreeks,theHebrews,the
barbarians,wouldyounotbidhimnamehisauthor,
producehisbook,andthepassage,tobeexplained
byareliabletranslator,beforeyouwouldbelieveit?
Butnowyourownlanguage,anda

[Page80]vestra,denotissimocodicefit
mentio,etvostamincredibilefactumaut
noninquiritis,aut,cumscriptumnon
reperiatis,tampronaestiscredulitateutpro
scriptohabeatisatqueprovero.Ethoctitulo
contenti,terrasmiscetisetmaria,et,quasi
nullumsubsitdubium,eosquivobisnon
credunt,terrorebellorumaliisqueminis
prosequimini.BoneIesu,quantavis,quanta
divinitasestveritatis,quaepersesesine
magnoconatuabomnibusdolisacfallaciis
seipsadefendit,utnonimmerito,cumesset
apudDariumregemexortacontentioquid
foretmaximevalidumetaliusaliuddiceret,
tributasitpalmaveritati!

[Page81]verywellknownbookareinvolved,and
eitheryoudonotquestionsuchanincredible
occurrence,orwhenyoudonotfinditwrittendown
youhavesuchuttercredulityastobelievethatitis
writtendownandauthentic!And,satisfiedwiththis
title,youmoveheavenandearth,and,asthoughno
doubtexisted,youpursuewiththeterrorsofwarand
withotherthreatsthosewhodonotbelieveyou!
BlessedJesus,whatpower,whatdivinitythereisin
Truth,whichunaideddefendsitselfwithoutany
greatstrugglefromallfalsehoodsanddeceitsso
thatnotundeservedly,whencontentionhadarisenat
thecourtofkingDariusastowhatwasmost
powerful,andonesaidonethingandanother
another,thepalmwasawardedtoTruth.[43]

Quiacumsacerdotibus,noncum
saecularibus,mihiresest,ecclesiastica
magisquamsaeculariasuntexempla
repetenda.IudasMachabaeus,cumdimissis
Romamlegatisfoedusamicitiamquea
senatuimpetrasset,curavitverbafoederisin
aesincidendaIerosolimamqueportanda.
Taceodelapideisdecalogitabulis,quas
DeusMoysidedit.Istaverotammagnifica
Constantiniettaminauditadonationullis
nequeinauro,nequeinargento,nequein
aere,nequeinmarmore,nequepostremoin
libris,probaridocumentispotestsedtantum,

SinceIhavetodowithpriestsandnotwithlaymen,
IsupposeImustseekecclesiasticalprecedents.
JudasMaccabaeus,whenhehadsentambassadorsto
Romeandobtainedafriendlyalliancefromthe
Senate,tookpainstohavethetermsofthealliance
engravedonbrassandcarriedtoJerusalem.Ipass
bythestonetablesoftheDecalogue,whichGod
gavetoMoses.Andthis,DonationofConstantine,
somagnificentandastounding,cannotbeprovedby
anycopies,ingold,insilver,inbrass,inmarble,or
eveninbooks,butonly,ifwebelieveit,onpaper,or
parchment.AccordingtoJosephus,Jubal,the
inventorofmusic,whentheeldersexpressedthe

siisticredimus,incharta,sivemembrana.
Iobalprimusmusicesauctor,utestapud
Iosephum,cumessetamaioribuspermanus
traditaopinioreshumanassemelaqua
iterumignidelendas,doctrinamsuam
duabuscolumnis[154]inscripsit,lateritia
contraignem,lapideacontraaquasquaead
Iosephiaevumutidemscribit,permansitut
suuminhominesbeneficiumsemper
exstaret.EtapudRomanosrusticanos[155]
adhucetagrestes,cumparvaeetrarae
litteraeessent,tainenlegesduodecim
tabularuminaesfuereincisae,quaevi[156]
captaatqueincensaaGallisurbeincolumes
posteasuntrepertae.Adeoduomaximain
rebushumanis,diuturnitatemtemporiset
fortunaeviolentiam,vincit

opinionthattheworldwastobedestroyed,onceby
water,andagainbyfire,inscribedhisteachingon
twocolumns,oneofbrickagainstthefire,andone
ofstoneagainsttheflood,whichcolumnsstill
remainedatthetimeofJosephus,ashehimself
writes,sothathisbenefactiontomenmightalways
continue.AndamongtheRomans,whilestillrustic
andcountrybred,whenwritingwasinadequateand
rare,thelawsoftheTwelveTablesnevertheless
wereengravedonbrass,andthoughthecitywas
stormedandburnedbytheGaulstheywere
afterwardsfoundunharmed.Thuscarefulforesight
overcomesthetwomightiestforcesknowntoman,
namely,longlapse

[Page82]circumspectaprovidentia.
Constantinusveroorbisterrarum
donationempapyro[157]tantumet
atramentosignavit,cumpraesertim
machinatorfabulae,quisquisillefuit,faciat
Constantinumdicentemsecrederenon
deforequidonationemhancimpiaaviditate
rescinderent!Hoctimes,Constantine,etnon
cavesneiiquiRomamSilvestroeriperent
chartulamquoquesurriperent?

[Page83]oftimeandtheviolenceoffortune.Yet
Constantinesignedadonationoftheworldonpaper
aloneandwithink,thoughtheveryinventorofthe
fabulousstorymakeshimsaythathethoughtthere
wouldnotbelackingthosewhowithunholygreed
wouldsetasidethisDonation!Doyouhavethis
fear,Constantine,anddoyoutakenoprecautionlest
thosewhowouldsnatchRomefromSylvester
shouldalsostealthecharter?

"Paginamprivilegii"appellatbomovesanus.
Privilegiumnetu(libetvelutpraesentem
insectari)vocasdonationemorbisterrarum
ethocinpaginavisessescriptumetisto
genereorationisusumesseConstantinum?
Sititulusabsurdusest,qualiacetera
existimemus?

"Thepageoftheprivilege"thiscrazymancallsit
[i.e.,theDonationofConstantine].Anddoyou(let
mecontroverthimasthoughhewerepresent)call
thegiftoftheeartha"privilege"doyouwantit
writtenthusinthedocumentanddoyouwant
Constantinetousethatkindoflanguage?Ifthetitle
isridiculous,whatshallwethinktherestofitis?

"ConstantinusImperatorquartodiesui
baptismatisprivilegiumRomanaeecclesiae
pontificicontulit,utintotoorbe
Romano[159]sacerdotesitahunccaput
habeant,sicutiudicesregem."Hocinipsa
Silvestrihistoriacontineturexquodubitari

"TheEmperorConstantinethefourthdayafterhis
baptismconferredthisprivilegeonthepontiffofthe
Romanchurch,thatinthewholeRomanworld
priestsshouldregardhimastheirhead,asjudgesdo
theking."ThissentenceispartoftheHistory[Life]
ofSylvester,[45]anditleavesnodoubtwhere[nor

WhydoesSylvesterdonothingforhimself?Doeshe
QuidipseSilvesterprosenihilagit?Ita
leaveeverythingthustoConstantine?Isheso
omniaConstantinoremittit?Itasecurusac
carelessandlazyinsuchanimportantmatter?Does
segnisestintantonegotio?Nihilsibi,nihil
henotlookaheadatallforhimself,forhischurch,
ecclesiaesuae,nihilposteritatiprospicit?En, forposterity?Seetowhomyoucommitthe
cuiImperiumRomanumadministrandum
administrationoftheRomanEmpireinthemidstof
committas,[158]quitammagnaerei
suchanimportanttransaction,fraughtwithsomuch
tantoqueautlucroautpericuloindormit!Si eitherofgainorofperil,hegoessoundasleep!For
quidemsublatachartula,privilegii
letthechartereverbelost,hewillnotbeable,at
donationemutiqueaetateprocedenteprobare leastastimegoeson,toprovethegrantingofthe
nonpoterit.
"privilege."[44]

nonpotestubinamscriptumsignificetur
"privilegium."Sed,moreeorumqui
mendaciamachinantur,averoincoepit[160]
utsequentibus,quaefalsasunt,conciliet
fidem,utSinonapudVirgilium:[161]

why]thedocumentgetsitstitle"privilege."But,in
themannerofthosewhofabricatelies,hebegins
withthetruthforthepurposeofwinningconfidence
inhislaterstatements,whicharefalse,asSinonsays
inVirgil:

Imperatoris
[Page84]"Cunctaequidemtibi,rex,fuerint
quaecumquefatebor.Vera,inquit,necme
Argolicadegentenegabo."
Hocprimum,deindefalsasubiecit.Itahoc
loconosterSinonfacit,quicumavero
incoepisset,adiecit:
"Ineoprivilegio,intercetera,legitur:'Utile
iudicavimusunacumomnibussatrapis
nostrisetuniversosenatu,optimatibusetiam,
etcumcunctopopuloimperioRomanae
ecclesiaesubiacentiutsicutbeatusPetrusin
terrisvicariusDeivideturesseconstitutus,
etiametpontificesipsiusprincipis
apostolorumvicemprincipatuspotestatem
ampliusquamterrenaeimperialisnostrae
serenitatismansuetudohaberevideretur,
concessamanobisnostroqueimperio
obtineant.'"

[Page85]
"...Whate'er
Myfateordains,mywordsshallbesincere:
Ineithercannordaremybirthdisclaim
Greeceismycountry,Sinonismyname."[46]
Thisfirstthenheputinhislies.SoourSinondoes
hereforwhenhehadbegunwiththetruth,headds:
"Inthisprivilege,amongotherthings,isthis:'We
togetherwithalloursatrapsandthewholeSenate
andthenoblesalso,andallthepeoplesubjecttothe
governmentoftheRomanchurch[47]consideredit
advisablethat,astheblessedPeterisseentohave
beenconstitutedvicarofGodontheearth,sothe
pontiffswhoaretherepresentativesofthatsame
chiefoftheapostles,shouldobtainfromusandour
Empirethepowerofasupremacygreaterthanthe
clemencyofourearthlyimperialserenityisseento
haveconcededtoit.'"

0scelerateatquemalefice!Eademquam
affersintestimoniumreferthistoria,longo
temporeneminemsenatoriiordinisvoluisse
acciperereligionemChristianam,et
Constantinumpauperessollicitassepretioad
baptismum.Ettuaisintraprimosstatimdies
senatum,optimates,satrapes,[161]quasiiam
Christianos,dehonestandaecclesiaRomana
cumCaesaredecrevisse!Quid!Quodvis
interfuissesatrapes?0cautes,0stipes!Sic
loquunturCaesares?Sicconcipisolent
decretaRomana?Quisumquamsatrapesin
consiliisRomanorumnominariaudivit?Non
teneomemoriaumquamlegissemeullum,
nonmodoRomanum,sedneinRomanorum
quidemprovinciissatrapemnominatum.At
hic

0thouscoundrel,thouvillain!Thesamehistory[the
LifeofSylvester]whichyouallegeasyour
evidence,saysthatforalongtimenoneofsenatorial
rankwaswillingtoaccepttheChristianreligion,and
thatConstantinesolicitedthepoorwithbribestobe
baptized.Andyousaythatwithinthefirstdays,
immediately,theSenate,thenobles,thesatraps,as
thoughalreadyChristians,withtheCaesarpassed
decreesforthehonoringoftheRomanchurch!
What!Howdoyouwanttohavesatrapscomein
here?Numskull,blockhead!DotheCaesarsspeak
thusareRomandecreesusuallydraftedthus?
Whoeverheardofsatrapsbeingmentionedinthe
councilsoftheRomans?[48]Idonotrememberever
tohavereadofanyRomansatrapbeingmentioned,
orevenofasatrapinanyoftheRomanprovinces.
Butthisfellow

[Page86]satrapesvocat,eosquesenatui
praeponit,cumomneshonores,etiamqui
principideferuntur,tantumasenatu
decernantur,autiuncto[162]"populoque
Romano."Hincestquodinlapidibusvetustis
auttabulisaereisautnumismatisduaslitteras
videmusscriptas:S.C.idest,"Senatus

[Page87]speaksoftheEmperor'ssatraps,andputs
theminbeforetheSenate,thoughallhonors,even
thosebestowedupontherulingprince,aredecreed
bytheSenatealone,orwiththeaddition"andthe
Romanpeople."Thusweseecarvedonancient
stonesorbronzetabletsorcoinstwoletters,"S.C.,"
thatis"BydecreeoftheSenate,"orfour,

consulto,"velquattuor:[163]S.P.Q.R.,hoc
est,"SenatuspopulusqueRomanus."Et,ut
Tertullianusmeminit,cumPontiusPilatusde
admirandisChristiactionibusadTiberium
Caesarem,nonadsenatum,scripsisset,
siquidemadsenatumscriberedemagnis
rebusmagistratusconsueverant,senatus
hancremindignetulit,Tiberioque
praerogativamferentiutIesusprodeo
colereturrepugnavit,obtacitamtantummodo
indignationemoffensaesenatoriaedignitatis.
Etutsciasquantumsenatusvaleatauctoritas,
neprodeocolereturobtinuit.

"S.P.Q.R.,"thatis,"TheSenateandtheRoman
People."AndaccordingtoTertullian,whenPontius
PilatehadwrittentoTiberiusCaesarandnottothe
SenateconcerningthewonderfuldeedsofChrist,
inasmuchasmagistratesweresupposedtowrite
concerningimportantmatterstotheSenate,the
SenategavewaytospiteandopposedTiberius'
proposalthatJesusbeworshippedasaGod,merely
onaccountofitssecretangerattheoffenseto
senatorialdignity.[49]And,toshowhowweighty
wastheauthorityoftheSenate,Jesusdidnotobtain
divineworship.

Sedquidmirumsiadhibenturoptimates,ubi
cunctuspopulus,sihominicredimus,cum
senatuetCaesareiudicavit,etisquidem
Romanaeecclesiaesubiacens!Etquisiste
estpopulus?Roma

Butwhatwonderthatthe"optimates"belongedto
thecouncil,when,ifwebelievethisfellow,"allthe
people,"andthepeople"subjecttotheRoman
church"atthat,actedofficiallywiththeSenateand
theCaesar![50]Andwhatpeoplearethese?The
Roman

[Page88]nusne?Atcurnondiciturpopulus
Romanuspotiusquampopulussubiacens?
QuaenovaistacontumeliaestinQuirites,de
quibusoptimipoetaeelogiumest:

[Page89]people?ButwhynotsaytheRoman
people,ratherthanthe"peoplesubject"?Whatnew
insultisthistotheQuiritesofwhomthegreatpoet
sings:

"Turegereimperiopopulos,Romane,
memento?"

"Dothou,0Roman,takecaretorulethepeoples
withimperialsway!"[51]

Quiregitaliospopulos,[165]ipsevocatur
populussubiacens,quodinauditumest.Nam
inhoc,utinmultisepistolisGregorius
testatur,differtRomanusprinceps[166]a
ceteris,quodsolusestprincepsliberipopuli.
Ceterumitasitutvis.Nonneetaliipopuli
subiacent?Analiosquoquesignificas?
Quomodofieriistudtriduopoterat,utomnes
populisubiacentesimperioRomanae
ecclesiaeillidecretoadessent?Tametsi
num[167]omnisfaexpopuliiudicabat?

Canthosewhoruleotherpeoples,themselvesbe
calledasubjectpeople?Itispreposterous!Forin
this,asGregoryinmanyletterstestifies,theRoman
rulerdiffersfromtheothers,thathealoneisrulerof
afreepeople.Butbethisasitmay.Arenotother
peoplesalsosubject?Ordoyoumeanothersalso?
Howcoulditbebroughttopassinthreedaysthatall
thepeoplesubjecttothegovernmentoftheRoman
churchgaveassenttothatdecree?Thoughdidevery
Tom,Dick,andHarrygivehisjudgment?What!
wouldConstantine,beforehehadsubjectedthe

Whatnow!Whydoyousay"nobles"["optimates"]?
Quid!Quodaisoptimates?Quosaut
Arewetounderstandthattheseareleadingmenin
primariosinrepublicavirosintelligimus,qui therepublicthenwhyshouldtheybementioned
curnominentur[164]cumdeceteris
whentheothermagistratesarepassedbyinsilence?
magistratibussilentiumsit?auteosqui
Oraretheytheoppositeofthe"popular"party
populatesnonsunt,benevolentiampopuli
whichcurriesfavorwiththepeopletheoneswho
aucupantes,sedoptimicuiusqueetbonarum seekandchampionthewelfareofeveryaristocrat
partiumstudiosiacdefensores,utCicero
andofthe"better"elements,asCiceroshowsinone
quadainorationedemonstrat?Ideoque
ofhisorations?ThuswesaythatCaesarbefore,the
Caesaremanteoppressamrempublicam
overthrowoftherepublichadbeenamemberofthe
popularemfuissedicimus,Catonemex
"popular"party,Catoofthe"optimates."The
optimatibus,quorumdifferentiamSallustius differencebetweenthemSallustexplained.Butthe
explicavit.Nequehioptimatesmagisquam
"optimates"arenotspokenofasbelongingtothe
popularesautceteriboniviridicunturin
[Emperor's]council,anymorethanthe"popular"
consilioadhiberi.
party,orotherrespectablemenare.

Quid!AntequamsubiecissetRomano
pontificipopulumConstantinussubiectum
vocaret?Quid!Quodii[168]quisubiacentes
vocanturfaciendodicunturpraefuisse
decreto?Quid!Quodhocipsumdicuntur
decrevisse,utsintsubiacentesetutillecui
subiacenthoshabeatsubiacentes?Quidagis
aliud,infelix,[169]nisiutiudiceste
voluntatemfallendihabere,facultatemnon
habere?
"Eligentesnobisipsumprincipem
apostolorum,veleiusvicarios,firmosapud
Deumessepatronos.Etsicutnostraest
terrenaimperialispotentia,itaeius
sacrosanctamRomanamecclesiam
decrevimusveneranterhonorare,etamplius
quamnostrumimperiumterrenumque
thronum,sedemsacratissimambeatiPetri
glorioseexaltari,[170]tribuentesei
potestatemetgloriametdignitatem,atque
vigoremethonorificentiamimperialem."

peopletotheRomanpontiff,callthemsubject?How
isitthatthosewhoarecalledsubjectsaresaidto
havebeeninauthorityinthemakingofthedecree?
Howisitthattheyaresaidtohavedecreedthisvery
thing,thattheyshouldbesubjectandthatheto
whomtheyarealreadysubjectshouldhavethemas
hissubjects?Whatelsedoyoudo,youwretch,other
thanadmitthatyouhavethewilltocommitforgery,
butnottheability?
"Choosingthatsameprinceoftheapostles,orhis
vicars,tobeourconstantintercessorswithGod.
And,totheextentofourearthlyimperialpower,we
havedecreedthathisholyRomanchurchshallbe
honoredwithveneration:andthatmorethanour
empireandearthlythrone,themostsacredseatof
theblessedPetershallbegloriouslyexaltedwe
givingtoitpowerandglory,anddignity,andvigor
andhonorimperial."

Comebacktolifeforalittlewhile,Firmianus
Lactantius,stopthisasswhobrayssoloudlyand
outrageously.Sodelightedishewiththesoundof
Reviviscepaulisper,Firmiane[171]Lactanti, swellingwords,thatherepeatsthesameterms
resistequehuicasinotamvaste
immaniterquerudenti.Itaverborum
turgentiumstrepitudelectatur,uteadem
repetatetinculcetquaemododixerat.
[Page90]Huncneinmodumaevotuo
loquebanturCaesarumscribae,nedicam
agasones?ElegitsibiillosConstantinusnon
patronos,sed"essepatronos."Interposuit
illud"esse"utnumerumredderet
concinniorem.Honestaratio!Barbareloqui
utvenustiuscurratoratio,simodoquidin
tantascabritiavenustumessepotest!
"Eligentesprincipemapostolorum,veleius
vicarios."Noneligis[172]Petrumeteius
deincepsvicarios,sedauthuncexclusisillis,
autilloshocexcluso.EtpontificesRomanos
appellatvicariosPetri,quasivelvivatPetrus,
velminoridignitatesintceteriquamPetrus
fuit.Nonneetilludbarbarumest"anobis
nostroqueimperio?"Quasiimperiumhabeat
animumconcedendietpotestatem!Necfuit
contentusdicere"obtineant,"nisietiam
diceret"concessam,"cumsatisalterumesset.
Etillud"firmospatronos,"perquamelegans
est!Scilicetfirmosvultnepecunia
corrumpanturautmetulabantur.Etillud
"terrenaimperialispotentia"duoadiectiva
sinecopula!Etillud"veneranterhonorare,"
etillud"nostraeimperialisserenitatis
mansuetudo!"Lactantianameloquentiam

[Page91]andreiterateswhathehasjustsaid.Isit
thusthatinyouragethesecretariesoftheCaesars
spoke,oreventheirgrooms?Constantinechose
themnot"ashisintercessors"but"tobehis
intercessors."Thefellowinsertedthat"tobe"[esse]
soastogetamoreelegantrhythm.Afinereason!
Tospeakbarbarouslysothatyourspeechmayrun
alongmoregracefully,asifindeed,anythingcanbe
gracefulinsuchfilthiness."Choosingtheprinceof
theapostles,orhisvicars":youdonotchoosePeter,
andthenhisvicars,buteitherhim,excludingthem,
orthem,excludinghim.[52]AndhecallstheRoman
pontiffs"vicars"ofPeter,eitherasthoughPeter
wereliving,orasthoughtheywereoflowerrank
thanwasPeter.Andisnotthisbarbarous"fromus
andourempire"?[53]Asiftheempirehadamindto
givegrants,andpower!Norwashecontenttosay
"shouldobtain,"withoutalsosaying"conceded,"
thougheitheronewouldhavesufficed.Andthat
"constantintercessors,"[53]isveryelegantindeed!
Doubtlesshewantsthem"constant"sothatthey
maynotbecorruptedbymoneynormovedbyfear.
And"earthlyimperialpower"twoadjectives
withoutaconjunction.And"behonoredwith
veneration":and"clemencyofourimperial
serenity"[54]itsmacksofLactantianeloquenceto

redolet,cumdepotentiaagaturimperii,
serenitatemnominareetmansuetudinem,
nonamplitudinemetmaiestatem.Quod
etiamtumidasuperbiainflatumest,utinillo
quoque,"glorioseexaltari"[173]per
"gloriametpotestatemetdignitatem,et
vigoremethonorificentiamimperialem"!
quodexApocalypsisumptumvidetur,ubi
dicitur:"Dignusestagnusquioccisusest,
acciperevirtutemetdivinitatem[174]et
sapientiametfortitudinemethonoremet
benedictionem."Frequenter,utposterius
liquebit,titulosDeisibi

speakof"serenity"and"clemency,"insteadof
grandeurandmajesty,whenthepoweroftheEmpire
isconcerned!Andhowinflatedheiswithpuffedup
prideasinthatphrase"gloriouslyexalted"by
"glory,andpower,anddignity,andvigor,and
imperialhonor"!Thisseemstobetakenfromthe
Apocalypse,whereitsays,"WorthyistheLambthat
wasslain,toreceivepower,anddivinityand
wisdom,andstrength,andhonorandblessing."[55]
Frequently,aswillbeshownlater,Constantineis
madetoarrogatetohimselfthetitlesofGod,andto
try

[Page92]arrogarefingiturConstantinus,et
imitarivellesermonemsacraeScripturae,
quemnumquamlegerat.

[Page93]toimitatethelanguageofthesacred
scriptures,whichhehadneverread.

"Andweordainanddecreethatheshallhavethe
"Atquedecernentessancimus,ut
supremacyaswelloverthefourseats,Alexandria,
principatumteneat,tamsuperquatuorsedes Antioch,Jerusalem,andConstantinople,asalsoover
Alexandrinam,Antiochenam,
allthechurchesofGodinthewholeearth.Andthe
Ierosolimitanam,Constantinopolitanam,
pontiffalso,whoatthetimeshallbeattheheadof
quametiamsuperomnesinuniversoorbe
theholyRomanchurchitself,shallbemoreexalted
terrarumDeiecclesiasetiampontifex,qui
than,andchiefover,allthepriestsofthewhole
pertemporaipsiussacrosanctaeRomanae
worldand,accordingtohisjudgmenteverything
ecclesiaeextiterit,celsioretprincepscunctis whichistobeprovidedfortheserviceofGod,and
sacerdotibusettotiusmundiexistat,eteius
forthefaithorthestabilityoftheChristiansistobe
iudicio,quaeadcultumDeietfidem
administered."
Christianorumvelstabilitatemprocurandam
Iwillnotspeakhereofthebarbarismsin[the
fuerint,disponantur."[175]
forger's]languagewhenhesays"chiefoverthe
Omittohicbarbariemsermonis,quod
priests"insteadofchiefofthepriestswhenheputs
"princepssacerdotibus"pro"sacerdotum"
inthesamesentence"extiterit"and"existat"
dixit,etquodineodemlocoposuit"extiterit" [confusingmeanings,moodsandtenses]when,
etexistat,"et,cumdixerit"inuniversoorbe havingsaid"inthewholeearth,"headdsagain"of
terrarum,"iterumaddit"totiusmundi,"quasi thewholeworld,"asthoughhewishedtoinclude
quiddamdiversum,autcaelum,quaemundi somethingelse,orthesky,whichispartofthe
parsest,complectivelit,cumbonaparsorbis world,thoughagoodpartoftheearthevenwasnot
terrarumsubRomanonesset,etquod
underRomewhenhedistinguishesbetween
"fidemChristianorum,""velstabilitatem
providingfor"thefaith"ofChristiansandproviding
procurandam,"tamquamnonpossentsimul fortheir"stability,"asthoughtheycouldnotcoexist
esse,distinxit,etquod"decernere"et
[56]whenheconfuses"ordain"and"decree,"and
"sancire"miscuit,etvelutipriuscumceteris when,asthoughConstantinehadnotalreadyjoined
Constantinusnoniudicasset,decernereeum withtherestinmakingthedecree,hehashimnow
et,tamquampoenamproponat,sancire,et
ordainit,andasthoughheimposesapunishment,
quidemunacumpopulosancirefacit.Quis
decree[confirm)it,andconfirmittogetherwiththe
hocChristianuspatiqueat,etnonpapam,qui people.[That,Ipassby.]ButwhatChristiancould
hocpatituraclibensauditetrecitat,censorie endurethis[otherthing],andnot,rather,critically
severequecastiget,quod,cumaChristo
andseverelyreproveaPopewhoenduresit,and
primatumacceperitRomanasedesetid,
listenstoitwillinglyandretailsitnamely,thatthe
GratianotestantemultisqueGraecorum,
RomanSee,thoughitreceiveditsprimacyfrom
octavasynodusdeclararit,accepissedicatur Christ,astheEighthSynoddeclaredaccordingto
thetestimonyofGratianandmanyoftheGreeks,

[Page94]aConstantinovixdumChristiano
tamquamaChristo?Hocillemodestissimus
princepsdicere,hocpiissimuspontifex
audirevoluisset?Absittarngraveabutroque
illorumnefas!
Quid,quodmultoestabsurdius,capitne
rerumnatura,utquisdeConstantinopoli
loquereturtamquamunapatriarchalium
sedium,quaenondumessetnecpatriarchalis,
necsedes,necurbsChristiana,necsic
nominata,neccondita,necadcondendum
destinata?Quippeprivilegiumconcessumest
triduoquodConstantinusesseteffectus
Christianus,cumByzantium[176]adhuc
erat,nonConstantinopolis.Mentiornisihoc
quoqueconfiteatur[177]hicstolidus.Scribit
enimpropecalcemprivilegii:

[Page95]shouldberepresentedashavingreceived
itfromConstantine,hardlyyetaChristian,as
thoughfromChrist?Wouldthatverymodestruler
havechosentomakesuchastatement,andthatmost
devoutpontifftolistentoit?Farbesuchagrave
wrongfrombothofthem!
Howintheworldthisismuchmoreabsurd,and
impossibleinthenatureofthingscouldonespeakof
Constantinopleasoneofthepatriarchalsees,when
itwasnotyetapatriarchate,norasee,nora
Christiancity,nornamedConstantinople,nor
founded,norplanned!Forthe"privilege"was
granted,soitsays,thethirddayafterConstantine
becameaChristianwhenasyetByzantium,not
Constantinople,occupiedthatsite.Iamaliarifthis
fooldoesnotconfessasmuchhimself.Fortoward
theendofthe"privilege"hewrites:

"Undecongruumprospeximus,nostrum
imperiumetregiampotestatemorientalibus
transferriregionibus,etinByzantiae
provinciaeoptimoloconomininostro
civitatemaedificari,etillicnostrumconstitui
imperium."

"Whereforewehaveperceivedittobefittingthat
ourempireandourroyalpowershouldbe
transferredintheregionsoftheEastandthatinthe
provinceofBizantia[sic],inthemostfittingplace,a
cityshouldbebuiltinournameandthatourempire
shouldtherebeestablished."

Siilletransfereevolebatalioimperium,
nondumtranstulerat.Siillicvolebat
constituereimperium,nondumconstituerat.
Sisicvolebataedificareurbem,nondum
aedificaverat.Nonergofecissetmentionem
depatriarchali,deunaquattuorsedium,de
Christiana,desicnominata,deconditade
quacondenda,uthistoriaeplacetquamPalea
intestimoniumaffert,necogitaratquidem.A
qua[178]nonvidethaecbelua,siveisPalea
sit,sivealiusquemPaleasequitur,se
dissentire,ubiConstantinus,nonsuasponte,
sedinterquietemadmonituDei,nonRomae,
sedByzantii,nonintrapaucosdies,sedpost
aliquotannos,diciturdecrevissedeurbe
condenda,nomenquequodinsomnis
edoctusfueratindidisse.Quisergonon

Butifhewasintendingtotransfertheempire,he
hadnotyettransferreditifhewasintendingto
establishhisempirethere,hehadnotyetestablished
itifhewasplanningtobuildacity,hehadnotyet
builtit.Thereforehecouldnothavespokenofitasa
patriarchalsee,asoneofthefoursees,asChristian,
ashavingthisname,norasalreadybuilt.According
tothehistory[theLifeofSylvester]whichPalea
citesasevidence,hehadnotyeteventhoughtof
foundingit.Andthisbeast,whetherPaleaorsome
oneelsewhomPaleafollows,doesnotnoticethathe
contradictsthishistory,inwhichitissaidthat
Constantineissuedthedecreeconcerningthe
foundingofthecity,notonhisowninitiative,butat
acommandreceivedinhissleepfromGod,notat
RomebutatByzantium,notwithinafewdays[of
hisconversion]butseveralyearsafter,andthathe
learneditsnamebyrevelationinadream.[57]Who
thendoesnotseethatthemanwho

[Page96]videt,quiprivilegiumcomposuit,
eumdiuposttemporaConstantinifuisse,et,
cumvelletadornaremendacium,excidisse
sibiquodantedixissethaecgestaesse
Romaetertiodiequamillefuissetbaptizatus:
utineumdecentissimecadattritumvetustate
proverbium,"Mendacesmemoresesse
oportere"?

[Page97]wrotethe"privilege"livedlongafterthe
timeofConstantine,andinhisefforttoembellish
hisfalsehoodforgotthatearlierhehadsaidthat
theseeventstookplaceatRomeonthethirdday
afterConstantinewasbaptized?Sothetriteold
proverbappliesnicelytohim,"Liarsneedgood
memories."
Andhowisitthathespeaksofaprovinceof

Quid,quodByzantiamprovinciamvocat
quoderatoppidumnomine[179]Byzantium?
Locushaudquaquamcapaxtantaeurbis
condendae:namquemuriscomplexaest
ConstantinopolisvetusByzantium!Ethicin
eiusoptimolocoaiturbemessecondendam!
Quid,quodThraciam,[180]ubipositumerat
Byzantium,vultesseinoriente,quaevergit
adAquilonem!Opinorignorabat
Constantinuslocumquemcondendaeurbi
delegerat,subquocaeloesset,urbsquean
provincia,quantaeiusmensuraforet!

"Byzantia,"whenitwasatown,Byzantiumby
name?Theplacewasbynomeanslargeenoughfor
theerectionofsogreatacityfortheoldcityof
Byzantiumwasincludedwithinthewallsof
Constantinople.Andthismansaysthe[new]cityis
tobebuiltonthemostfittingplaceinit!Whydoes
hechoosetoputThrace,inwhichByzantiumlies,in
theEast,whenitliestothenorth?Isuppose
Constantinedidnotknowtheplacewhichhehad
chosenforthebuildingofthecity,inwhatlatitudeit
was,whetheritwasatownoraprovince,norhow
largeitwas!

"EcclesiisbeatorumapostolorumPetriet
Pauliprocontinuationeluminariorum
possessionumpraediacontulimus,etrebus
diversiseasditavimus,etpernostram
imperialemiussionemsacramtarninoriente
quaminoccidentequametiainaseptentrione
etmeridionaliplaga,videlicetinIudaea,
Graecia,Asia,Thracia,Africa,etItalia,vel
diversisinsulis,nostralargitateeis
concessimus,eaprorsusratione,utper
manusbeatissimipatrisnostriSilvestri
summipontificissuccessorumqueeius
omniadisponantur."

"OnthechurchesoftheblessedapostlesPeterand
Paul,fortheprovidingofthelights,wehave
conferredlandedestatesofpossessions,andhave
enrichedthemwithdifferentobjectsandthrough
oursacredimperialmandate,wehavegrantedthem
ofourpropertyintheeastaswellasinthewestand
eveninthenorthandinthesouthernquarter
namely,inJudea,Greece,Asia,Thrace,Africaand
Italyandthevariousislandsunderthiscondition
indeed,thatallshallbeadministeredbythehandof
ourmostblessedfatherthesupremepontiff,
Sylvester,andhissuccessors."

[Page98]Quidaistu,quifacis
ConstantinumdicentemPetrumetPaulum
beatos,Silvestrumverocumadhucvivit
beatissimum,etsuamquipauloantefuisset
ethnicusiussionemsacram?Tantane
conferendasuntproluminaribus
continuandis,uttotusorbisterrarum
fatigetur?Atquaeistapraediasunt,
praesertim"possessionum"?Praediorum
possessionesdiceresolemus,non
"possessionumpraedia."Daspraedia,nec
quaepraediaexplicas.Ditastidiversisrebus,
necquando,necquibusrebusostendis.Vis
plagasorbisaSilvestrodisponi,necpandis
quogeneredisponendi.Concessistihaec

[Page99]Andwhatisthisthatyousay?Youmake
ConstantinecallPeterandPaulblessed,but
Sylvester,stillliving,"mostblessed"andcallhis
ownmandate,paganashehadbeenbutalittlewhile
before,"sacred"!Issomuchtobedonated"forthe
providingofthelights"thatthewholeworldwould
beimpoverished?Andwhatarethese"landed
estates,"particularly"landedestatesof
possessions"?Thephrase"possessionsoflanded
estates"isgoodusage"landedestatesof
possessions"isnot.Yougivelandedestates,andyou
donotexplainwhichlandedestates.Youhave
enriched"withdifferentobjects,"andyoudonot
showwhennorwithwhatobjects.Youwantthe
cornersoftheearthtobeadministeredbySylvester,

0youscoundrel!WerethereinRomechurches,that
0furcifer!Ecclesiaene,idesttempla,Romae is,temples,dedicatedtoPeterandPaul?Whohad
erantPetroetPaulodicatae?Quiscas
constructedthem?Whowouldhavedaredtobuild
exstruxerat?[181]Quisaedificareausus
them,when,ashistorytellsus,theChristianshad
fuissetcumnusquamforet,uthistoriaait,
neverhadanythingbutsecretandsecludedmeeting
Christianislocusnisisecretaetlatebrae?Aut places?AndiftherehadbeenanytemplesatRome
siquatemplaRomaefuissentillisdicata
dedicatedtotheseapostles,theywouldnothave
apostolis,nonerantdignainquibustanta
calledforsuchgreatlightsasthesetobesetupin
luminariaaccenderenturaediculaesacrae,
themtheywerelittlechapels,notsanctuarieslittle
nonaedessacella,nontemplaoratoriainter shrines,nottemplesoratoriesinprivatehouses,not
privatosparietes,nonpublicadelubra.Non
publicplacesofworship.Sotherewasnoneedto
ergoantecuragerendaeratdeluminaribus
careforthetemplelights,beforethetemples
templorum,quamdeipsistemplis.
themselveswereprovided.

antea?Curtehodieincoepissesignificas
honorareecclesiamRomanametei
privilegiumconcedere?Hodieconcedis
hodieditas?Curdicis"concessimus"et
"ditavimus"?Quidloqueris,autquidsentis,
bestia?Cumfabulaemachinatoremihi
sermoest,noncumoptimoprincipe
Constantino.
Sedquidinteullamprudentiam,ullam
doctrinamrequiro,quinulloingenio,nulla
litteraturaespraeditusquiais
"luminariorum"proluminarium,et
"orientalibustransferriregionibus"proeo
quodestadorientalestransferriregiones?
Quidporro?Istaene,suntquattuorplagae?
Quamorientalemnumeras?Thraciamne?At,
utdixi,vergitadseptentrionem.An
Iudaeam?Atmagisadmeridiemspectat,
utpotevicinaAegypto.Quamitem
occidentalem?Italiamne?AthaecinItalia
gerebantur,quamnemoillicagens
occidentalemvocatcumHispaniasdicamus
esseinoccidenteetItaliahincadmeridiem
illincadarctonmagisquamadoccidentem
vergit.Quamseptentrionalem?An
Thraciam?Atipseadorientemessevis.An
Asiam?Athaecsolatotumpossidet
orientem,septentrionemvero
communem[182]cumEuropa.Quam
meridionalem?CerteAfricam.Atcurnon
aliquamnominatimprovinciamproferebas?
NisiforteAethiopesRomanoimperio
[Page100]suberant.Etnihilominusnon
habentlocumAsiaetAfricacumorbem
terraruminquattuordividimusparteset
nominatimregionessingularumreferimus,
sedcumintres,Asiam,Africam,Europam
nisiAsiamproAsiaticaprovincia,Africam
proeaprovinciaquaepropeGaetulos[183]
est,appellas,quaenonvideocurpraecipue
nominentur.[184]

andyoudonotexplainhowtheyaretobe
administered.Yousaytheseweregrantedearlier?
Thenwhydoyousaythatyouhavenowbegunto
honortheRomanchurch,andtograntita
"privilege"?Doyoumakethegrantnowdoyou
enrichitnow?Thenwhydoyousay"wehave
granted"and"wehaveenriched"?Whatareyou
talkingaboutwhatisinyourmind,youbeast?(Iam
speakingtothemanwhomadeupthestory,notto
thatmostexcellentruler,Constantine.)
ButwhydoIaskforanyintelligenceinyou,any
learning,youwhoarenotendowedwithanyability,
withanyknowledgeofletters,whosay"lights"for
lamps,and"betransferredintheregionsoftheeast"
insteadof"betransferredtotheregionsoftheeast,"
asitshouldbe?Andwhatnext?Arethese"quarters"
ofyoursreallythefourquartersoftheworld?What
doyoucountaseastern?Thrace?Itliestothenorth,
asIhavesaid.Judea?Itlooksrathertowardthe
southforitisnexttoEgypt.Andwhatdoyoucount
aswestern?Italy?ButtheseeventsoccurredinItaly
andnoonelivingtherecallsitwesternforwesay
theSpainsareinthewestandItalyextends,onone
handtothesouthandontheothertothenorth,
ratherthantothewest.Whatdoyoucountasnorth?
Thrace?Youyourselfchoosetoputitintheeast.
Asia?Thisaloneincludesthewholeeast,butit
includesthenorthalso,likeEurope.Whatdoyou
countassouthern?Africa,ofcourse.Butwhydo
younotspecifysomeprovince?Perhapsyouthink
eventheEthiopiansweresubjecttotheRoman

[Page101]Empire!AndanywayAsiaandAfricado
notcomeintoconsiderationwhenwedividethe
earthintofourpartsandenumeratethecountriesof
each,butwhenwedivideitintothree,Asia,Africa,
Europethatis,unlessyousayAsiafortheprovince
ofAsia,andAfricaforthatprovincewhichisnextto
theGaetuli,andIdonotseewhythey,especially,
shouldbementioned.

WouldConstantinehavespokenthuswhenhewas
Sicine[185]locutusessetConstantinus,cum describingthefourquartersoftheearth?Wouldhe
quattuororbisplagasexsequitur,[186]uthas havementionedthesecountries,andnotothers?
regionesnominaret,ceterasnonnominaret
WouldhehavebegunwithJudea,whichiscounted
etaIudaeainciperet,quaeparsSyriae
asapartofSyriaandwasnolonger"Judea"afterthe
numeraturetquaeampliusIudaeanonerat,
destructionofJerusalem(fortheJewsweredriven
eversaHierosolima,fugatisetprope
awayandalmostexterminated,sothat,Isuppose,
exstinctis[187]Iudaeis,itautcredamvix
scarcelyonethenremainedinhisowncountry,but
aliqueminsuatuncpatriaremansisse,sed
theylivedamongothernations)?Wherethenwas
aliashabitassenationes?Ubitandemerat
Judea?ItwasnolongercalledJudea,andweknow
Iudaea,quaenecIudaeaampliusvocabatur, thatnowthatnamehasperishedfromtheearth.just

uthodievidemusilludterraenomen
exstinctum?EtsicutexterminatisChananeis
Chananearegiodesiitappellari,commutato
nomineinIudaeamanovisincolis,ita
exterminatisIudaeisetconvenisgentibus
earnincolentibusdesieratIudaeanominari.
NuncupasIudaeam,Thraciam,insulas
Hispaniasvero,Gallias,Germanosnonputas
nuncupandos,etcumdealiislinguis
loquaris,Hebraea,Graeca,barbara,deulla
provinciarumLatinosermoneutentiumnon
loqueris.Video:hastuideo[188]omisisti,ut
posteaindonationecomplectereris.Etquid
nontantieranttotprovinciaeoccidentis,ut
continuandisluminaribussuppeditarent
sumptus,nisireliquusorbisadiuvaret?
Transeoquodhaecconcediaisper
largitatemnonergo,utistiaiunt,obleprae
curationem.Alioquininsolenssit,quisquis
remunerationemlocomunerumponit.
"BeatoSilvestroeiusvicariodepraesenti
tradimuspalatiumimperiinostri
Lateranense,deindediadema,videlicet
coronamcapitisnostri,simulquephrygium,
necnonetsuperhumerale,videlicetlorum
quodimperialecircumdare[189]solet
collum,verumetiam
[Page102]chlamydem[190]purpuream,
atquetunicamcoccineam,etomnia
imperialiaindumenta,seuetiamdignitatem
imperialiumpraesidentiumequitum
conferentesetiameiimperialiasceptra,
simulquecunctasignaatquebannaetdiversa
ornamentaimperialia,etomnem
processionemimperialisculminis,etgloriam
potestatisnostrae.
"Virisetiamdiversiordinis
reverendissimis[191]clericissanctae
Romanaeecclesiaeservientibus,illud
culmensingularispotentiaeetpraecellentiae
haberesancimus,cuiusamplissimusnoster
senatusvideturgloriaadornari,idest
patricios,[192]consuleseffici.Necnonin
ceterisdignitatibusimperialibuseos
promulgavitnusdecorari.Etsicutimperialis
extatdecoratamilitia,itaclerumsanctae
Romanaeecclesiaeadornaridecrevimus.Et
quemadmodumimperialispotentiadiversis
officiis,cubiculariorumnempeet

asafterthedrivingoutoftheCanaanitestheregion
ceasedtobecalledCanaanandwasrenamedJudea
byitsnewinhabitants,sowhentheJewsweredriven
outandmixedtribesinhabitedit,itceasedtobe
calledJudea.
YoumentionJudea,Thrace,andtheislands,butyou
donotthinkofmentioningtheSpains,theGauls,the
Germans,andwhileyouspeakofpeoplesofother
tongues,Hebrew,Greek,barbarian,youdonot
speakofanyoftheprovinceswhereLatinisused.I
see:youhaveomittedtheseforthepurposeof
includingthemafterwardsintheDonation.Andwhy
werenotthesemanygreatprovincesoftheEast
sufficienttobeartheexpenseofprovidingthelights
withouttherestoftheworldcontributing!
Ipassoverthefactthatyousaythesearegrantedas
agift,andthereforenot,asourfriendssay,in
paymentforthecureoftheleprosy.Otherwise,well,
anyonewhoclassesagiftasapaymentisillbred.
"TotheblessedSylvester,his[Peter's]vicar,weby
thispresentdogiveourimperialLateranpalace,
thenthediadem,thatis,thecrownofourhead,and
atthesametimethetiaraandalsotheshoulder
band,thatis,thestrapthatusuallysurrounds

[Page103]ourimperialneckandalsothepurple
mantleandscarlettunic,andalltheimperial
raimentandthesamerankasthosepresidingover
theimperialcavalryconferringalsoonhimthe
imperialscepters,andatthesametimeallthe
standardsandbannersandthedifferentimperial
ornaments,andallthepompofourimperial
eminence,andthegloryofourpower.
"Andwedecreealso,astothesemenofdifferent
rank,themostreverendclergywhoservetheholy
Romanchurch,thattheyhavethatsameeminenceof
distinguishedpowerandexcellence,bythegloryof
whichitseemsproperforourmostillustriousSenate
tobeadornedthatis,thattheybemadepatricians,
consuls,andalsowehaveproclaimedthattheybe
decoratedwiththeotherimperialdignities.And
evenastheimperialmilitiastandsdecorated,sowe
havedecreedthattheclergyoftheholyRoman
churchbeadorned.Andevenastheimperialpower
isorderedwithdifferentoffices,ofchamberlains,
indeed,anddoorkeepersandallthebedwatchers,
sowewishtheholyRomanchurchalsotobe

ostiariorum[193]atqueomnium
concubitorumordinatur,[194]itaetsanctam
Romanamecclesiamdecorarivolumus.Etut
amplissimepontificaledecuspraefulgeat,
decernimus[195]etutclericisanctieiusdem
sanctaeRomanaeecclesiaemappuliset
linteaminibus,idestcandidissimocolore
decoratosequosequitent,etsicutnoster
senatuscalciamentisutiturcumudonibus,id
estcandidolinteamineillustrentur,etita
caelestiasicutterrenaadlaudemDei
decorentur."

decorated.And,inorderthatthepontificalglory
mayshineforthmostfully,wedecreealsothatthe
holyclergyofthissameholyRomanchurchmay
mountmountsadornedwithsaddleclothsandlinens,
thatis,ofthewhitestcolorandevenasourSenate
usesshoeswithfeltsocks,thatis,they[theclergy]
maybedistinguishedbywhitelinen,andthatthe
celestial[orders]maybeadornedtothegloryof
God,justastheterrestrialareadorned."

[Page104]etalibi:"Tradidieosinreprobum
sensum,utfaciantquaenonconveniunt,quia
nonprobaveruntsehaberenotitiammei."
Iubeme,quaeso,Domine,utexclamem
adversuseos,etforteconvertantur.[198]

[Page105]intheirowncounsels,"[58]and
elsewhere,"Evenastheydidnotliketoretainmein
theirknowledge,Igavethemovertoareprobate
mind,todothosethingswhicharenotconvenient."
[59]Commandme,Ibeseechthee,0Lord,thatI
maycryoutagainstthem,andperchancetheymay
beconverted.

0holyJesus!Thisfellow,tumblingphrasesaboutin
hisignoranttalk,willyounotanswerhimfroma
whirlwind?Willyounotsendthethunder?Willyou
0sancteIesu!Adhuncsententiasvolventem nothurlavenginglightningsatsuchgreat
sermonibusimperitisnonrespondebisde
blasphemy?Willyouenduresuchwickednessin
turbine?Nontonabis?Nonintantam
yourhousehold?Canyouhearthis,seethis,letitgo
blasphemiam[196]ultriciafulmina
onsolongandoverlookit?Butyouarelong
iaculabere?Tantumneprobrumintua
sufferingandfullofcompassion.YetIfearlestthis
familiasustines?Hocaudire,hocvidere,hoc yourlongsufferingmayratherbewrathand
tamdiuconniventibusoculispraeterire
condemnation,suchasitwasagainstthoseofwhom
potes?Sedpatiens[197]es,etmultae
yousaid,"SoIgavethemupuntotheirownhearts'
misericordiae.Vereortamennepatientia
lust:andtheywalked
haectuasitpotiusiraetcondemnatio,qualis
inillosfuit,dequibusdixisti:"Etdimisieos
secundumdesideriumcordiseorum,ibuntin
adinventionibussuis,"

0Romanipontifices,exemplumfacinorum
omniumceterispontificibus!0improbissimi
scribaeetPharisaei,[199]quisedetissuper
cathedramMoysi,etoperaDathanetAbiron
facitis!Itanevestimenta,apparatus,pompa,
equitatus,omnisdeniquevitaCaesaris
vicariumChristidecebit?Quae
communicatiosacerdotisadCaesarem?
IstaneSilvestervestimentasibiinduit?Eo
apparatuincessit?Eacelebritate
ministrantiumdomivixitatqueregnavit?
Sceleratissimihominesnonintelligunt
SilvestromagisvestesAaron,quisummus
Deisacerdosfuerat,quamgentilisprincipis
fuissesumendas.
Sedhaecaliaseruntexagitandavehementius.
Impraesentiarumautemdebarbarismo
cum[200]hocsycophantaloquamur,cuius
exstultiloquioimpudentissimumeius
patescit[201]suaspontemendacium.

0Romanpontiffs,themodelofallcrimesforother
pontiffs!0wickedestofscribesandPharisees,who
sitinMoses'seatanddothedeedsofDathanand
Abiram!Willtheraiment,thehabiliments,the
pomp,thecavalry,indeedthewholemanneroflife
ofaCaesarthusbefitthevicarofChrist?What
fellowshiphasthepriestwiththeCaesar?Did
Sylvesterputonthisraimentdidheparadeinthis
splendordidheliveandreignwithsuchathrongof
servantsinhishouse?Depravedwretches!Theydid
notknowthatSylvesteroughttohaveassumedthe
vestmentsofAaron,whowasthehighpriestofGod,
ratherthanthoseofaheathenruler.
Butthismustbemorestronglypressedelsewhere.
Forthepresent,however,letustalktothis
sycophantaboutbarbarismsofspeechforbythe
stupidityofhislanguagehismonstrousimpudenceis
madeclear,andhislie.

"Tradimus,"inquit,"palatiumimperiinostri
Lateranense"quasimalehoclocointer
ornamentadonumpalatiiposuisset,iterum
posteaubidedonisagiturreplicavit."Deinde
diadema"etquasiillinonvideantqui
adsunt,interpretatur"videlicetcoronam."
Verumhicnonaddidit"exauro,"sed
posteriuseasdemresinculcansinquit"ex
auropurissimoetgemmispreciosis."
Ignoravithomoimperitusdiademaepanno
esseautfortassisexsericoundesapiens
illudregisdictumcelebrarisolet,quem
ferunttraditumsibidiademapriusquam
capitiimponeretretentumdiuconsiderasse
acdixisse:"Onobilemmagisquamfelicem
pannum!Quemsiquispenitusagnosceret,
[202]quammultissollicitudinibus[203]
periculisqueetmiseriissisrefertus,nehumi
quidemiacentem

"Wegive,"hesays,"ourimperialLateranpalace":
asthoughitwasawkwardtoplacethegiftofthe
palacehereamongtheornaments,herepeatedit
laterwheregiftsaretreated."Thenthediadem"and
asthoughthosepresentwouldnotknow,he
interprets,"thatis,thecrown."Hedidnot,indeed,
hereadd"ofgold,"butlater,emphasizingthesame
statements,hesays,"ofpurestgoldandprecious
gems."Theignorantfellowdidnotknowthata
diademwasmadeofcoarseclothorperhapsofsilk
whencethatwiseandoftrepeatedremarkofthe
king,who,theysay,beforeheputuponhisheadthe
diademgivenhim,helditandconsidereditlongand
exclaimed,"Oclothmorerenownedthanhappy!If
anyoneknewyouthroughandthrough,withhow
manyanxietiesanddangersandmiseriesyouare
fraught,hewouldnot

[Page106]vellettollere."Istenonputat
illudnisiexauroesse,cuicirculusaureus
nunccumgemnisapponiaregibussolet.
VerumnoneratrexConstantinus,necregem
appellare,necregioserituornarefuisset
ausus.ImperatorRomanorumerat,nonrex.
Ubirexest,ibirespublicanonest.Atin
republicamultifueruntetiamunotempore
imperatoresnamCicerofrequenterita
scribit:M.Ciceroimperatorillivelilli
imperatorisalutem:licetposteapeculiari
nomineRomanusprinceps,utsummus
omnium,imperatorappelletur.

[Page107]caretopickyouupno,notevenifyou
werelyingontheground!"Thisfellowdoesnot
imaginebutthatitisofgold,withagoldbandand
gemssuchaskingsnowusuallyadd.But
Constantinewasnotaking,norwouldhehavedared
tocallhimselfking,nortoadornhimselfwithroyal
ceremony.HewasEmperoroftheRomans,not
king.Wherethereisaking,thereisnorepublic.But
intherepublicthereweremany,evenatthesame
time,whowere"imperatores"[generals]forCicero
frequentlywritesthus,"MarcusCicero,imperator,to
someotherimperator,greeting":though,lateron,
theRomanruler,asthehighestofall,iscalledby
wayofdistinctivetitletheEmperor.

"Simulquephrygium,necnon
superhumerale,videlicetlorumquod
imperialecircumdaresoletcollum."Quis
umquamphrygiumLatinediciaudivit?Tu
mihidumbarbareloquerisviderivis
ConstantiniautLactantiiessesermonem.
PlautusinMenaechmis[204]
phrygionem[205]proconcinnatorevestium
posuit.Pliniusphrygionas[206]appellat
vestesacupictas,quodearumPhryges
fuerint[207]inventores.Phrygiumveroquid
significat?[208]Hocnonexponis,quod
obscurumexponisquodestclarius.
Superhumeraleaisesselorum,necquidsit
lorumtenesnonenimcingulumexcorio
factum,quoddiciturlorum,sentis
circumdariproornamentoCaesariscollo:
hincestquodhabenasetverberavocamus
loraquodsiquandodicanturloraaurea,non
nisidehabenisquaeaurataecolloequiaut

"Andatthesametimethetiaraandalsothe
shoulderband,thatisthestrapthatusuallysurrounds
ourimperialneck."Whoeverheard"tiara"
[phrygium]usedinLatin?Youtalklikeabarbarian
andwantittoseemtometobeaspeechof
Constantine'sorofLactantius'.Plautus,inthe
Menaechmi,applied"phrygionem"toadesignerof
garmentsPlinycallsclothesembroideredwitha
needle"phrygiones"becausethePhrygiansinvented
thembutwhatdoes"phrygium"mean?Youdonot
explainthis,whichisobscureyouexplainwhatis
quiteclear.Yousaythe"shoulderband"isa"strap,"
andyoudonotperceivewhatthestrapis,foryoudo
notvisualizealeatherband,whichwecallastrap,
encirclingtheCaesar'sneckasanornament.[Itisof
leather],hencewecallharnessandwhips"straps":
butifevergoldstrapsarementioned,itcanonlybe
understoodasapplyingtogiltharnesssuchasisput
aroundtheneckofahorseorofsomeotheranimal.

alteriuspecudiscircumdariassolentintelligi
potest.Quaeteres,utmeafertopinio,
fefellit,etcumlorumcircumdarecollo[209]
CaesarisatqueSilvestrivis,dehomine,de
imperatore,desummopontifice,equumaut
asinum[210]facis.

Butthishasescapedyournotice,Ithink.Sowhen
youwishtoputastraparoundtheCaesar'sneck,or
Sylvester's,youchangeaman,anEmperor,a
supremepontiff,intoahorseoranass.

[Page108]albo?Estautempurpurapiscis,
cuiussanguinelanatingitur,ideoquea
tincturadatumestnomenpanno,cuiuscolor
prorubroaccipipotest,licetsitmagis
nigricansetproximuscolorisanguinis
concreti,etquasiviolaceus.IndeabHomero
atqueVirgiliopurpureusdicitursanguiset
marmorporphyritum,[212]cuiuscolorest
simillimusamethysto[213]Graecienim
purpuramporphyramvocant.Coccineumpro
rubroaccipifortenonignorassedcurfaciat
coccineumcumnosdicamuscoccum,et
chlamysquodgenussitvestimenti,iurarem
teplanenescire.

[Page109]"purple"[pupura],however,isafishin
whosebloodwoolisdyed,andsofromthedyethe
namehasbeengiventothecloth,whosecolorcan
becalledred,thoughitmayratherbeblackishand
verynearlythecolorofclottedblood,asortof
violet.HencebyHomerandVirgilbloodiscalled
purple,asisporphyry,thecolorofwhichissimilar
toamethystfortheGreekscallpurple"porphyra."
YouknowperhapsthatscarletisusedforredbutI
wouldswearthatyoudonotknowatallwhyhe
makesit"coccineum"whenwesay"coccum,"or
whatsortofagarmenta"mantle"[chlamys]is.

"Andalsothepurplemantleandscarlettunic."
BecauseMatthewsays"ascarletrobe,"andJohn"a
"Verumetchlamydem[211]purpuream,
purplerobe,"[60]thisfellowtriestojointhem
atquetunicamcoccineam."QuiaMatthaeus togetherinthesamepassage.Butiftheyarethe
aitchlamydemcoccineam,etIoannesvestem samecolor,astheEvangelistsimply,whyareyou
purpuream,utrumquevoluithiceodemloco notcontent,astheywere,tonameeitheronealone
coniungere.Quodsiidemcolorest,ut
unless,likeignorantfolktoday,youuse"purple"for
Evangelistaesignificant,quidtunonfuisti
silkgoodsofawhitishcolor?The
contentusalterumnominasse,utillicontenti
fuerunt:nisiaccipispurpuram,utnunc
imperitiloquuntur,genuspannisericicolore

Atqueutnese[214]longiuspersequendo
singulasvestesmendacemproderet,uno
semelverbocomplexusest,dicens"omnia
imperialiaindumenta."Quid!Etiamneilla
quibusinbello,quibusinvenatione,quibus
inconviviis,quibusinludisamicirisolet?
QuidstultiusquamomniaCaesaris
indumentadicereconvenirepontifici?

Butthathemightnotbetrayhimselfasaliarby
continuinglongerontheseparategarments,he
embracedthemalltogetherinasingleword,saying,
"alltheimperialraiment."What!eventhatwhichhe
isaccustomedtowearinwar,inthechase,at
banquet,ingames?Whatcouldbemorestupidthan
tosaythatalltheraimentoftheCaesarbefitsa
pontiff!
Buthowgracefullyheadds,"andthesamerankas
thosepresidingovertheimperialcavalry."Hesays
"seu"["or"for"and"].[61]Hewishestodistinguish
betweenthesetwointurn,asiftheywereverylike
eachother,andslipsalongfromtheimperialraiment
totheequestrianrank,sayingIknownotwhat!He
wantstosaysomethingwonderful,butfearstobe
caughtlying,andsowithpuffedcheeksandswollen
throat,hegivesforthsoundwithoutsense.

Sedquamlepideaddit"Seuetiam
dignitatemimperialiumpraesidentium
equitum"!"Seu"inquit.Distinguereduo
haecinvicemvoluit,quasimultuminterse
habeantsimilitudinis,etdeimperatorio
habituadequestremdignitatemdelabitur,
[215]nescioquidloquens.Miraquaedam
effarivult,seddeprehendiinmendacio[216]
timet,eoqueinflatisbuccisetturgidogutture "Conferringalsoonhimtheimperialsceptres."
Whataturnofspeech!Whatsplendor!What
datsinementesonum.
harmony!Whataretheseimperialsceptres?Thereis
"Conferenteseietiamimperialiasceptra."
onesceptre,notseveralifindeedtheEmperor
Quaestructureorationis!Quinitor!Qui
carriedasceptreatall.Willnowthepontiffcarrya
ordo!Quaenamsuntsceptraistaimperialia? sceptreinhishand?Whynotgivehimaswordalso,

Unumestsceptrum,nonplurasimodo
andhelmetandjavelin?
sceptrumgerebatimperator.Numetpontifex
sceptrummanugestabit?Curnoneidabimus "Andatthesametimeallthestandardsand
banners."Whatdoyouunderstandby"standards"
etensemetgaleametiaculum?
[signa]?"Signa"areeitherstatues(hencefrequently
"Simulquecunctasignaatquebanna."Quid weread"signaettabulas"forpieces
tu"signa"accipis?Signasuntautstatuae,
undefrequenterlegimussignaettabulas
[Page110]prosculpturisacpicturis,prisci
enimnoninparietibuspingebant,sedin
tabulis,autvexilla,undeillud"Signa,pares
aquilas."Aprioresignificatosigilladicuntur
parvaestatuaeatquesculpturae.Numergo
statuasautaquilassuasSilvestrodabat
Constantinus?Quidhocabsurdius?At
"banna"quidsibivelit,noninvenio.Deuste
perdat,improbissimemortalium,qui
sermonembarbarumattribuissaeculo
erudito!
"Etdiversaornamentaimperialia."Quia
dixit"banna,"satisputavitsignificatumesse,
etideoceterasubverbumuniversale
conclusit.Etquamfrequenterinculcat
"imperalia"quasipropriaquaedamsint
ornamentaimperatorismagisquamconsulis,
quamdictatoris,quamCaesaris!

[Page111]ofsculptureandpaintingsforthe
ancientsdidnotpaintonwalls,butontablets)or
militarystandards(hencethatphrase"Standards,
matchedeagles"[62]).Intheformersensesmall
statuesandsculpturesarecalled"sigilla."Nowthen,
didConstantinegiveSylvesterhisstatuesorhis
eagles?Whatcouldbemoreabsurd?Butwhat
"banners"[banna[63]]maysignify,Idonot
discover.MayGoddestroyyou,mostdepravedof
mortalswhoattributebarbarouslanguagetoa
culturedage!

"Anddifferentimperialornaments."Whenhesaid
"banners,"hethoughthehadbeenexplicitlong
enough,andthereforehelumpedtherestundera
generalterm.Andhowfrequentlyhedriveshome
theword"imperial,"asthoughtherewerecertain
ornamentspeculiartotheEmperoroveragainstthe
consul,thedictator,theCaesar!"Andallthepomp
ofourimperialeminence,andthegloryofour
"Etomnemprocessionemimperialis
power.""Hediscardsbombastandcubitlong
culminis,etglorimnpotestatisnostrae."
words."[64]"Thiskingofkings,Darius,thekinsman
ofthegods,"[65]neverspeakingsaveintheplural!
"Proicitampullasetsesquipedaliaverba,"
Whatisthisimperial"pomp"thatofthecucumber
"RexregumDarius,consanguineusque
twistedinthegrass,andgrowingatthebelly?Do
deorum,"
youthinktheCaesarcelebratedatriumphwhenever
helefthishouse,asthePopenowdoes,precededby
numquamnisinumeropluraliloquens.[217] whitehorseswhichservantsleadsaddledand
Quaeestistaprocessioimperialiscucumeris adorned?Topassoverotherfollies,nothingis
perherbamtorti,etcrescentis[218]in
emptier,moreunbecomingaRomanpontiffthan
ventrem?TriumphasseexistimasCaesarem this.Andwhatisthis"glory"?WouldaLatinhave
quotiensdomoprodibat,utnuncsoletpapa, calledpompandparaphernalia"glory,"asis
praecedentibusalbisequis,quosstratos
customaryintheHebrewlanguage?Andinsteadof
ornatosquefamulidextrantquo,uttaceam
"soldiers"[milites]yousaysoldiery[militia[66]]
aliasineptias,nihilestvanius,nihilquea
whichwehaveborrowedfromtheHebrews,whose
pontificeRomanoalienius?Quaeetiamista booksneitherConstantinenorhissecretarieshad
gloriaest?Gloriamne,utHebraeaelinguae
everlaideyeson!
mosest,pompametapparatusillum
splendoremhomoLatinusappellasset?Ut
Buthowgreatisyourmunificence,0Emperor,who
illudquoquemilitiampromilites,quodab
deemitnotsufficienttohaveadornedthepontiff,
Hebraeissumusmutuati,quorumlibros
unlessyouadornalltheclergyalso!Asan
Constantinusautipsiusscribaenumquam
"eminenceofdistinguishedpowerandexcel
aspexerant?
Verumquantaestmunificentiatua,
Imperator,quinonsatishabesornasse[219]

pontificem,nisiornesetomnemclerum!
"Culmen
[Page112]singularispotentiaeet
praecellentiae,"ais,"efficipatricios,
consules."Quisaudivitsenatoresaliosve
hominesefficipatricios?Consules
efficiuntur,nonpatricii[220]exdomovel
patricia,quaeeademsenatoriadicitur,
siquidemsenatorespatresconscriptisunt,vel
exequestri,velexplebeiaplusqueest
senatoremessequampatricium,namsenator
estunusedelectisconsiliariisreipublicae,
patricius[221]veroquiedomosenatoria
ortumducit.Itaquisenatorautexpatribus
conscriptisnonprotinusetpatricius[221]est.
RidiculequeRomanimeihoctempore
faciunt,quipraetoremsuumsenatorem
vocant,cumnequesenatusexunohomine
constarepossit,necessequesitsenatorem
haberecollegasetis[222]quinuncsenator
diciturfungaturofficiopraetoris.Atdignitas
patriciatusinmultislibrisinvenitur,inquies.
Audio:sedinhisquidetemporibuspost
Constantinumloquuntur.Ergopost
Constantinumprivilegiumconfectumest.

[Page113]lence,"yousay,theyare"made
patriciansandconsuls."Whohaseverheardof
senatorsorothermenbeingmadepatricians?
Consulsare"made,"butnotpatricians.Thesenators,
theconscriptfathers,arefrompatrician(alsocalled
senatorial),equestrian,orplebeianfamiliesasthe
casemaybe.Itisgreater,also,tobeasenatorthan
tobeapatricianforasenatorisoneofthechosen
counsellorsoftheRepublic,whileapatricianis
merelyonewhoderiveshisoriginfromasenatorial
family.Soonewhoisasenator,oroftheconscript
fathers,isnotnecessarilyforthwithalsoapatrician.
SomyfriendstheRomansarenowmaking
themselvesridiculouswhentheycalltheirpraetor
"senator,"sinceasenatecannotconsistofoneman
andasenatormusthavecolleagues,andhewhois
nowcalled"senator"performsthefunctionof
praetor.But,yousay,thetitleofpatricianisfoundin
manybooks.[67]Yesbutinthosewhichspeakof
timeslaterthanConstantinethereforethe
"privilege"wasexecutedafterConstantine.

[Page114]siquainterdaemonesquiaerem
incoluntludorumgeneraexercentur,eos
exprimendoclericorumcultu,fastu,luxu,
exerceri,ethocscaenici[224]lususgenere
maximedelectari.

[Page115]attiretheyweretowear?Ifthereare
gamesofanykindplayedamongthedemonswhich
inhabittheairIshouldthinkthattheywouldconsist
incopyingtheapparel,theprideandtheluxuryof
theclergy,andthatthedemonswouldbedelighted
mostbythiskindofmasquerading.

Buthowcantheclergybecomeconsuls?[68]The
Latinclergyhavedeniedthemselvesmatrimonyand
Sednumquidclericifiericonsulespossunt? willtheybecomeconsuls,makealevyoftroops,and
ConiugiosibiinterdixereLatiniclerici:et
betakethemselvestotheprovincesallottedthem
consulesfient,habitoquedelectumilitum
withlegionsandauxiliaries?Areservantsandslaves
cumlegionibusetauxiliisinprovincias,quas madeconsuls?Andaretheretobenottwo,aswas
fuerintsortiti,seconferent?Ministrineet
customarybutthehundredsandthousandsof
serviconsulesfient?[223]Necbini,ut
attendantswhoservetheRomanchurch,aretheyto
solebat,sedcenteniacmilleniministriqui
behonoredwiththerankofgeneral?AndIwas
Romanaeecclesiaeservient,dignitate
stupidenoughtowonderatwhatwassaidaboutthe
afficienturimperatoria?Etegostolidus
Pope'stransformation!Theattendantswillbe
mirabarquodpapaefficidiceretur!Ministri generalsbuttheclergysoldiers.Willtheclergy
imperatoreseruntclericiveromilites.
becomesoldiersorwearmilitaryinsignia,unless
Militesneclericifient,autmilitaria
yousharetheimperialinsigniawithalltheclergy?[I
ornamentagestabunt,nisiimperialia
maywellask,]forIdonotknowwhatyouare
ornarnentauniversisclericisimpertis?Nam saying.Andwhodoesnotseethatthisfabuloustale
nescioquiddicas.Etquisnonvidethanc
wasconcoctedbythosewhowishedtohaveevery
fabulamabiisexcogitatamesse,quisibi
possiblelicenseinthe
omnemvestiendilicentiamessevoluerunt?
Utexistimem,

Utrummagisinsequar,sententiaruman
verborumstoliditatem?Sententiarum
audistis.Verborumhaecestutdicat

WhichshallIcensurethemore,thestupidityofthe
ideas,orofthewords?Youhaveheardaboutthe

senatumvideriadornari,quasinonutique
adornetur,etquidemadornarigloriaetquod
fit,factumessevelit,ut"promulgavimus"
propromulgamus,illoenimmodosonat
iucundiusoratioeteandemremperpraesens
etperpraeteritumenuntiet,velut
"decernimus"et"decrevimus"etomniasint
refertahisvocibus,"decernimus,"
"decoramus","imperialis","imperatoria,"
"potentia","gloria"et"exstat"proest
posuerit,cum"extare"sitsupereminere,vel
superesseet"nempe"proscilicetet
"concubitores"procontubernales.
"Concubitores"suntquiconcumbunt,et
coeuntnimirumscortaintelligendasunt.
Addit,cumquibusdormiat,netimeat,
opinor,nocturnaphantasmata:addit
cubicularios:addithostiarios.
Nonotiosum[225]est,quarehaecabeo
minutareferuntur.Pupilluminstituitaut
adolescentemfilium,nonsenemcuiomnia
quibusnecessehabetteneraaetasipsevelut
amantissimuspaterpraeparat,utDavid
Salomoni[226]fecit.Atqueutperomnes
numerosfabulaimpleatur,danturclericis
equi,neasinarioilloChristimoresuper
asellossedeantetdanturnonopertisive
instratioperimentiscolorisalbi,seddecorati
colorealbo.Atquibusoperimentis!Non
stragulis,nonBabylonicis,autquoalio
genere,sed"map

[Page116]pulisetlinteaminibus"!Mappae
admensampertinent,linteaminaadlectulos.
Etquasidubiumsitcuiussinthaeccoloris,
interpretatur"idestcandidissimocolore."
DignusConstantinosermo,dignaLactantio
facundia,cuminceteris,turnveroinillo
"equosequitent"!
Etcumdevestitusenatorumnihildixerit,
nondelaticlavo,nondepurpura,nonde
ceteris,decalceamentissibiloquendum
putavitneclunulasappellavit,sedudones,
sive"cumudonibus,"quosutsolethomo
ineptusexponit,"idestcandidolinteamine,"
quasiudoneslinteamensint!Nonoccurrit
impraesentiarum,[227]ubirepererim
"udones,"nisiapudMartialemValerium,

ideashereareillustrationsofhiswords.Hesays,"It
seemsproperforourSenatetobeadorned"(as
thoughitwerenotassuredlyadorned),andtobe
adornedforsoothwith"glory."Andwhatisbeing
donehewishesunderstoodasalreadydoneas,"we
haveproclaimed"for"weproclaim":forthespeech
soundsbetterthatway.Andheputsthesameactin
thepresentandinthepasttenseas,"wedecree,"
and"wehavedecreed."Andeverythingisstuffed
withthesewords,"wedecree,""wedecorate,""
imperial,""imperialrank,""power,""glory."He
uses"extat"for"est,"though"extare"meansto
standoutortobeaboveand"nempe"for"scilicet"
[thatis,"indeed"for"towit"]and"concubitores"
[translatedabove,bedwatchers]for"contubernales"
[companionsorattendants]."Concubitores"are
literallythosewhosleeptogetherandhave
intercoursetheymustcertainlybeunderstoodtobe
harlots.Headdsthosewithwhomhemaysleep,I
suppose,thathemaynotfearnocturnalphantoms.
[69]Headds"chamberlains"headds"door
keepers."
Itisnotanidlequestiontoaskwhyhementions
thesedetails.Heissettingup,notanoldman,buta
wardorayoungson,andlikeadotingfather,
himselfarrangesforhimeverythingofwhichhis
tenderagehasneed,asDaviddidforSolomon!And
thatthestorymaybefilledinineveryrespect,
horsesaregiventheclergy,lesttheysitonasses'
coltsinthatasininewayofChrist's!Andtheyare
givenhorses,notcoverednorsaddledwith
coveringsofwhite,butdecoratedwithwhitecolor.
Andwhatcoverings!Nothorsecloths,either
Babylonianoranyotherkind,but"mappulae"
[translatedabove,saddlecloths]and
[Page117]"linteamina"[linenclothsorsheets,
translatedabove,linen]."Mappae"[serviettes]go
withthetable,"linteamina"withthecouch.Andas
thoughthereweredoubtastotheircolor,he
explains,"thatistosay,ofthewhitestcolor."Talk
worthyofConstantinefluencyworthyof
Lactantiusnotonlyintheotherphrases,butalsoin
thatone,"maymountmounts"!
Andwhenhehadsaidnothingaboutthegarbof
senators,thebroadstripe,thepurple,andtherest,he
thoughthehadtotalkabouttheirshoesnordoeshe
specifythecrescents[whichwereontheirshoes],
but"socks,"orratherhesays"withfeltsocks,"and
thenasusualheexplains,"thatis,withwhitelinen,"
asthoughsockswereoflinen!Icannotatthe
momentthinkwhereIhavefoundtheword

cuiusdisticonquodinscribitur"Udones
Cilicii"[228]hocest:

"udones"[socks],exceptinValeriusMartial,whose
distichinscribed"CilicianSocks"runs:

"Nonhoslanadedit,sedolentisbarbamariti "Wooldidnotproducethese,butthebeardofanill
Cinyphio[229]poteritplantalateresinu."
smellinggoat.Wouldthatthesoleinthegulfofthe
Cinypsmightlie."[70]
Ergononlineiutique,neccandidisunt
udones,quibushicbipesasellusnoncalceari Sothe"socks"arenotlinen,norwhite,withwhich
pedessenatorumait,sedsenatoresillustrari. thistwoleggedasssays,notthatthefeetofsenators
areclad,butthatsenatorsaredistinguished.
Atqueperhoc,"sicutcaelestiaita
terrena[230]adlaudemDeidecorentur,"
Andinthephrase"thattheterrestrialordersmaybe
quaetu"caelestia"vocasquae"terrena"?
adornedtothegloryofGod,justasthecelestial,"
Quomodocaelestiadecorantur?Quaeautem whatdoyoucallcelestial,whatterrestrial?Howare
Deolaussitistatuvideris.Egovero,siqua thecelestialordersadorned?[71]Youmayhaveseen
mihifidesest,nihilputonecDeonecceteris whatglorytoGodthisis.ButI,ifIbelieve
hominibusmagisesseinvisumquamtantam anything,deemnothingmorehatefultoGodandto
clericoruminrebussaecularibuslicentiam.
therestofhumanitythansuchpresumptionofclergy
Verumquidegoinsingulaimpetumfacio?
inthesecularsphere.ButwhydoIattackindividual
Diesmedeficiat,[231]siuniversa,nondico items?TimewouldfailmeifIshouldtry,Idonot
amplificare,sedattingerevelim.
saytodwellupon,buttotouchuponthemall.
"Pre[232]omnibusautemlicentiam
tribuimusbeatoSilvestroetsuccessoribus
eiusexnostroindictu,utquemplacatus
proprioconsilioclericarevolueritetin
religiosenumeroreligiosorum

"Aboveallthings,moreover,wegivepermissionto
theblessedSylvesterandhissuccessors,fromour
edict,thathemaymakepriestwhomeverhewishes,
accordingtohisownpleasureandcounsel,and
enrollhiminthepiousnumberofthereligious
clergy

[Page118]clericorumconnumerare,nullus
exomnibuspraesumatsuperbeagere."

[Page119][i.e.,regularclergyorperhaps
cardinals]:letnoonewhomsoeverpresumetoactin
adomineeringwayinthis."[72]

QuisesthicMelchisedec,quipatriarcham
Abraambenedicit?Constantinusne,vix
Christianus,facultatemei,aquobaptizatus
estetquembeatumappellat,tribuit
clericandi?Quasipriusnecfecissethoc
Silvesternecfacerepotuisset!Etqua
comminationevetuit,nequisimpedimento
esset?"Nullusexomnibuspraesumat
superbeagere."Quaetiamelegantia!
"Connumerareinnumeroreligioso
religiosorum,""clericare...clericorum,"et
"indictu,"et"placatus."

WhoisthisMelchizedekthatblessesthepatriarch
Abraham?DoesConstantine,scarcelyyeta
Christian,givetothemanbywhomhewasbaptized
andwhomhecallsblessed,authoritytomake
priests?AsthoughSylvesterhadnotandcouldnot
havedoneitbefore!Andwithwhatathreathe
forbidsanyonetostandintheway!"Letnoone,
whomsoever,presumetoactinadomineeringway
inthismatter."Whatelegantdiction,too!"Enrollin
thepiousnumberofthereligious"and"clericare,"
"clericorum,""indictu,"and"placatus"!

Atqueiterumaddiademarevertitur:

Andagainhecomesbacktothediadem:

"Decrevimusitaqueethoc,utipseet
successoreseiusdiademate,videlicetcorona,
quamexcapitenostroilliconcesserimus,
[233]exauropurissimoetgemmis
pretiosis[234]utidebeantprohonorebeati
Petri."

"Wealsothereforedecreedthis,thathehimselfand
hissuccessorsmightuse,forthehonorofthe
blessedPeter,thediadem,thatisthecrown,which
wehavegrantedhimfromourownhead,ofpurest
goldandpreciousgems."

Iteruminterpretaturdiademacumbarbaris

Againheexplainsthemeaningofdiadem,forhe
wasspeakingtobarbarians,forgetfulonesatthat.

enimetobliviosisloquebaturetadicit"de
auropurissimo,"nefortealiquidaerisaut
scoriaecrederesadmixtum.[235]Etgemmas
cumdixit,addit"pretiosas"eodemtimorene
vilesforsitansuspicareris.Curtamennon
"pretiosissimas,"quemadmodum"aurum
purissimum"?Plusnamque[236]interest
intergemmametgemmam,quaminter
aurumetaurum.Etcumdiceredebuisset
distinctumgemmis,dixit"exgemmis."Quis
nonviditexeolocosumptum,quem
princepsgentilisnonlegerat"Posuistiin
capiteeiuscoronamdelapidepretioso"?Sic
locutus[237]estCaesarvanitatequadam
coronaesuaeiactandae,simodoCaesares
coronabantur,inseipsumcontume

Andheadds"ofpurestgold,"lestperchanceyou
shouldthinkbrassordrosswasmixedin.Andwhen
hehassaid"gems,"headds"precious,"again
fearinglestyoushouldsuspectthemofbeingcheap.
Yetwhydidhenotsaymostprecious,justashesaid
"purestgold"?Forthereismoredifferencebetween
gemandgem,thanbetweengoldandgold.And
whenheshouldhavesaid"distinctumgemmis,"he
said"exgemmis."Whodoesnotseethatthiswas
takenfromthepassage,whichthegentilerulerhad
notread,"Thousettestacrownofpreciousstoneon
hishead"?[73]DidtheCaesarspeakthus,witha
certainvanityinbraggingofhiscrown,ifindeedthe
Caesarswerecrowned,butcheapeninghimselfby
fearinglest

[Page120]liosus,quiverereturnehomines
opinarentureumnongestarecoronamex
auropurissimocumgemmispretiosis,nisi
indicasset?

[Page121]peoplewouldthinkthathedidnotwear
acrown"ofpurestgoldandpreciousgems,"unless
hesaidso?

Findthereasonwhyhespeaksthus:"forthehonor
Accipecausamcursicloquatur"prohonore oftheblessedPeter."Asthough,notChrist,but
beatiPetri."QuasiChristusnonsitsummus Peter,werethechiefcornerstoneonwhichthe
angularislapis,inquotemplumecclesiae
templeofthechurchisbuiltaninferencehelater
constructumest,sedPetrusquoditerum
repeats!Butifhewantedtohonorhimsomuch,
posteafacit.Quemsitantoperevenerari
whydidhenotdedicatetheepiscopaltempleat
volebat,curnontemplumepiscopaleilli
Rometohim,ratherthantoJohntheBaptist?
potiusquamIoanniBaptistaeRomae
What?Doesnotthatbarbarouswayoftalkingshow
dicavit?
thattherigmarolewascomposed,notintheageof
Quid?Illaloquendibarbariesnonnetestatur Constantine,butlater"decemimusquoduti
nonsaeculoConstantini,sedposteriori,
debeant"[74]forthecorrectform"decernimusut
cantilenamhancesseconfictam?
utantur"?Boorscommonlyspeakandwritethatway
"Decernimusquod....utidebeant,"[238]pro
now"lussiquoddeberesvenire"for"lussiut
eoquodestdecernimus[239]ututantur:sic venires."And"wedecreed,"and"wegranted,"as
nuncbarbarihominesvulgoloquunturet
thoughitwerenotbeingdonenow,buthadbeen
scribunt,"Iussiquoddeberesvenire,"proeo donesomeothertime!
quodest,"Iussiutvenires":et"decrevimus"
"Buthehimself,theblessedPope,didnotallowthat
et"concessimus,"quasinontuncfiantilla,
crownofgoldtobeusedovertheclericalcrown
sedalioquodamtemporefactasint.
whichhewearstothegloryofthemostblessed
"Ipseverobeatuspapasupercoronam
Peter."
clericatus,quamgeritadgloriambeatissimi
Alasforyoursingularstupidity,Constantine!just
Petri,ipsaexaurononestpassusuti
nowyouweresayingthatyouputthecrownonthe
corona."
Pope'sheadforthehonoroftheblessedPeternow
0tuamsingularemstultitiam,Constantine!
yousaythatyoudonotdoit,becauseSylvester
Mododicebascoronamsupercaputpapaead refusesit.Andwhileyouapprovehisrefusal,you
honoremfacerebeatiPetrinuncaisnon
neverthelessorderhimtousethegoldcrownand
facere,quiaSilvesterillamrecusatetcum
whathethinksheoughtnottodo,thatyousayhis
factumrecusantisprobes,tameniubeseum
ownsuccessorsoughttodo![75]Ipassoverthefact
aureauticoronaetquodhicnondeberese
thatyoucallthetonsureacrown,andtheRoman
agereexistimat,idtuipsiussuccessoresdicis pontiff"Pope,"althoughthatwordhadnotyetbegun
ageredebere.Transeoquodrasuram
tobeappliedtohimasadistinctivetitle.

coronamvocas,etpapampontificem
Romanum,quinondumpeculiaritersic
appellarieratcoeptus.

"Butweplaceduponhismostholyhead,withour
ownhands,

"Phrygiumverocandidissimonitore
splendidum,resurrectionem
[Page122]Dominicamdesignans,eius
sacratissimoverticimanibusnostris
imposuimus,ettenentesfrenumequipro
reverentiabeatiPetridextratorisofficiumilli
exhibuimus,statuenteseodemphrygio
omneseiussuccessoressingulariterutiin
processionibusadimperiinostri
imitationem."

[Page123]aglitteringtiaraofthemostdazzling
white,representingtheLord'sresurrection.And
holdingthebridleofhishorse,outofreverencefor
theblessedPeter,weperformedforhimthedutyof
squiredecreeingthatallhissuccessors,andthey
alone,usethissametiarainprocessionsinimitation
ofourpower."

Doesnotthisfablefabricatorseemtoblunder,not
Nonnevideturhicauctorfabulaenonper
throughimprudence,butdeliberatelyandofset
imprudentiam,sedconsultoetdeditaopera
purpose,andsoastoofferhandlesforcatchinghim?
praevaricarietundiqueansasadse
InthesamepassagehesaysboththattheLord's
reprehendendumpraebere?Ineodem[240]
resurrectionisrepresentedbythetiara,andthatitis
locoait,phrygioetDominicam
animitationofCaesar'spowertwothingswhich
resurrectionemrepraesentari,[241]etimperii differmostwidelyfromeachother.Godismy
Caesareiesseimitationemquaeduointerse witness,Ifindnowords,nowordsmercilessenough
maximediscrepant.Deumtestor,non
withwhichtostabthismostabandonedscoundrel
invenioquibusverbis,quaverborum
sofullofinsanityareallthewordshevomitsforth.
atrocitate,confodiamhuncperditissimum
HemakesConstantinenotonlysimilarinofficeto
nebulonem.Itaomniaverbaplenainsaniae
Moses,whoatthecommandofGodhonoredthe
evomit.Constantinumnontantumofficio
chiefpriest,butalsoanexpounderofsecret
similemMoysi,quisummumsacerdotem
mysteries,amostdffficultthingevenforthoselong
iussuDeiornavit,sedsecretamysteria[242] versedinthesacredbooks.Whydidyounotmake
facitexponentem,quoddifficillimumestiis Constantinesupremepontiffwhileyouwereabout
quidiuinsacrislitteris[243]suntversati.
it,asmanyemperorshavebeen,thathemightmore
CurnonfecistietiamConstantinum
convenientlytransferhisattiretotheotherhigh
pontificemmaximum,utmultiImperatores
priest?Butyoudidnotknowhistory.AndIgive
fuerunt,utcommodiusipsiusornamentain
thankstoGodonthisveryscore,thathedidnot
alterumsummumpontificemtransferrentur? permitthisutterlyviciousschemetobesuggested
Sednescistihistorias.AgoitaqueDeoetiam savetoanexceedinglystupidman.Subsequent
hocnominegratias,quod[244]istam
considerationsalsoshowthis.Forhesuggeststhe
nefandissimammentemnonnisiin
factthatMosesperformedforAaron,seatedona
stultissimumhominemcaderepermisit:quod horse,thedutyofsquire[dextratoris],andthatinthe
etiamposterioradeclarant.NamqueAaron
midstnotofIsrael,butoftheCanaanitesandthe
sedentiinequoMoysen[245]inducit
Egyptians,thatis,ofanheathenstate,wherethere
dextratorisexhibuisseofficium,ethocnon
wasnotsomuchaseculargovernmentasoneof
permediumIsrael,sedperChananeosatque demonsanddemonworshippingpeoples.
Aegyptios,idestperinfidelemcivitatem,ubi
nontamimperiumeratorbisterrarumquam "Wherefore,inorderthatthesupremepontificate
maynotdeteriorate,butmayratherbeadornedwith
daemonum,etdaemonescolentium
gloryandpowerevenmorethanisthedignityofan
populorum.
earthlyrulebehold,wegiveoverandrelinquishto
"Undeutpontificalisapexnonvilescat,sed themostblessedpontiffanduniversalPope,
ut[246]magisquamimperiiterrenidignitas, Sylvester,aswellourpalaceasalsothecityof
gloriaetpotentiadecoretur,eccetam
Romeandalltheprovinces,placesandcitiesofItaly
palatiumnostrum,quamqueRomanam
or[76]ofthewestern
urbemetomnesItaliaesiveoccidentalium
regionumprovincias,[247]loca,civitates

beatissimopontificietuniversalipapae
Silvestrotradimusatquerelin
[Page124]quimus,etabeoeta
successoribuseiusperpragmaticum
constitutumdecrevimusdisponendasatque
iurisanctaeRomanaeecclesiae
permanendas."
DehocinorationeRomanorumatque
Silvestrimultadisseruimus.Huiuslociestut
dicamusneminemfuissefacturumut
nationesunocunctasverbodonationis
involveret,etquiminutissimaquaeque
superiusestexsecutus,lorum,calceos,[248]
linteaminaequorum,[249]nonreferret
nominatimprovincias,[250]quarumsingulae
non[251]singulosregesnuncautprincipes
regibuspareshabent.Sedignoravitvidelicet
hicfalsatorquaeprovinciaesubConstantino
erant,quaenonerant.Namcertecunctaesub
eononerant.[252]Alexandroexstincto
videmussingulasregionesinducum
partitionenumeratasaXenophonteterras
principesquenominatos,quivelultrovel
armissubimperioCyrifueruntabHomero
Graecorumbarbarorumqueregumnomen,
genus,patriam,mores,vires,
pulchritudinem,numerumnaviumetprope
numerum[253]militum,catalogo[254]
comprehensum,cuiusexemplumcummulti
Graeci,tumVeronostriLatini,Ennius,
Virgilius,Lucanus,Statius,aliiquenonnulli
imitatisuntaIosueetMoyseindivisione
terraepromissionisviculosquoqueuniversos
fuissedescriptos[255]ettugravarisetiam
provinciasrecensere?Occidentalestantum
provinciasnominas.Quisuntfines
occidentisubiincipiunt,ubidesinunt?Num
itacerticonstitutiquesuntterminioccidentis
etorientis,meridieiqueetseptentrionis,ut
suntAsiae,Africae,Europae?Necessaria
verbasubtrahis,ingerissupervacua.Dicis,
"provincias,loca,civi
[Page126]tates."Nonneetprovinciaeet
urbeslocasunt?Etcumdixerisprovincias,
subiungiscivitates,quasihaesubillisnon
intelligantur.Sednonestmirumquitantam
orbisterrarumpartemasealienate,eundem
urbiumprovinciarumquenominapraeterire,
etquasilethargooppressum,quidloquatur
ignorare."Italiaesiveoccidentalium
regionum,"tamquamauthocautillud,cum
tamenutrumqueintelligat:appellans

[Page125]regionsandbyourpragmaticsanction
wehavedecreedthattheyaretobecontrolledby
himandbyhissuccessors,andthattheyremain
underthelawoftheholyRomanchurch."
Wehavealready,intheorationoftheRomansand
thatofSylvester,saidagooddealaboutthis.[77]
Hereitisinplacetosaythatnoonewouldhave
thoughtofincludingallthenationsinasingleword
ofagrantandthatamanwhohadearlierfollowed
outtheminutestdetailsofstraps,theshoes,thelinen
horsecloths,wouldnothavethoughtofomittingto
citebynameprovinceswhichnowhaveseparate
kingsorrulersequaltokings,andmorethanoneto
each.Butthisforger,ofcourse,didnotknowwhich
provinceswereunderConstantine,andwhichwere
not.Forcertainlynotallwereunderhim.When
Alexanderdied,weseeallthecountriesenumerated
onebyoneinthedivisionamongthegenerals.We
seethelandsandrulerswhichwereunderthe
governmentofCyrus,whethervoluntarilyorby
conquest,namedbyXenophon.Weseethenamesof
theGreekandbarbariankings,theirlineage,their
country,theirbravery,theirstrength,their
excellence,thenumberoftheirshipsandthe
approximatenumberoftheirmen,includedby
Homerinhiscatalog.AndnotonlydidmanyGreeks
followhisexample,butourLatinauthorsalso,
Ennius,Virgil,Lucan,Statius,andothers.ByJoshua
andMoses,inthedivisionofthepromisedland,
evenallthelittlevillagesweredescribed.Andyou
refusetoenumerateevenprovinces!Younameonly
the"westernprovinces."[78]Whatarethe
boundariesofthewestwheredotheybeginwhere
dotheyend?Arethefrontiersofwestandeast,
southandnorth,asdefiniteandfixedasthoseof
Asia,AfricaandEurope?Necessarywordsyou
omit,youheaponsuperfluousones.Yousay,
"provinces,

[Page127]placesandcities."Arenotprovincesand
cities,"places"?Andwhenyouhavesaidprovinces
youaddcities,asthoughthelatterwouldnotbe
understoodwiththeformer.Butitisnotstrangethat
amanwhogivesawaysolargeapartoftheearth
shouldpassoverthenamesofcitiesandof
provinces,andasthoughovercomewithlethargynot
knowwhathesays."OfItalyorofthewestern
regions,"asthoughhemeant"either...or"whenhe
means"both"[79]speakingof"provinces...ofthe

"provinciasregionum,"cumsintpotius
regionesprovinciarumet"permanendam"
[256]dicenspropermansuram.
"Undecongruumprospeximus,nostrum
imperiumetregiampotestatemorientalibus
transferriregionibus,etinByzantiae
provinciaeoptimoloconomininostro
civitatemaedificari,etillicnostrumconstitui
imperium."[257]
Taceoquoddixitcivitatesaedificari,cum
urbesaedificenturnoncivitateset
"Byzantiam[258]provinciam."Situes
Constantinus,reddecausamcurillum
potissimumlocumcondendaeurbi[259]
delegeris.Quodenimaliotetransferaspost
Romamtraditamnontamcongruumquam
necessariumest.Necteappelles
imperatorem,quiRomamamisisti,etde
nomineRomano,quoddiscerpis,pessime
meritusesnecregem,quodnemoantete
fecitnisiideoteregemappellesquia
Romanusessedesiisti.[260]Sedaffers
causamsanehonestam:
"Quoniamubiprincepssacerdotumet
Christianaereligioniscaputconstitutumest
abimperatorecaelestiiustumnonestutillic
imperatorterrenushabeatpotestatem."

[Page128]0stultumDavid,stultum
Salomonem,stultumEzechiam,Iosiamque,
etceterosreges,stultosacparumreligiosos,
quiinurbeHierusalemcumsummis
sacerdotibushabitaresustinuerunt,nectota
illisurbecesserunt!PlussapitConstantinus
triduoquamillitotavitasaperepotuerunt!Et
"imperatoremcaelestem"appellas,quia
terrenumaccepitimperiumnisiDeum
intelligis,namambigueloqueris,aquo
terrenumprincipatumsacerdotumsuperurbe
Romanaceterisquelocisconstitutumesse
mentiris.

...regions,"whenitshouldratherbetheregionsof
theprovincesandusingthegerundive,
"permanendas,"forthefutureinfinitive
(permansuras).
"Whereforewehaveperceivedittobefittingthat
ourempireandourroyalpowershouldbe
transferredintheregionsofthe.Eastandthatinthe
provinceofByzantia[sic],inthemostfittingplace,
acityshouldbebuiltinournameandthatour
empireshouldtherebeestablished."
Ipassoverthefactthatinsaying"acityshouldbe
built"[heusesthewordfor"thestate"insteadof
"thecity"],andcities,notstates,arebuiltandthe
factthathesays"theprovinceofByzantia."[80]If
youareConstantine,givethereasonwhyyoushould
choosethatasthebestplaceforfoundingyourcity.
Forthatyoushould"transfer"yourselfelsewhere
aftergivingupRome,wasnotsomuch"fitting"as
necessary.YoushouldneithercallyourselfEmperor
whenyouhavelostRomeanddeservedleastfrom
theRomannamewhosemeaningyoudestroynor
callyourself"royal,"fornoonebeforeyouhasdone
so,unlessyoucallyourselfakingbecauseyouhave
ceasedtobeaRoman.[81]Butyouallegeareason
soundandhonorable:
"Forwherethechiefof[all]priestsandtheheadof
theChristianreligionhasbeenestablishedbythe
heavenlyEmperor,itisnotrightthatthereanearthly
Emperorshouldhavejurisdiction."
[Page129]0stupidDavid,stupidSolomon,stupid
Hezekiah,Josiah,andalltheotherkings,stupidall
andirreligious,whopersistedindwellinginthecity
ofJerusalemwiththechiefpriests,anddidnotyield
themthewholecity!Constantineinthreedaysis
wiserthantheycouldbeintheirwholelife.Andyou
call[thePope]a"heavenlyEmperor"becausehe
acceptsanearthlyempireunlessbythattermyou
meanGod(foryouspeakambiguously)andmean
thatanearthlysovereigntyofpriestswasbyhim
establishedoverthecityofRomeandotherplaces,
inwhichcaseyoulie.

"Wedecreed,moreover,thatallthesethingswhich
"Haecveroomnia,quaeperhancimperialem throughthissacredimperial[charter]andthrough
sacram[261]etperaliadivaliadecreta
othergodlikedecreesweestablishandconfirm,
statuimusetfirmamus,[262]usqueinfinem remaininviolateandunshakenuntotheendofthe
mundiillibataetinconcussapermanere
world."
decrevimus."
Amomentago,Constantine,youcalledyourself
Modoterrenumtevocaveras,Constantine:
earthlynowyoucallyourselfdivineandsacred.
nuncdivumsacrumquevocas.Ad
Yourelapseintopaganismandworsethan

gentilitatemrecidis,etplusquam
gentilitatem.Deumtefacis,etverbatua
sacra,etdecretaimmortalianammundo
imperasuttuaiussaconservet"illibataet
inconcussa."Noncogitasquistues,modo
e[263]sordidissimoimpietatiscaeno[264]
lotusetvixperlotus?Curnonaddebas"Iota
unumautunusapexdeprivilegiohocnon
praeteribit,[265]utnonmagispereatcaelum
etterra?"RegnumSaulaDeoelectiadfilios
nonpervenitregnumDavidinnepote
discerptumest,etposteaexstinctum.Ettuad
finemusquemundiregnum,quodtusine
Deo[266]tradis,permansurumtua
auctoritatedecernis?Quisetiamtamcitote
docuitmundumesseperiturum?Nampoetis,
quihocetiamtestantur,nonputotehoc
temporefidemhabere.Ergohoctunon
dixisses,sedaliustibiaffinxit.
Ceterum,quitammagnificesuperbeque
locutusest,timereincipit,sibiquediffidere,
eoqueobtestationibusagit:
[Page130]"UndecoramDeovivo,quinos
regnarepraecepit,[267]etcoramterribili
eiusiudicioobtestamur[268]omnesnostros
successoresImperatoresvelcunctos
optimates,satrapasetiamamplissimumque
senatumetuniversumpopuluminuniverso
orbeterrarum,necnon[269]etinposterum,
[270]nullieorumquoquomodolicerehoc
autconfringerevelinquoquamconvelli."
Quamaequa,quamreligioseadiuratio!Non
secusacsilupusperinnocentiametfidem
obtesteturceterosluposatquepastores,ne
oves,quassustulitinterquefiliosetamicos
partitusest,autilliadimere,authirepetere
tentent.Quidtantopereextimescis,
Constantine?SiopustuumexDeononest,
dissolvetur:sinexDeo,dissolvinonpoterit.
Sedvideo!VoluistiimitariApocalypsimubi
dicitur:"Contestorautemaudientiomnia
verbaprophetiaelibrihuiussiquis
apposueritadhaec,apponetDeussuper
illumplagasscriptasinlibroisto.Etsiquis
diminueritdeverbislibriprophetiaehuius,
auferetDeuspartemeiusdelibrovitaeetde
civitatesancta."Attunumquamlegeras
Apocalypsim,ergononsunthaecverbatua.

paganism.YoumakeyourselfGod,yourwords
sacred,andyourdecreesimmortalforyouorderthe
worldtokeepyourcommands"inviolateand
unshaken."Doyouconsiderwhoyouare:just
cleansedfromthefilthiestmireofwickedness,and
scarcelyfullycleansed?Whydidyounotadd,"Till
heavenandearthpass,onejotoronetittleshallin
nowisepassfromthis'privilege"'?[82]Thekingdom
ofSaul,chosenbyGod,didnotpassontohissons
thekingdomofDavidwasdividedunderhis
grandson,andafterwarddestroyed.Andbyyour
ownauthorityyoudecreethatthekingdomwhich
yougiveoverwithoutGod,shallremainevenuntil
theendoftheworld!Whoevertaughtyouthatthe
worldistopassawaysosoon?ForIdonotthink
thatatthistimeyouhadfaithinthepoets,whoalone
bearwitnesstothis.Soyoucouldnothavesaidthis,
butsomeoneelsepasseditoffasyours.
However,hewhospokesograndlyandloftily,
beginstofear,andtodistrusthimself,andsotakes
toentreating:
[Page131]"Wherefore,beforethelivingGod,who
commandedustoreign,andinthefaceofhis
terriblejudgment,weentreatalltheemperorsour
successors,andallthenobles,thesatrapsalsoand
themostgloriousSenate,andallthepeopleinthe
wholeworld,likewisealsoforthefuture,thatnoone
ofthem,inanyway,beallowedeithertobreakthis,
orinanywayoverthrowit."
Whatafair,whatadevoutadjuration!Itisjustasif
awolfshouldentreatbyhisinnocenceandgood
faiththeotherwolvesandtheshepherdsnottotryto
takeawayfromhim,ordemandback,thesheep
whichhehastakenanddividedamonghisoffspring
andhisfriends.Whyareyousoafraid,Constantine?
IfyourworkisnotofGoditwillbedestroyedbutif
itisofGoditcannotbedestroyed.ButIsee!You
wishedtoimitatetheApocalypse,whereitsays:
"ForItestifyuntoeverymanthathearethallthe
wordsoftheprophecyofthisbook,Ifanymanshall
adduntothesethings,Godshalladduntohimthe
plaguesthatarewritteninthisbook:Andifanyman
shalltakeawayfromthewordsofthebookofthis
prophecy,Godshalltakeawayhispartoutofthe
bookoflife,andoutoftheholycity."[83]Butyou
hadneverreadtheApocalypsethereforetheseare
notyourwords.

"Siquisautem,quodnon[271]credimus,in "Ifanyone,moreoverwhichwedonotbelieve
hoctemeratorexstiterit,aeternis
proveascornerinthismatter,heshallbe
condemnationibussubiaceatcondemnatus,et condemnedandshallbesubjecttoeternal

sanctosDeiapostolosPetrumetPaulumsibi
inpraesentietinfuturavitasentiat
contrarios,atqueininfernoinferiori
concrematuscumdiaboloetomnibus
deficiatimpiis."

damnationandshallfeeltheholyapostlesofGod,
PeterandPaul,opposedtohiminthepresentandin
thefuturelife.Andheshallbeburnedinthelower
hellandshallperishwiththedevilandallthe
impious."

Hicterroratquehaeccomminationon[272]
saecularisprincipissoletesse,sedpriscorum
sacerdotumacflaminum,etnunc
ecclesiasticorum.ItaquenonestConstantini
oratiohaec,sedalicuiusclericulistolidi,nec
quiddicatautquomododicatscientis,
saginatietcrasi,acintercrapulaminterque
fervoremvinihassententiasethaecverba
ructantis,quaenoninaliumtranseunt,sed

Thisterriblethreatistheusualone,notofasecular
ruler,butoftheearlypriestsandflamens,and
nowadays,ofecclesiastics.Andsothisisnotthe
utteranceofConstantine,butofsomefoolofapriest
who,stuffedandpudgy,knewneitherwhattosay
norhowtosayit,and,gorgedwitheatingandheated
withwine,belchedoutthesewordysentenceswhich
conveynothingto

[Page132]inipsumconvertunturauctorem.
Primumait,"aeterniscondemnationibus
subiaceat,"deinde,quasiplusaddiqueat,
aliaadderevult,etpostaeternitatem
poenarumadiungitpoenasvitaepraesentis
etcumDeicondemnationenosterreat,
adhuc,quasimaiusquiddamsit,terretnos
odioPetri,cuiPaulumcuradiungat,autcur
solum,nescio.Iterumquesolitolethargoad
poenasaeternasredit,velutinonhocante
dixisset.Quodsiminaehaeexsecrationesque
Constantiniforent,invicemexsecrarerut
tyrannumetprofligatoremreipublicaemeae,
etillimeRomanoingeniominarerultorem.
Nuncquisextimescat[273]exsecrationem
avarissimihominisetrituhistrionumverba
simulantisacsubpersonaConstantinialios
deterrentis?Hocestpropriehypocritamesse,
siGraecamvocemexquirimus,subaliena
personaabsconderetuam.

[Page133]another,butturnagainsttheauthor
himself.Firsthesays,"shallbesubjecttoeternal
damnation,"thenasthoughmorecouldbeadded,he
wishestoaddsomethingelse,andtoeternal
penaltieshejoinspenaltiesinthepresentlifeand
afterhefrightensuswithGod'scondemnation,he
frightensuswiththehatredofPeter,asthoughit
weresomethingstillgreater.Whyheshouldadd
Paul,andwhyPaulalone,Idonotknow.Andwith
hisusualdrowsinesshereturnsagaintoeternal
penalties,asthoughhehadnotsaidthatbefore.Now
ifthesethreatsandcurseswereConstantine's,Iin
turnwouldcursehimasatyrantanddestroyerofmy
country,andwouldthreatenthatI,asaRoman,
wouldtakevengeanceonhim.Butwhowouldbe
afraidofthecurseofanoverlyavariciousman,and
onesayingacounterfeitspeechafterthemannerof
actors,andterrifyingpeopleintheroleof
Constantine?Thisisbeingahypocriteinthetrue
sense,ifwepresstheGreekwordcloselythatis,
hidingyourownpersonalityunderanother's.

"Huiusveroimperialisdecretipaginam
propriismanibusroborantessuper
venerandumcorpusbeatiPetriposuimus."

"Thepage,[84]moreover,ofthisimperialdecree,
we,confirmingitwithourownhands,didplace
abovethevenerablebodyoftheblessedPeter."[85]

Chartaneanmembranafuitpaginainqua
scriptahaecsunt?Tametsipaginamvocamus Wasitpaperorparchment,the"page"onwhichthis
alteramfaciem,utdicunt,foliiveluti
waswritten?Though,infact,wecallonesideofa
quinterniohabetfoliadena,paginasvicenas. leaf,astheysay,apageforinstance,apamphlet[?]
hastenleaves,twentypages.
0reminauditametincredibilem!Cumessem
adolescentulus,interrogassemequendam
Butoh!theunheardofandincrediblething[that
memini,quislibrumIobscripsissetcumque Constantinedid]!Irememberaskingsomeone,
illerespondisset,"IpseIob,"tuncme
whenIwasayouth,whowrotethebookofjoband
subiunxisse,"Quopactoigiturdesuaipsius whenheanswered,"Jobhimself,"Irejoined,"How
mortefaceretmentionem?"Quoddemultis thenwouldhementionhisowndeath?"Andthiscan
aliislibrisdicipotest,quorumratiohuicloco besaidofmanyotherbooks,discussionofwhichis
nonconvenit.Namquomodoverenarrari
notappropriatehere.Forhow,indeed,canthatbe

potestidquodnondumessetadministratum,
etintabuliscontineriidquodpost
tabularum,utsic

narratedwhichhasnotyetbeendoneandhowcan
thatwhich[thespeaker]himself

[Page134]dicam,sepulturamfactumesse
ipiefateatur?Hocnihilaliudestquam
paginamprivilegiiantefuissemortuam
sepultamquequamnatam,nectamen
umquamamorteatquesepulturareversam
praesertimantequamconscriptaesset
roboratam,necidunatanturnsedutraque
Caesarismanu.Etquidistudestroborare
illam?ChirographoneCaesaris,autanulo
signatorio?Magnumnimirumrobur,
maiusquemultoquainsitabulisaereis
mandavisset!Sednonestopusscriptura
aerea,cumsupercorpusbeatiPetricharta
reponatur.CurhicPaulumretices,quisimul
iacetcumPetro,etmagiscustodirepossent
amboquamsiafforettantummodocorpus
unius?

[Page135]admitswasdoneaftertheburial,soto
say,oftherecords,becontainedintherecords?This
isnothingelsethansayingthat"thepageofthe
privilege"wasdeadandburiedbeforeitwasborn,
andyetneverreturnedfromdeathandburialand
sayingexpresslythatitwasconfirmedbeforeithad
beenwritten,andnotwithonehandaloneatthat,
butwithbothoftheCaesar'shands!Andwhatisthis
"confirming"?Wasitdonewiththesignatureofthe
Caesar,orwithhissignetring?Surely,hardandfast
that,moresobyfarthanifhehadentrusteditto
bronzetablets!Butthereisnoneedofbronze
inscription,whenthecharterislaidawayabovethe
bodyoftheblessedPeter.Butwhydoyouhere
suppressPaul,thoughhelieswithPeter,andthetwo
couldguarditbetterthanifthebodyofonealone
werepresent?

Videtisartesmalitiamque[275]nequissimi
Sinonis.QuiadonatioConstantinidocerinon
potest,ideononintabulisaereissedcharteis
privilegiumesse,ideolatereilludcum
corporesanctissimiapostolidixit,neaut
auderemusevenerabilisepulcro[276]
inquirere,aut,siinquireremus,carie
absumptumputaremus.Sedubituncerat
corpusbeatiPetri?Certenondumintemplo
ubinuncest,noninlocosanemunitoac
tuto.ErgononillicCaesarpaginam
collocasset.AnbeatissimoSilvestro
paginamnoncredebat,utparumsancto,
parumcauto,parumdiligenti?0Petre,0
Silvester,0sancti[277]Romanaeecciesiae
pontifices,quibusovesDominicommissae
sunt,curvobiscommissampaginamnon
custodistis?[278]Curatineisillamrodi,cur
situtabescerepassiestis?Opinorquia
corporaquoquevestracontabuerunt.Stulte
igiturfecitConstantinus.Enredactain
pulverempagina,iussimulprivilegiiin
pulveremabiit!

Youseethemaliciousartfulnessofthecunning
Sinon![86]BecausetheDonationofConstantine
cannotbeproduced,thereforehesaidthatthe
"privilege"isnotonbronzebutonpaperrecords
thereforehesaidthatitlieswiththebodyofthe
mostholyapostle,sothateitherweshouldnotdare
toseekitinthevenerabletomb,orifweshouldseek
it,wewouldthinkitrottedaway.Butwherethen
wasthebodyoftheblessedPeter?Certainlyitwas
notyetinthetemplewhereitnowis,notinaplace
reasonablyprotectedandsafe.ThereforetheCaesar
wouldnothaveputthe"page"there.Ordidhenot
trustthe"page"tothemostblessedSylvester,asnot
holyenough,notcarefulnordiligentenough?0
Peter!0Sylvester!0holypontiffsoftheRoman
church!towhomthesheepoftheLordwere
entrusted,whydidyounotkeepthe"page"entrusted
toyou?Whyhaveyousufferedittobeeatenby
worms,torotawaywithmold?Ipresumethatitwas
becauseyourbodiesalsohavewastedaway.
Constantinethereforeactedfoolishly.Beholdthe
"page"reducedtodusttherightconferredbythe
"privilege"atthesametimepassesawayintodust.

Atqui,utvidemus,paginaeexemplar
ostenditur.Quisergoillamdesinu
sanctissimiapostolitemerariusaccepit?
Nemo,utreor,hocfecit.Undeporro
exemplar?[279]Nimirumaliquisantiquorum

Andyet,aswesee,acopyofthe"page"isshown.
Whothenwassoboldastotakeitfromthebosom
ofthemostholyapostle?Noonedidit,Ithink.
Whencethenthecopy?Byallmeanssome

[Page136]scriptorumdebetafferri,nec
posteriorConstantinitemporibus.Atis

[Page137]ancientwriteroughttobeadduced,one
notlaterthanthetimeofConstantine.However,

nullusaffertur,sedfortassealiquisrecens.
Undehichabuit?Quisquisenimdesuperiore
aetatehistoriamtexit,autSpirituSancto
dictanteloquitur,autveterumscriptorumet
eorumquidemquidesuaaetatescripserunt
sequiturauctoritatem.Quarequicumque
veteresnonsequitur,isdeillorumnumero
eritquibusipsavetustaspraebetaudaciam
mentiendi.Quodsiquoinlocoistares
legitur,nonalitercumantiquitateconsentit
quamillaglossatoris[280]Accursiide
legatisRomanisadlegesaccipiendas
dimissisinGraeciamplusquamstulta
narratiocumTitoLivioaliisque
praestantissimisscriptoribusconvenit.

nonesuchisadduced,butasithappenssomerecent
writerorother.Whencedidhegetit?Forwhoever
composesanarrativeaboutanearlierage,either
writesatthedictationoftheHolySpirit,orfollows
theauthorityofformerwriters,andofthose,of
course,whowroteconcerningtheirownage.So
whoeverdoesnotfollowearlierwriterswillbeone
ofthosetowhomtheremotenessoftheeventaffords
theboldnesstolie.Butifthisstoryistoberead
anywhere,itisnotconsistentwithantiquityany
morethanthatstupidnarrativeoftheglossator
AccursiusaboutRomanambassadorsbeingsentto
GreecetogetlawsagreeswithTitusLiviusandthe
otherbestwriters.

[Page138]antiquitatisconsulatuminiri
Ianuariomensemagistratumqueesse
annuum,ethaecMartioproximogesta
referuntur.

[Page139]knownfactsofantiquitytheconsulateis
anannualofficeandbeginsinthemonthofJanuary
andtheseeventsaresaidtohavetakenplacethe
followingMarch.

Ubinequehoc[283]sileboinepistolisscribi
solere"datum,"nonauteminceteris,nisi
apudindoctos.Dicunturenimepistolaedari
velilli,veladillumilliquidemquiperfert
utputatabellario,utreddatetinmanum
porrigathominicuimittunturadillumvero
uteiaperferentereddantur,hicestiscui
mittuntur.[284]Privilegiumautem,utaiunt,
Constantini,quodreddialicuinondebebat,

NorwillIherepassoverthefactthat"given"is
usuallywrittenonletters,butnotonother
documents,exceptamongignorantpeople.For
lettersaresaideithertobegivenone(illi)ortobe
giventoone(adillum)intheformercase[theyare
givento]onewhocarriesthem,acourierfor
instance,andputstheminthehandofthemanto
whomtheyaresentinthelattercase[theyare
given]tooneinthesensethattheyaretobe

"GivenatRome,onthethirddaybeforetheKalends
"DatumRomaetertioKalendas[281]Aprilis, ofApril,ConstantineAugustusconsulforthefourth
ConstantinoAugustoquartoconsuleet
time,andGallicanusconsulforthefourthtime."[87]
Gallicanoquartoconsule."
HetookthenexttothelastdayofMarchsothatwe
DiemposuitpenultimumMartiiut
mightfeelthatthiswasdoneintheseasonofholy
sentiremushocfactumessesubtempus
days,which,forthemostpart,comeatthattime.
sanctorumdierum,quiilloplerumque
And"Constantineconsulforthefourthtime,and
temporesolentesse.EtConstantinoquartum Gallicanusconsulforthefourthtime."Strangeif
consule,etGallicanoquartumconsule!
eachhadbeenconsulthrice,andtheywere
Mirumsiuterqueterfueratconsuletin
colleaguesinafourthconsulship!Butstrangerstill
quartoconsulatuforentcollegae!Sed
thattheAugustus,aleper,withelephantiasis(which
mirandummagisAugustumleprosum
diseaseisasremarkableamongdiseases,as
elephantia,quimorbusinterceterosut
elephantsareamonganimals),shouldwanttoeven
elephasinterbeluaseminet,velleetiam
acceptaconsulship,whenkingAzariah,assoonas
accipereconsulatum,cumrexAzariassimul hewasaffectedwithleprosy,kepthimselfsecluded,
aclepratactusestinprivatosecontinuerit,
whilethemanagementofthekingdomwasgiven
procurationeregniadIonatam[282]filium
overtoJothamhisson[88]andalmostalllepers
relegata,utfereomnesleprosifecerunt!Quo haveactedsimilarly.Andbythisargumentalonethe
unoargumentototumprorsusprivilegium
whole"privilege"isconfutedoutright,destroyed,
confutatur,profligatur,evertitur.Acnequis andoverturned.Andifanyonedisputesthefactthat
ambigatanteleprosumessedebuissequam
Constantinemusthavebeenleprousbeforehewas
consulem,sciatetexmedicinapaulatim
consul,heshouldknowthataccordingtophysicians
huncmorbumsuccrescere,etexnotitia
thisdiseasedevelopsgradually,thataccordingtothe

necdaridebuitdici:utappareateumquisic
locutusestmentitumesse,nec[285]scisse
fingerequodConstantinumdixisseacfecisse
verisimileesset.Cuiusstultitiaeatque
vesaniaeaffinesseacsociosfaciunt
quicumquehuncveradixisseexistimant
atquedefenduntlicetnihiliamhabeantquo
opinionemsuam,nondicodefendere,sed
honesteexcusare,possint.
Anhonestaerrorisexcusatioest,cum
patefactamvideasveritatem,nolleilli
acquiescerequianonnullimagnihomines
alitersenserint?[286]Magni,inquam,
dignitate,nonsapientianecvirtute.Unde
tantum[287]scisanilliquostusequeris,si
eademaudissentquaetu,mansuriin
sententiafuerint,anasententiarecessuri?Et
nihilominusindignissimumestplushomini
velletribuerequamveritati,idestDeo.Ita
enimquidamomnibusdefectirationibus
solentmihi[288]respondere:Curtotsummi
pontificesdonationemhancveramesse
crediderunt?Testificorvos,mevocatisquo
nolo,etinvitummemalediceresummis
pontificibuscogitis,quosmagisindelictis
suisoperirevellem.Sedpergamusingenue
loqui,quandoquidemaliteraginequithaec
causa.
Utfateareositacredidisse,etnon
malitia[289]fecissequidmirum

deliveredtohimbythebearer,thatis[theyaregiven
to]theonetowhomtheyaresent.Butthe
"privilege,"astheycallit,ofConstantine,asitwas
nottobedeliveredtoanyone,soalsoitoughtnotto
besaidtobe"given."Andsoitshouldbeapparent
thathewhospokethuslied,anddidnotknowhow
toimitatewhatConstantinewouldprobablyhave
saidanddone.Andthosewhothinkthathehastold
thetruth,anddefendhim,whoevertheyare,make
themselvesabettersandaccessoriesinhisstupidity
andmadness.However,theyhavenothingnowwith
whichtohonorablyexcusetheiropinion,notto
speakofdefendingit.
Orisitanhonorableexcuseforanerror,tobe
unwillingtoacquiesceinthetruthwhenyouseeit
disclosed,becausecertaingreatmenhavethought
otherwise?Greatmen,Icallthem,onaccountof
theirposition,notonaccountoftheirwisdomor
theirgoodness.Howdoyouevenknowwhether
thosewhomyoufollow,hadtheyheardwhatyou
hear,wouldhavecontinuedintheirbelief,orwould
havegivenitup?Andmoreoveritismost
contemptibletobewillingtopaymoreregardto
manthantoTruth,thatis,toGod.[Isaythis]for
somemenbeatenateveryargumentarewontto
answerthus:"Whyhavesomanysupremepontiffs
believedthisDonationtobegenuine?"Icallyouto
witness,thatyouurgemewhereIwouldnot,and
forcemeagainstmywilltorailatthesupreme
pontiffswhosefaultsIwouldprefertoveil.Butlet
usproceedtospeakfrankly,inasmuchasthiscase
cannotbeconductedinanyotherway.
Admittingthattheydidthusbelieveandwerenot
dishonest

[Page140]siistacrediderunt,ubitantum
lucriblanditur,cumplurima,ubinullum
lucrumostenditur,perinsignemimperitiam
credant?NonneapudAramCoeli,intam
eximiotemploetinlocomaximeaugusto,
[290]cernimuspictamfabulamSibyllaeet
Octaviani,utferuntexauctoritateInnocentii
tertiihaecscribentis,quietiamderuina
templiPacissubnataleSalvatoris,hocestin
partuVirginis,scriptumreliquit?Quaead
evertendammagisfidemquiafalsa,quamad
stabiliendamquiamirandasunt,pertinent.
Mentirineobspeciem[291]pietatisaudet
vicariusveritatis,etsescientemhocpiaculo
obstringere?Annonmentitur?Immoveroa
sanctissimisvirisse,cumhocfacit,
dissentirenonvidet?Taceboalios:

[Page141]whywonderthattheybelievedthese
storieswheresomuchprofitalluredthem,seeing
thattheyareledtobelieveagreatmanythings,in
whichnoprofitisapparent,throughtheir
extraordinaryignorance?Doyounot,atAraCoeli,
inthatmostnotabletempleandinthemost
impressiveplaceseethefableoftheSibyland
Octavian[89]depictedbytheauthority,theysay,of
InnocentIII,whowroteitandwhoalsoleftan
accountofthedestructionoftheTempleofPeaceon
thedayoftheSavior'sbirth,thatis,atthedelivery
oftheVirgin?[90]Thesestoriestendrathertothe
destructionoffaith,bytheirfalsity,thantothe
establishmentoffaith,bytheirwonders.Doesthe
vicarofTruthdaretotellalieundertheguiseof
piety,andconsciouslyentanglehimselfinthissin?
Ordoeshenotlie?Verily,doeshenotseethatin

HieronymusVarronistestimonioutitur,
decemSibyllasfuissequodopusVarroante
Augustumcondidit.IdemdetemploPacisita
scribit:"VespasianusetTitusRomaetemplo
Pacisaedificato,vasatemplietuniversa
donariaindelubroilliusconsecrarunt,quae
GraecaetRomananarrathistoria."Ethic
unusindoctusplusvultlibellosuoetiam
barbarescriptocrediquamfidelissimis
veterum,prudentissimorumhominum
historiis!
QuiaHieronymumattigi,nonpatiarhanc
contumeliamipsiustacito[292]praeteriri.
Romaeexauctoritatepapaeostenditurcodex
Bibliae,[293]tamquamreliquiaesanctorum
luminibus[294]semperaccensis,quod
dicunt[295]scriptumchirographo
Hieronymi.Quaerisargumentum?Quia
multum,utinquitVirgilius,estpictaivestis
etauri:resquaemagisHieronymimanu
indicatscriptumnonesse.

perpetratingthishecontradictsthemostholymen?
OmittingothersJeromecitesthetestimonyofVarro
thatthereweretenSibyls,andVarrowrotehiswork
beforethetimeofAugustus.Jeromealsowritesthus
oftheTempleofPeace:"VespasianandTitus,after
theTempleofPeacewasbuiltatRome,dedicated
thevesselsofthetemple[oftheJews]andall
mannerofgiftsinhershrine,astheGreekand
Romanhistorianstell."Andthisignorantman,
alone,wantsustobelievehislibel,barbarously
writtenatthat,ratherthanthemostaccuratehistories
ofancientandmostpainstakingauthors!
SinceIhavetouchedonJerome,Iwillnotsufferthe
followinginsulttohimtobepassedbyinsilence.At
Rome,bytheauthorityofthePope,withthecandles
everburning,asthoughforarelicofthesaints,is
shownacopyoftheBible,whichtheysayiswritten
inthehandofJerome.Doyouseekproof?Why,
thereis"muchembroideredclothandgold,"as
Virgilsays,athingwhichindicatesratherthatitwas
notwrittenbythehandofJerome.WhenI
inspected,itmorecarefully,Ifoundthatitwas
written

[Page142]Illumegodiligentiusinspectum [Page143]byorderofaking,Robert,Ithink,andin
comperiscriptumesseiussuregis,utopinor, thehandwritingofaninexperiencedman.
Robertichirographohominisimperiti.
Similarly,thereareindeedtenthousandthingsof
Huicsimileest,quamquamdecemmillia
thissortatRome,amongsacredobjectsisshownthe
huiusmodiRomaesunt,quodinterreligiosa panelportraitofPeterandPaul,which,after
demonstraturintabellaeffigiesPetriet
Constantinehadbeenspokentobytheseapostlesin
Pauli,quamSilvesterConstantinoabeisdem hissleep,Sylvesterproducedinconfirmationofthe
apostolisinsomnisadmonitoin
vision.IdonotsaythisbecauseIdenythattheyare
confirmationemvisionisexhibuit.Nonhoc
portraitsoftheapostles(wouldthatthelettersentin
dicoquianegemeffigiesillasesse
thenameofLentulusabouttheportraitofChrist
apostolorum(utinamquetamveraesset
wereasgenuine,insteadofbeingnolessviciousand
epistolanomineLentulimissadeeffigie
spuriousthanthis"privilege"whichwehave
Christi,quaenonminusimprobeementita
refuted),butbecausethatpanelwasnotproducedfor
estquamprivilegiumquodconfutavimus!)
ConstantinebySylvester.Atthatstorymymind
sedquiatabellaillaaSylvestrononfuerit
cannotrestrainitsastonishment.
exhibitaConstantinoinquononsustineo
SoIwillbrieflydiscusstheSylvesterlegend,
animimeiadmirationemcontinere.
becausethewholequestionhingesonthisand,
DisputaboenimaliquiddefabulaSilvestri,
sinceIhavetodowithRomanpontiffs,itwillbein
quiaetomnisinhocquaestioversatur,et
ordertospeakchieflyoftheRomanpontiffsothat
mihicumsermositcumpontificibus
fromoneexampleanestimateoftheothersmaybe
Romanis,depontificeRomanopotissimum formed.Andofthemanyabsurditiestoldinthis
loquidecebit,utexunoexemplofacile
[legend]Ishalltouchupononealone,thatofthe
aliorumconiecturacapiatur.Etexmultis
serpent,[91]inordertoshowthatConstantinehad
ineptiisquaeibinarranturunamtantumde
notbeenaleper.AndverilytheLifeofSylvester
draconeattingam,utdoceamConstantinum (GestaSilvestri),accordingtothetranslator,was
nonfuisseleprosum.EtenimGestaSilvestri writtenbyEusebius,[92]aGreek,alwaysthe
abEusebioquodamGraecohomine,ut
readiestpeopleatlying,asjuvenal'ssatirical

interprestestatur,compositasunt,[296]quae
natioadmendaciasemper
promptissima[297]est,utIuvenalis
satirica[298]censuraait:
"...QuicquidGraeciamendaxAudetin
historia."
Undedracoillevenerat?Romaedracones
nongignuntur.Undeetiamillivenenum?In
Africatantumpestiferidraconesobardorem
regionisessedicuntur.Undepraeterea
tantumveneni

judgmentruns:
"WhateverinthewayofhistoryalyingGreekdares
tell."[93]
Whencecamethatdragon?Dragonsarenot
engenderedinRome.Whence,too,hisvenom?In
Africaalone,onaccountofitshotclimate,arethere
saidtobepestproducingdragons.Whence,too,so
muchvenomthathewastedwithpestilencesuch

[Page144]uttamspatiosamcivitatempeste
corrumperet,praesertimcumintamalto
specudemersusesset,adquemcentum
quinquagintagradibusdescenderetur?
Serpentes,exceptoforsitanbasilisco,non
afflatu,sedmorsuvirusinspirantatque
interimunt.NecCatoCaesaremfugienscum
tantahominummanupermediasAfricae
harenas,dumiterfaceretacdormiret,ullum
suorumcomitum[299]serpentisafflatuvidit
exstinctumnequeillipopuliobidaerem
sentiuntpestilentem.Etsiquidfabulis
credimus,etChimaeraetHydraetCerberus
sinenoxavulgoconspectisuntactacti.

[Page145]aspaciouscityasRomethemore
remarkablethattheserpentwasdowninacavernso
deepthatonedescendedtoitbyahundredandfifty
steps?Serpents,exceptingpossiblythebasilisk,
injecttheirpoisonandkill,notwiththeirbreath,but
withtheirbite.Cato,fleeingfromCaesarthrough
theverymidstoftheAfricandesertswithsucha
largeforceashehad,didnotseeanyofhiscompany
slainbythebreathofaserpent,eitheronthemarch
orincampnordothenativesthinktheair
pestilentialonaccountofserpents.Andifwebelieve
atallinthestories,theChimaera,theHydraand
Cerberushavealloftenbeenseenandtouched
withoutinjury.

AdhucquineumRomanipotiusoccidissent?
Nonpoterant,inquis?Atmultograndiorem
serpenteminAfricaadripamBagradae[300]
Regulusoccidit.Huncverovelobstructoore
specusfacileeratinterimere.Annolebant?
Ita,opinor,prodeocolebant,utBabylonii
fecerunt.Curergo,ut[301]Danielillum
dicituroccidisse,nonetSilvesterhunc
potiusoccidisset,quem[302]canabaceofilo
alligasset,etdomumillaminaeternum
perdidisset?Ideocommentatorfabulaenoluit
draconeminterimi,neplaneDanielis
narratioreferrivideretur.Quodsi
Hieronymus,virdoctissimusacfidelissimus
interpres,ApollinarisqueetOrigenesatque
EusebiusetnonnuilialiinarrationemBeli
fictamesseaffirmant,siearnIudaeiin
VeterisInstrumentiarchetyponon
agnoscuntidest,sidoctissimiquique
Latinorum,pleriqueGraecorum,singuli
Hebraeorumillamutfabulamdamnant,ego
nonhancadumbratamexilladamnabo,quae
nulliusscriptorisauctoritatefulcitur,etquae
magistrammultosuperatstultitia?

Whyhadn'ttheRomansalreadyslainitinstead[of
waitingforSylvester]?Theycouldn't,yousay?But
ReguluskilledamuchlargerserpentinAfricaonthe
banksoftheBagradas.Anditwasveryeasyindeed
tokilltheoneatRomeforinstance,byclosingthe
mouthofthecavern.Ordidn'ttheywantto?Ah,
theyworshippeditasagod,Isuppose,asthe
Babyloniansdid?Whythen,asDanielissaidto
havekilledthatserpent,[94]hadnotSylvesterkilled
thisonewhenhehadboundhimwithahempen
thread,anddestroyedthatbroodforever?Thereason
theinventorofthelegenddidnotwantthedragon
slainwasthatitmightnotbeapparentthathehad
copiedthenarrativeofDaniel.ButifJerome,amost
learnedandaccuratetranslator,Apollinaris,Origen,
EusebiusandothersaffirmthestoryofBeltobe
apocryphal,iftheJewsintheiroriginaloftheOld
Testamentdonotknowitthatis,ifallthemost
learnedoftheLatins,mostoftheGreeks,andcertain
oftheHebrews,condemnthatasalegend,shallInot
condemnthisadumbrationofit,whichisnotbased
ontheauthorityofanywriter,andwhichfar
surpassesitsmodelinabsurdity?
Forwhohadbuilttheundergroundhomeforthe

Namquisbeluaesubterraneamdomum
aedificaverat?Quisilliceamcollocaverat,et
neprodiretatqueavolaret(volantenim
dracones,utquidamaiunt,etsialiinegant)
imperaverat?Quisgenusilludcibi
excogitaverat?[303]Quisfeminas,[304]
easquevirginesac

beast?Whohadputitthereandcommandeditnotto
comeoutandflyaway(fordragonsfly,assomesay
eventhoughothersdenyit)?Whohadthoughtout
thatkindoffoodforhim?Whohaddirectedthat
women,virginsatthat,devotedtochastity,godown
tohim,

[Page146]sanctimoniales,descendere
praeceperat,necnisiKalendis?Antenebat
dracoquisessetdiesKalendarum?Ettam
parcoraroqueeratcibocontentus?Nec
virginestamaltumspecum,tamimmanemet
esurientembeluamexhorrebant?Credo,
blandiebatureisdraco,utfeminis,ut
virginibus,utcibariaafferentibus.Credo,
etiamcumillisfabulabatur.Quidni,honore
dicto,etiamcoibat?NametAlexanderet
Scipioexdraconisserpentisvecummatre
concubitugenitidicuntur.Quid,denegato
posteavictu,nonpotiusautprodisset,[305]
autfuissetexstinctus?

[Page147]andonlyontheKalends?Ordidthe
serpentrememberwhatdaywastheKalends?And
washecontentwithsuchscantandoccasionalfood?
Anddidnotthevirginsdreadsuchadeepcavern,
andabeastsomonstrousandgreedy?Isupposethe
serpentwheedledthem,astheywerewomen,and
virgins,andbroughthimhisvictualsIsupposehe
evenchattedwiththem.Whatif,pardonthe
expression,heevenhadintercoursewiththemfor
bothAlexanderandScipioaresaidtohavebeen
bornbytheembraceofadragon,oraserpent,with
theirmothers!Why,iffoodwereafterwarddenied
him,wouldhenothavecomeoutthen,orhavedied?

0thestrangefollyofmenwhohavefaithinthese
0miramhominumdementiam,quihis
senileravings!Howlongnowhadthisbeengoing
anilibusdeliramentisfidemhabent!Iamvero on?Whendidthebeginningoccur?Beforethe
quamdiuhocfactitatumest?Quando
adventoftheSavior,orafter?Astothis,nothingis
fieri[306]coeptum?Anteadventum
known.Weshouldbeashamed!Weshouldbe
Salvatoris,anpostea?Nihilhorumscitur.
ashamedofthesesillysongs,andthisfrivolityworse
Pudeatnos,pudeatharumneniarumet
thandangerous!AChristian,whocallshimselfason
levitatisplusquaminimicae.[307]Erubescat oftruthandlight,shouldblushtoutterthingswhich
Christianushomo,quiveritatisseaclucis
notonlyarenottrue,butarenotcredible.
filiumnominateproloquiquaenonmodo
But,theysay,thedemonsobtainedthispowerover
veranonsunt,sednecverisimilia.
theheathen,soastomockthemforservingthe
Ateniminquiunt,hancdaemonespotestatem gods.Silence,youutterignoramuses,nottocallyou
ingentibusobtinebant,uteasdiisservientes utterrascals,youwhoalwaysspreadsuchaveilover
illuderent.Silete,imperitissimi[308]
yourstories!TrueChristianitydoesnotneedthe
homines,nedicamsceleratissimos,qui
patronageoffalsehooditismaintained
fabulisvestristalesempervelamentum
satisfactorilybyitself,andbyitsownlightandtruth,
obtenditis!Nondesideratsinceritas
withoutthoselyinganddeceitfulfables,unmitigated
Christianapatrociniumfalsitatissatisperse, insultstoGod,toChrist,andtotheHolySpirit.
superquesuaipsiusluceacveritate
WouldGodthushavegiventhehumanraceover
defenditur,sineistiscommenticiisac
intothepowerofdemons,tobeseducedbysuch
praestigiosisfabellis,inDeum,inChristum, evident,suchimposingmiracles,thathemightwell
inSpiritumSanctumcontumeliosissimis.
nighbeaccusedoftheinjusticeofturningsheep
SiccineDeusarbitriodaemonum[309]
overtowolves,andthatmenshouldhavegood
tradideratgenushumanum,uttam
excusefortheirerrors?Butifsomuchlicensewas
manifestis,tamimperiosismiraculis
oncegivendemons,evenmorewouldbegiventhem
seducerentur[310]utpropemodumposset
nowamonginfidelswhichisbynomeansthecase,
iniustitiae[311]accusari,quioveslupis
norareanylegendsofthissorttoldbythem.
commisisset,ethominesmagnamerrorum
Passingbyotherpeoples,Iwillspeakofthe
suorumhaberentexcusationem?Quodsi
Romans.Amongthemthemiraclesreportedarefew,
tantumolimlicebatdaemonibus,etnunc
andtheyearlyandobscure.
apudinfidelesvelmagisliceretquod
minimevidemus,necullaeabeishuiusmodi

fabulaeproferuntur.
TacebodealiispopulisdicamdeRomanis,
apudquospaucissimamiraculaferuntur,
eaquevetustaatqueincerta.Valerius
[Page148]Maximusaithiatumillumterrae
inmedioforo,cumseineumCurtius
armatumadactoequoimmisisset,iterum
coisseinquepristinamformamcontinuo
revertisse.ItemIunonemMonetam,cuma
quodammiliteRomanocaptisVeiisper
iocuminterrogataesset,anRomammigrare
vellet,respondissevelle.

[Page149]ValeriusMaximustellsthatthatchasm
inthemiddleoftheforum,whenCurtius,armedand
spurringonhishorse,plungedintoit,closedagain,
andreturnedforthwithtoitsformerstate.[95]Again,
the[effigyof]JunoMoneta,whenitwasasked,in
jest,byacertainRomansoldieratthecaptureof
Veii,whetheritwantedtomovetoRome,replied
thatitdid.[96]

QuorumneutrumTitusLiviussentitetprior
auctoretgravior.Namethiatum
permansissevult,nectamfuissesubitum
quamvetustum,etiamanteconditamurbem,
appellatumqueCurtiumlacumquodineo
delituissetCurtiusMettiusSabinus
Romanorumfugiensimpressionemet
Iunonemannuisse,nonrespondisse,
adiectumquefabulaeposteavocem
reddidisse.Atquedenutuquoquepalamest
illosessementitos,velquodmotum
simulacri,avellebantautemillud,interpretati
suntsuasponteessefactum,velqualascivia
hostilemetvictametlapideamdeam
interrogabant,eademlasciviaannuisse
finxerunt.TametsiLivius[312]inquitnon
annuisse,sedmilitesquodannuisset
exclamasse.Quaetamenboniscriptoresnon
defenduntfacta,seddictaexcusant.Nam
proutidemLiviusait"Daturhaec[313]
veniaantiquitati,utmiscendohumana
divinisprimordiaurbiumaugustiorafaciat."
Etalibi:"Sedinrebustamantiquissiqua
similiaverisuntproverisaccipiantur,satis
habeam.Haec[314]adostentationemscenae
gaudentismiraculisaptioraquamadfidem
nequeaffirmarenequerefellereestoperae
pretium."[315]

TitusLivius,anearlierandmoreauthoritative
writer,knowsneitherofthesestories.Forhehasit
thatthechasmwaspermanent,notasuddenopening
butanoldone,therebeforethefoundingofthecity,
andcalledCurtius'Pond,becauseMettiusCurtius,a
Sabine,fleeingfromanattackbytheRomans,had
hiddeninitandthattheJunodidnotreply,but
noddedassent,anditwasaddedtothestory
afterwardsthatshehadspoken.[97]Andaboutthe
nodalso,itisevidentthattheylied,eitherby
interpretingthemovementoftheimagewhenthey
pulleditawayasmadebyitsownaccord,orby
pretendinginthesamejokingwayinwhichthey
askedthequestionthatthehostile,conquered,stone
goddessnoddedassent.Indeed,Livydoesnotsay
thatshenodded,butthatthesoldiersexclaimedthat
shenodded.Suchstories,too,goodwritersdonot
defendasfacts,butexcuseastradition.Forevenas
thissameLivysays,"Thisindulgenceistobe
grantedantiquity,thatbyminglingthehumanand
thedivineitmaymakethebeginningsofcitiesmore
august."[98]Andelsewhere:"Butinconnectionwith
eventsofsuchancienttimes,ifprobabilitiesshould
beacceptedasfacts,noharmwouldbedone.These
storiesaremoresuitedtothedisplayofastage
whichdelightsinwonders,thantosoberbeliefitis
notworthwhileeithertoaffirmortorefutethem."
[99]

TerentiusVarro,hisduobusetprioret
doctioret,utsentio,graviorauctor,ait
triplicemhistoriamdelacuCurtioatotidem
auctoribusproditamunamaProculo,quod
islacusitasitappel

TerentiusVarro,anearlier,morelearnedand,I
think,moreauthoritativewriterthanthesetwo,says
therewerethreeaccountsofCurtius'Pondgivenby
asmanywritersonebyProculus,that

[Page150]latusaCurtio,quiseineum
deiecitalteramaPisone,quodaMettio
SabinotertiamaCornelio,cuiusreisocium
additLuctatium,quodaCurtioconsule,cui

[Page151]thispondwassocalledforaCurtius
whocasthimselfintoitanotherbyPiso,thatitwas
namedforMettiustheSabinethethirdby
Cornelius,andheaddsLuctatiusashisassociatein

collegafuitM.Genutius.[316]Nequevero
dissimulaverimValeriumnonplaneposse
reprehendiquoditaloquatur,cumpaulopost
graviteretseveresubiciat:"Necmepraeterit
demotuetvocedeorumimmortalium
humanisoculisauribusquepercepto,quamin
ancipitiopinioneaestimatioversetur.Sed
quianonnovadicuntur,sedtradita
repetuntur,fidemauctoresvendicent."De
vocedeorumdixitpropterIunonem
MonetametproptersimulacrumFortunae,
quodbislocutumfingiturhisverbis:"Rite
me,matronae,vidistis,[317]ritededicastis."
Atveronostrifabulatorespassiminducunt
idolaloquentia,quodipsigentileset
idolorumcultoresnondicuntetsincerius
negantquamChristianiaffirmant.Apud
illos[318]paucissimamiraculanonfide
auctorum,sedvelutisacraquadamac
religiosavetustatiscommendationenituntur
apudistosrecentioraquaedamnarrantur,
quaeillorumhominestemporumnescierunt.
[319]
Nequeegoadmirationisanctorumderogo,
necipsorumdivinaoperaabnuo,[320]cum
sciamtantumfideiquantumestgranum
sinapis[321]montesetiampossetransferre.
Immodefendoillaactueor,sedmiscericum
fabulisnonsino.Necpersuaderipossum
hos[322]scriptoresaliosfuissequaiiiaut
infideles,quihocagerentinderisum
Christianorum,sihaecfigmentaperdolosos
hominesin

[Page152]manusimperitorumdelata
acciperenturproveris,autfideleshabentes
quidemaemulationemDei,sednon
secundumscientiam,[323]quinonmodode
gestissanctorum,verumetiamDeigenetricis
atqueadeoChristiimprobaquaedamet[324]
pseudevangeliascriberenonreformidarunt.
Etsummuspontifexhoslibrosappellat
apocryphos,quasinihilvitiisit[325]quod
eorumignoraturauctor,quasicredibiliasint
quaenarrantur,quasisanctaetad
confirmationemreligionispertinentiautiam
nonminusculpaesitpeneshuncquimala
probatquampenesillumquimala
excogitavit.Nummosreprobosdiscernimus,

thematter,thatitwasforCurtiustheconsul,whose
colleaguewasMarcusGenutius.[100]
NorshouldIhaveconcealedthatValeriuscannotbe
altogethercriticisedforspeakingashedoes,sincea
littlelaterheearnestlyandseriouslyadds"AndIdo
notignorethefactthatastohumaneyesandears
perceivingthemovementandthevoiceofimmortal
gods,ourjudgmentisratherconfusedbywavering
opinionbutbecausewhatissaidisnotnewbutthe
repetitionoftraditions,theauthorsmaylayclaimto
credence."[101]Hespokeofthevoiceofthegods
onaccountoftheJunoMoneta,[102]andonaccount
ofthestatueofFortunewhichisrepresentedtohave
twicespokeninthesewords,"Withdueformhave
youseenme,matronswithdueformhaveyou
dedicatedme."[103]
Butourownstorytellerseveryonceinawhilebring
intalkingidolsofwhichtheheathenthemselves,and
theworshippersoftheidols,donotspeakrather
theydenythemmoreearnestlythantheChristians
affirmthem.Amongtheheathentheveryfew
wonderswhicharetoldmaketheirwaynotbythe
beliefofwriters,butbythesanctionoftheir
antiquity,assomethingsacredandvenerableamong
ourwriterswondersmorerecentarenarrated,
wondersofwhichthemenofthosetimesdidnot
know.
Ineitherdisparageadmirationforthesaints,nordoI
denytheirdivineworks,forIknowthatfaith,as
muchofitasagrainofmustardseed,isableevento
removemountains.RatherIdefendanduphold
them,butIdonotallowthemtobeconfusedwith
ridiculouslegends.NorcanIbepersuadedthatthese
writerswereotherthaneitherinfidels,whodidthis
toderidetheChristiansincasethesebitsoffiction
handedoutbycraftymentothe
[Page153]ignorantshouldbeacceptedastrue,or
elsebelieverswithazealforGod,tobesure,butnot
accordingtoknowledge,menwhodidnotshrink
fromwritingshamelessaccountsnotonlyoftheacts
ofthesaintsbutevenofthemotherofGod,and
indeedofChristhimself,norfromwritingpseudo
gospels.Andthesupremepontiffcallsthesebooks
apocryphalasthoughitwerenoblemishthattheir
authorisunknown,asthoughwhatwastoldwere
credible,asthoughtheyweresacred,tendingto
establishreligionsothatnowthereisnolessfault
onhispartinthatheapprovesevils,thanonthepart
oftheonewhodevisedthem.Wedetectspurious
coins,wepickthemoutandrejectthemshallwe
notdetectspuriousteaching?Shallweretainit,

separamus,abicimus[326]doctrinam
confuseitwiththegenuineanddefenditasgenuine?
reprobamnondiscernemus,sedretinebimus,
ButI,togivemyfrankopinion,denythattheActs
sedcumbonamiscebimus,sedprobona
ofSylvesterisanapocryphalbookbecause,asI
defendemus?
havesaid,acertainEusebiusissaidtohavebeenits
Egovero,utingenue[327]feramsententiam, authorbutIthinkitisfalseandnotworthreading,
GestaSilvestrinegoesseapocrypha,quia,ut inotherpartsaswellasinwhatithastosayabout
dixi,Eusebiusquidamferturauctorsed
theserpent,thebull,[104]andtheleprosy,torefute
falsaatqueindignaquaeleganturexistimo
whichIhavegoneoversomuchground.Forevenif
cuminaliistumveroinalio[328]quod
Naamanwasleprous,shouldweforthwithsaythat
narraturdedracone,detauro,delepra,
Constantinealsowasleprous?Manywritersallude
propterquamrefutandamtantarepetii.
toitinNaaman'scasethatConstantinetheheadof
NequeenimsiNaamanleprosusfuit,
thewholeearthhadleprosynoonementionedat
continuoetConstantinumleprosumfuisse
leastnoneofhisfellowcitizens,butperhapssome
dicemus?Deillomultiauctoresmeminerunt, foreignerorother,tobegivennomorecredence
dehocprincipeorbisterrarumnemone
thanthatotherfellowwhowroteaboutwasps
suorumquidemciviumscripsit,nisinescio
buildingtheirnestinVespasian'snostrils,andabout
quisalienigena,cuinonaliterhabendaest
thefrogtakenfromNeroatbirth,whencetheysay
fidesquamaltericuidamdevespisintra
theplacewascalledtheLateran,forthefrog(rana)
naresVespasianinidificantibus,etderana
isconcealed(latere)thereinitsgrave.[105]Such
partuaNeroneemissa,undeLateranum
stuffneitherthewaspsthemselves,norfrogs,ifthey
vocitatumlocumdicunt,quodibiranalateat couldspeak,wouldhaveuttered![Ipassoverthe
insepulcro:quodnecvespaeipsaenec
statementthatboys'bloodisaremedyforleprosy,
ranae,siloquipossent,dixis
whichmedical
[Page154]sent[329]nisiaddeos
Capitolinoshocreferunt,quasiilliloqui
consuessentethocfieriiussissent.[330]
Sedquidmirerhaecnonintelligere
pontifices,cumnomenignorentsuum!
CephasenimdicuntvocariPetrumquia
caputapostolorumesset,tamquamhoc
vocabulumsitGraecum
______________[331]etnonHebraicum,
seu[332]potiusSyriacum,quodGraeci
_______[333]scribunt,quodapudeos
interpretaturPetrus,noncaput.Estenim
"petrus,"et"petra,"Graecumvocabulum,
stultequeperetymologiamLatinam
exponiturpetra,quasipedetrita.Et
metropolitanumabarchiepiscopo
distinguunt[334]voluntqueillumamensura
civitatisdictum,cumGraecedicaturnon
_____________sed____________,[335]id
estmatercivitassiveurbs[336]et
patriarchamquasipatrempatrumetpapam
abinteriectionepapedictumetfidem
orthodoxamquasirectaegloriaeet
Simonemmediacorrepta,cumlegendumsit
medialonga,utPlatonemetCatonem[337]
etmultasimiliaquaetranseo,neculpa
aliquorumomnessummospontificesvidear
insectari.Haecdictasint,utnemomiretursi
donationemConstantinicommenticiam[338]

[Page155]sciencedoesnotadmit[106]]unless
theyattributethistotheCapitolinegods,asthough
theywerewonttotalkandhadorderedthistobe
done!
ButwhyshouldIwonderthatthepontiffsarenot
informedonthesepoints,whentheydonotknow
abouttheirownname!FortheysaythatPeteris
calledCephasbecausehewastheheadofthe
apostles,asthoughthisnounwereGreek,from
______andnotHebrew,orratherSyriacanoun
whichtheGreekswrite________,andwhichwith
themmeansrock(Petrus),andnotheadIFor
"petrus,""petra,"(rock)isaGreeknoun.And
"petra"isstupidlyexplainedbythemthrougha
Latinderivation,asfrom"pedetrita"(troddenby
foot)!Andtheydistinguish"metropolitan"from
"archbishop,"andclaimthattheformerissocalled
fromthesizeofthecity,thoughinGreekitisnot
called___________,but__________,thatis,the
motherstateorcity.Andtheyexplain"patriarch"as
"paterpatrum"(fatheroffathers)and"papa"(pope)
fromtheinterjection"pape"(indeed)and
"orthodox"asfromthewordsmeaning"rightglory"
andtheypronounce"Simonem"(Simon)witha
shortmiddlevowel,thoughitshouldbereadwitha
longone,asare"Platonem"(Plato)and"Catonem"
(Cato).AndtherearemanysimilarinstanceswhichI
pass,lestforthefaultofsomeofthesupreme
pontiffsIshouldseemtoattackall.Theseinstances

fuissepapaemultinonpotuerunt
hadtobegivensothatnooneshouldwonderthat
deprehendere,tametsiabaliquoeorumortam manyofthePopeshavebeenunabletodetectthat
essehancfallaciamreor.
theDonationofConstantinewasspuriousthough,
inmyopinion,thisdeceptionoriginatedwithoneof
Atdicitis,curImperatores,quorum
them.
detrimentoresistacedebat,donationem
Constantininonnegant,sedfatentur,
Butyousay,"WhydonottheEmperors,whowere
affirmant,con
thesufferersfromthisforgery,denytheDonationof
Constantine,insteadofadmittingit,confirmingit
andmaintainingit?"Agreatargument!
[Page156]servant?Ingensargumentum
mirificadefensio!Namdequotuloqueris
Imperatore?SideGraeco,quiverusfuit
Imperator,negaboconfessionem:side
Latino,libenteretiamconfitebor.Etenim
quisnescitImperatoremLatinumgratis
factumesseasummopontifice,utopinor
Stephano,quiGraecumImperatorem,quod
auxiliumnonferretItaliae,privavit,
LatinumquefecititautpluraImperatora
papaquampapaabImperatoreacciperet?
SaneTroianasopesquibusdampactionibus
soliAchillesetPatroclusintersepartitisunt!
Quodetiammihividenturindicare
Ludovici[339]verba,cumait"Ego
Ludovicus,ImperatorRomanusAugustus,
statuoetconcedoperhocpactum
confirmationisnostraetibibeatoPetro,
principiapostolorum,etpertevicariotuo
dominoPaschali[340]summopontificiet
successoribuseiusinperpetuum,[341]sicut
apraedecessoribus[342]nostrisusquenunc
investrapotestateetdicione[343]tenuistis,
Romanamcivitatemcumducatusuoet
suburbanisatqueviculisomnibuset
territoriiseiusmontanisatquemaritimis
litoribusetportubus,seucunctiscivitatibus,
castellis,oppidisacvillisinTusciae
partibus."[344]

[Page157]amarvellousdefense!Forofwhich
Emperorareyouspeaking?IfoftheGreekone,who
wasthetrueEmperor,Iwilldenytheadmissionif
oftheLatin,Iwillconfessit,andwithpleasure.For
whodoesnotknowthattheLatinEmperorwas
gratuitouslyestablishedbyasupremepontiff,
StephenIthink,whorobbedtheGreekEmperor
becausehewouldnotaidItaly,andestablisheda
LatinEmperorsotheEmperorthusreceivedmore
fromthePopethanthePopefromtheEmperor?
[107]Oh,ofcourse,AchillesandPatroclusdivided
theTrojanspoilsbetweenthemselvesaloneonsome
suchterms.ThewordsofLouis[thePious]seemto
metoimplyjustthiswhenhesays,"I,Louis,Roman
Emperor,Augustus,ordainandgrant,bythis
compactofourconfirmation,toyou,blessedPeter,
princeoftheapostles,andthroughyoutoyourvicar,
thesupremepontiff,lordPaschal[I],Andtohis
successorsforever,tohold,justasfromour
predecessorsuntilnowyouhaveheld,underyour
authorityandrule,theRomanstatewithitsduchy,
withallitstownsandvillages,itsmountaindistricts,
seacoastsandharbors,andallcities,forts,walled
towns,andestatesinthedistrictsofTuscany."[108]

Doyou,Louis,makeapactwithPaschal?Ifthese
areyours,thatis,theRomanEmpire's,whydoyou
grantthemtoanother?Iftheyarehisandareheldin
hisownpossession,whatsenseisthereinyour
confirmingthem?HowlittleoftheRomanEmpire
Tune,Ludovice,cumPaschalepacisceris?Si willbeyoursifyoulosetheveryheadofthe
tua,idestImperiiRomani,suntista,cur
Empire?FromRometheRomanEmperortakeshis
altericoncedis?Siipsiusetabeo[345]
name.What!Areyourotherpossessionsyoursor
possidentur,quidattinetteillaconfirmare?
Paschal's?Yours,youwillsay,Isuppose.Therefore,
QuantulumetiamexImperioRomanotuum theDonationofConstantineisnotvalidatallthat
erit,sicaputipsumImperiiamisisti?A
is,ifyoupossesswhatwasgivenbyhimtothe
RomadiciturRomanusImperator.Quid,
pontiff.Ifitisvalid,bywhatrightdoesPaschalgive
ceteraquaepossidestuaneanPaschalissunt? youtherest[oftheEmpire],retainingforhimself
Credotuadices.Nihilergovaletdonatio
onlywhathepossesses?Whatdoesyourexcessive
Constantini,siabeopontificidonatatu
prodigalitytowardhimattheexpenseoftheRoman
possides.Sivalet,quoiurePaschalistibi
Empiremean,orhistowardyou?Therefore,
ceteraremittit,retentistantumsibiquae
deservedlydoyoucallita"compact,"something
possidet?Quidsibivulttanta,auttuain
likecollusion.
illum,autilliusintedeImperioRomano

largitio?Meritoigiturpactumappellas,quasi
quandamcollusionem.
[Page158]"Sedquidfaciam?"inquies.
"Repetamarmisquaepapaoccupat?Atipse
iamfactusestmepotentior.Repetamiure?
Atiusmeumtantumestquantumilleesse
voluit[346]nonenimhereditarionominead
Imperiumveni,sedpacto,ut,siImperator
essevolo,haecethaecinvicempapae
promittam.DicamnihildonasseexImperio
Constantinum?Atistomodocausamagerem
GraeciImperatorisetmeomnifraudarem
Imperiidignitate.Hacenimrationepapase
dicitfacereImperatoremme,quasiquendam
vicariumsuum,etnisipromittam,non
facturumetnisipaream,meabdicaturum.
Dummodomihidet,omniafatebor,omnia
paciscar.Mihitantum[347]crede,siRomam
egoac[348]Tusciampossiderem,tantum
abestutfaceremquaefacioutetiamfrustra
mihiPaschalisdonationis,sicutreorfalsae,
[349]caneretcantilenam.Nuncconcedo
quaenecteneonechabiturumessemespero.
Deiurepapaeinquirerenonadmepertinet,
sedadConstantinopolitanumillum[350]
Augustum."
Iamapudmeexcusatuses,Ludovice,et
quisquisaliusprinceps[351]esLudovici
similis.QuiddealiorumImperatorumcum
summispontificibuspactionesuspicandum
est,cumsciamusquidSigismundusfecerit,
princepsalioqui[352]optimusac
fortissimus,sediamaffectaaetateminus
fortis,quemperItaliampaucisstipatoribus
saeptumindiemviverevidimusRomae
etiamfameperiturum,nisieum,sednon
gratisextorsitenimdonationemEugenius
pavisset!IscumRomamvenissetutpro
ImperatoreRomanorumcoronaretur,non
aliterapapacoronaripotuit,quam[353]
Constantinidonationemratamhaberet
eademqueomniadeintegrodonaret.Quid
magiscontrariumquamproImperatore
Romano[354]coronariquiRomaeipsi
renuntiasset,etcoronariabilloquemet
confiteaturet,quantuminseest,dominum
RomaniImperiifaciat,acratam
[Page160]haberedonationem,quaeverasi
sit,nihilImperatorideImperioreliquifiat?
Quod,utarbitror,necpuerifecissent.
Quominusmirumsipapasibiarrogat
Caesariscoronationem,quaepopuliRomani

[Page159]"ButwhatshallIdo?"youwillsay.
"ShallItrytorecoverbyforcewhatthePopehasin
hispossession?Buthe,alas,hasnowbecomemore
powerfulthanI.ShallIseektoregainitbylaw?But
myrightisonlysuchasheiswillingforittobe.For
Icametothethrone,notthroughaninheritedtitle,
butbyacompactthatifIwishtobeEmperorI
shouldpromisethePopeinturnsuchandsuch
considerations.ShallIsaythatConstantinedidnot
giveawayanvoftheEmpire?ButthatwayIshould
bearguingthecauseoftheGreekEmperor,andI
shouldrobmyselfofallimperialdignity.Forthe
PopesayshemakesmeEmperorwiththisverything
inview,asakindofvicarofhisandunlessIbind
myself,hewillnotmakemeEmperorandunlessI
obeyIshallhavetoabdicate.Ifonlyhegivesmethe
throneIwillacknowledgeeverything,Iwillagreeto
everything.Onlytakemywordforit,ifIhadRome
andTuscanyinmypossession,Iwouldactquite
differentlyandPaschalwouldsingmethatoldsong
oftheDonation,spuriousinmyopinion,invain.As
thingsare,IyieldwhatIneitherhavenorhopeto
have.ToquestiontherightofthePopeisnotmy
concernbutthatoftheEmperoryonderat
Constantinople."
Iquiteexcuseyou,Louis,andeveryotherruler
similarlyplaced.Whatmustwesuspectofthe
compactofotherEmperorswiththesupreme
pontiffs,whenweknowwhatSigismunddid,aruler
otherwisemostexcellentandcourageous,butatthat
timeaffectedandweakenedbyage?Wesawhim,
hedgedinthroughoutItaly,withafewretainers,
livingfromdaytodayatRome,andhewould,
indeed,haveperishedwithhunger,hadnotEugenius
fedhim,butnotfornothing,forheextortedthe
Donationfromhim.WhenhehadcometoRometo
becrownedEmperoroftheRomans,hecouldnot
getthePopetocrownhim,exceptbyconfirmingthe
DonationofConstantineandbygrantinganewall
thatitcontained.Whatmorecontradictorythanfor
himtobecrownedRomanEmperorwhohad
renouncedRomeitself,andthatbythemanwhom
hebothacknowledgesand,sofarashecan,makes
masteroftheRomanEmpireand[forthe
[Page161]Emperor]toconfirmtheDonation
which,ifgenuine,leavesnoneoftheEmpireforthe
Emperor!Itisathingwhich,asIthink,noteven
childrenwouldhavedone.Soitisnotstrangethat
thePopearrogatestohimselfthecoronationofthe

essedeberet.

Caesar,whichoughttobelongtotheRomanpeople.
Ifyou,0Pope,ontheonehandcandeprivethe
Situ,papa,etpotesGraecumImperatorem
GreekEmperorofItalyandthewesternprovinces,
privareItaliaprovinciisque[355]occidentis, andontheotheryoucreateaLatinEmperor,whydo
etLatinumImperatoremfacis,cur
youresortto"compacts"?Whydoyoudividethe
pactionibusuteriscurbonaCaesarispartiris Caesar'sestate?WhydoyoutransfertheEmpireto
curinteImperium[356]transfers?
yourself?
Quaresciat,quisquisestquidicitur[357]
ImperatorRomanorum,meiudicesenon
essenecAugustum,necCaesarem,nec
Imperatorem,nisiRomaeimperiumteneat
etnisioperamdetuturbemRomam
recuperet,planeesseperiurum.Nam
Caesaresillipriores,quorumfuitprimus
Constantinus,nonadigebanturiusiurandum
interponerequonuncCaesares
obstringuntur,sedquantumhumanaope
praestaripotest,nihilimminuturosessede
amplitudineImperiiRomani,eamquesedulo
adaucturos.

Wherefore,letwhoeveriscalledEmperorofthe
Romansknowthatinmyjudgmentheisnot
Augustus,norCaesar,norEmperor,unlessherules
atRomeandunlesshetakesuptherecovery,ofthe
cityofRome,hewillplainlybeforsworn.Forthose
earlierCaesars,andConstantinefirstofthem,were
notforcedtotaketheoathbywhichtheCaesarsare
nowboundbutrathertheoaththat,sofarasitlayin
humanpower,theywouldnotdiminishtheextentof
theRomanEmpire,butwoulddiligentlyaddtoit.

[Page162]stantiniexsequivellet,ecclesiae
Romanaefuisseetessesubiectumiudicavit
quodstatimsuccessoreseius,Benedictuset
Clemens,utimprobuminiustumque
revocarunt.

[Page163]ofConstantineinexecution,hedecrees
thatthekingdomitselfbelongedtoandwassubject
totheRomanchurch.Thisdecretalhissuccessors,
BenedictandClement,revokedoutright,aswicked
andunjust.

Verumquidsibivultistavestra,pontifices
Romani,sollicitudoquodasingulis
ImperatoribusdonationemConstantini
exigitisconfirmari,nisiquodiuridiffiditis
vestro?Sedlateremlavatis,utdiciturnam
nequeillaumquamfuit,etquodnonest
confirmarinonpotestetquicquiddonant
Caesares,deceptiexemploConstantini

Butwhatisthesignificanceofyouranxiety,Roman
pontiffs,inrequiringeachEmperortoconfirmthe
DonationofConstantine,unlessitbethatyou
distrustitslegality?Butyouarewashingbricks[you
laborinvain],astheysayforthatDonationnever
existed,andsinceitdoesnotexistitcannotbe
confirmedandwhatevertheCaesarsgrant,their
actsareduetodeceptionastotheprecedentof

YetnotforthisreasonaretheycalledAugusti,
namelythattheyoughttoaugmenttheEmpire,as
somethinkwhoseknowledgeofLatinisimperfect
Nonearetamenvocati[358]Augusti,quod forheiscalledAugustus,asconsecrated,from
Imperiumaugeredeberent,utaliquisentiunt "aviumgustus"(thetaste,orappetite,ofthebirds),a
Latinaelinguaeimperiti,estenimAugustus customarystepinconsultingtheomens:andthis
quasisacerabaviumgustudictus,quaein
derivationissupportedbythelanguageofthe
auspiciisadhiberisolebant,Graecorum
Greeks,amongwhomtheAugustusiscalled
quoquetestantelingua,apudquosAugustus _________,,fromwhichSebastiagetsitsname.
_________[359]dicitur,undeSebastia
BettermightthesupremepontiffbecalledAugustus
vocata.Meliussummuspontifexabaugendo from"augere"(toaugment),exceptforthefactthat
Augustusdiceretur,nisiquoddum
whenheaugmentshistemporalhediminisheshis
temporaliaauget,spiritualiaminuit.Itaque
spiritualpower.Thusitisafactthattheworsethe
videasutquisquepessimusestsummorum
supremepontiffis,themoreheexertshimselfto
pontificum,itamaximedefendendaehuic
defendthisDonation.TakethecaseofBoniface
donationiincumberequalisBonifacius
VIII,whodeceivedCelestinebymeansofpipes
octavus,quiCaelestinumtubisparieti
fixedinthewall.[109]Hebothwritesconcerningthe
insertisdecepit.Hicetdedonatione
DonationofConstantine,andhedespoilstheFrench
ConstantiniscribitetregemFranciae[360]
kingand,asthoughhewishedtoputtheDonation
privavit,regnumqueipsum,quasi
donationemCon

faciunt,etdonareImperiumnequeunt.

ConstantineandtheycannotgranttheEmpire.

Agevero,demusConstantinumdonasse
Silvestrumquealiquandopossedisse,sed
posteavelipsum,velaliquemipsorum[361]
apossessionedeiectum.(Loquornuncdehis
quaepapanonpossidetpostealoquardehis
quaepossidet.)Quidpossumvobismagis
darequamuteaquaenecfueruntnecesse
potueruntfuisseconcedam?Tamen[362]
dicovosneciuredivinoneciurehumanoad
recuperationemagereposse.Inlegeveteri
HebraeussuprasextumannumHebraeo
servirevetabatur,etquinquagesimo[363]
quoqueannoomniaredibantadpristinum
dominum.TemporegratiaeChristianusa
vicarioChristi,redemptorisnostrae
servitutis,premeturservitioaeterno?Quid
dicam!Revocabituradservitutempostquam
liberfactusestdiuquepotituslibertate?

However,letusgrantthatConstantinemadethe
DonationandthatSylvesterwasatonetimein
possession,butafterwardseitherhehimselfor
anotherofthePopeslostpossession.(Iamspeaking
nowofthatofwhichthePopeisnotinpossession
lateronIwillspeakofthatofwhichheisin
possession.)WhatmorecanIgrantyouthanto
concedetheexistenceofthatwhichneverwasand
nevercouldbe?Butevenso,Isaythatyoucannot
effectarecoveryeitherbydivineorbyhumanlaw.
IntheancientlawitwasforbiddenthataHebrewbe
aHebrew'sslavemorethansixyears,andevery
fiftiethyearalsoeverythingrevertedtotheoriginal
owner.ShallaChristian,inthedispensationof
grace,beoppressedineternalslaverybythevicarof
theChristwhoredeemedusfromourservitude?
WhatdoIsay!Shallheberecalledtoservitudeafter
hehasbeensetfreeandhaslongenjoyedhis
freedom?

Sileoquamsaevus,quamvehemens,quam
barbarusdominatusfrequenterest
sacerdotumquodsianteaignorabatur,nuper
estcognitumexmonstroilloatqueportento,
IoanneVitellesco,cardinaleetpatriarcha,
quigladiumPetriquoauriculamMalcho
absciditinChristianorumsanguinelassavit
quogladioetipse

Howbrutal,howviolent,howbarbarousthetyranny
ofpriestsoftenis,Idonotsay.Ifthiswasnot
knownbefore,ithaslatelybeenlearnedfromthat
monsterofdepravity,JohnVitelleschi,cardinaland
patriarch,whoworeouttheswordofPeter,with
which[theapostle]cutofftheearofMalchus,with
thebloodofChristians.Bythisswordhehimself
alsoperished.[110]Butisittrue

[Page164]periit.AnveropopulisIsraela
domoDavidetSalomonis,quosprophetaea
Deomissiunxerant,tamenproptergraviora
oneradesciscerelicuit,factumqueeorum
Deusprobavitnobisobtantamtyrannidem
desciscerenonlicebit,abhispraesertimqui
necsuntreges,necessepossunt,etquide
pastoribusovium,idestanimarum,factisunt
furesaclatrones?

[Page165]thatthepeopleofIsraelwerepermitted
torevoltfromthehouseofDavidandSolomon
whomprophetssentbyGodhadanointed,because
theirimpositionsweretooheavyandthatGod
approvedtheiract?Maywenotrevoltonaccountof
suchgreattyranny,particularlyfromthosewhoare
notkings,andcannotbeandwhofrombeing
shepherdsofthesheep,thatistosay,ofsouls,have
becomethievesandbrigands?

Et,utadinshumanumveniam,quisignorat
nulluminsessebellorumautsiquodest,
tamdiuvalerequamdiupossideasquaebello
parasti?Namcumpossessionemperdis,et
iusperdidistiideoquecaptivos,sifugerint,
nemoadiudicemrepeteresoletetiamnec
praedas,[364]sieasprioresdomini
receperint.Apesetquaedamaliavolucrum
genera,sieprivatomeolongiusevolaverint
etinalienodesederint,repetinonqueunt.Tu
homines,nonmodoliberumanimal,sed
dominumceterorum,siseinlibertatem
manuetarmisasserant,nonmanuetarmis
repetes,sediure,quasituhomosis,illi

Andtocometohumanlaw,whodoesnotknowthat
thereisnorightconferredbywar,orifthereisany,
thatitprevailsjustaslongasyoupossesswhatyou
havegottenbywar?Forwhenyoulosepossession,
youhavelosttheright.Andsoordinarily,ifcaptives
haveescapednoonesummonsthemintocourt:and
soalsowithplunderiftheformerownershave
recoveredit.Beesandanyotherkindofwinged
creatures,iftheyhaveflownawayfarfrommy
propertyandhavesettledonanother's,cannotbe
reclaimed.Anddoyouseektoreclaimmen,whoare
notonlyfreecreatures,butmastersofothers,when
theysetthemselvesfreebyforceofarms,[reclaim
them]notbyforceofarms,butbylaw,asthough

pecudes.

youwereaman,andtheysheep?

Nequeestquoddicas:Romaniiustebella
nationibusintulerunt,iustequelibertateillas
exuerunt.Nolimeadistamvocare
quaestionem,[365]nequidinRomanosmeos
cogardicerequamquamnullumcrimentam
graveessepotuitutaeternammererentur
populiservitutemcumeoquodsaepeculpa
principis,magnivealicuiusinrepublica
civis,bellagesserunt,etvictiimmerita
servitutispoenaaffectisuntquorum
exemplisplenasuntomnia.

Norcanyousay,"TheRomanswere[considered]
justinwagingwarsagainstthenations,andjustin
deprivingthemofliberty."Donotdragmeintothat
discussion,lestIbeforcedtospeakagainstmy
fellowRomans.However,nofaultcouldbeso
seriousthatpeopleshouldmeriteverlasting
servitudetherefor.Andinthisconnection[onemust
rememberalso]thatpeopleoftenwagedawarfor
whichaprinceorsomeimportantcitizeninthe
Republicwastoblame,and,beingconquered,were
undeservedlypunishedwithservitude.Thereare
everywhereabundantexamplesofthis.

Nequeverolegenaturaecomparatumest,ut
populussibipopulumsubigat.Praecipere
aliiseosqueexhortaripossumusimperare
illisacvimafferrenonpossumus,nisirelicta
humanitatevelimusferocioresbeluasimitari,
quaesanguinariumininfirmioresimperium
exercent,utleoinquadrupedes,aquilain
volucres,delphinusinpisces.Verumtamen
haebeluaenoninsuumgenus
[Page166]sibiiusvindicant,[366]sedin
inferius.Quodquantomagisfaciendum
nobisest,ethomohominireligioni
habendus,cum,utM.Fabiusinquit,nulla
supraterrasadeorabiosabelua,cuinon
imagosuasanctasit.

Norintruthdoesthelawofnatureprovidethatone
peopleshouldsubjugateanotherpeopletoitself.We
caninstructothers,wecanurgethemwecannot
rulethemanddothemviolence,unless,leaving
humanityaside,wewishtocopythemoresavage
beastswhichforcetheirbloodyruleuponthe
weaker,asthelionamongquadrupeds,theeagle
amongbirds,thedolphinamongfish.Yeteventhese
creaturesdonotvauntauthorityovertheir
[Page167]ownkind,butoveraninferior.How
muchmoreoughtwetoactthus,andasmenhave
dueregardformen,sinceinthewordsofMarcus
Fabiusthereisnobeastupontheearthsofiercethat
hisownlikenessisnotsacredtohim?

Nowtherearefourreasonswhywarsarewaged:
Itaquequattuorferecausaesuntobquas
eitherforavengingawronganddefendingfriends
bellainferuntur:autobulciscendaminiuriam orforfearofincurringdisasterlater,ifthestrength
defendendosqueamicosauttimore
ofothersisallowedtoincreaseorforhopeof
accipiendaeposteacalamitatis,sivires
bootyorfordesireofglory.Ofthesethefirstis
aliorumaugerisinanturautspepraedaeaut ratherhonorable,thesecondlessso,andthelasttwo
gloriaecupiditatequarumprimanonnihil
arefarfromhonorable.Andwarswereindeedoften
honesta,secundaparum,duaeposteriores
wagedagainsttheRomans,butaftertheyhad
nequaquamhonestaesunt.EtRomanis
defendedthemselves,theywagedwaragainsttheir
quidemillatafuerebellafrequenter,sed
assailantsandagainstothers.Noristhereanynation
postquamsedefenderant,etillisetaliisipsi whichyieldedtotheirswayunlessconqueredinwar
intuleruntnecullagensestquaedicioni
andsubduedwhetherjustly,orforwhatcause,they
eorumcesserit,nisibellovictaetdomita,
themselvescouldjudge.Ishouldbeunwillingto
quamrecteautquacausa,ipsividerint.Eos condemnthemasfightingunjustlyortoacquitthem
egonolimnecdamnare,tamquaminiuste
asfightinginajustcause.Icanonlysaythatthe
pugnaverint,necabsolveretamquamiuste
Romanpeoplewagedwarsagainstothersforthe
tantumdicaineademrationeRomanos
samereasonasotherpeoplesandkingsdid,andthat
ceterisbellaintulissequareliquipopuli
itwasleftopeneventothosewhowereattackedand
regesque,atqueipsisquibellolacessiti
conqueredinwartorevoltfromtheRomansjustas
victiquesuntlicuissedeficereaRomanis,ut theyrevoltedfromothermasterslestperchance
abaliisdominisdefeceruntneforte,quod
(andnonewouldagreetothis)allauthorityshould
nemodiceret,imperiaomniaad
beimputedtotheoldestpeoplewhowerefirst
vetustissimosillos,quiprimidominifuere,
mastersthatis,tothosewhowerethefirsttotake
idest,quiprimipraeripuerealiena,
possessionofwhatbelongedtoothers.

referantur.
Ettamenmeliusinvictisbellonationibus
populoRomanoquamCaesaribus
rempublicamopprimentibusiusest.
QuocircasifaseratgentibusaConstantino,
etquodmultoplusestapopuloRomano
desciscere,profectoetabeoiuserit
cuicumquecesseritilleiussuum.Atque,ut
audaciusagam,siRomanislicebat
ConstantinumautexigereutTarquinium,aut
occidereutIuliumCaesarem,multomagis
eumvelRomanisvelprovinciislicebit
occiderequiinlocumConstantiniutcumque
successit.Hocetsiverum,tamenultra
causammeamest,etidcirco[367]me
reprimerevolonecaliudexhiscolligere
quaedixi,nisiineptumesse,ubi

AndyettheRomanpeoplehadabetterrightover
nationsconqueredinwarthanhadtheCaesarsin
theiroverthrowoftheRepublic.Wherefore,ifitwas
rightforthenationstorevoltfromConstantine,and,
whatisfarmore,fromtheRomanpeople,surelyit
willberighttorevoltfromhimtowhom
Constantinegavehisauthority.Andtoputthematter
moreboldly,iftheRomanpeoplewerefreeeitherto
driveConstantineout,astheydidTarquinius,orto
slayhim,astheydidJuliusCaesar,muchmorewill
theRomansortheprovincesbefreetoslayhim,
whoatanytimehassucceededConstantine.But
thoughthisistrue,yetitisbeyondthescopeofmy
argument,andsoIwanttorestrainmyselfandnot
pressanythingIhavesaidfurtherthanthis,thatitis
follytoadduceanyverbalright,wheretherightof

[Page168]armorumvisest,ibiiusquemque [Page169]armsprevails,becausethatwhichis
afferreverborumquiaquodarmis
acquiredbyarms,islikewiselostbyarms.
acquiritur,idemrursusarmisamittitur.
This,indeed,themore,thatother,new,peoplesas
Eoquidemmagis,quodaliaenovaegentes, wehaveheardinthecaseoftheGoths,whowere
utdeGothisaccepimusquaenumquamsub neversubjecttoRomanruleafterputtingtoflight
imperioRomanofuerunt,fugatisveteribus
theearlierinhabitants,seizeduponItalyandmany
incolis,Italiametmultasprovincias
provinces.Whatjustice,pray,isthereinrestoring
occuparunt,quasinservitutemrevocariin
thesetoaservitudewhichtheyhavenever
quanumquamfuerunt,quaetandemaequitas experiencedespeciallyastheyaretheconquering
est,praesertimvictrices,etfortasseavictis? peoplesandtoservitudeperchanceunderthe
Quotempore,siquaeurbesacnationes,ut
conqueredpeoples?Andifatthistimeanycitiesand
factumfuissescimus,abImperatoredesertae nations,desertedbytheEmperoratthearrivalofthe
adbarbarorumadventumnecessehabuerunt barbarians,asweknowtohavebeenthecase,had
deligeresibiregem,subcuiusauspiciis
beencompelledtoelectakingunderwhose
victoriamreportarunt,numquidhuncpostea leadershiptheythenwonvictory,isthereanyreason
aprincipatudeponerentauteiusfilios,tum whytheyshouldlaterdeposethisruler?Orshould
commendationepatris,tumpropriavirtute
theybidhissons,popularitmaybefortheirfather's
favorabilesiuberentesseprivatos,utiterum praise,itmaybefortheirownvalor,becomeprivate
subRomanoprincipeessent,maximecum
citizens,thattheymightagainbecomesubjectsofa
eorumoperaassidueindigerent,etnullum
Romanprince,eventhoughtheyweregreatlyin
aliundeauxiliumsperarent?Hos[368]si
needoftheirassistanceandhopedfornoaid
Caesaripse,autConstantinusadvitam
elsewhere?IftheCaesarhimself,orConstantine,
reversus,autetiamsenatuspopulusque
returnedtolife,oreventheSenateandRoman
Romanusadcommuneiudicium,qualein
peopleshouldcallthembeforeageneralcourtsuch
GraeciaAmphictyonum[369]fuit,vocaret,
astheAmphictyonywasinGreece,[theplaintiff]
primastatimactionerepelleretur,quodase
wouldatonceberuledoutathisfirstpleabecause
olimcustodedesertos,quodtamdiu[370]sub hewasreclaimingtobondageandslaverythosewho
alioprincipedegentes,quodnumquam
oncehadbeenabandonedbyhim,theirguardian,
alienigenaeregisubditos,quoddenique
thosewhoforalongtimehadbeenlivingunder
homineslibertatinatosetinlibertatem
anotherruler,thosewhohadneverbeensubjecttoa
roboreanimicorporisqueassertos,ad
foreignbornking,men,inconclusion,whowere
famulatumservitiumquereposceret.Ut
freebornandproclaimedfreebytheirvigorofmind
appareat,siCaesar,sipopulusRomanusa
andbody.Howclearitshouldbe,thatiftheCaesar,
repetendoexclususest,multovehementius
iftheRomanpeople,isthusdebarredfrom
papamesseexclusum!Etsilicetaliis
recoveringcontrol,muchmoredecidedlyisthe

nationibusquaesubRomafuerunt,aut
regemsibicreare,autrempublicamtenere,
multomagisidlicerepopuloRomano,
praecipueadversusnovampapae
tyrannidem.

Pope!Andiftheothernationswhichhavebeen
subjecttoRomearefreeeithertoappointakingfor
themselvesortomaintainarepublic,farmoreare
theRomanpeoplethemselvesfreetodothis,
especiallyagainsttheinnovationofpapaltyranny.

Exclusiadefendendadonationeadversarii,
quodnecumquamfuitetsiquafuissetiam
temporumconditioneintercidisset,
confugiuntadalterumgenusdefensionis,et
velutrelictaurbein

EstoppedfromdefendingtheDonation,sinceit
neverexistedand,ifithadexisted,itwouldnow
haveexpiredfromlapseoftime,ouradversariestake
refugeinanotherkindofdefense

[Page170]arcemserecipiunt,quamstatim
deficientibuscibariisdederecogentur.
Praescripsit,inquiunt,Romanaecclesiain
iis[371]quaepossidet.Curergo,quaemaior
parsest,eareposcit,inquibusnon
praescripsit,etinquibusaliipraescripserunt?
Nisiidnonlicetaliisinhanc,quodhuiclicet
inalios.

[Page171]figurativelyspeaking,thecitybeing
givenupforlost,theybetakethemselvestotheir
citadel,whichforthwiththeyareconstrainedbylack
ofprovisionstosurrender."TheRomanchurch,"
theysay,"isentitledbyprescriptiontowhatit
possesses."Whythendoesitlayclaimtothat,the
greaterpart,towhichithasnotitlebyprescription,
andtowhichothersareentitledbyprescription
unlessotherscannotacttowarditasitcanact
towardthem?

PraescripsitRomanaecclesia!Curergoab
Imperatoribustotienscuratsibiius
confirmandum?Curdonationem
confirmationemqueCaesarumiactat?Sihoc
unumsatisest,iniuriameifacissidealtero
quoqueiurenonsileas.Curigiturdealtero
nonsiles?Nempequiahocsibinonsufficit.
PraescripsitRomanaecclesia!Etquomodo
potestpraescripsisseubidenullotitulosed
demalefidei[372]possessioneconstataut,si
malefideipossessionemneges,profecto
stultaefideinegarenonpossis?Anintanta
retamqueapertaexcusatadebetesseetiuris
etfactiignorantia?Factiquidem,quod
Romamprovinciasquenondedit
Constantinus,quodignorareidiotaehominis
est,nonsummipontificisiurisautem,quod
illanecdonaripotuerenecaccipi,quod
nescirevixChristianiest.Itanestulta
credulitasdabittibiinsinhisquae,si
prudentiorfores,tuanumquamfuissent?
Quid!Nonnenuncsaltem,postquamteper
ignorantiamatquestultitiampossedisse
docui,iusistud,siquoderat,amittes,etquod
inscitiamalecontulerattibi,nonneidrursum
cognitiobeneadimet,mancipiumqueab
iniustoadiustumdominumrevertetur,
fortassisetiamcumusufructu?Quodsi
adhucpossiderepergis,iaminscitiain
malitiam[373]fraudemqueconversaest,
planequeeffectuses[374]malefidei
possessor.

TheRomanchurchhastitlebyprescription!Why
thendoesitsooftentakecaretohavetheEmperors
confirmitsright?WhydoesitvaunttheDonation,
anditsconfirmationbytheCaesars?Ifthisaloneis
sufficient,youseriouslyweakenitbynotatthe
sametimekeepingsilentabouttheothertitle[by
prescription].Whydon'tyoukeepsilentaboutthat
other?Obviouslybecausethisisnotsufficient.
TheRomanchurchhasprescribed!Andhowcanit
haveenteredaprescriptionwherenotitleis
establishedbutonlypossessionthroughbadfaith?
Orifyoudenythatthepossessionwasacaseofbad
faith,atleastyoucannotdenythatthefaith[inthe
Donation]wasstupid.Or,inamatterofsuch
importanceandnotoriety,oughtignoranceoffact
andoflawtobeexcused?Offact,because
ConstantinedidnotmakeagrantofRomeandthe
provincesafactofwhichamanofthecommon
peoplemightwellbeignorant,butnotthesupreme
pontiff.Oflaw,becausetheycouldnotbegranted
whichanyChristianoughttoknow.Andso,will
stupidcredulitygiveyouarighttothatwhich,had
youbeenmoreconscientious,wouldneverhave
beenyours?Well!Now,atleast,afterIhaveshown
thatyouheldpossessionthroughignoranceand
stupidity,doyounotlosethatright,ifitwassuch?
andwhatignoranceunhappilybroughtyou,doesnot
knowledgehappilytakeawayagain?anddoesnot
thepropertyrevertfromtheillegaltothelegal
master,perchanceevenwithinterest?Butifyou
continuetokeeppossessioninthefuture,your

PraescripsitRomanaecclesia!0imperiti,0
diviniiurisignari!

ignoranceishenceforthchangedintomalice
aforethoughtandintodeceit,andyoubecomea
fraudulentholder.
TheRomanchurchhasenteredaprescription!0
simpletons,0ignoramusesindivinelaw!Nolength
ofyearswhatevercan

[Page172]Nullusquantusvis[375]annorum
numerusverumaboleretitulumpotest.An
verocaptusegoabarbaris,creditusque
perisse,[376]postcentumannosquibus
captivusfui,postliminioreversuspaternae
hereditatisrepetitorexcludar?Quidhacre
inhumanius?Atque,utaliquodafferam
exemplum,numJephte,duxIsrael,
reposcentibusfiliisAmmonterram"afinibus
ArnonusqueinIabocatqueinIordanem"
respondit,"PraescripsitIsraeliamper
trecentosannos?"Anquodnumquam
illorum,sedAmorreorumfuissetterraquam
reposcerentostenditethocargumentum
esse,adAmmonitas[377]illamnon
pertinere,quodnumquamintratotannorum
curriculumrepoposcissent?
PraescripsitRomanaecclesia!Tace,nefaria
lingua!Praescriptionem,quaefitderebus
mutisetirrationabilibus,adhominem
transfers,cuiusquodiuturniorinservitute
possessioeoestdetestabilior?Avesacferae
insepraescribinolunt,sedquantolibet
temporepossessae,cumlibueritetoblata
fueritoccasio,abeunt:hominiabhomine
possessoabirenonlicebit?[378]

[Page173]destroyatruetitle.Orindeed,ifIwere
capturedbybarbariansandsupposedtohave
perished,andshouldreturnagainhomeaftera
hundredyearsofcaptivity,asaclaimantofmy
paternalinheritance,shouldIbeexcluded?What
couldbemoreinhuman!And,togiveanother
example,didJephthah,theleaderofIsrael,whenthe
Ammonitesdemandedbackthelandfrom"the
bordersofArnonevenuntoJabbokandunto
Jordan,"reply,"Israelhasprescribedthisnow
throughthreehundredyears'occupation"?Ordidhe
notshowthatthelandwhichtheydemandedas
theirs,hadneverbeentheirs,buthadbeenthe
Amorites'?Andtheproofthatitdidnotbelongto
theAmmoniteswasthattheyhadneverinthecourse
ofsomanyyearsclaimedit.[111]
TheRomanchurchhasprescribed!Keepstill,
impioustongue!Youtransfer"prescription,"which
isusedofinanimate,senselessobjects,tomanand
holdingmaninservitudeisthemoredetestable,the
longeritlasts.Birdsandwildanimalsdonotlet
themselvesbe"prescribed,"buthoweverlongthe
timeofcaptivity,whentheypleaseandoccasionis
offered,theyescape.Andmaynotman,heldcaptive
byman,escape?

LetmetellwhytheRomanpontiffsshowfraudand
Accipeundemagisfrausdolusquequam
craftratherthanignoranceinusingwarinsteadof
ignorantiaRomanorumpontificumappareat lawastheirarbiter,andIbelievethatthefirst
utentiumiudicebellononiurecuisimile
pontiffstooccupythecity[ofRome]andtheother
quiddamprimospontificesinoccupanda
townsdidaboutthesame.ShortlybeforeIwasborn,
urbeceterisqueoppidiscredofecisse.Parum Romewasledbyanincrediblesortoffraud,Icall
antemenatum,testoreorummemoriamqui thosethenpresenttheretowitness,toacceptpapal
interfuerunt,perinauditumgenusfraudis
governmentorratherusurpation,afterithadlong
Romapapaleaccepitimperiumseu
beenfree.[112]ThePopewasBonifaceIX,fellow
tyrannidempotius,cumdiuliberafuisset.Is ofBonifaceVIIIinfraudasinname,iftheyareto
fuitBonifaciusnonus,octavoinfraude
becalledBoniface(benefactor)atall,whoarethe
ut[379]innominepar,simodo
worstmalefactors.AndwhentheRomans,afterthe
Bonifacii[380]dicendisuntquipessime
treacheryhadbeendetected,stirreduptrouble,the
faciunt.EtcumRomanideprehensodolo
goodPope,afterthemannerofTarquinius,struck
apudseindignarentur,bonus[381]papain
offallthetallestpoppieswithhisstick.[113]When
moremTarquiniisummaquaequepapavera hissuccessor,Innocent[VII],afterwardstriedto
virgadecussit.Quodcumpostea,quiei
successit,Innocentiusimitarivellet,urbe
fugatus

[Page174]est.Dealiispontificibusnolo
dicere,quiRomamvisemperoppressam
armisquetenueruntlicet,quotienspotuit,
rebellavitutsextoabhincanno,cumpacem
abEugenioobtinerenonposset,nec
par[382]essethostibusquieamobsidebant,
etipsapapamintraaedesobsedit,non
permissurailiumabirepriusquamautpacem
cumhostibusfaceretautadministrationem
civitatisrelegaretadcives.Atillemaluit
urbemdesereredissimulatohabituunofugae
comite,quamcivibusgratificariiustaet
aequapetentibus.Quibussideselectionem,
quisignoratlibertatemmagisquam
servitiumelecturos?
Idemsuspicarilibetdeceterisurbibusquaea
summopontificeinservituteretinentur,per
quemaservituteliberaridebuissent.Longum
essetrecenserequoturbesexhostibuscaptas
populusRomanusolimliberasfecit,adeout
TitusFlaminiusomnemGraeciam,quaesub
Antiochofuisset,liberamesseetsuisuti
legibusiuberet.Atpapa,utviderelicet,
insidiatursedulolibertatipopulorum
ideoquevicissimilliquotidieoblatafacultate
(adBononiammodorespice)rebellant.Qui
siquandosponte,quodevenirepotestaliquo
aliundepericulourgente,inpapaleimperium
concenserunt,nonitaaccipiendumest
concensisse,utservossefacerentut
numquamsubtrahereaiugocollapossentut
posteanatinonetipsiarbitriumsuihabeant
namhociniquissimumforet.
"Sponteadte,summepontifex,utnos
gubernaresvenimusspontenuncrursusabs
tenegubernesdiutiusrecedimus.Siqua

[Page175]imitatethisprocedurehewasdrivenout
ofthecity.IwillnotspeakofotherPopestheyhave
alwaysheldRomedownbyforceofarms.Sufficeit
tosaythatasoftenasitcouldithasrebelledasfor
instance,sixyearsago,[114]whenitcouldnot
obtainpeacefromEugenius,anditwasnotequalto
theenemieswhichwerebesiegingit,itbesiegedthe
Popewithinhishouse,andwouldnotpermithimto
gooutbeforeheeithermadepeacewiththeenemy
orturnedovertheadministrationofthecitytothe
citizens.Buthepreferredtoleavethecityin
disguise,withasinglecompanioninflight,rather
thantogratifythecitizensintheirjustandfair
demands.Ifyougivethemthechoice,whodoesnot
knowthattheywouldchooselibertyratherthan
slavery?
Wemaysuspectthesameoftheothercities,which
arekeptinservitudebythesupremepontiff,though
theyoughtrathertobeliberatedbyhimfrom
servitude.Itwouldtaketoolongtoenumeratehow
manycitiestakenfromtheirenemiestheRoman
peopleoncesetfreeitwentsofarthatTitus
Flaminius[Flamininus]setfreethewholeofGreece,
whichhadbeenunderAntiochus,[115]anddirected
thatitenjoyitsownlaws.ButthePope,asmaybe
seen,liesinwaitassiduouslyagainstthelibertyof
countriesandthereforeoneafteranother,theydaily,
asopportunityaffords,rebel.(LookatBolognajust
now.)Andifatanytimetheyhavevoluntarily
acceptedpapalrule,asmayhappenwhenanother
dangerthreatensthemfromelsewhere,itmustnotbe
supposedthattheyhaveaccepteditinorderto
enslavethemselves,sothattheycouldnever
withdrawtheirnecksfromtheyoke,sothatneither
themselvesnorthosebornafterwardsshouldhave
controloftheirownaffairsforthiswouldbeutterly
iniquitous.
"Ofourownwillwecametoyou,supremepontiff,
thatyoumightgovernusofourownwillwenow
leaveyouagain,thatyoumaygovernusnomore.If
youhaveanyclaimagainstus,let

[Page176]tibianobisdebentur,ponatur
calculusdatorumetacceptorum.Attu
gubernareinvitosvis,quasipupillisimus,
quiteipsumforsitansapientiusgubernare
possemus.Addehuciniuriasquaeautabste
autatuismagistratibushuiccivitati
frequentissimeinferuntur.Deumtestamur,
iniuriacogitnosrebellare,utolimIsraela
Roboamfecit.Etquaetantafuitilli[383]
iniuria?Quantaportionostraecalamitatis
graviorasolveretributa?Quidenimsi

[Page177]thebalanceofdebitandcreditbe
determined.Butyouwanttogovernusagainstour
will,asthoughwewerewardsofyours,wewho
perhapscouldgovernyoumorewiselythanyoudo
yourself!Addtothisthewrongsallthetimebeing
committedagainstthisstateeitherbyyouorbyyour
magistrates.WecallGodtowitnessthatourwrong
drivesustorevolt,asonceIsraeldidfrom
Rehoboam.Andwhatgreatwrongdidtheyhave?
What[asmall]partofourcalamityisthe[mere]
paymentofheaviertaxes!Whatthenifyou

rempublicamnostramexhaurias?Exhausisti.
[384]Sitemplaspolies?Spoliasti.Si
virginibusmatribusquefamiliasstuprum
inferas?Intulisti.Siurbemsanguinecivili
perfundas?Perfudisti.Haecnobissustinenda
sunt?Anpotius,cumtupaternobisesse
desieris,nosquoquefiliosesse[385]
obliviscemur?Propatre,summepontifex,
autsitehocmagisiuvat,prodominohicte
populusadvocavit,nonprohosteatque
carnifice:patremagereautdominumnon
vis,sedhostemaccarnificem.Nossaevitiam
tuamimpietatemque,etsiiureoffensae
poteramus,tamenquiaChristianisumus,non
imitabimur,necintuumcaputultorem
stringemusgladium,sedteabdicatoatque
summoto,alterumpatremdominumve
adoptabimus.Filiisamalisparentibusa
quibusgenitisuntfugerelicetnobisate,
nonveropatresedadoptivoetpessimenos
tractante,nonlicebit?Tuvero,quae
sacerdotiioperissunt,cura,etnolitibi
poneresedemadAquilonemetillinc
tonando[386]fulgurantiafulminainhunc
populumceterosquevibrare."

impoverishtheRepublic?Youhaveimpoverishedit.
Whatifyoudespoilourtemples?Youhave
despoiledthem.Whatifyououtragemaidensand
matrons?Youhaveoutragedthem.Whatifyou
drenchthecitywiththebloodofitscitizens?You
havedrenchedit.Mustweendureallthis?Nay,
rather,sinceyouhaveceasedtobeafathertous,
shallwenotlikewiseforgettobesons?Thispeople
summonedyou,supremepontiff,tobeafather,orif
itbetterpleasesyou,tobetheirlord,nottobean
enemyandahangmanyoudonotchoosetoactthe
fatherorthelord,buttheenemyandthehangman.
But,sinceweareChristians,wewillnotimitate
yourferocityandyourimpiety,eventhoughbythe
lawofreprisalwemightdoso,norwillwebarethe
avengingswordaboveyourheadbutfirstyour
abdicationandremoval,andthenwewilladopt
anotherfatherorlord.Sonsmayfleefromvicious
parentswhobroughtthemintotheworldmaywe
notfleefromyou,notourrealfatherbutanadopted
onewhotreatsusintheworstwaypossible?Butdo
youattendtoyourpriestlyfunctionsanddon'ttake
yourstandinthenorth,andthunderingtherehurl
yourlightningandthunderboltsagainstthispeople
andothers."

Sedquidpluraopusestinreapertissima
dicere?EgononmodoConstantinumnon
donassetanta,nonmodononpotuisse
Romanumpontificemineisdem
praescribere,sedetiamsiutrumqueesset,
tamenutrumqueiussceleribuspossessorum
exstinctumessecontendo,cumvideamus
totiusItaliaemultarumqueprovinciarum
clademacvastitatem[387]exhocunofonte
fluxisse.Sifons

ButwhyneedIsaymoreinthiscase,absolutely
selfevidentasitis?Icontendthatnotonlydid
Constantinenotgrantsuchgreatpossessions,not
onlycouldtheRomanpontiffnotholdthemby
prescription,butthatevenifeitherwereafact,
neverthelesseitherrightwouldhavebeen
extinguishedbythecrimesofthepossessors,forwe
knowthattheslaughteranddevastationofallItaly
andofmanyoftheprovinceshasflowedfromthis

[Page178]amarusest,etrivussiradix
immunda,etramisidelibatiosanctanon
est,necmassa.Itaediverso,sirivusamarus,
fonsobstruendusestsiramiimmundi,e
radicevitiumvenitsimassasanctanonest,
delibatioquoqueabominanda[388]est.An
possumusprincipiumpotentiaepapalispro
iureproferre,quodtantorumscelerum
tantorumqueomnisgenerismalorum
cernimusessecausam?

[Page179]singlesource.Ifthesourceisbitter,sois
thestreamiftherootisuncleansoarethebranches
ifthefirstfruitisunholy,soisthelump.[116]And
viceversa,ifthestreamisbitter,thesourcemustbe
stoppedupifthebranchesareunclean,thefault
comesfromtherootifthelumpisunholy,thefirst
fruitmustalsobeaccursed.Canwejustifythe
principleofpapalpowerwhenweperceiveittobe
thecauseofsuchgreatcrimesandofsuchgreatand
variedevils?

Quamobremdico,etexclamo,nequeenim
timebohomines,Deofretusneminemmea
aetateinsummopontificatufuisseaut
fidelemdispensatoremautprudentemqui
tantumabestutdederitfamiliaeDeicibum,
utdevoraritillamvelutcibumetescam

WhereforeIdeclare,andcryaloud,nor,trusting
God,willIfearmen,thatinmytimenooneinthe
supremepontificatehasbeeneitherafaithfulora
prudentsteward,buttheyhavegonesofarfrom
givingfoodtothehouseholdofGodthattheyhave
devoureditasfoodandameremorselofbread!And

panis.[389]Papaetipsebellapacatispopulis
infert,etintercivitatesprincipesque
discordiasferit.Papaetalienassititopes,et
suasexsorbet,[390]utAchillesin
Agamemnonem,___________[391]idest
populivexatorrex.[392]Papanonmodo
rempublicam,quodnonVerres,nonCatilina,
nonquispiampeculatorauderet,sedetiam
remecclesiasticametSpiritumSanctum
quaestui[393]habet,quodSimonitleMagus
etiamdetestaretur.Etcumhorum
admonetur,etaquibusdambonisviris
reprehenditur,nonnegat,sedpalamfatetur,
atquegloriaturlicereenim[394]quavis
rationepatrimoniumecclesiaeaConstantino
donatumaboccupantibusextorquerequasi
eorecuperatoreligioChristianafuturasit
beata,etnonmagisomnibusflagitiis,
luxuriislibidinibusqueoppressa,simodo
opprimimagispotest,etullusestsceleri
ulteriorlocus!
Utigiturrecuperetceteramembra
donationis,maleereptasabonisviris
pecuniaspeiuseffundit,militumque
equestrespedestresquecopias,quibusomnia
infestantur,alit,cumChristusintotmillibus
pauperumfameacnuditatemoriatur.Nec
intelligit,0
[Page180]indignumfacinus!cumipse
saecularibusauferre[395]quaeipsorumsunt
laborat,illosvicissimsivepessimoexemplo
induci,sivenecessitatecogi,licetnonest
veranecessitas,adauferendaquaesunt
ecclesiasticorum.Nullaitaqueusquam
religio,nullasanctitas,nullusDeitimoret
quodreferensquoquehorresco,omnium
scelerumimpiihominesapapasumunt
excusationem.Inilloenimcomitibusque
eiusest[396]omnisfacinorisexemplum,ut
cumEsaiaetPaulo,inpapametpapae
proximosdicerepossumus:"NomenDeiper
vosblasphematurintergentes.Quialios
docetis,vosipsosnondocetisqui
praedicatisnonfurandum,latrocinaminiqui
abominaminiidola,sacrilegiumfacitisqui
inlegeetinpontificatugloriamini,per
praevaricationemlegisDeumverum
pontificeminhonoratis."
QuodsipopulusRomanusobnimiasopes
veramillamRomanitatemperdidit,si
Salomonobeandemcausaminidolatriam
amorefeminarumlapsusest,nonneidem

thePopehimselfmakeswaronpeaceablepeople,
andsowsdiscordamongstatesandprinces.The
Popeboththirstsforthegoodsofothersanddrinks
uphisown:heiswhatAchillescallsAgamemnon,
___________________,"apeopledevouringking."
ThePopenotonlyenricheshimselfattheexpenseof
therepublic,asneitherVerresnorCatilinenorany
otherembezzlerdaredtodo,butheenricheshimself
attheexpenseofeventhechurchandtheHolySpirit
asoldSimonMagushimselfwouldabhordoing.
Andwhenheisremindedofthisandisreprovedby
goodpeopleoccasionally,hedoesnotdenyit,but
openlyadmitsit,andboaststhatheisfreetowrest
fromitsoccupantsbyanymeanswhateverthe
patrimonygiventhechurchbyConstantineas
thoughwhenitwasrecoveredChristianitywouldbe
inanidealstate,andnotratherthemoreoppressed
byallkindsofcrimes,extravagancesandlustsif
indeeditcanbeoppressedmore,andifthereisany
crimeyetuncommitted!
Andso,thathemayrecovertheotherpartsofthe
Donation,moneywickedlystolenfromgoodpeople
hespendsmorewickedly,andhesupportsarmed
forces,mountedandfoot,withwhichallplacesare
plagued,whileChristisdyingofhungerand
nakednessinsomanythousandsofpaupers.Nor
doesheknow,
[Page181]theunworthyreprobate,thatwhilehe
workstodeprivesecularpowersofwhatbelongsto
them,theyinturnareeitherledbyhisbadexample,
ordrivenbynecessity(grantingthatitmaynotbea
realnecessity)tomakeoffwithwhatbelongstothe
officersofthechurch.Andsothereisnoreligion
anywhere,nosanctity,nofearofGodand,whatI
shuddertomention,impiousmenpretendtofindin
thePopeanexcuseforalltheircrimes.Forheand
hisfollowersfurnishanexampleofeverykindof
crime,andwithIsaiahandPaul,wecansayagainst
thePopeandthoseabouthim:"ThenameofGodis
blasphemedamongtheGentilesthroughyou,you
whoteachothers,butdonotteachyourselveswho
preachagainststealingandyourselvesarerobbers
whoabhoridols,andcommitsacrilegewhomake
yourboastofthelawandthepontificate,and
throughbreakingthelawdishonorGod,thetrue
pontiff."[117]
ButiftheRomanpeoplethroughexcessofwealth
lostthewellknownqualityoftrueRomansif
Solomonlikewisefellintoidolatrythroughthelove
ofwomenshouldwenotrecognizethatthesame
thinghappensinthecaseofasupremepontiffand

putamusfieriinsummopontificeacreliquis
clericis?EtposteaputamusDeumfuisse
permissurumutmateriampeccandiSilvester
acciperet?Nonpatiarhanciniuriamfieri
sanctissimovirononferamhanc
contumeliamfieri[397]pontificioptimo,ut
dicaturimperia,regna,provinciasaccepisse,
quibusrenuntiare[398]etiamsolentqui
clericifierivolunt.PaucaposseditSilvester,
paucaceteriquesanctipontifices,quorum
aspectusapudhostesquoqueerat
sacrosanctusvelutiilliusLeonis,quitrucem
barbariregisanimumterruitacfregit,quem
Romanaeviresnec[399]frangerenecterrere
potuerant.Recentesverosummipontifices,
idestdivitiisacdeliciis[400]affluentes,id
videnturlaborare,utquantumpriscifuere
sapientesetsancti,tantumipsietimpiisint
etstulti,etillorumegregiaslaudesomnibus
probris

theotherclergy?AndshouldwethenthinkthatGod
wouldhavepermittedSylvestertoacceptan
occasionofsin?Iwillnotsufferthisinjusticetobe
donethatmostholyman,Iwillnotallowthisaffront
tobeofferedthatmostexcellentpontiff,thathe
shouldbesaidtohaveacceptedempires,kingdoms,
provinces,thingswhichthosewhowishtoenterthe
clergyarewont,indeed,torenounce.Littledid
Sylvesterpossess,littlealsotheotherholypontiffs,
thosemenwhosepresencewasinviolableeven
amongenemies,asLeo'spresenceoverawedand
brokedownthewildsoulofthebarbarianking,
whichthestrengthofRomehadnotavailedtobreak
downnoroverawe.[118]Butrecentsupreme
pontiffs,thatis,thosehavingrichesandpleasuresin
abundance,seemtoworkhardtomakethemselves
justasimpiousandfoolishasthoseearlypontiffs
werewiseandholy,andtoextinguishthelofty

[Page182]vincant.HaecquisChristiani
nominisqueataequoanimoferre?

[Page183]praisesofthosemenbyeverypossible
infamy.WhothatcallshimselfaChristiancan
calmlybearthis?

Verumegoinhacprimanostraorationenolo
exhortariprincipesacpopulos,utpapam
effrenatocursuvolitanteminhibeanteumque
intrasuosfinesconsisterecompellant,sed
tantumadmoneant,quiforsitaniamedoctus
veritatem,suasponteabalienadomoin
suam,etabinsanisfluctibussaevisque
tempestatibusinportumserecipiet.Sin
recuset,tuncadalteramorationemmulto
truculentioremaccingemur.Utinam,utinam
aliquandovideam,necenimmihiquicquam
estlongiusquamhocvidere,etpraesertim
meoconsilioeffectum,utpapatantum
vicariusChristisit,etnonetiamCaesaris
necampliushorrendavoxaudiatur:"Partes
ecclesiae,""Partescontraecclesiam,"
"EcclesiacontraPerusinospugnat,""contra
Bononienses!"NoncontraChristianos
pugnatecclesia,sedpapaillapugnatcontra
spiritualianequitiaeincaelestibus.Tunc
papaetdicetureteritPaterSanctus,pater
omnium,paterecclesiaenecbellainter
Christianosexcitabit,sedabaliisexcitata
censuraapostolicaetpapalimaiestate
sedabit.[401]
LatinFootnotes

However,inthismyfirstdiscourseIdonotwishto
urgeprincesandpeoplestorestrainthePopeinhis
unbridledcourseasheroamsabout,andcompelhim
tostaywithinbounds,butonlytowarnhim,and
perhapshehasalreadylearnedthetruth,tobetake
himselffromothers'housestohisown,andtoputto
portbeforetheragingbillowsandsavagetempests.
Butifherefuses,thenIwillhaverecoursetoanother
discoursefarbolderthanthis.[119]IfonlyImay
sometimesee,andindeedIcanscarcelywaittosee
it,especiallyifitisbroughtaboutbymycounsel,if
onlyImayseethetimewhenthePopeisthevicarof
Christalone,andnotofCaesaralso!Ifonlythere
wouldnolongerbeheardthefearfulcry,"Partisans
fortheChurch,""PartisansagainsttheChurch,"
"TheChurchagainstthePerugians,""againstthe
Bolognese"!Itisnotthechurch,butthePope,that
fightsagainstChristiansthechurchfightsagainst
"spiritualwickednessinhighplaces."[120]Thenthe
PopewillbetheHolyFatherinfactaswellasin
name,Fatherofall,Fatherofthechurchnorwillhe
stirupwarsamongChristians,butthosestirredup
byothershe,throughhisapostolicjudgmentand
papalprerogative,willstop.[121]
EnglishFootnotes

[1]DefalsocreditaetementitaConstantini
[1]Ps.cxxxix,7.
donationeisthetitleVallagavehisworkcf.
[2]ITim.v,20.

lettertoGuarinifromNaplesinNovember,
1443Epistolaeprincipum(Venice,1574),p.
356alsoBarozzieSabbadini,Studiisul
PanormitaesulValla(Florence,1891),p.
93.InL.VallaOpera(Basle,1543),p.762,
thetitleruns,ContraDonationis,quae
Constantinidicitur,privilegia,utfalso
creditumdeclamatio.
NotitleappearswiththetextofCodex
VaticanusLat.5314.ThetitleinUlrichvon
Hutten'seditioninsertspatriciiRomaniafter
Vallensis.Thetreatiseisalsofrequently
entitledlibellusororatioinsteadof
declamatio.
[2]principumCod.Vat.Urb.337
(containingafewfragmentsofthistreatise).
Hutten.

[3]Valla'serrorforMarceIIinus.Thewholestoryis
apocryphal.
[4]Areferencetothereformingcoundisofthe
fifteenthcentury.
[5]VallawasintheserviceofthekingofSicilyand
ofNapleswhenhewrotethis.
[6]Thephrase"Italyandthewesternprovinces,"in
theDonationofConstantine,meanttothewriterof
thatdocumenttheItalianpeninsula,including
Lombardy,Venetia,Istria,andadjacentislands.
Othercountriesprobablydidnotoccurtohimaspart
oftheRomanEmpire.Valla,however,followedthe
currentinterpretation.

[5]sacerdotemCod.Vat.Urb.337,Hutten.

[7]InmanyversionsoftheLifeofSylvesterthereis
amarvellousstoryofanenormousserpent,finally
subduedbythesaint.Cf,infra,p.143Coleman,
ConstantinetheGreatandChristianity,pp.161et
seq.Mombritius,Sanctuarium,SiveVitaecollectae
excodibus(Milan,c.1479),v,ii,pp.279etseq.,
alsoParisedition,1910.ForthestoryofBelandthe
Dragon,cf.thebookofthatnameintheApocrypha.

[6]caeteriCod.Vat.Lat.5314(hereafter
referredtoasMS.),sothroughout.

[8]IhavemadetwoEnglishparagraphsoftherather
longLatinone[Ed.]

[7]obverberari(insteadofosverberari)
Hutten.

[9]Actsxx,35.

[3]execrationeCod.Vat.Lat.5314,so
throughout.
[4]Cod.Vat.Urb.337.relinquitCod.Vat.
Lat.5314.reliqueritHutten.

[8]quippiamHutten.
[9]coelestemMS.,sothroughout.
[10]Hutten.sitMS.
[11]OmiteumHutten.

[10]Matt.x,8.
[11]ICor.ix,15.
[12]Rom.xi,13.
[13]Quoted,freely,fromMatt.vi,19andLukex,4.

[12]hereticoMS.

[14]Quoted,freely,fromMatt.xix,24Mk.x,29
Lukexviii,25.

[13]quempiamHutten.

[15]ITim.vi,711.

[14]nunquisMS.,sothroughout.

[16]Actsvi,2.

[15]expectareMS.,Hutten,sothroughout.

[17]IITim.ii,4.

[16]quodnam...crimenHutten.

[18]Jer.xlviii,10,quotedfreely.

[17]veroHutten.

[19]FreequotationsfromJohnxxi,1517.

[18]commentitiamMS.

[20]Johnxviii,36.

[19]minisHutten.

[21]Matt.iv,17.

[20]HyspaniasMS.,sothroughout.

[22]Matt.xx,2528.

[21]accaepturusMS.,sothroughout.

[23]ICor.vi,25,distortedinpunctuationand
meaning.Paularguesthatcasesshouldbesettled
insidethechurch,andthateventhehumblest
ChristiansarecompetenttoactasjudgesValla
quoteshimtoshowthatchurchleadersarenottobe
judges.

[22]PontificiaquobaptismumBonneau.
[23]Hutten.Ms.omitsin.
[24]quorumdamMS.,sothroughout.
[25]posseHutten.
[26]ininMS.error.
[27]Hutten.concioneMS.,sothroughout.
[28]nunquidMS.,sothroughout.
[29]omitduobusHutten.
[30]iocundiusMS.,sothroughout.
[31]diesqueHutten.
[32]charissimaMS.,sothroughout.
[33]detestantibusqueHutten.
[34]coelumMS.,sothroughout.
[35]quottidieMS.
[36]amicisHutten.
[37]hiHutten.
[38]hisHutten.
[39]HebreisMS.,sothroughout.
[40]minoremHutten.
[41]NeemanMS.,sothroughout.
[42]alteroMS.error.
[43]InsertloquarBonneau.
[44]coepitMS.
[45]lavatumHutten.
[46]lachrimisqueMS.,sothroughout.
[47]exhaeredasMS.
[48]relegamurMS.

[24]QuotationsarefromMatt.xvii,2526.
[25]Mk.xi,17.
[26]Johnxii,47.
[27]Matt.xxvi,52.
[28]Matt.xvi,19.
[29]Matt.xvi,18.
[30]Matt.iv,89,freequotation.
[31]Matt.xi,2830,withthephrasestransposed.
[32]Matt.xxii,21.
[33]Eutropius,Breviarumaburbecondita,X,xvi,I.
[34]Ibid.,X,xvii,Iand2.
[35]TheantipopeelectedbytheCouncilofBaslein
1439.Thisreferenceisoneofthecluestothedateof
Valla'streatise.
[36]Valla'sstatementaboutEusebius'Church
Historyisslightlyoverdrawn.Somepassages,while
notdefinitelysayingthatConstantinewasa
Christianfromboyhood,wouldnaturallybe
construedasimplyingthis,especiallywhentakenin
connectionwiththechapterheadingsinuselong
beforeValia'stimee.g.,ix,9,112.InhisLife
ofConstantine,i,2732,however,Eusebiustellsthe
storyoftheEmperor'sconversioninthecampaign
againstMaxentiusin312bytheheavenlyapparition,
thusimplyingthathewasnotpreviouslyaChristian.
Valladoesnotseemtohaveknownofthislatter
work.NorisheawareofthepassageinJerome,
Chron.ad.ann.,2353,thatConstantinewasbaptized
neartheendofhislifebyEusebiusofNicomedia.
[37]Thisisanextractfromaspuriousletter
purportingtobefromMelchiades,orMiltiadesas
palpableaforgeryastheDonationofConstantine
itself.ThewholeletterisgiveninMigne,P.L.,viii,
column566.

[49]phanaMS.
[50]destituimurHutten.
[51]provintiisMS.

ForthequestionwhenConstantinebecamea
Christian,andofhisrelationswiththePopesandthe
church,cf.Coleman,ConstantinetheGreatand
Christianity,withreferencestosourcesand
literature.

[52]praefuturifuimusHutten.praefecturi
[38]AnumberofchaptersinGratian'sDecretum
sumusBonneau.praefecturifuimusSchard. addedafterGratianhavethiswordattheirhead,the
onecontainingtheDonationofConstantineamong
[53]InsertvelHutten.
them.Cf.Friedberg'seditionoftheDecretum
Gratiani,Primapars,dist.xcvi,c.xiii,inhisCorpus
[54]extirpatamMS.,sothroughout.
IurisCanonici,Leipsic,18791881.
[55]partumHutten.
[56]quiHutten.
[57]esHutten.
[58]praesidiisHutten.
[59]comunesMS.,sothroughout.
[60]provintiaeMS.
[61]initiumHutten.
[62]tribunitiiMS.
[63]tanquamMS.,sothroughout.
[64]0mitnostraeHutten.
[65]CarthaginensesMS.

[39]DecretumGratiani,Primapars,dist.xcvi,c.
xiiiinFriedberg,CorpusIurisCanonici,vol.II,P.
342.
[40]Ibid.,Parsprima,dist.xv,c.iii,Palea19in
Friedberg,vol.II.
[41]Cf.Voragine,GoldenLegend,trans.byWm.
Caxton,rev.byEllis(London,1900).
[42]December31.
[43]Areferencetothestoryofthethreeyoungmen
inthebodyguardofDariuscf.IEsdrasiiiandiv.
[44]Inthefollowingsectionmytranslationofthe
phrasesoftheDonationisharmonizedsofaras
possiblewiththetranslationinE.F.Henderson,
SelectHistoricalDocumentsoftheMiddleAges.

[66]foeminaeMS.

[45]Cf.Coleman,ConstantinetheGreatand
Christianity,P.224,11.8etseq.

[67]provintiasMS.

[46]Virgil,Aeneid,ii,7778.Dryden'stranslation.

[68]Bonneau.praefecimusMS.,Hutten.

[47]ThetextoftheDonationwhichVallaused,
thoughapparentlyinacopyofGratian'sDecretum
extantinhistime,differshereandinanumberof
otherplaces,fromthetextswhichwehave,whether
inGratian'sDecretum,orinthePseudoIsidorian
Decretals.

[69]cogesHutten.
[70]InsertoccupavitHutten.Insert
occupantiBonneau.
[71]tibiHutten.
[72]TarquinumMS.
[73]videturHutten.
[74]suspitioMS.
[75]discedereHutten.
[76]unquamMS.,sothroughout.

[48]Thewordsatrapwasinfactappliedtohigher
officialsatRomeonlyinthemiddleoftheeighth
century.SchefferBoichorst,Mitteilungendes
Institutsf.osterreichischeGeschichtsforschung,x
(I889),P.315.
[49]Tertulliantellsthisapocryphalstoryinhis
Apology,chaps.5and21.Foratranslationofletters
allegedtohavebeenwrittentoTiberiusbyPilate,
seeNiceneandPostNiceneFathers,ed.Philip

[77]Apparentlysewasomitted,orithas
droppedoutofthetext.

Schaff(NewYork,18901897),vol.VIII,PP.459
463.

[78]ovemHutten,Bonneau.

[50]Valla'sargumentinthisparagraphispartly
basedonthedefectivetextoftheDonationwhichhe
used,cf.supra,p.85,note2.Zeumer'stextwouldbe
translated,"alltheRomanpeoplewhoaresubjectto
thegloryofourrule,"andFriedberg's,"allthe
peoplesubjecttothegloriousruleofRome."

[79]assentiarHutten.
[80]possumHutten.
[81]IhesumMS.,sothroughout.
[82]InsertaHutten.
[83]OmitregesMS.,anerror.
[84]praecaeptaMS.,sothroughout.
[85]negociorumMS.,sothroughout.
[86]haecHutten.
[87]BlankspacefortheGreekword,
followedapparentlybyitstranscription,
clerusMS.Huttenreadsdominatusfor
clerus,andterrenusforterrenainthe
followingline.Bonneauhasdivinaafterthe
Greekword.
[88]idemHutten.

[51]Virgil,Aeneid,vi,852.
[52]Theconjunction"seu"inclassicalLatinmeant,
asVallainsists,"or"intheeighthcenturyitwas
oftenusedwiththemeaning"and."Theforgerofthe
Donationuseditinthelattersense.Valladidnotsee
thesignificanceofthisusagefordatingtheforgery.
[53]Cf.supra,p.85,note2.
[54]"firmospatronos,"thisuseof"firmus"
characterizesthestyleofPopePaulI(757767).See
SchefferBoichorst,op.cit.,P.311.
[55]Rev.v,12withvariations.
[56]Partofthiscriticismrestsuponthepeculiarities
ofthetextoftheDonationwhichVallaused.

[89]reliqueruntMS.

[57]Cf.Coleman,ConstantinetheGreatand
Christianity,pp.148151,161164.

[90]EiusHutten.

[58]Ps.lxxxi,12.

[91]prophanumMS.,sothroughout.
[92]frequenterHutten.
[93]haecHutten.

[59]Rom.i,28,withthepersonoftheverbchanged.
[60]Matt.xxvii,28Johnxix,2.

[95]omitinHutten.

[61]Here,aswascommoninmedievalLatin,"seu"
istheequivalentof"et,"andmeans"and."Valla's
criticismiscorrect,butmightgofurtherinfixingthe
timeoftheforgery.Cf.supra,P.91,noteI.

[96]duriciamMS.

[62]Lucan,Pharsalia,i,7.

[97]derebuscontroversisHutten.
[98]quodcunqueMS.,sothroughout.

[63]InourbesttextsoftheDonationthiswordis
"banda,"usedintheeighthcenturyfor"colors"or
"flags."

[99]dignationemHutten.

[64]Horace,ArsPoetica,1.97.

[100]ferriHutten.

[65]JuliusValerius,ResGestaeAlexandri,i,37.

[101]blasfementMS.,sothroughout.

[66]AtRomeintheeighthcentury,thetimeofthe
forgery,"Militia"indicatedacivilrank,ratherthan
soldiers.

[94]ipsiusHutten.suumBonneau.

[102]charissimosMS.

[103]InsertestBonneau(asinVulgate).

[67]TheallusionistothetitleofPatriciangivento
PippinandtohissonsasdefendersoftheRoman
[104]OmitutiamHutten.inhoc,insteadof See.
utiamBonneau.
[68]Theofficeofconsulasitexistedinthe
[105]inHutten.
RepublicandtheEmpiredisappearedinthetimeof
theGermaninvasions.Thewordwaslaterapplied
[106]acceptatamHutten.
quitedifferently,toagroup,practicallyasocial
class,atRome.
[107]Bonneauomitsacceptatum...non
fuisse.
[69]WhereValla'stextoftheDonationreads
"concubitarum,"Zeumer'sreads"excubiorum"
[108]iusteHutten.
[guards].
[109]avariciamMS.

[70]Martial,XIV,141(140).

[110]tabulisHutten.

[71]Vallaforthispartofhiscriticismusesthe
ratherunintelligibleorderofwordsfoundinmost
textsoftheDonation,insteadofthemoreintelligible
orderwhichheusedinhisearlierquotations.Cf.pp.
102,103.

[111]haec...solentHutten.
[112]circunduxitMS.
[113]HispaniasHutten.

[117]aliquisHutten.

[72]Valla'stextoftheDonationinthisparagraph
differsgreatlyfromZeumer's,Hinschius',and
Friedberg's.Itisnotveryclearinanyofthetexts
whethertheintentistogivethePopepowertotake
anyonewhomsoeverintotheclergyandthusrelieve
himfromcivilandmilitaryduties,ortopreventthe
Romannobilityfromforcingtheirwayinto
ecclesiasticalofficesagainstthewillofthePope.

[118]sedicionemMS.

[73]Ps.xxi,3,withvariation.

[119]fecemMS.

[74]Valladoesnot,here,quotehisowntextofthe
Donationcorrectly.

[114]Hutten.gratulabanturMS.
[115]hiHutten.
[116]ThissentenceisomittedbyHutten.

[120]ulcionemMS.
[121]hybernisMS.
[122]edilesMS.
[123]MoedorumMS.
[124]enimHutten.
[125]atHutten.
[126]Hutten.sufficietMS.
[127]diaconusHutten.
[128]imperatorqueHutten.
[129]Theclauses,quifuit....idolorumcultu,
arenotintheoriginaltextofEutropius.

[75]Thissingularconfusionaboutthecrowninthe
DonationisexplainedbyBrunner,Festgabefor
RudolfvonGneist,pp.25etseq.,asgivingthePope
thepossession,butnottheuse,oftheimperial
crown,thuspavingthewayforhisprerogativeof
conferringthecrownuponLouisthePiousin816.
SchefferBoichorsttakesthewholeepisodeasan
attemptoftheforgertoglorifySylvesterbyhaving
theemperorhonorhimwiththeimperialcrown,and
havingthePopedisplaytheclericalhumility(and
pride)ofrejectingit.
[76]Valla'stextoftheDonationherehas"sive"for
"seu,"cf.supra,p.91,noteI.Inthewhole
paragraphtherearemanydeviationsfromothertexts
oftheDonation.
[77]Cf.supra,pp.41etseq.,49etseq.

[130]Eutropius,Bonneau.Claudium
propontum,thelesiumMS.Claudium
propontumTelestinumHutten.Caudium
PropontumTelesinumSchard.Vallamakes
omissionsinthisandinthepreceding
sentencefromEutropius.

[78]ThisphraseasusedintheDonationprobably
meantLombardy,VenetiaandIstriai.e.,practically,
northern,asdistinctfrompeninsular,Italy.Cf.
supra,p.27,note2,also,Dollinger,Papstfabeln(ed.
Friedrich),p.122,note.InclassicalLatinitwould
havebeen,asVallainsists,avagueterm.

[131]InsertquiHutten.

[79]Cf.supra,pp.91,109.

[132]OmitlicetHutten.

[80]Cf.supra,p.95.

[133]FaelicisMS.

[81]King[rex]wasaforbiddentitleatRomeafter
thetimeoftheTarquins.

[134]ArchadiumMS.
[135]ProhoMS.ProhHutten.
[136]laetaleMS.,Hutten.
[137]Hutten.ConstantinoMS.error.
[138]RuffinusMS.
[139]peneMS.,Hutten.
[140]InsertadHutten.
[141]InsertsubHutten.
[142]Bonneau.nonMS.quinonindubium
vocariHutten.quiindubiumvocari
Schard.
[143]codicibusHutten.
[144]LodoiciMS.
[145]adHutten.
[146]utHutten.
[147]nauciHutten,Bonneau.
[148]utiminiHutten.
[149]GelatiumMS.,sothroughout.

[82]AparodyonMatt.v,18.
[83]Rev.xxii,1819.
[84]"Pagina"inmedievalLatinoftenmeant
"document."
[85]IntheLiberPontificalis(ed.Duchesne,i,494)
thekeysofRavennaandothercitiesincludedinthe
socalledDonationofPippinaresaidtohavebeen
placedin"theconfessionofSt.Peter"(i.e.,before
histomb).Thisassociationseemstohavebeen
commonintheeighthcentury.
[86]Cf.supra,p.85.
[87]InthebesttextoftheDonationthisisnotcalled
thefourthconsulshipofGallicanus.Inanycase,
however,thedateisimpossiblenosuchconsulship
asthisisknown.
[88]IIKingsxv,5.
[89]"ThisapocryphalstoryranthattheSibyl
prophesiedofChrist,andthatAugustuserectedan
altartohim.
[90]TheTempleofPeacewasbuiltbyVespasian
andwasnotdestroyeduntilitwasburneddownin
thetimeofCommodus.

[153]SybilliniMS.

[91]ThisepisodeintheGesta,orActus,orVita,
Silvestri,asmaybegatheredfromValla's
subsequentdiscussion,involvesanenormous
serpent,dwellinginacaveundertheTarpeianrock,
devastatingtheentirecityofRomewithhis
poisonousbreath,appeasedonlybymaidensbeing
givenhimtodevour,andfinallyboundforeverinhis
cavebySylvester.Forreferences,cf.Coleman,
Constantine,etc.,pp.161,168.

[154]collumnisMS.

[92]ApparentlyVallaassumesthattheGesta

[150]omitIs...legiHutten,evidently
copyist'serror.
[151]secunturMS.
[152]duntaxatMS.

[155]Hutten.christianosMS.
[156]inHutten,Bonneau.
[157]papiroMS.
[158]committisHutten.
[159]inurbeRomaHutten.intotaurbe
RomanaBonneau.

SilvestriwaswrittenbyaGreeknamedEusebius,
butnotEusebiusofCaesarea,authoroftheChurch
History.Cf.,however,Coleman,Constantine,pp.
161168.
[93]Satura,x,174175.
[94]Cf.thestoryofBelandtheDragoninthe
Apocrypha.

[160]incipitBonneau.

[95]Factorumetdictorummemorabiliumlibri
novem,V,vi,2.

[161]satrapasHutten,sothroughout.

[96]Ibid.,I,viii,3.

[162]adiuncto(insteadofautiuncto)
Hutten,Bonneau.

[97]Livy,VII,6,incorrectlysummarized.

[163]quatuorMS.,sothroughout.
[164]nominanturHutten.
[165]BonneauomitsRomane...populos.
[166]pontifexHutten,Bonneau.
[167]nonHutten,Bonneau.
[168]hiHutten,Bonneau.
[169]infaelixMS.,sothroughout.
[170]exaltareHutten.
[171]FormianeMS.
[172]elegisHutten,Bonneau.
[173]exaltareHutten.
[174]dignitatemHutten.
[175]Hutten,Bonneau.disponaturMS.
error.
[176]BizantiumMS.,soinmanyplaces.
[177]Hutten,Bonneau.confitenturMS.
error.
[178]AtquiHutten.AtqueBonneau.
[179]HuttenomitsByzantiam...nomine.
[180]TrachiaMS.,sothroughout.
[181]extruxeratMS.

[98]Livy,Preface,7.
[99]Livy,V,21,9.
[100]TerentiusVarro,delingualatina,lib.v,148
150.
[101]ValeriusMaximus,factorumetdictorum
memorabilium,lib.i,viii,7.
[102]Ibid.,i,viii,3.
[103]Ibid.,i,viii,4,withthesubstitutionof"seen"
for"given."
[104]InadisputationbetweenSylvesterandJewish
rabbistherabbisaresaidtohavekilledabullby
shoutingthesacredname,Jehovah,andSylvesteris
saidtohavebroughthimtolifebywhisperingthe
nameofChrist.Cf.Coleman,ConstantinetheGreat,
etc.,p.163.
[105]Thesestoriesweretobefound,amongother
places,intheMirabiliaurbisRomae,aguidebookto
Romedatingfromthetwelfthcentury.English
translationbyF.M.Nichols,TheMarvelsofRome
(LondonandRome,1889),pp.1920.
[106]Thisclause,thoughnotintheMS.orHutten,
seemsnecessarytothesenseofthefollowingclause,
soIhavetranslateditfromBonneau'stext.Inthe
VitaSilvestriwearetoldthatthepaganpriests
orderedConstantinetobatheininfants'bloodin
ordertocurehimselfofleprosy.Cf.Coleman,
ConstantinetheGreat,etc.,p.102.
[107]ItwillberememberedthatVallawrotethis
whileintheserviceoftheKingofNaples,whowas
inconflictwithimperialaswellaswithpapal

[182]comunemMS.

claims.

[183]GetulosMS.

[108]Aforgeryoftheeleventhcentury.Cf.E.
Emerton,MedievalEurope,p.55.

[184]Hutten.nomineturMs.
[185]SiccineMS.
[186]exequiturMS.,sothroughout.
[187]extinctisMS.,sothroughout.
[188]igitur,insteadoftuideoHutten.te
omninoomisisseBonneau.
[189]circundareMS.
[190]Hutten.clamydemMS.
[191]revendissimisMS.,anerror.
[192]patritiosMS.
[193]Hutten.hostiariorumMS.
[194]adomaturHutten.
[195]decrevimusHutten.

[109]GossiphaditthatBonifaceVIIIinducedhis
predecessortoabdicatebyangelicwarnings,which
hehimselfproducedthroughimprovisedspeaking
tubes.
[110]TheassassinationofVitelleschi,supposedly
byorderofthePope,tookplaceinMarch,1440,and
isoneofthemeansofdatingValla'streatise.
[111]Judgesxi,1228.
[112]Fortheseepisodes,cf.Creighton,Historyof
thePapacy,etc.,Vol.1,passim.
[113]Tarquinius,bystrikingdownthetallest
poppieswithhiscane,gavethehintthattheleaders
oftheoppositionshouldbeexecutedcf.Livy,I,54.
[114]Theensuingepisodeoccurredin1434and
thusfixesthedateofthewritingofthispassageas
1439or1440.Cf.Mancini,VitadiLorenzoValla,p.
163.

[197]paciensMS.,sothroughout.

[115]FlamininushaddefeatedPhihpVof
Macedonia,anditwasfromPhilip,notAntiochus,
thathe"freed"Greece.

[198]convertenturHutten,Bonneau.

[116]AreminiscenceofRom.xi,16.

[199]PhariseiMS.

[117]FreequotationsfromRom.ii,2124.

[200]Hutten,Bonneau.OmitcumMS.
[201]patescetMS.

[118]Areferencetothewellknowninterviewin
whichLeoIpersuadedAttilatodesistfromhis
invasionofItaly.

[202]cognosceretHutten,Bonneau.

[119]Thisotherdiscoursedidnotappear.

[203]solicitudinibusMS.

[120]Eph.vi,12.

[204]MenecbinisMS.

[121]TheMS.,Cod.Vat.Lat.5314,onwhichthis
translationisbased,wasfinishedDecember7,1451.

[196]blasfemiamMS.

[205]Hutten.frygionemMS.
[206]Correctformisphrygionias.Bonneau
omitsthiswholesentence.
[207]fueruntHutten.
[208]significetHutten.
[209]lorocircumdaricollumBonneau.

[210]InsertautcanemHutten,Bonneau.
[211]chlamidemMS.,sobelow.
[212]porphiritumMS.
[213]amethistoMS.
[214]siHutten.
[215]dilabiturHutten,Bonneau.
[216]mendatioMS.
[217]loquerisHutten,Bonneau.
[218]cresentisMS.
[219]InsertsummumHutten.`
[220]patritiiMS.
[221]patritiusMS.
[222]Hutten,Bonneau.iisMS.
[223]fiantHutten.faciuntBonneau.Add
autmilitariaornamentaHutten,Bonneau.
[224]scenidMS.
[225]ociosumMS.
[226]Hutten,Bonneau.SalomonMS.
[227]inpraesentiarumMS.
[228]Bonneau.CiliciniMS.,Hutten.
[229]Bonneau.CyniphioMS.,Hutten.
[230]terrestriaHutten,Bonneau.The
quotation,tocorrespondwithValla'searlier
citation,shouldbe"itacaelestiasicutterrena
adlaudemDeidecorentur"
[231]deficietHutten,Bonneau.Insertalias
deficientBonneau.
[232]praeHutten,Bonneau.
[233]concessimusBonneau,Zeumer'stext
oftheConstitutumConstantini.
[234]preciosisMS.,sobelow.
[235]Hutten.admistumMS.

[236]nanqueMS.
[237]loqutusMS.,sothroughout.
[238]Decrevimushocut....utidebeant,isthe
correctquotationfromtheConstitutum
Constantini.Decrevimusquodutidebeant
Hutten.
[239]decrevimusMS.,Hutten.
[240]eodoMS.
[241]representariMS.
[242]Hutten.misteriaMS.ministeria
Bonneau.
[243]librisBonneau.
[244]quiBonneau.
[245]MoysemMS.
[246]OmitutHutten,Zeumer'stextofthe
ConstitutumConstantini.
[247]provintiasMS.
[248]calceoMS.,anerror.
[249]InsertornamentaHutten.
[250]provintiasMS.,sobelow.
[251]OmitnonBonneau.
[252]OmitNam...erantBonneau.
[253]numeroMS.,anerror.
[254]cathalogoMS.
[255]descirptosMS.
[256]permanendasinthepassageasquoted
abovebyValla.Theformusedvariesin
differenttextsoftheDonation
permansurum,permanenda,permanendam,
permanendas.
[257]Bonneauincludesaspartofthis
quotationthenextquotedpassagebelow,
quoniam...potestatem.Herepeatsitinits
properplacewithoutquotationmarks.

[258]Schard.ItaliamMS.,Hutten.
[259]urbisHutten,Bonneau.
[260]desistiMS.
[261]InsertscripturamHutten,Bonneau.
[262]firmavimusHutten.confirmamus
Bonneau.confirmavimusZeumer'stextof
theConstitutumConstantini.
[263]etMS.
[264]coenoMS.
[265]peribitHutten.
[266]quodtuSummoDeoHutten.quodtu
SummoPontificiBonneau.
[267]Hutten,Bonneau.praccipitMS.
[268]OmitobtestamurMS.,anerror.
[269]nuncinsteadofnecnonBonneau,
Zeumer'stextoftheConstitutum
Constantini.
[270]imposterumMS.
[271]Hutten,Bonneau,Zeumer'stextofthe
ConstitutumConstantini.OmitnonMS.
[272]InsertCaesarisautHutten,Bonneau.
[273]existimatHutten.
[274]quemdamMS.
[275]maliciamqueMS.
[276]sepulchroMS.
[277]sanctaeHutten,Bonneau.
[278]custoditisHutten,Bonneau.
[279]Hutten'stextomitstwosentences,
"Nemo....exemplar."
[280]glosatorisMS.
[281]KalendarumBonneau.Kalendarum
ApriliarumZeumer'stextofthe
ConstitutumConstantini.

[282]joathanBonneau.
[283]OmithocHutten,Bonneau.
[284]Omitadillumvero...iscuimittuntur
Hutten,Bonneau.
[285]neMS.
[286]senseruntHutten.
[287]tamenHutten.
[288]OmitmihiHutten.
[289]maliciaMS.
[290]Hutten.angustoMS.
[291]InsertveritatisHutten.
[292]taciteHutten.
[293]bybliaeMS.
[294]luminaribusHutten.
[295]Hutten,Bonneau.dicantMS.
[296]Hutten,Bonneau,estMS.
[297]prumptissimaMS.
[298]satyricaMS.
[299]ullumsociorumaccomitumsuorum
Hutten.
[300]Bonneau.BragadaeMS.,Hutten.
[301]InsertolimandomitillumHutten,
Bonneau.
[302]quinHutten,Bonneau.
[303]Insteadofthetwopreceding
sentences,BonneauhasVolantenim
draconesimperiteeumcuiusgenusilludsit
excogitaverat.
[304]foeminasMS.,sothroughout.
[305]prodiissetMS.
[306]fuitHutten.
[307]mimicaeBonneau.

[308]impudentissimiHutten.
[309]demonumMS.
[310]seducereturHutten,Bonneau.
[311]iniusticiaeMS.
[312]Hutten,Bonneau.illiusMS.
[313]OmithaecHutten.
[314]hecMS.
[315]operepreciumMS.operepretium
Hutten.
[316]Hutten.GenuitiusMS.Bonneauomits
thissentenceTerentiusVarro...M.
Genutius.
[317]dedistisValeriusMaximus,factotum
etdictorummemorabilium,lib.i,viii,4.
[318]Bonneau.istosMS.,Hutten.
[319]nescirentBonneau.
[320]inficiorBonneau.
[321]synapisMS.
[322]horumBonneau.
[323]aemulationemsinonscientiam
Bonneau.
[324]OmitimprobaquaedametBonneau.
[325]InsertnisiBonneau.
[326]abiicimusMS.
[327]OmitutHutten.ingenuamHutten,
Bonneau.
[328]illoHutten.eoBonneau.
[329]BonneauinsertsTranseoquod
cruorempuerorumadcurationemleprae
faceredicunt,quodmedicinanonconfitetur.
[330]iusissentMS.
[331]Hutten,Bonneau.MS.
[332]sedHutten,Bonneau.

[333]MS.Hutten.Bonneau.
[334]Hutten,Bonneau.distinguntMS.
[335]Bonneau.MetropolissedMitropolis
MS.metropolis.
[336]civitatissiveurbisHutten,Bonneau.
[337]InsertitalegendumSimonemHutten.
[338]commentitiamMS.
[339]LodoiciMS.,sothroughout,
[340]PascaliMS.,sothroughout.
[341]imperpetuumMS.
[342]predecessoribusMS.
[343]ditioneMS.
[344]InsertetceteraHutten.
[345]ipsoHutten.
[346]volueritHutten,Bonneau.
[347]tamenHutten,Bonneau.
[348]autHutten,Bonneau.
[349]falseMS.
[350]OmitillumHutten,Bonneau.
[351]OmitprincepsHutten.
[352]alioquinMS.
[353]InsertutHutten,Bonneau.
[354]OmitRomanoHutten.
[355]provintiisqueMS.
[356]InsertnonBonneau.
[357]OmitquidiciturHutten.
[358]vocanturBonneau.
[359]MS.leavesblank.Hutten.
[360]InsertregnoBonneau.

[361]ipsiussuccessorumBonneau.
[362]tantumMS.
[363]quinquagessimoMS.
[364]predasMS.,sothroughout.
[365]questionemMS.
[366]vendicantMS.
[367]iccircoMS.
[368]hocHutten,Bonneau.
[369]AmphitrionumMS.,Hutten.
[370]tandiuMS.,Hutten.
[371]hisHutten,Bonneau.
[372]malaefideiHutten,Bonneau,so
below.
[373]maliciamMS.
[374]estMS.
[375]quantumvisHutten,Bonneau,so
throughout.
[376]periisseHutten,Bonneau,so
throughout.
[377]AmonitasMS.
[378]licetHutten.
[379]et,insteadofutinHutten,Bonneau.
[380]bonifatiiMS.
[381]BonifaciusHutten,Bonneau.
[382]paxHutten,Bonneau.
[383]illaHutten,Bonneau.
[384]exhauristiMS.
[385]nonmusthavedroptoutofthetext.
[386]Hutten,Bonneau.tonantemMS.
[387]vastitateMS.

[388]abbominandaMS.,sothroughout.
[389]utdederitfamiliaecibum,etescam
panisHutten.donaret,insteadofdevorarit
Bonneau.
[390]exorbetMS.
[391]MS.leavesblankspacefortheGreek
words.
[392]OmitidestpopulivexatorrexHutten.
populivorator,omittingidestandrex
Bonneau.
[393]questuiMS.
[394]eiBonneau.
[395]aufferreMS.
[396]esseMS.
[397]Bonneauomitssanctissimo...fieri.
[398]renunciareMS.
[399]Hutten,Bonneau.OmitnecMS.
[400]delitiisMS.
[401]MS.bearspostscriptFinisseptimo
IdusDecembris,Mccccli.LausDeo.
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