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CHAP.  XIX.

    Of the Authority, of the Assembly of the States
    concerning the most important Affairs of Religion.

We have hitherto demonstrated, that the Assembly of the States had a very great Power in all Matters of Importance relating to our Kingdom of France.  Let us now consider, what its Authority has been, in Things that concern Religion.  Of this our Annals will inform us under the Year MCCC. when Pope Boniface the Eighth sent Ambassadors to King Philip the Fair, demanding of him, whether he did not hold and repute himself to be subject to the Pope in all Things temporal as well as spiritual; and whether the Pope was not Lord over all the Kingdoms and States of Christendom?  In Consequence of these Principles, he required of Philip to acknowledge him for his Sovereign Lord and Prince, and to confess that he held his Kingdom of France from the Pope’s Liberality; or that if he refused to do this, he should be forthwith excommunicated, and declar’d a Heretick.  After the King had given Audience to these Ambassadors, he summon’d the States to meet at Paris, and in that Assembly the Pope’s Letters were read, to the Purport following. Boniface, universal Bishop, the Servant of the Servants of God, to Philip King of France. Fear God and keep his Commandments.  It is our Pleasure thou shouldst know, that thou art our Subject, as well in things temporal as Spiritual, and that it belongs not to thee to bestow Prebends or collate Benefices, in any Manner whatever.  If thou hast the Custody of any such that may be now vacant, thou must reserve the Profits of them for the Use of such as shall succeed therein:  and if thou hast already collated any of them, we decree by these Presents such Collation to be ipso facto void, and do revoke whatever may have been transacted relating thereunto; esteeming all those to be Fools and Madmen, who believe the contrary.  From our Palace of the Lateran in the Month of December, and in the Sixth Year of our Pontificate.  These Letters being read, and the Deputies of the States having severally deliver’d their Opinions about them, after the Affair was maturely deliberated, it was ordain’d; first, that the Pope’s Letters should be burnt in the Presence of his Ambassador, in the great Yard of the Palace:  Then, that these Ambassadors with Mitres upon their Heads, and their Faces bedaub’d with Dirt, should be drawn in a Tumbrel by the common Hangman into the said Yard, and there be exposed to the Mockery and Maledictions of the People:  finally, that Letters in the King’s Name should be dispatched to the Pope, according to the Tenor following.  Philip by the Grace of God, King of France, to Boniface, who stiles himself universal Bishop, little or no greeting.  Be it known to thy great Folly and extravagant Temerity,