The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

84 PROGRESS OF THE TEMPORAL SUPREMACY.the goods on receiving payment of the money ;and writingto the Bishop of Ferentino, giving his decision in the caseof a simple maiden for whose hand two lovers contended.*Thus the thunder of Rome broke alike over the heads ofpuissant kings and humble citizens. The Italian republicshe gathered under his own sceptre, and, binding them inleagues, cast them into the political scale, to counterpoisethe empire. The kings of Castile and Portugal, as theyhung on the perilous edge of battle, were separated by asingle word from his legate. The king of Navarre heldsome castles of Richard's, which his power did not enablehim to retake. The pontiff hinted at the spiritual thunder,and the castles were given up. Monarchs, intentonly on a present advantage, failed to see that, by acceptingthe aid of such a power, they were the abettors oftheir own future vassalage. The King of France had offendedthe Pope by repudiating his wife and contractinga new marriage. An interdict fell upon the realm. Thechurches were closed, and the clergy forbore their offices toboth the living and the dead. The submission of the powerfulPhilip Augustus illustrated the boundless spirit and appeasedthe immeasurable pride of Innocent. After thisgreat victory, we name not those which he gained over thekings of Spain and England, the latter of whom he excommunicated,placing his kingdom under interdict, and compellinghim to hold his crown and realm as the vassal of theRoman see. But the coronation of the Emperor OthoIV., and the varied and substantial concessions included inthe oath which Otho took on that occasion, are worthy ofbeing enumerated among the trophies of this mighty pope.The terror of his name extended to distant lands,—to Bohemia,to Hungary, to Norway. The pontifical thunder washeard rolling in even the latter northern region, where itsmote a certain usurper of the name of Swero. As if allthose labours had been too little,Innocent, from his seat onDu Pin, Eccles. Hist. vol. ii. p. 402.