Bishop or Ecclesiastick, nor to any College of
Clergymen; but to the _whole Body of citizens_ [ad universitatem civium]
inhabiting that Region, and to the Nobles of it, or to the Majority of
them both." Therefore those Pretences of the _Popes_, to a Power of
_creating_ or _abdicating_ Kings, are apparently false to every Body.
But besides this fabulous Device, which is a sufficient Instance of
their Wickedness and Malice, I think it worth my while to add a
remarkable Letter of Pope _Stephen_, adapted to the foregoing Fable; by
which we may make a judgment of the Madness and folly of that old crafty
Knave. This Letter is extant in _Rhegino_, a Benedictine Monk, and Abbot
of _Prunay_, [Footnote: _Abbot Pruniacensis_] an irrefragable Testimony
in an Affair of this Nature; 'tis in _Chron. anni_ 753.--"_Stephen_ the
Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, &c. As no Man ought to boast of
his Merits, so neither ought the wonderful Works of God which are
wrought upon his Saints without their Desert, to be buried in Silence,
but published abroad as the Angel admonished _Tobias_. I being
constrained thro' the Oppression of the holy Church, by that most
wicked, blasphemous, and not worthy to be named Wretch, _Aistolphus_, to
fly for Refuge to that _excellent and faithful Votary of St._ Peter,
_Lord_ Pipin, the most _Christian_ King, took my Journey into _France_;
where I fell into a mortal Distemper and remained some Time in the
District of _Paris_, in the venerable Monastery of St. _Denis_ the
Martyr. And being now past Hopes of Recovery, methought I was one Day at
Prayers in the Church of the same blessed Martyr, in a Place under the
Bells: And that I saw standing before the great Altar our Master
_Peter_; and that great Master of the _Gentiles_, our Master _Paul_;
whom I knew very well by their Vestments. And a little after, I saw the
blessed _Lord Denis_, a tall and slender Man, standing at the Right Hand
of our Lord _Peter_. And then that good Pastor the Lord _Peter_
said--This good Brother of ours asks for Health. Then reply'd the
blessed _Paul_--He shall be healed presently. And thereupon approaching
to our Lord _Denis_, he amicably put his Hand upon his Breast, and
look'd back upon our Lord _Peter_, and Lord _Peter_ with a chearful
Countenance said to our Lord _Denis_, His Health shall be your
particular Act of Favour. Then presently Lord _Denis_ taking a Censer
full of Incense, and holding a Branch of Palm-tree in his Hand,