s crimes being alleged against him
by the defeated party, the king summoned a council in A. D. 503 to
investigate the charges; and he was acquitted. The other party being
dissatisfied, Ennodius, Bishop Ticonum, drew up an apology for the Pope
and council, in which, for the first time, the Pope was styled a "Judge in
the place of God, and Vicegerent of the Most High;" and "subject to no
earthly tribunal." Thus did the Lawless One attempt, "as God," to "sit in
the temple of God."

In A. D. 533, Justinian, Emperor at Constantinople, being about to attack
the Vandals in Africa, and wishing first to settle the religious disputes
of his capital in which he felt a great interest, he submitted the
controversy to the primate of Rome. To induce a decision in his own favor,
or to give force to it, he acknowledged the Bishop of Rome the Chief of
the whole Ecclesiastical body of the empire; and thus addressed him, in a
letter sent by two distinguished prelates:--

"Justinian, pious, fortunate, renowned, triumphant emperor,
consul, &c., to John, the most holy Archbishop of our city of
Rome, and patriarch.

"Rendering honor to the Apostolic chair, and to your Holiness, as
has been always and is our wish, and honoring your blessedness as
a father; we have hastened to bring to the knowledge of your
Holiness all matters relating to the state of the churches. It
having been at all times our great desire to preserve the unity of
your Apostolic chair, and the constitution of the holy churches of
God which has obtained hitherto, and still obtains.

"Therefore we have made no delay in subjecting and uniting to your
Holiness all the priests of the whole East.

"For this reason we have thought fit to bring to your notice the
present matters of disturbance; though they are manifest and
unquestionable, and always firmly held and declared by the whole
priesthood according to the doctrine of your Apostolic chair. For
we cannot suffer that anything which relates to the state of the
Church, however manifest and unquestionable, should be moved,
without the knowledge of your Holiness, who are The Head of all
the Holy Churches, for in all things, as we have already declared,
we are anxious to increase the honor and authority of your
Apostolic chair."

Says Dr. Croly:--

"The emperor's letter must have been sent before the 25th of March, 533.
For, i