Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/151

 INFLUENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY. I35 During this period of antagonism to Eome the University of Paris had contributed no little to the abasement of the Inquisition by supplanting it as an investigator of doctrine and judge of her- esy. Its ancient renown, fully maintained by an uninterrupted succession of ardent and learned teachers, gave it great authority. It was a national institution of which clergy and laity ahke might weU be proud, and at one time it appeared as though it might rival the Parlement in growing into one of the recognized powers of the State. In the fearful anarchy which accompanied the insan- ity of Charles YL it boldly assumed a right to speak on public affairs, and its interference was welcomed. In 1411 the king, who chanced at the time to be in the hands of the Burgundians, ap- pealed to It to excommunicate the Armagnacs, and the University zealously did so. In 1412 it presented a remonstrance to the king on the subject of the financial disorders of the time and demanded a reform. Supported by the Parisians, at its dictate the financiers The feelings with which the abrogation of the Pragmatic Sanction in 1461 was received are well expressed in the - Pragmatim Sanctionis Passio^' Baluz et Mansi, IV. 29. ' Pius II. is singularly candid in his account of the simoniacal transaction through which he purchased the abrogation by giving the cardinal's hat to Jean Bishop of Arras. The suggestion at first provoked the liveliest remonstrances from the members of the Sacred College, who, through their spokesman, the Car- dinal of Avignon, warned Pius that there would be no peace in the Consistory for the bishop would set them all by the ears, and that his unquiet spirit showed that he must be the offspring of an Incubus. Pius admitted all this, but arc^ued that It was an unfortunate necessity; both Louis XI. and Philippe le Bon'had asked for his promotion; unless the request was granted the Pragmatic Sanc- tion would not be abolished, for the fury of the disappointed man would con- vert him into its supporter, and, as he was learned, he would readily find ample Scriptural warrant to adduce in its favor, which would be decisive, as he was the only man in France who urged the abrogation, and he could readily lead the king to change his mind. These arguments were convincing, and Pius enjoyed the supreme triumph of destroying the last relic of the reforms of Con- stance and Basle. He paid dearly for it, however, in the annoyances inflicted on him by the new cardinal, whom he describes as a liar and a perjurer avari- cious and ambitious, a glutton and a drunkard, and excessively given to women He was so irascible that at meals he would frequently throw the silver plates and vessels at the servants, and occasionally would push the whole table over