Page:Outlines of European History.djvu/562

 478 Outlines of European History Pandulf grandly absolved all the subjects of King John of England, before his very face, from their oath of fealty to him (see above, p. 419). The task assumed by the Pope of governing the whole western world naturally made it necessary to create a large body of officials at Rome in order to transact all the multiform business and prepare and transmit the innumerable legal documents.^ The cardinals and the Pope's officials constituted what was called the papal ama, or court. To carry on his government and meet the expenses of pal- ace and retinue, the Pope had need of a vast income. This he secured from various sources. Heavy fees were exacted from those who brought suits to his court for decision. The arch- bishops, bishops, and abbots were expected to make generous contributions when the Pope confirmed their election. In the thirteenth century the Pope himself began to fill many benefices throughout Europe, and customarily received half the first year's revenues from those whom he appointed. For several centuries before the Protestants finally threw off their allegiance to the popes, there was widespread complaint on the part of both clergy and laymen that the fees and taxes levied by the airia were excessive. Next in order below the head of the Church were the arch- bishops and bishops. An archbishop was a bishop whose power extended beyond the boundaries of his. own diocese and who exercised a certain control over all the bishops within his province. There is perhaps no class of persons in medieval times whose position it is so necessary to understand as that of the bishops. They were regarded as the successors of the apostles, whose powers were held to be divinely transmitted to them. They represented the Church Universal in their respective dioceses, under the supreme headship of their " elder brother," the 1 Many of the edicts, decisions, and orders of the popes were called bull. from the seal (Latin bi^la) attached to them.