Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/528

 492 Readings in European History Popular sovereignty. Unfounded claims made by the pope and clergy the chief obstacle to peace. Churchmen = Christian believers. The power of making the laws should belong to the whole body of citizens, for there is no lawgiver among men superior to the people themselves. The argument that there are an infinite number of fools in the world may be met by pointing out that "foolish" is a relative term, and that the people know their own needs best and will not legislate against their own interests. Any particular class of people is, how- ever, likely to be self-seeking, as is shown by the decrees of the popes and the clergy, where the self-interest of the law- maker is only too apparent. The actual administration must, nevertheless, be in the hands of a single person or group of persons. 1 Perhaps a king is the best head for the state, but the monarch should be elected and not hold his office hereditarily, and should be deposed if he exceed his powers. 2 [At the end of Part I the time comes to take up the chief cause of trouble which has grown up since Aristotle's time, namely, the papacy and the clergy.] The bishops of Rome have extended their jurisdiction not only over the clergy but, since the Donation of Constantine, over secular rulers as well. This is illustrated by the acts of the popes of the time (including the famous bull Unam Sanctani] and of the existing bishop of Rome, John XXII, who claims, both in Italy and Germany, to have supreme jurisdiction over the emperor and over the lesser princes and communities, even in purely temporal and feudal matters. In its original meaning the " church " meant all believers in Christ, all those for whom he shed his blood. " Church- men " (viri ecdesiastict) then include all the faithful, whether they be priests or not. The assumed supremacy of the bishop of Rome is without foundation. Even if Peter was ever in Rome, which is doubtful, there is no reason to suppose that he handed down any exceptional power to the succeeding bishops. 1 All this is strikingly similar to the teachings of Rousseau in his Social Contract. See History of Western Europe, 214. 2 Rather singularly Marsiglio appears to have no enthusiasm for a universal monarchy or empire.