268 FOURTH PERIOD. A. D. 590 4049.
middle of the ninth century, a mysterious book made its appear ance, which gave legal expression to the popular opinion of the papacy, raised and strengthened its power more than any other agency, and forms to a large extent the basis of the canon law of the church of Rome. This is a collection of ecclesiastical laws under the false name of bishop ISIDOB of Seville (died 636), hence called the " Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals." l He was the reputed (though not the real) author of an earlier collection, based upon that of the Roman abbot, Dionysius Exiguus, in the sixth century, and used as the law-book of the church in Spain, hence called the " Hispana." In these earlier collections the letters and decrees (Epistolce Decretales) of the popes from the time of Siricius (384) occupy a prominent place.2 A decretal in the canonical sense is an authoritative rescript of a pope in reply to some question,2 while a decree is a papal ordi nance enacted with the advice of the Cardinals, without a pre vious inquiry. A canon is a law ordained by a general or pro vincial synod. A dogma is an ecclesiastical law relating to doctrine. The earliest decretals had moral rather than legisla tive force. But as the questions and appeals to the pope multi plied, the papal answers grew in authority. Fictitious docu ments, canons, and decretals were nothing new ; but the Pseudo- Isidorian collection is the most colossal and effective fraud known in the history of ecclesiastical literature.
1. The contents of the Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals. The
1 The preface begins : " Tsidorus Mercator servus Chrisli lectori conservo suo et parenti suo in Domino fideli (al. fidci) salutem.' The byname "Mercator" which is found in 30 of the oldest codices, is so far unexplained. Some refer it to Marius Mercator, a learned occidental layman residing in Constantino ple, who wrote against Pelagius and translated ecclesiastical records which pseudo-Isidorus made use of. Others regard it as a mistake for "Peccator" (a title of humility frequently used by priests and bishops, e. g. by St. Patrick in his "Confession"), which is found in 3 copies. "Mercatus" also occurs in several copies, and this would be equivalent to redemptus, " Isidorus, the re deemed servant of Christ." See Hinschius and Richter, 1. c.
2 The original name wag decretale constitution or decretalis epistola, afterwards decretalis. See Richter, I. c. p. 80.
I GO. THE PSEUDO-ISIDOKIAN DECKETALS. 26 0
book is divided into three parts. The first part contains fifty Apostolical Canons from the collection of Dionysius, sixty spurious decretals of the Roman bishops from Clement (d. 101) to Melchiades (d. 311). The second part comprehends the forged document of the donation of Constantino, some tracts concerning the Council of Nicrea, and the canons of the Greek, African, Gallic, and Spanish Councils down to 683, from the Spanish collection. The third part, after a preface copied from the Hispana, gives in chronological order the decretals of the popes from Sylvester (d. 335) to Gregory II. (d. 731), among which thirty-five are forged, including all before Damasus ; but the genuine letters also, which are taken from the Isidorian col lection, contain interpolations. In many editions the Capitula Angilramni are appended.
All these documents make up a manual of orthodox doctrine and clerical discipline. They give dogmatic decisions against heresies, especially Arianism (which lingered long in Spain), and directions on worship, the sacraments, feasts and fasts, sacred rites and costumes, the consecration of churches, church property, and especially on church polity. The work breathes throughout the spirit of churchly and priestly piety and reverence.
2. The sacerdotal system. Pscudo-Isidor advocates the papal theocracy. The clergy is a divinely instituted, consecrated, and inviolable caste, mediating between God and the people, as in the Jewish dispensation. The priests are the "familiares Dd" the " spiritualcs" the laity the " carnalcs" He who sins against them sins against God. They are subject to no earthly tribunal, and responsible to God alone, who appointed them judges of mon. The privileges of the priesthood culminate in the episco pal dignity, and the episcopal dignity culminates in the papacy. The cathedra Pctri is the fountain of all power. Without the consent of the pope no bishop can be deposed, no council be convened. He is the ultimate umpire of all controversy, and from him there is no appeal. He is often called " episcopus universalis" notwithstanding the protest of Gregory I.