170 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1294-1517.
Piccoloraini, who came to Basel as Cardinal Capranica's secretary. He sat on some of its important commissions.
The tasks set before the council were the completion of the work of Constance in instituting reforms,^ and a peaceful settlement of the Hohemiaa her^gy. Admirable as its effort was in both directions, it failed of papal favor, and the synod was turned into a constitutional battle over papal absolutism _and conciliar aupremiicy. This battle was fought with the pen as well as in debate. Nicolas of Cusa, representing the scholastic element, advocated, in 1433, the supremacy of councils in his Concordantia catholica. The Dominican, John of Turrecremata, took the opposite view, and defended the doctrine of papal infallibility in his Summa de ecelesia et ejus auetoritate. For years the latter writing was the classical authority for the papal pretension.
The business was performed not by nations but by four committees, each composed of an equal number of representatives from the four nations and elected for a month. When they agreed on any subject, it was brought before the council in public session.
Jt soon became evident- ihat-thei synoi -ackjiQ.wLe.dgeiL jio earthly authority above itself, and was in no mood to heajlthg contrary principle defendsLd. On the other hand, Eugenius was not ready to tolerate free discussion and the synod's selfassertion, and took the unfortunate step of proroguing tlie synod to Bologna, making the announcement at a meeting of the cardinals, Dec. 18, 1431. The bull was made public at Basel four weeks later, and made an intense sensation. The synod was quick to give its answer, and decided to continue its sittings. This was revolution, but the synod had the nations and public opinion back of it, as well as the decrees of the Council of Constance. It insisted upon tlie personal presence of Eugenius, and on Feb^ 15^ 1432,aleclared for its own sovereignty and that a general council might not be prorogued or transferred by a pope without its own consent.
In the meantime Sigismund liad received the iron crown at^
^ Oh reformationem eccles. Dei iti capite et memhris specialiter congregatur, Mansi, XXIX. KiG, etc.
§ 17. THE COUNCIL OF BASEL. 1431-1449. 171
Milan, Nov. 25, 1431. He was at this period a strong supjporter of the council's claims^. A French synod, meeting at Bourges early in 1432, gave its sanction to them, and the University of Paris wrote that Eugenius' decree transferring the council was a suggestion of the devil. Becoming more bold, the council, at its third session, April 29, 1432, called upon the pope to revoke his bull and be present in person. At its fourth session, June 20, it decreed that, in case the papal office became vacant, the election to fill the vacancy should be held in Basel and that, so long as Eugenius remained away from Basel, he should be denied the right to create any more cardinals. The council went still farther, proceeded to arraign the pope for contumacy, and on Dec. 18 gave him 60 days in which to appear, on pain of having formal proceedings instituted against him.
Sigismund,who was crowned emperor in Rome the following Spring, May 31, 1433, was not prepared for such drastic action. He was back again in Basel in October, but, with the emperor present or absent, the council continued on its course, and repeatedly reaffirmed its superior authority, quoting the declarations of the Council of Constance at its fourth and fifth sessions. The voice of Western Christendom was against Eugenius, as were the most of his cardinals. Under the stress of this opposition, and pressed by the revolution threatening his authority in Rome, the pope gave way. and in the decree of Dec. 13, 1433, revoked his three buUs^^beginning with Dec. 18,1431, which adjourned the synod. He asserted he had acted with the advice of the cardinals, but now pronounced and declared -Ui& "Ge-neral-Councilnl Basel legitimate from the time of its opening;," Any utterance or act prejudicial to the holy synod or derogatory to its authority, which had proceeded from him, he revoked, annulled, and pronounced utterly void.i At the same time the pope appointed legates to pre-
^ Decernimus et declaramus generale concil. Basileense a tempore inchoationis suce legitime continuatum fuisse et esse . . . quidquid per nos aut nostra nomine in prejudicium et derogationem sacri concil. Basileensis seu contra ejus auctoritatem factum et attentatiim seu assertum est, cassamus, revocamus, irritamus et annullamus, nullas, irritas fuisse et esse declaramus, Mansi, XXIX. 78.