. Mediæval and modern history . ates or temporalities, asthey were called, these becamehenceforth a permanent fief of theoverlord and subject to all the in-cidents of the feudal tenure. Whena vacancy occurred the lord as-sumed the right to fill it, just asin case of the escheat of a lay fief.^In this way the temporal rulersthroughout Europe had come toexercise the right of nominating orconfirming the election of almostall the great prelates of the these lay princes who had the patronage of these Churchoffices and lands handled them just as they did their lay required the
. Mediæval and modern history . ates or temporalities, asthey were called, these becamehenceforth a permanent fief of theoverlord and subject to all the in-cidents of the feudal tenure. Whena vacancy occurred the lord as-sumed the right to fill it, just asin case of the escheat of a lay fief.^In this way the temporal rulersthroughout Europe had come toexercise the right of nominating orconfirming the election of almostall the great prelates of the these lay princes who had the patronage of these Churchoffices and lands handled them just as they did their lay required the person nominated to an abbacy or to a bishop-ric to pay for the appointment and investiture a sum proportionedto the income from the office. This was in strict accord with thefeudal rule which allowed the lord to demand from the vassal,upon his investiture with a fief, a sum of money called a relief(sect. 90). This rule, thus applied to Church lands and offices,was, it is easy to see, the cause of great evil and corruption. The. Fig. 21. Investiture ok aBishop by a King THROUcm THE GiVIXG OF THE CrOSIEK, OR Pastoral Staff. (From amanuscript of the tenth century) 1 Tlie clergy and monks still retained the nominal right of election, but toofrequently an election by them was a mere matter of form. H17J EXCOMMUNICATION AND INTERDICT 107 ecclesiastical vacancies were virtually sold to the highest bidder,and at times the most unsuitable persons became bishops andabbots. To remedy the evil Gregory issued decrees forbidding any oneof the clergy to receive the investiture of a bishopric or abbeyor church from the hands of a temporal prince or lord. Any onewho should dare to disobey these decrees was threatened with thepenalties of the Church. 117. Excommunication and Interdict. The principal in-struments relied upon by Gregory for the carrying out of hisdecrees were the spiritual weapons of the Church,—Excom-munication and Interdict. The first was directed against individuals. The pe
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