Mediaeval and modern history . Church. Now, these lay princes who had the patronage of these Churchoffices and lands handled them just as they did their lay fiefs. They required the person nomi-nated to an abbacy or to a bish-opric to pay for the appointmentand investiture a sum propor-tioned to the income from theofifice. This was in strict accordwith the feudal rule which allowedthe lord to demand from the vas-sal, upon his investiture with afief, a sum of money called a relief(sec. 94). This rule, thus appliedto Church lands and offices, was,it is easy to see, the cause ofgreat evil and cor
Mediaeval and modern history . Church. Now, these lay princes who had the patronage of these Churchoffices and lands handled them just as they did their lay fiefs. They required the person nomi-nated to an abbacy or to a bish-opric to pay for the appointmentand investiture a sum propor-tioned to the income from theofifice. This was in strict accordwith the feudal rule which allowedthe lord to demand from the vas-sal, upon his investiture with afief, a sum of money called a relief(sec. 94). This rule, thus appliedto Church lands and offices, was,it is easy to see, the cause ofgreat evil and corruption. Theecclesiastical vacancies were vir-tually sold to the highest then, furthermore, the mostunsuitable persons became bishopsand abbots. The offices were given to favorites, to mere children,to persons often of the most notoriously evil life. 6 The clergy and monks still retained the nominal right of election, but too fre-quently an election by them was a mere matter of form. For a typical case see sec. Fig. 23. — Investiture of aBishop by a King throughTHE Giving of the Crosier,OR Pastoral Staff. (From amanuscript of the tenth century) EXCOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERDICTS 117 Such was the deplorable state into which the Church had beenbrought by the application of feudal principles to ecclesiasticallands and offices. The maintenance of the unity of the Churchand the preservation of religion itself demanded that the controlof these ecclesiastical positions and estates should be taken awayfrom the lay rulers. To remedy the evil Gregory issued decrees forbidding any oneof the clergy to receive the investiture of a bishopric or abbey orchurch from the hands of a temporal prince or lord. Any onewho should dare to disobey these decrees was threatened withthe penalties of the Church. 127. Excommunications and Interdicts. —The principal instru-ments relied upon by Gregory for the carrying out of his decreeswere the spiritual weapons of the Church, — Excommuni
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