40 THE KING'S MIRROR 



ideas, which may have originated in a careful study of 

 the earlier document by the author of the later work. 



King Sverre's Address begins with a violent attack on 

 the higher clergy: the bishops have brought sorrow upon 

 the land and confusion into holy church. This deplorable 

 condition is ascribed chiefly to a reckless use of the 

 power of excommunication. In this connection the king 

 is careful to absolve the pope from all guilt: his unfortu- 

 nate deeds were due to ignorance and to false represen- 

 tations on the part of the bishops. It is next argued that 

 excommunication is valid only when the sentence of 

 anathema is just; an unjust sentence is not only invalid 

 but it recoils upon the head of him who is the author of 

 the anathema. In support of this contention the author 

 of the manifesto quotes the opinions of such eminent 

 fathers as Saint Jerome, Saint Augustine, Pope Gregory 

 the Great, and other authorities on canon law. It will 

 be remembered that the king himself was under the ban 

 at the time. The author argues further that his view is 

 supported by reason as well as by the law of the church. 

 Bishops have been appointed shepherds of the flocks of 

 God; they are to watch over them, not drive them away 

 into the jaws of the wolves. But if a bishop excommuni- 

 cates one who is without guilt, he consigns him to hell; 

 and if his decree is effective, he destroys one of God's 

 sheep. 



From this subject the Address passes to the nature of 

 the royal office. " So great a number of examples show 

 clearly that the salvation of a man's soul is at stake if 

 he does not observe complete loyalty, kingly worship, 

 and a right obedience; for kingly rule is created by God's 



