[205] Das Papstthum (1892), ch. ii., § 2. See also F. Roquain's La Papauté au moyen âge. Roquain observes, leniently, that Gregory was "not entirely exempt from reproach in the use of means to attain his ends" (p. 127) and fell into "excesses unworthy of his great soul" (p. 131). In his famous letter to the Bishop of Metz (viii., 21) Gregory omits an essential part of a passage which he quotes from Gelasius and materially alters its meaning. When we further find him writing (ix., 2) that "even a lie that is told for a good purpose in the cause of peace is not wholly free from blame," we fear that he was not far from the maxim that the end justifies the means.
[206] The secular ruler had long been accustomed to bestow the crozier and ring on his nominee for a bishopric, and this was known as "investiture." The practice undoubtedly led to much simony and to the appointment of unworthy men, but, as the event proved, a compromise was possible.
[207] Speech to the Roman synod of the year 1080 (Migne, vol. cxlviii., col. 816). Compare Ep., viii., 21.
[208] Ep., i., 7.
[209] Ep., i., 9.
[210] I., 11.
[211] I., 31.
[212] I., 35.
[213] I., 46.
[214] II., 51.