Yet, after all, the Supremacy granted by _Phocas_ was but a Supremacy of Order and Dignity; it gave no _new_ power to the Bishop of _Rome_, but only raised him above his Collegues, especially his Rival, the Patriarch of _Constantinople_; and made him, as some express it, _the First amongst his Equals_. But his Successors, thirsting after power, and scorning to hold their dignity by so precarious a tenure as the Emperor’s pleasure, which might hereafter revoke the decision of _Phocas_, and give the Precedence in rank to _Constantinople_ instead of _Rome_, began to disown the favour they had received, to set up for themselves, and to claim the Supremacy, as inherent by Divine Right in their See, and derived from St. _Peter_, as Chief of the Apostles, and Head of the Church. Thus was the foundation of the Supremacy changed; and wisely changed, according to the rules of human policy. The old foundation was no-ways proportioned to the immense superstructure, which they now began to design; since they could claim but very little power, if any at all, in virtue of the Emperor’s Grant. But the new foundation was capable of bearing whatever the most unbounded and aspiring ambition could build on it. Besides, the Bishop of _Rome_ could not challenge, by a Rescript of the _Roman_ Emperor, any Superiority over the Churches, that had no Dependence on the _Roman_ Empire. But a Supremacy, inherent by Divine Right in the Papal Dignity, raised him at once above all the Bishops of the Catholic Church. What therefore now remained was, to improve this extensive Supremacy into a no less extensive Power and Jurisdiction. And here no time was lost, many circumstances concurring to promote and forward the execution of their attempt. Besides the ignorance of the times, and the influence of the Monks, which operated strongly in their behalf, the Princes of _Europe_ were quarrelling among themselves about the Western parts of the _Roman_ Empire, and all glad to purchase, at any rate, the friendship of the Bishop of _Rome_, who, after the famous Donation of _Pepin_ in 754. had taken great state upon him, and bore a considerable sway in all public affairs. As for the Bishops, and the rest of the Secular Clergy, they looked upon the Pope, especially after he had added the Sword to the Keys, as their protector and defender; and were on that consideration disposed to concur in strengthening his power, and rendering it formidable, tho’ at the expence of their own; chusing rather to subject themselves to an Ecclesiastical master, than to submit to the Civil authority. I might add, that some now began to mind the Fleece more than the Flock; and with That it was some time before the Popes thought it proper to meddle; but, when they did, they soon retrieved, by the haste that they made, the time they had lost.