the Fifth amongst _Ambrose_’s Letters; and leave him to judge, whether it was possible for him to disclaim, in Terms less liable to Misinterpretations, the Power of judging a Cause committed by a Council to the Judgment of others, which was disclaiming, in other Words, that universal Jurisdiction, which his Successors have usurped, and pretend to exercise by Divine Right. Footnote N36.1: David. p. 562, 563. Footnote N36.2: Bar. ad ann. 389. n. 76. Footnote N36.3: Vid. Blond. primau. p. 236. Footnote N36.4: Holst. coll. Rom. t. 1. p. 189. ----- [Sidenote: Bonosus _exercises the Episcopal Functions after his Condemnation_.] As _Syricius_ declined the judging of _Bonosus_, his Cause was in the End decided, and he condemned by _Anysius_ and the other Bishops, to whom that Judgment had been committed by the Council of _Capua_. It was at the same time decreed, that those who had been ordained by him after the first Sentence, that is, after his Suspension, should retain the Degrees to which he had raised them. This Indulgence was shewn, as is declared in the Decree, contrary to the common Rule, _on account of the present Necessity_; that is, lest they should adhere to _Bonosus_, and form a Schism[1318]. [Sidenote: _He ordains some by force._] _Bonosus_, though thus condemned, continued to exercise the Episcopal Functions, and, holding separate Assemblies, to ordain, without Examination or Distinction, all who presented themselves to him: nay, he is even charged with dragging some by open Force to his Conventicle, and ordaining them there against their Will[1319]: a kind of Rape never heard of before. What Advantage he could propose to himself or others in so doing, we are not told, and it is not easy to guess. The Bishops of _Macedon_ allowed even those, who were thus ordained, to keep their respective Degrees in the Catholic Church, upon their only receiving the Benediction of a lawful Bishop. Hence those, who found themselves excluded by the Church from holy Orders, on account of their scandalous Lives, applied to _Bonosus_, pretending to espouse his Party, but left him as soon as they had obtained the Degree they wanted[1320]. _Bonosus_ died about the Year 410. but his Doctrine did not die with him, being maintained by some Two hundred Years after his Death[N37]. ----- Footnote N37: