GROWTH OF THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH 289 dangerous rebellion of the freedom-loving Saxons. Before Gregory became pope, members of Henry's council had been pxcommunicated for their interference in ecclesiastical lippointments, and Henry would incur excommunication if lie continued to associate with these advisors. Since in 1073 the Saxons had got the better of Henry and .here was danger that another king might be set up in his blace, he wrote a very humble letter to the pope, Henry's first idmitting that he had sold church offices and submission lamed unworthy bishops, and promising henceforth to co- operate with the pope in the cause of church reform. The jiext year he did penance before papal legates at Nurnberg |ind received a letter from Gregory congratulating him upon 11s "devoted servitude" to the apostolic see. By 1075, however, Henry was victorious over the Saxons jind pressed the pope to agree to his immediate coronation jit Rome as emperor. Gregory was inclined to Events f stipulate conditions before proceeding to the the year pronation, and had held a synod which passed I075 jiew decrees against lay investiture and forbade the King bf Germany to dispose of bishoprics. Henry, on the con- trary, continued his interference in the ecclesiastical affairs bf northern Italy, and tried to come to an understanding With Robert Guiscard, the Norman ruler of Sicily and Southern Italy. Our sources for this important year, 1075, lire scanty, but it terminated with a rough letter from the bope to Henry and a still more threatening verbal message Drought by papal ambassadors to the effect that Henry's orivate immorality and public policy were both so offensive
- hat he was liable not only to excommunication, but to
deposition. Henry thereupon summoned to Worms a coun- cil of German bishops who charged Gregory with a variety )f sins and declared him deposed from his papal office. Gregory promptly replied by both excommunicating and ieposing Henry, and not only released all his subjects from heir oaths of allegiance, but positively forbade them to )bey him. The great lay lords took the side of the pope, ust as the bishops had supported Henry. The nobility
