[Footnote 88: Fontanini considers the emperors as no more
than the advocates of the church, (advocatus et defensor S.
R. E. See Ducange, Gloss Lat. tom. i. p. 297.) His
antagonist Muratori reduces the popes to be no more than the
exarchs of the emperor. In the more equitable view of
Mosheim, (Institut. Hist. Eccles. p. 264, 265,) they held
Rome under the empire as the most honorable species of fief
or benefice - premuntur nocte caliginosa!]