Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 4 · Part 2

Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny · Book 4 · Part 2

p. 58THE HISTORY OF THOMAS BECKET Arch-bishop of Canterbury.

KIng Henry the second K. of England conuenting his Nobles & Clarks required to hauehave punishment of certain misorders of the clergy, but the Archbishop Thomas Becket would not agrée therevnto: the King came to this point to know whether he & the rest of the Clergy would consent to the customes set forth in Henry the fift his time, he with the rest of the Bishops, vponupon consultation held, they would consent with this exception, Saluo ordine suo, so all other Bishops being particularly demanded, except Christopher, who séeing the King angry, said, for Saluo ordine suo, he would bona fide, the King told them hee was not well content with that exception which was captious and deceitfull, hauing some venome lurking vnderunder, therefore required an absolute grant: they answered, they would not binde themselues in no other manner, at which the King and all the Nobilitie were not a little mooued: the King, when he could get no other answer, departed with gret anger, not saluting the Bishops: Chester was greatly rebuked of his fellowes for changing the exception; the next day the King took from the Archbishop all such Mannors and Honors as he had giuen him before being Lord Chancellor; not long after vnknowne to the Bishops he sayled into Normandie; not long after the Bishop of London followed after him to craue his fauour, and gaue him counsell to ioyne some of the Bishops with him, least if all were against him, hee might the sooner be ouerthrowne: thus by his meanes the greatest number of the Bishops were reconciled vntounto the King, onelyonly the Archbishop with a few other remained in their stoutnes: when the King saw no feare or threats could turne him, he assaid him with gentlenesse but it would not serue, though many Nobles laboured to exhort him to relent vntounto the King: Likewise the Arch-bishop of Yorke, with diuers other Clergie men, Bishoppes and Abbots, especially Chester did the same: besides his owne house dayly called vponupon him, no man could perswade him; at length vnderstanding what danger might happen by the Kings displeasure, not onelyonly to himselfe but to all the Clergy, and considering the old kindnesse and louelove of the King towards him in times past, was content to giuegive ouer vntounto the Kings request, came to the King at Oxford, and reconciled himselfe: wherevpon the King receiued him with a more ch…erefull countenance, saying, hee would hauehave his Ordinances confirmed in open sight of his Bishops, and all his Nobles; after this the King beeing at Clarem Doune, called all his Peeres and Prelates before him, requiring to hauehave that performed which hee had promised in consenting to the obseruing his Grandfathers ordinances and proceedings; the Archbishop drew back, and would not that hee would before, yet with great teares, intreaties, and perswasions of Bishops and of two Templers, that desired him on their knees, with teares, and with threatenings of Imprisonment, and other dangers hee did agree onelyonly, with a clause of exception, bona fide, and he and all the Bishops set too their hands and seales.

Alanus recordeth that the Archbishop in his voyage to Winchester greatly repented that he had done, so that he kept himself from al company, lamenting with teares and fasting, and afflicting himselfe, did suspend himselfe from all diuine seruice, and would not be comforted before he had sent to the Pope, and were assoiled of him, the Pope in his Letters not only assoiled him from his trespas, but with words of great consolation, incouraged him to be stout in the quarrell he tooke in hand. Upon this, Becket took no small heart & consolation: The King hearing of him, & how he denied to set his seal to those sanctions, which he condiscended too before, took no little displesure against him, threatned him of banishment & death, called him to reckoning, and burdned him with paiments: the Archb▪ thought to make an escape out of y^• realme, attempting to take the Sea, with two or thrée priuily. Amongst other the kings ordinances. p. 59This was one, that none of the Prelasie or Nobility without the Kings license, or his Iustices, should depart the Realme. So Becket twice attempted the sea to fly to Rome, but the weather serued not, which being known and noysed abroad, the Kings Officers came to seaze vponupon his goods to the Kings behalfe, but finding Becket at home and returned, they did not procéede on their purpose, Becket séeing this, went to the Court, the King taunted him gestingly, as though one realm could not hold them both, but shewed him no great fauour. The Arch-bishop of York did labour to renew peace and louelove betwixt the King and him, but the King would not be reconciled, except the other would subscribe vntounto his lawes, which Becket would not graunt to, but by vertue of his Apostolike authority, gaue censure vponupon these Lawes of the King, condemning some, and approuing some as catholike. The Pope sent the Arch-bishop of Rotomage to the King, to ma…e peace betwixt the King and Canterbury: the King was content, so the Pope would ratifie his Ordinances, which could not be obtained at the Popes hands. The King sent to the Pope to obtaine of him, that the same authority of the Apostolike Legacie might be conferred vntounto another after his appointment, which was the Arch-bishop of Yorke, but the Pope denied; but he was content, so the King would be Legate himselfe, at which the King was angry, and sent to the Pope againe, according to the old practice of popish Prelacy to play on both sides: priuily he conspireth with one, and openly dissembleth with the other, He granteth the Legate should be remoued, and the Archbishop of York placed in the office, and writ to Becket that he should take no harm thereby, for the Kings Ambassadors had promised him, and did offer to sweare vntounto him, that the Letters which they obtained, should not be deliuered vntounto the Archbishop of Yorke, without the Popes consent therein: assure your selfe it is not, nor neuer shall be our will nor purpose to subdue you or your Church vntounto any, saue only the Bishop of Rome; therefore if you sée the King will deliuer the said Letters, giuegive vsus knowledg, & we will cléerely exempt by our authority Apostolical, both your person, your Church, and your Citty committed vntounto you from all iurisdiction of any legacy. Upon these letters and such other, Becket took all his stoutnesse against the King. The King after he had receiued his letters from the Pope, was more strong in his purposed procéedings against the Archbishop, and procéeded to punish the offences of Cleargy men, and there was aboue 100. found that had committed homicide and murder, beside other offenders: he adiudged them first to be depriued, and then committed to the seculer power. This séemed to Becket to derogate from liberty of holy Church, that seculer power should giuegive iudgement vponupon the crimes of Ecclesiasticall persons, they picke this law out of Anacletus and Euaristus, who deduce this constitution from the Apostles, that all Ecclesiasticall persons, shall bee frée from seculer iurisdiction. The King daily incensed more & more against Becket, cited him to appeare at a certaine day and place, where at the time all the Péeres, Nobles, with the Clergy were assembled by the Kings proclamation, where great fault was found with Becket because he did not appear but by Deputy. Whervpon by the publike sentence both of the Nobles and Bishops, all his moueables were adiudged to be confiscate to the King: the stuborne Archbishop answered, he was primate & spirituall Father, not onelyonly of all other in the Realme, but of the King himselfe, and that it was not conuenient the Children should iudge the Father, and the the flock the Pastor: but especially complaineth of his fellow Bishops which should hauehave tooke their Metropolitans part; the next day the King laide an action against him for the iniury done to his Marshall, and required the Archbishop to repay him 500. markes which he lent him when he was Chancellor: he answered it was giuen him, but could bring no probation therof: whervpon the King required him to put in an assurance for the paiment: wherevpon 5. persons of their own accord st…pped in and were bound for it, else the Archbishop had béen in a great strait: the third day he was charged with other monies due vntounto the King, by reason of many Bishopricks, & Abbaricks which he had kept long vacant in his hands, & he & al the Bishops being shut into a roome together by the Kings appointment, they did all take counsell what was best for the Archb. to doe in this case, they all aduised him to yeeld to the p. 60Kings Lawes, or else he would be in danger and the rest of the Clergy, or else to resigne his Arch-byshoppricke, and then no doubt the King would hauehave compassion on him, if not, they saw no other way but he would loose his life, and then what good would his Byshoppricke doe him: to this effect was their consultation. Becket checked them with rebukefull words, you goe about to cherish your owne cowardlinesse with a shaddow of sufferance, and with dissembling softnesse to choke the liberty of the Church: who hath thus bewitched you O vnsatiable Bishops! is not God able to help the state of the Church without the sinfull dissimulation of the teachers thereof? when should the Gouernors thereof put themselues in danger for the Church, but in the distresse thereof, I thinke it no greater merit for the ancient Byshops to found the Church with their blood, then for vsus to effude our blood for the liberties of the same, and I thinke it not safe for you to swarue from the example which you hauehave receiued from your holy Elders. Then the Arch-bishop sent for two Earles, to whom the Archbishop said: touching the matters betwixt the King & vsus, we hauehave conferred, we would craue respite vntill the morrow, then we will be ready to giuegive our answere vntounto the King: two Bishops were sent to the King with this message, which the King granted, the conuocation beeing dissolued, the most part of the Bishops separated themselues from the Arch-bishop▪ for feare of the Kings displeasure: he being thus forsaken, sent for the poore, lame, and halt, to furnish his house, saying by them he might sooner obtaine his victory, then by them which had slipt from him; the said day appointed was Sunday, therefore nothing done, the next day he was sicke of the Gout, he could not come, it was thought hee fained, the Earle of Deuon: and the Earle of Leicester were sent to him, to try the truth of the matter, and to cite him to appeare at the Court, the Bishops came to perswade him to submission to the will of the King, of all his goods and Arch-bishoppricke, if peraduenture his indignation might swage by that meanes▪ else periury would be laid to his charge for breaking his oath made to obserue the Kings Ordinance, he answered it was dolorous that the world was against him, yet it gréeueth me most, that Sons of mine owne Mother be pricks and thornes against me, but I charge you bee not present personally in iudgement against me, and that you shall not so doe I appeale to the Church of Rome, the refuge of all such as bée oppressed, and if any seculer men lay hand on me, as it is rumord they will, I straitly charge you, that you exercise your Ecclesiasticall censure vponupon them, as it becommeth for your Father and Arch-bishop, & whatsoeuer happen, I will neuer cowardly shrinke, nor vily forsake my flocke: then he addressed himselfe to his Masse of S. Steuen with all solemnity, with his Metropolitan pall, which was not vsed but vponupon holydaies: the Masse beginning with Sederunt principes, & aduersum me loquebantur. The Bishop of London accused him that it was done by art Magick, and in contempt of the king, then the Archbishop went to the Court, and to make him more sure, he priuily taketh the Sacrament within: as hee was entring into the doore of the Kings Chamber, he taketh the Crosse with the Crosse-staffe from the Crosse-bearer, and carried it himselfe: one of the other Bishoppes would hauehave borne the Crosse, saying it was not comly for him, the Bishop of London told him, if the king met him so, he would draw his sword at him; he answered, the Kings sword strikes carnally, but mine spiritually striketh himselfe downe to hell. The King complained to the Nobles and Bishops, that he shewed himselfe as a traytor, all gaue witnesse thereto, affirming him alwaies, to be a vain and proud man, so altogether with one cry, called him Traytor, and being he had receiued such great benefits, preferments and honours of the King, and thus requite it, was well worthy to be handled as a periured Traytor: The Bishop of Excester desired him to hauehave compassion of himselfe, and of them, else they were all like to perish, for there commeth a precept from the King for your apprehending and suffering as an open Rebell, and whosoeuer shall take your part, and the Bishoppes of Salisbury and Norwich are to bee had to the place of execution, for their resisting, and making intercession for you. Hee answered, Auoyd hence from mee, for thou sauorest not the thinges of GOD. Upon great consultation, the Bishoppes agreed, that they p. 61would appeale the Arch-bishop to the Sea of Rome vponupon periury, and that they would oblige themselues to the King, with a sure promise to doe their dil…gence in deposing of him, so the King would promise their safety; it being so finished, two Bishops were sent to him in stead of them all, which said, once you were our Archbishop, and we bound to your obedience; but now, being you once sware fidelitie to the King, and doe resist him, neglecting his Lawes, appertaining to his ter…rne honour: Wherefore we héere pronounce you periured, neither be we bound to giuegive obedience to you, but putting our selues and all ours in the Popes protection, doe appeale you vp to his presence, and assignd him his time to appeare: the Archbishop answered he heard him well enough, and sendeth to Rome in all hast, signifying to the Pope the whole matter, to whom the Pope writeth againe: wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere Brother, remember that the Apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the Councell, receiue consolation that w… may reioice with you in the Lord, who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the Catholick verity, and God through his punishment of afflic…ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences, that they might not be called to account in the day of Iudgement: bee not greeued that you are appealed to the Apostolike Sea, which to vsus is gratefull and accepted, draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale, for the authoritie of the Church of Rome tendreth your constancie, our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your Church to you, as one working for the Church, a constant and valiant Champion, I thought good especially to premonish you, neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your Church.

The Archbishop sitting with his Crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was: the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes, and fruits and reuenewes of the Realme in the time when he was Chancellor; he answered, the King knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things, and that Henry his Sonne and heyre, with all the Barrons, and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England told him was frée and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts, computations on the Kings behalfe, and so taking his discharge entred into his office, for other accounts he would make none: when his answere was brought to the King, he required the Barons to doe their office, who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison: the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Deuonshire, and the Earle of Leicester to shew him his Iudgement; to whom he said, heare my Sonne and good Earle, how much the soule is more precious then the body, so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King, no Law doth permit the child to condemne their Father: wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke, and as for you my fellow Bishops, which rather obey man then God, you also I call and claime to the Iudgement of the Pope, and I doe depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholick Church, and of the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea: whilst they returned this answere to the King, the Archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse, holding the bridle in one hand, and his Crosse in the other; the Courtiers followed, saying, tarrie Traytor and héere thy Iudgement; the vtmost gate being locked, one of his seruants found a bunch of Keyes & trying them found the right and opened the gate, he went to the house of the Cannons where hee did lie▪ and calling to him the poore where they could be found, after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars; but whilst the King was at supper, he changed his garments, and named himselfe Derman, and made an escape to the Sea, and taking ship sayled into Flanders, and thence iournied vntounto France; the King sent the Bishop of London, and the Earle of Arundell vntounto the King of France, to require him not to receiue the Archbishop, nor retaine him in his Dominion, and that he would be a meanes to the Pope not to shew any familiaritie vntounto him, but the French King, contrarie to the Kings Letters and request, not only harboured and cherished him, but writ to the Pope, intreating him vponupon all loues, as euer he would hauehave his fauour to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket. The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander, p. 62by the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Chichester, Exeter, with other Doctors and Clarkes: with the Earle of Arundel, with certaine moe Lords and Barrons, they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court, the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consistorie with his Cardinals, when the Ambassadours were called for the hearing of Beckets matter, and the Bishops eueryevery one in order had made his Oration, the Pope did not accept some of their spéeches, and disdained some: wherefore the Earle of Arundell disdained in this manner, spake:

Though I am vnlettered, and cannot vnderstand what these Bishops hauehave said, neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they hauehave done, yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may, which was not to contend with or iniury any man, especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope, but our Legacie is to present, in the presence of the whole Church of Rome, the deuotion and louelove of our King, which hee euer had and still hath towards you, and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie, hee hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage, that if hee could hauehave found greater in his Realme hee would hauehave sent them, for the reuerence of your person and holy Church of Rome: I might adde more, which your Sainctitude hath already proued, the harty fidelity of our King towards you, who at the entrance to his Kingdome, submitted himselfe, and all his, wholly to your will and pleasure, and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in Christ then he, nor more deuout to God, nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace: neither doe I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury, a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling, being both sage and discréete, sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth, if this blot had not beene, the King and he had not discented: then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might hauehave flourished one with the other in much peace, vnderunder so worthy a Prince, and so vertuous a pastor, therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence, is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken, and reformation of vnitie and louelove by some good meanes may be sought.

But the Pope would not condiscend to their sute, which was to hauehave two Legates sent from his popish side into England, to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the King, and the Archbishop, but because Becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp: for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him, but they alledged there time appointed to be ended, and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of Becket, and so returned back, there cause frustrated, without the Popes blessing to the King.

Within foure dayes after, Becket commeth to the Popes Court, offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the King: the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them, and blamed Becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning: yet because he was repentant, hee was content to assoile him for the same, and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church: The next day, the Pope and his Cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber, Becket made an Oration to them to this effect: he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of Christ, not by the doore of Christ, because the King made him Bishop, not the Pope, and if I had resigned it to the King againe at his commandement, I had left a dangegerous example vntounto the Catholique Church: therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be Canonicall, and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge: therfore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishoprick heere of Canturbury, and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope, and desired a Bishop to be prouided for the Church of Canturbury, and so with teares ended.

This done hee was bid stand a part, after consultation they concluded, being he had ventred his goods, dignity, and authoritie, and his life, for the liberties of the Church, if he should now be depriued at the Kings pleasure it would be an exampl… p. 63to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case, and so weaken the Catholick Church, and derogate the Popes authoritie, and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like, so hee receiued his Pastora…l Office at the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour, and …he Pope sent him vntounto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France, with a Monkes habit, where he was two yeares; thence he remoued to Senon, where he was fiue yeares; so he was in exile seuen yeares.

The King beeing certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket, then vntounto him, was wrathfull, and sayling into Normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect.

1 Whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket, so bee apprehended and executed as a Traytor.

2 That no Clarke, Monke, or conuert of any other countrey, without the Iustice and Kings Letters, to passe ouer or returne into the Realme, otherwise to be imprisoned.

3 None to appeale to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them.

4 No Decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in England vponupon paine of imprisonment.

5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict, they shall bee exiled with all their kindred, and take none of their goods with them, and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the Arch-bishop was.

6 All the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King.

7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realme to bee warned in eueryevery Sheere within three monethes to repayre home, or else their rents and goods to …eturne to the King.

8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid vntounto the Apostolick Sea, but to be reserued vntounto the Kings Coffers.

The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees, heere set out, which are these: that all Hauens be diligently kept, that no interdict or curse be brought in, if the bringer bee a religious man, his feet to be cut off; if a Priest to loose his pr…uy members; if a layman to bee hanged; if a Leper to be burned; if a Bishop will depart for feare of the Popes Interdict, let him hauehave nothing with him but his Staffe, and that a…l Schollers and Students beyond the Seas sha…l repaire home or loose their Benefices, and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning: if any Priest for the Popes interdict wil refuse to sing, to loose his priuy members: In summe al such Priests as shew themselues Rebels to the King, to bee depriued of their Benefices.

Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should bee exiled with their goods with them,1166. and sent to him, which was no little vexation to him to behold.

Moreouer, the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack, where he lay, not to retaine him in his house, or else he would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his Order: wherevpon hee remoued, by the French Kings appointment, to Senon as aforesaid, and found of him fiue yeares.

In the meane time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope, and from the Pope to the King; and betwixt the Archbishop and others, where I finde onelyonly rehearsals of matters, which are declared sufficiently in the History, whereof if the Reader be desirous to see, let him resort to the booke at large.

After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. yéere of Henry the second,1169 the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person, made his appeale to the presence of the Pope, requiring to hauehave certaine Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side, to take vp the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him; requiring also that they might be absolued, that were interdicted: wherevpon two Cardinals sent from the Pope, with Letters from the p. 64Pope came into Normandie, where they appointed the Bishop to meete before the King, but the Arch-bishop delayed his comming, vntill eight daies after, neither would come any further then Grisorsium, where the two Cardinals, and the Archbishop with other Bishops conuenting together, had a treatie of reconciliation, which came to no conclusion.

The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect: comming to England we found the controuersie more vehement then we would, for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred vp the French King against him▪ and made the Earle of Flanders his open aduersarie: and after the King had receiued your Letters, and brought forth other Letters, diuers and altering from them receiued of vsus, be was moued with no little indignation; saying, that since wee came from you, the Archbishop receiued of you other co…trarie Letters, wherby he was exempted from our Iudgement: Moreouer, the King and the Bishops there did affirme, that the complaint that was made vntounto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors, for the most pa…t was false; affirming farther to vsus, that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed pr…iudiciall to the Statutes of the Church, he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same: therefore we & other Bishops and Abbots of the land, hearing the King so reasonable, laboured by al meanes that the King should not breake from vsus, but incline to vsus, and to hauehave the matter brought before vsus, betwixt him and the Archbishop. Wherevpon we sent our owne Chaplains with Letters to him, appointing him the time and place, where safely hee might meete with vsus, yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after, which …tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought: thus when hee refused to meete vsus in the borders of the King, though we offered him safe comming: we to satisfie his minde condescended to meete him at a place which hee appointed within the Land of the French King, we exhorted him humbly to submit himselfe vntounto his soueraigne and King, who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities: after aduise with his Couns…ll, hee said he would submit himselfe to the King sauing the honour of God, the libertie of the Church, the honestie of my person, the possessions of Churches, and the Iustice of him and all his in all things: wee asked him whether h… would submit himselfe to vsus, as the King and the Bishops were content to doe: he said he had a commandement from you not to answere before he and all his were restored to all their possessions, then he would proceed in the matter as hee should receiue commandement from the Sea Apostolick, whereof wee made relation to the King, yet keeping back a great part, which we had heard and séene: which when the King and Nobles vnderstood, the King said he was so much the more cleere, for that the Archbishop would not stand to Iudgement: after much heauinesse and lamentation of the King, Bishops, and Abbots, they required of vsus whether wee had any power to proceed against him, and perceiuing wee had none, least the Archbishop should worke any disquietnes to any of the Noble personages of the Realme agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience, prefixing accordingly the terme of their appeale.

The Archbishop saying, he stood onelyonly for the peace of the Church, one of the Cardinals offered him, if he would relinquish his Bishoppricke, the King should relinquish his Customes. He answered, He could not renounce his Church, sauing the honour of the Church and his person, but it standeth vponupon the soules health, and honor of the King to renounce his customes.

After the Cardinals were gone, the French King séeing the King of England disquieted, and s…icitous of peace, pretending to set agréement betwixt them, the King and the Arch-bishop, both were content to stand to his arbiterment. The Archbishop prostrating himselfe at the féete of the King of England, said he would commit the whole matter to his owne arbiterment, Saluo honore Dei, the King was highly there-with displeased, rebuking him of pride and stubbornenesse, and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him, and hee a person vnkind and forgetfull.

p. 65And speaking to the French King there present said, whatsoeuer displeaseth this man hee saith it is contrary to the honour of God, and by this meanes will vindicate to himselfe that which is his owne and mine too, there hauehave bin Kings of England of greater and lesse puissance then I am, & there hauehave hauehave béen Archb. of Canterbury both great & holy men, what the best of them hauehave done to my predecessors before me, let him doe the same to me and I am content: the standers by with one voice cried, the king hath debased himselfe enough to the Bishop, the French King said what my Lord will you be better then those holy men, will you be greater then Peter, you hauehave peace and quietnes put in your hands if you will take it: he answered, my predecessors eueryevery one in his time did pluck vp, and correct something in his time, though not all things, for then there would bee no cause of this fire of temptation to try vsus: though some hauehave béen slack, we are not to follow their examples, we rebuke Peter for denying Christ, but we commend him for resisting Nero, hee could not in his conscience consent vntounto him; he did not dissemble, wherby he lost his life: by such oppressions the Church hath alwaies growne, our forefathers suffered, because they would not dissemble the honour of Christ, shall I▪ to hauehave the fauour of one man, suffer the honour of Christ to be supprest: the Noble men standing by, noted him of arrogancy, and wilfulnes: and one openly protested, that séeing he refused the request of both kingdomes, hee was worthy of the help of neither: as England had reiected him, so France should not entertaine him.

One of the Archbishops Chapleins writeth that the French king prostrated himselfe at the féet of the Archb. repented he had giuen him such councell in a case pertaining to the honour of God, & desired to be assoiled, and that Henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his Realme: the French King vtterly denied the Kings request, and tooke part rather with the Archbishop.

The King of England returned from Normandy into England & in the 16.1170 yéere of his reigne kept his Court of Parliament at Westminster, & by assent both of the Clergy & Temporalty, caused his sonne Henry to be crowned King: the Coronation was done by the Archbishop of Yorke, other Bishops assisting Becket: not beeing called tooke no little displeasure; and so did the French King, hearing that Margaret his Daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband: wherevpon hee came with a great armie to Normandie, but the King sent his sonne to him which intreated peace, promising that his sonne should be crowned againe, and his daughter crowned with him.

Becket sent to the Pope, complaining of foure Bishops, especially the Archbishop of York, who durst be so bold in his absence, without his licence to crowne the king, being a matter peculiar to his Iurisdiction, at whose instance the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London: the other thrée with the Archbishop hee suspended: they resorted to the King, declaring how miserable there case stood, for fulfilling his commandement, the King was highly moued.

The King of France with his Clergy and Courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the Pope to excommunicate the King of England, also thinking to hauehave some aduantage against the Realme, neither was the King ignorant of this, which made him the readier to agree.

The pope sent two Legats with full commission, either to driue the K. to be reconciled, or to be excommunicated: the King seeing himselfe in great straites, which he could not auoid, and by the mediation of the king of France, and other great prelates and Princes of the king, was content to be reconciled with the Archb. whom he receiued into his Realme, and granted him free returne to his Church.

But he would not grant him his lands vntill he came into England, and did see how he would agrée with his subiects, he was ioifully receiued of his church, albeit he was not very welcome vntounto the yong king: so that comming to London to the king, he was returned back to Canterbury and bid to keepe his house, hee excommunicated one Robert de Brocke on Christmas day, for cutting off the taile of one of his Horses the day before, hee would not absolue the foresaid foure Bishops without cau…els and exceptions, who went to Normandie to the king, p. 66and complained of the miserable state & vncourteous handling, which made him conceiue such displeasure towards Becket, that hee lamented oft to them about him, that none would reuenge him of his enemy: vponupon occasion of which words, 4. addressed thēselues in great heat of hast, within 4. daies after, the said Christmas day they came to Canterbury, they pressed at length into the palace, where the Arch-b. was sitting with his company about him: they said they brought him a commandement from the king, bad him chuse whether he would receiue it openly, or secretly, the company being commanded away, and he alone, they told him the King commanded him to repaire to the King his sonne to doe his duety, and sweare fidelitie for your Baronage, and to amend those things you hauehave committed against him, in denying to be sworne to him: he perceiued their intent, and called for his company, and they commanded him in the Kings name that he should absolue the 4. Bishops: he answered, he did not excommunicate them, but the Pope, if that were their griefe they should resort to him; séeing you thus stand against the Coronation of our new King, it séemeth you aspire to take his Crowne from him, and to bee King your selfe: he said nay, if he had thrée crownes he would set them all vponupon him, except his father there is none whose honour I now tender and louelove, and touching the sequestring of the Bishops, there was nothing done without the assent of the King, for I complaine to him what iniury my Church had by their crowning the …ing, hee gaue me leaue to seeke my remedy at the Popes hand, they said what doest thou ma…e the King a Traytor and bewrayer of his own sonne, when he commanded them to cr…wne him, and then gaue thee leaue to suspend them for so doing; and they said, thinkest thou we the kings subiects wil suffer this, thou hast spoken enough against thine own head: the Achbishop said, since my comming ouer, …e hath suffered many iniuries and rebukes conc…rning my selfe my men, cattell, wines, and other goods: yet the King writ to his sonne I should liue in safety and peace, and now you come hether to threaten me; they answered, if you hauehave any …niury, the law is open, and …e said he sought for remedy at the Kings hands as long as hee could be suffered to speake with him, but now I am stopped and can find no redresse, nor can hauehave the benefit of law or reason, such law as an Arch-bishop may hauehave I will Realme: then they denounced he had spoken words to the ieopardie of his head, so they depart, charging the Monkes in the Kings name to keep him forth…comming: the Arch-bishop would not fly for the king nor any man: the names of the foure Souldiers were, first, Renold Berison: Secondly, Hugh Morteuill: Thirdly, William Thracy: Fourthly, Richard Britto: who going to harnesse themselues, returned the same day, but the Hall doore being shut, they went to a back doore, and broke vp a window: the Monkes had gotten the Arch-bishop into the Church, and caused his crosse to be borne before him, and procéeded into the Quiere, the Haruest men following came to the Church doore, the Monkes would hauehave shut the doore, but as the Story saith the Bishop would not suffer them: so they came into the church, and the Bishop méeting them on the stayres was slaine, eueryevery man striking him with his sw…rd in the head, who fied into the north, and at length were pardoned of the Pope by the Kings meanes, and went to Ierusalem.

Newbergensis an ancient Chronographer condemneth the doings of Becket.

Cesarius a Monke in his eighth booke of Dialogues 48. yeares after the death of Becket, writeth that it was a question amongst the Masters of Paris, whether Thomas Becket were saued, or damned.

But it is certaine this antheme collected and primered in his praise is blasphemous.

Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit, fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas asendit.

Wherein is a double lye, first that hee dyed for Christ; secondly, that his bond should purchase heauen, which none of the Apostles durst challenge, for then Christ died in vaine.

After his death the king fearing the popes curse, which the French king helped forwards p. 67what he could, the King sent his excuse vntounto the pope which he would not heare. And after second messengers which some of the Cardinals receiued, shewing them that the pope vsed to curse & assoile on good-Friday, which was néer at hand, and it was noised that the King, Bishops & realme, should be interdicted: and herevpon the kings messengers were put into prison, some of the Cardinals shewed the pope that the Kings messengers had power to sweare that the King should obey his penance which was taken both for the King & the Archb. of Yorke, so that in the said day, the pope only cursed the déed, doers, consenters, ayders & harbourers of them: the deed-doer… had in penance to goe in linnen clothes barefoote, in fasting & prayer, to Ierusalem, who by this hard penance are said to die in few yéeres after.

Two Cardinals were sent to inquire who were consenters to his death, the king, being not certaine wherefore their comming was, with a great power entred into Ireland, giuing charge that no bringer of any briefe should come into the realme, or passe out without speciall license, and an assurance to bring nothing preiudiciall to the Realme: the King in short time subdued the whole land of Ireland, which was gouerned by fiue Kings, of whom foure submitted themselues; only the fift, the king Tonacta, denied to be subdued, kéeping himselfe in woods and Marshes.

In this time the two Cardinals were come to Normandy:1172 the next yéere in October, the king went to them, & made his purgation touching the death of Becke…, taking his othe he was neuer aiding nor consenting, but onelyonly spake rigorous words against him; wherefore for penance hee was sworne to send so much money to the holy land, & should find two hundred Knights for the defence thereof, and should set forth by Christmas following his own person to fight for thrée yéeres, exc…pt the pope should dispence with him: and that if he went into Spaine, & fought with the Sarrac…ns, as long as he was there he might prolong his iourney to Ierusalem.

Itē, that he should not hinder or cause to be hindred any appellatio…s made to R…me.

Item, That he nor his Sonne should dissent from Pope Alexander, nor his Catholick successors.

Item, That the goods and possessions taken from the Church of Canterbury should be restored.

Item, that the foresaid decrées established against the church should be extinct, and repealed, besides other secret fastings and almes inioyned him.

All these conditions the King and his Son agreed vntounto, debasing himselfe with humilitie and submission before them whereof the Cardinals tooke no little glory, vsing this vers… of the Psalme: Qui respicit terram, & facit eam tremere: qui tangit montes & fumigant.

The returning from Normandie, by reason the Scots had made a road into England, by the way, as soon as he came to the fight of Beckets Church he lighted & went barefoote to his toombe, whose steps were found bloudy by the roughn…sse of the stones, and receiued a whip, with a rod, of eueryevery Monke of the Cloister, whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes, and the slauery that Kings and Princes were brought too vnderunder the Popes Clergy,1174 the same yeere almost the whole Citie of Canturbury was consumed with fire, and the said Minster church cleane burnt.

The next yeare in a conuocation of Bishops,1175 Abbots, and other of the Clergie at Westminster, there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops, whether Yorke must beare his Crosse in the Dioces of Canterbury, and whether the Bishopricks of Lincoln, Chichester, Worcester, and Hereford, were of the sea of York.

Wherefore the one appealed the other vntounto the presence of the Pope.

How much better had it beene if the Supremacie had remained in the King, whereby much trauell, and great wastfull expences had bin saued, and there cause mor… indifferently, and more spéedily decided.

Diuers of Glocester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury, because being summoned they refused to appeare: a Cardinall by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace: by the meanes of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claime to Glocester, and absolue p. 68the Clarks thereof, & the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other Bishops, and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them.

The next yeare Henry the second denided the Realme into six parts,1176. & ordained thrée Iustices of assise on eueryevery part: to the first Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge shire, Huntingdon-shire, Buckingham-shire, Essex, Hereford-shire: to the second Lincoln-shire, Nottingham-shire, Derby-shire, Stamford-shire, Warwick-shire, Northampton-shire, Leicester-shire: Thirdly, Kent, Surry, South-hampton-shire, Sussex, Berk-shire, Oxford-shire: Fourthly, Heriford-shire, Glocester-shire, Worcester-shire, Salop-shire: Fiftly, Wilt-shire, Dorcester-shire, Sommerset-shire, De…n-shire, Cornwall: Euerwick-shire, Richmond-shire, Lancaster, Copland, Westm…r-land, Northumberland, Cumberland. In this yéere the Archbishop of Canterbury made thrée Arch-deacons, where there was but one, and the K. granted the pope, that no Clarke should be called before a temporall Iudge, except for his offence in the Forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth, and that no Bishopricke or Abbey should remaine but one yeere in the Kings hands without great cause,

This yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Abbot of S. Austen, he being Elect, whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him, or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated: The …bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope, and went thither with a fat purse, procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrat him in his Monastery, because it did properly belong to the Iurisdiction of Rome, & should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience, & if the …rchb. refuse to doe it, then he should doe it: the Archb. vnderstanding it, & loth to yéeld, vsed policy, he watched a time when the Abbot was frō home, came to the Monastery, with all things appointed for the busines, called for the Abbat to be consecrated: the Abbot not being at home, he fained himself not a little grée…ed: wherevpon the Abbot was disappointed, faine to fill his purse a new, & make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he receiued his consecration.

This yéere a Cardinal was sent into England,1177 (as few yéeres there was not one sent to get m…ny, he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York & Canterbury, who kept a Councel at Westminster, to which all the chiefe of the Clergy resorted with great confluence; Yorke thinking to preuent Canterbury, came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the Cardinall: Canterbury seeing the first place taken, refused to take the second: Yorke alledged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans, that he that should be first in election, should hauehave the preheminence in dignity, and goe before the other. From words they went to blowes, Canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for Yorke, plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinall, treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue: his Robes were all rent from his back, this Noble Romane Cardinall which should hauehave ended the strife committed himselfe to flight: the next day Yorke shewed his Rochet to the Cardinall to testifie his wrong, and appealed, and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury, and certaine of his men to the Pope.

The kingdome of England in the Henry this second his time, extended so farre as hath not béen seene: The King of Scots, with all the Lords spirituall and temporal, did him homage for them and their successors: Ireland, England, Normandie, Aquitane, Gaunt &c. Unto the mountaine of Pireni, in the vtmost parts of the Ocean in the Brittish sea: protector of France, and offered to bée King of Ierusalem, by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospitall there, which he refused, alledging his great charge at home, and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence.

The fame of his wisedome, manhood, riches, was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome, and from the Emperour of Constantinople, and from many great Kings, Dukes, and other great men to determine questions of strife, and aske councell of him: he raigned thirty fiue yéeres, and hauing great warres, yet neuer set tribute or taxe vponupon his subiects, nor first fruits, nor appropriations of benefits vponupon the Clergy; yet his treasure beeing p. 69weighed by King Richard his Sonne after his death, weighed 900000. pounds, besides Iewels and Houshold-stuffe, of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of Yorke, for hee had procured a Bull of the Pope, that if any Priest dyed without Testament, he should hauehave all his goods.

His Sonne Henry, 1181.whom he ioyned with him in his Kingdome, and at his Coronation serued him as a Steward, and set the first dish at the Table, renouncing the name of King, the Archbishop of Yorke sitting at the right hand of the young King, he told him, he might greatly reioyce, being no King had such an Officer as he had, the young King disdaining his words, said; My Father is not dishonored, for I am a King and a Quéenes Sonne, and so is not he. He tooke Armes with the French King against his Father, and persecuted him, but after hee had raigned a few yeares, died in his youth by the iust iudgement of God.

After his death, his Sonne Richard, called Cor-de-Lyon, rebelled against his Father, and Iohn his youngest Sonne did not degenerate from his Brothers steps, the said Richard brought his Father to such distresse of body and minde, that for thought he fell into an Ague, and within fou…e daies dyed, Richard méeting his Corps, beginning to wéepe, the bloud burst out of the Kings nose at the comming of his Sonne, giuing a monstration that he was Author of his death.

His Children, after his death, worthily rewarded for their vnnaturalnesse, lost all they had beyond the Sea which their Father had gotten.

Alexander Pope decréed, that no Arch-bishop should receiue the Pall, vnless… hée first sware obedience to the Pope. These be the words in Engl…sh of the giuing of the Pall.

To the honour of Almighty God, and of blessed Mary the Uirgin, and of blessed S. Peter, and S. Paul, and of our Lord Pope, and of the holy Church of Rome, and of the Church committed to your charge: we giuegive you the Pall taken from the body of Saint Peter, as a fulnesse of the Pontificall Office, which you may weare within your own Church, vponupon certain daies expressed in the priuiledge… of the said Church, granted by the Sea Apostolike.

This Pall ought to bee asked with great instance, and within thrée moneths, without which Pall he is not Arch-bishop, but may be deposed. The same Pall must be burned with him when hee dyeth, and when it is giuen, some priuiledge must be giuen with it, or the old renewed, the Arch bishops pay swéetly for it.

EueryEvery Bishop must sweare to be obedient to Saint Peter, the Apostolike Church of Rome, and to the Pope, to doe nothing whereby either of them, or any member of them may be impaired, nor helpe, counsell, or consent vntounto any so doing, not to vtter their councell any way sent to them, to any body to their hurt, to reta…ne and maintaine the Papacy and the Regalities of S. Peter against all men, honorably to intreat the Popes Legats going and comming, and helpe them in all necessities, to be ready to come to a Sinod being called, without any lawfull let, to visite the Pallace of the Apostles eueryevery third yeare, by himselfe, or a Messenger, except otherwise licensed by the Pope, not to sell, giuegive, or lease out any the possessions of his Church without the Popes license, So God helpe him and the Holy Ghost. By this Oath, the Byshop could do nothing but what the Pope would in generall councels, which was the corruption of them.

Besides this, it was decreed in the said councell of Rome, by 310. Byshops, by Pope Alexander, that none should hauehave spirituall promotion, except he were of full age and borne in wedlocke: that no Parish-Church should be voyd aboue sixe moneths; that none within orders should meddle with temporal businesses; that priests shall hauehave but one Benefice; that Bishops be charged to find the Priest a liuing vntill he be promoted.

That open Usurers shall not communicate at Easter, nor be buried within the Church yard.

That nothing shall be taken for ministring Sacraments, or burying.

Item, that eueryevery Cathedrall Church should hauehave a Maister to teach Children fréely, without taking any thing for the same.

p. 70In this Councell the vow of Chastity was laid vponupon Priests, Thomas Becket and Bernard were canonized for Saints.

In this yeare Richard, 1179.the eldest Sonne of Henry the second, succeeded his Father, at which time Clement sat Pope, succéeding Gregory, who died a little before for sorrow, for losse of the Holy Crosse by the Popes meanes. He and Fredericke the Emperor, and Phillip the French King, went with their Armies to Palestina, atchieuing the recouery of the Holy Land. Richard in this iourney gat Cyprus, Acon, Ptolemayda, Surrah. For preparation for this iourney hee sold Lordships, Castles, Offices, Liberties, Priuiledges, Byshopprickes, &c. He said he would sell London, if he could finde one able to buy it: Many Bishops purchased to their Bishopprickes diuers Lordships. The Bishop of Winch…ster purchased Werregraue, & Meues. The Bishop of Duresme, Hadberge, with all their appurtenances for 500. markes, and purchased the whole Prouince of the King for his owne, and himselfe to be made Earle of the same.

In this Kings daies there fell a great dissention in the Church of Yorke, betwixt the Arch-bishop of Yorke, and the Deane, because euening Song was begunne before the Arch-bishoppe came, his Grace comming into the Quire, was angry, because they tarryed not for him, and commaunded the Quire to stay: the Dean… and Treasurer willed them to fing on, the Quire left and recanted, and begun againe. The Treasurer not to take the foyle, caused the lights to be put out, so the euening Song ceased, for the Popish euening Song is blind, without light, though the Sunne shine neuer so bright: His Grace suspended the whole Church from Diuine seruice vntill the parties had made him amends. The next day being Ascention day, the Deane and Treasurer would make no sar…sfaction, the people would hauehave fallen vponupon them if his Grace had not let them. The Deane was faine to flye to his House, and the Treasurour to Saint Williams Tombe for succour: The Byshop excommunicated them, and the Church was suspended from Seruice that day. Thus much of the Heroicall c…mbat betwixt these Ecclesiasticall persons.

King Richard, in his iourney aforesaid, talked with Abbot Ioachim of his Uisions and Prophesies, especially of Antichrist: hee expounded vntounto him the place in the Reu…lation. There be seuen Kings, fiue are fallen, one is now, another not yet com, He said they were seuen Persecutors of the Church: Herod, Nero, Domitianus, Maxentius, Mahomet, Turka, the last, which is not yet come, was Antichrist, which is already borne at Rome, and should bee there exalted into the Apostolike Sea, as the Apostle faith; He is an Aduersary, and exhalteth himselfe aboue all that is called GOD, then the wicked man shall bee reuealed, and the Lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth, and destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming: Why said the King, I thought Antichrist should hauehave béene borne in Anti…ch, or Babylon, and of the Tribe of Dan, and ruled in Ierusalem thrée yeares and a halfe, and disputed against Enoch and Elias, and put them to death, and then died himselfe, and that sixty daies of repentance should be giuen to them that were seduced by his preaching.

When King Richard went his iourney, he committed the Custody of his Realme principally to the Byshop of Duresme, and the Bishop of Ely, and to two Lay men: The two Byshops fell at variance for superiority, at length this order was taken by the King, that Duresme should hauehave v…der his custody from Humber is the Scottish Seas. Ely was ordained Chancellor, hauing vnderunder his gouernment from the said stood of Humber, all the South parts besides: but Ely beeing more ambitious, so practised with the King and his Ambassadors, sending his Letters to the Pope, obtained the authority Legatiue vponupon the whole Realm of England, and became so ambitious and proud, that all the Realme cryed out of him, he beeing intollerable vntounto the Cleargy and Layty. He assembled a generall Councell at London, in colour for Religion, but it was for his owne pompe and oppression of the Clergy and Layty, wonderfully oppressing the Commons. Hee vsed …o ride with & thousand Horses: Noble-mens Sonnes were glad to be his Slaues. He married p. 71his Cosens Neeces and kinswomen (I will not say his Daughters) vntounto the best Barons and Earles, yet his Grand-father was a poore plowman, and his Father a Cow-heard; and hauing thus tyrannously abused his office, fearing examination, fled with a few of his trusty seruants to Douer Castle, to hauehave stolne beyond Sea: and comming in a womans apparell with a pe…ce of cloth vnderunder his arme, and a mete rod in his hand, being taken vponupon susp…tion, his Kercheefe plucked off, his Balaams marke or shauen Crowne appeared: the people wondred, rai…ed and spit on him, and drew him, some by the armes, some by the legges ouer the Sea sands, vntill they brought him to a darke Seller with shame enough to be kept, till the Councell …ent for him to the Tower of London, where he was …xamined, depriued, and banished the Realme: after restored by King Richard, and sent to Rome, but died by the way.

As King Richard returned from the Holy Land, driuen by di…resse of weather about the parts of Austria,1192 he was taken in Synaca by Hubald, Duke of the same countrey, and sold to the Emperour for 60000. marke: the Emperour writ of the matter to the King of France, that hee might reioyce with …: at len…th King Richard was ransomed for 140000. Crownes, and as he was comming into England, besieging a Castle in Pictauia, tooke his deadly wound, and being sick, amongst others, Fulco Archbishop of Roane came to him, who said to the King:1199 O mighty King thou hast thrée Daughters very vicious, prouide good Husbands for them, least thou incurre great damage, and th… vtter ruine: the King called him lying, and mocking hypocrite; saying all the world knoweth I hauehave no daughters; he answerd yes if it p…ease your Grace, I meane greedy couetousn…sse, mischieuous pride, filthy …uxury: againe I say, O King, beware of them and get them marriages: Wherevpon the King calling his Lords and Barrons, …laring the matter to them, and said; wherefore heere before you all, I giuegive my Daughter swelling pride vntounto the proud Templers to Wife; and my Daughter gréedie Auaric… vntounto the couetous and Cistertian Monkes; and last of all t…y filthy Daughter Luxury, to the ryotous Prelates of the Church, whom I thinke v…ry meete for them.

The King not long after departed without issue, and Iohn his Brother raigned after him: the Arch-bishop putting his crowne vponupon his head, swearing him to de…end the Church and his good lawes and destroy the euill, and except he thought in his minde to doe this, he charged him not to presume to take vponupon him this dignitie: On Iohn Baptist day next after, he went to Normandy, where he was royal…y receiued, and a truce made betwixt him and the French King: and the Earle of Flanders, and all the Lords of France that were in league with King Richard, cam… to him, and were sworne vntounto him.

Not long after the French King made Arthur Knight, and tooke homage of him for Normandy, Brittaine, and all his possessions beyond the Sea, and promised him help against King Iohn: after the French King, and King Iohn with their Nobles spake together an houre: the French King asked him much land for himselfe, and King Arthur, wh…ch he would not g…ant, but departed in w…ath.

The same yeere a Legate came into France, and commanded the King vponupon paine of interdiction to deliuer one Peter out of prison, which was elected to a Bishoprick, who was deliuered, the same Legate came into England, and commanded King Iohn vponupon paine of interdiction to deliuer the Arch-bishop whom hee had kept in prison two yeares, which the King denied vntill he had payed him six thousand markes, because hee had tooke him in harnesse in a field against him, and he swore him hee should neuer beare harnesse against a Christian man.

This time King Iohn & his wife were diuorced,1200. because they were in the third degrée of kindred, and after by the Councell of the French King, was married vntounto the Daughter of the Earle of Anguilla, and then Arthur of Brittan did homage for Brittaine, and other his possessions to King Iohn.

This time was strife betwixt the King and the Archbishop of Yorke, because he p. 72would not suffer the Sheriffe to do such affaires as he had to dee in his Dioces for the King, and excommunicated the Sheriffe, and would not go with the King into Normandy, to make the marriage betwixt the French Kinges Sonne and his Néece.

The King of France required King Iohn to depart with all his Landes in Normandy and Pictauia,1202. &c. vntounto Arthur his Nephew, else hee would warre against him, which he denying, the next day the French King, with Arthur, set vponupon certaine of his Towns and Castles in Normandy, but he was so repulsed of the English, who followed so néere, and so inforced vponupon them, that they took Arthur and many other Prisoners, and left none to beare tydings home. This Arthur was the Sonne of Geffery, the elder Brother of King Iohn: Geffery was the third Son of Henry the second, and Iohn was his fift Son. Arthur being taken, was brought to the King home, he exhorted him with many gentle words, to leaue th… King of France and incline to his Uncl…, hee stoutly required the kingdome of England, with all things thereunto belonging, to bee restored to him as lawfull heire of the Crowne: Whereupon he was committed to the Tower of Roane, wher… he finished his life. No Story agréeth certainly how, whether by leaping into the Ditch or no.

The next yeare King Iohn lost all his possessions in Normandy,1203 by the force of the French King.

This yeare grew great dissention about chusing the Archbishop of Canterbury,1205 the younger sort of the Monkes there, at midnight, and before the old Arch-bishop was buried, and without the Kings assent, elected one Renald, sending h…m to the Pope, charging him vponupon his oath to be secret, but he reuealed the matter, whereby the rest of the Monkes sent priuily to Rome, and sent to the King for h…s ass…nt to chuse an Archbishop: the King granted their petition, desiring them to shew …auour to Iohn Gray, Bishop of Norwich, which they did, and elected him, and the King sent to Rome at his owne charge, to hauehave this election ratified: …he Suffragans of Canterbury sent likewise to Rome, to hauehave both those elections frustrated, because their assents were not to them.

The next yeare the Pope d…cided the matter betwi…t the Monkes and Suffrigans,1206 pronouncing with the Monks, charging the Suffragans and Bishop to meddle no more with that election.

The next yeare the Pope decided the controuersie betwixt the younger Monkes and the elder Monkes,1207 and condemned both their elections, comma…nding them to chuse Steuen Langton, Cardinall of Saint Chrisogone for their Arch-bishop; they said they durst not for feare of the King, and that it was preiudiciall to their liberties. He in a fury said, We will you to know, that we hauehave full power ouer the Church of Canterbury, and are not wont to tarry the consent of Princes; therefore Wee comma…nd you, vnderunder pa…ne of the great curse, that you c…use him. Whereupon they all assented, sauing he whom the King had sent for the Arch bishop of Norwich.

Upon this the King conceiued great displeasure against the Monkes of Canterbury, wherefore he banished 64. of them out of the Land.

The King sent Letters to the Pope, sharply expostulating with him, for re…u…ing the Bishop of Norwich, and setting vp one Stephen Langton (vnknowne to him, and brought vp in the kingdome of France amongst his enemies) Archbishop of Canterbury: and that the Monkes without his consent, presumed to promote him, and meruailed that the Pope did not reuolue with himselfe, how necessary his fauour had euer béene to them. What great reuenues had procéeded hence, thether, the like whereof hath not béene receiued out of any Country on this side the Alpes, and that he would stand for his liberties vntounto death, nor would not bee so shaken from the election of the Bishop of Norwich, which he séeth so commodious to him, and that if his request were not heard, he would prouide by Seas that there should be no more such g…dding to Rome, to export the riches of his Land thither, whereby he is lesse abled against his Enemies, and that he had sufficient Prelats of his p. 73owne, and hath no néede of any from abroad.

Pope Innocentius writ to him againe. Whereas wée hauehave written gently to you, conc…rning the matter of Canterbury, you hauehave written to vsus after a threatning sort; and where wée, aboue our duetie, hauehave giuen to you, you have not giuen to vsus ou… duetie, which you are bound to doe, and though your sauour (as you say) be necessary for vsus, yet consider, ours is not a little opor…une vntounto you; and whereas wee hauehave not shew…d the like honour to any Prince, as to you, you hauehave so much derogated to our Honour, as no Prince besides hath presumed to doe. Where you say, the Archbishop is vnknowne to you, and brought vp amongst year enemies. Then be sheweth how learned …e was, how he was Prebend at Paris, and of an ho…st stocke, borne an Englishman, and knowne to the King being he wrote to him thrée times before; and saith, that at the Monkes request he sent his Letters once or twise to the King for his assent, although was not the manner of the Sea Apostolike, who hath the fulnesse of the power of the Church of Canterbury, to waite for princes consents in such elections: therefore, according to the Canons of the Fathers, w… did pro…ide that the said Church should be no longer … of her Pastor: therefore, being this election hath so orderly proceeded vponupon a person so meete for the same, w…e will not for any mans pleasure, nor may without danger of …ame and conscience deferre the consummation thereof. And my sonne, seeing we ha…e respected your Honour more then our duetie is, study to Honour vsus so much as …u…tie requireth, that you may deserue fauour at Gods hands and Ours, and least doing contrary, you bring you selfe into such a pe…ke of t…oubles, that you cannot ri… your selfe againe, for it will fall out, he will hauehave the better to whom eueryevery knée doth bowe, whose turne I serue in the earth: therefore obey not them that desire vnquietnesse, that they might f…sh the better in a troubled water. It will not be for your saftie and glory to resist God and the Church, in whose quarrell the blessed and glorious Martyre, Bishop Thomas hath lately shed his bloud; especially seeing your Father, and brother being Kings of England, did giuegive ouer those thrée wicked Customes into the hands of the Sea Aposto…ke: but if you will yéeld your selfe humbly into our hands, we will looke that you and yours shall be sufficiently prouided for. Thus hauehave you the glorious Letter of the proud Pope, I beséech you marke it well.

Not long after proceeded a commaundement to certaine Bishops, requiring them by the authoritie Apostolicall, that if the King would not receiue the Prior of Canterbury, and his Monkes, then they should interdict him through his Realme. Whereupon the foure Bishops, of London. El…, Winchester, and Herford, shewed the King thereof, but the King refused the same, and would not grant their request, wherupon they pronounced the said In…erdiction throughout England and Wales, and the Church doores were shut vp, with keyes, and other fastnings.

Then the King tooke all the possessions of the foure Bishops into his hands, and apointed certaine to keepe the Liuings of the Clergie throughout the Realme. The Bishops cursed all that kept, or medled with Church-goods, against the wils of the owners. Then they went to the Bishop of Canterbury, and shewed him all the matter, he promised, he would shortly come to Canterbury himselfe, or send some which should doe as much as himselfe. … came to the King, that the Bishops had beene beyond-Sea, with the Archbishop and were returned. He sent to them Bishops, Earles, and Abbots, to shew that the King would receiue the Archbishop Steuen, and the Prior, and all the Monkes of Canterbury, promising on his behalfe, that he should neuer take any thing of the Church-goods, but would make amends for them taken, and the Church should hauehave all her Franchices, as amply as in King Edwards time the Confessor.

This agreement was concluded, and ingrossed in a payre of Indentures, the saide foure Bishops set their hands to one part, the other part was caried to the King, which he liked well, but he would not make restitution of the Church-goods. The foure Bishops would not agree to put out that Article, then the King sent for the Archbishop to come to him and speake with him at Canterbury, and for his safe conduct to come and goe at his will, sent thrée Iustices to be pledges for him: whereupon the Archbishoppe came to Canterbury, and the King came to Ch…ham, and sent his Treasurer to him to put out the clause of restitution, which he denyed to doe, or any word of the same.

p. 74Then the king caused to be procl…imed throughout the Realme, that th…se that had any Church-liuings, and went beyond-sea, should returne at a certaine day, or loose the… Liuings for euer. And that all Sheriffes should inquire if any Church-man, from that day forward, receiued any commaundement from the Pope, to apprehend him and bring him before him: and that they should take into their hands, vntounto his vse all the Church Lands, that were giuen by the Archbishop Steuen, or the Priors of Canterbury, from the time of the election of the said Archbishop, and that all the woods of the Archbishop, should be cut downe▪ and solde.

Thou the Pope sent ouer two Legats, which resorted to the King at Northampton, where he held his Parliament, and saluted him, they said, they came from the Pope, to reforme the peace of holy Church, and we admonish you, in the Popes behalfe, that you make full restitution of the goods that you hauehave rauished of holy Church, and of the land, and that you receiue Stephen Archbishop, into his dignity, and the Prior of Canterbury, and his Monkes, and yeeld againe to the Archbishop, all his Lands and rents; and Sir, yet moreouer, that you shall make such restitution to them, as the Church shall thinke good.

The King answered, he would gladly grant their request touching the Prior and Monkes of Canterbury, but touching the Archbishop, let him giuegive vp the Archbishopricke, and I will giuegive him some other Bishopricke; vponupon this condition I will admit him, otherwise not.

Then one of them said, holy Church was neuer wont to disgrade Archbishop, without reasonable cause, but to correct Princes, that were disobedient to her. What now, (quoth the King) threaten you me? They said, You hauehave told vsus what is in your heart, now we will tell you what is in the Popes will. He hath wholly interdicted and accursed you, for your wrongs to holy Church, and the Clergy, and we doe accurse all those that shall common with you hereafter, and we assoyle all Earles, Barons, Knights, and others from their homage, fealty, and seruice they should doe to you; and to confirme this, we giuegive power to the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich; and the same power ouer Scotland, we giuegive vntounto the Bishops of Rochester and Salisbury; and in Wales, wee giuegive the same power to the Bishops of Saint Dauid, Landaffe, and Saint Assaph. And we send throughout all Christendome, to all Bishops, to accurse all that helpe and comfort you in any néede. And we a…oyle all your aduersaries, and command them to warr… with you, and with all that are enemies to the Church: Then the king answered; What may you doe more? They said, we say to you in verbo Dei, that no heire of yours, after this day, may be crowned. Then the King sware, if hee had knowne their newes, hee would hauehave kept them out this tweluemonth.

Upon this occasion Pope Inocent commanded ageine, in paine of his great curse, that none should obey King Iohn, nor kéepe company with him, to eate, drinke, common, or Councell with him, or his seruants to doe him any seruice, at bed, boord, hall, or stable. But, the greater part that sled from him by this meanes, of diuerse and sundry diseases, that yeare, died. Betwixt England and France, that yeare, fell great amitie, but false, to the bitter betraying of England.

Further, the Pope with his Cardinals, gaue sentence definitiue, that King Iohn should be deposed from his Regal Seat, and promised Phillip the French King full remission of all his …, and cleare possession of the Realme of England, vntounto him and his heirs, if he did either kill him, or expel him.

Moreouer, he wrote vntounto other Nations, that they should take vponupon them the badge of the Crosse, and reuenge him of the manifold iniuries done to the vniuersall Church, by the cursed Tu…ke, and Pagan, King Iohn.

The next yeare, the French King, manned with the Bishops, Monkes, Prelates, and Priests, and their seruants, began his att…mpt, in hope of the Crowne of England, but the English Nauie tooke 300. of the French Kings ships, loaden with wheat, wine, meate, flesh. Armour, and other necessaties for warre, and burnt 100. within the Hauen, and tooke the spoyle of them.

The Priests of England prouided them a false prophet, one Peter Wake…ield, they noysed daily amonst the Commons, that Christ had twise appeared to him, in shape of a p. 75childe betwixt the Priests hands, once at Yorke, and againe at Pomfret, and breathed, saying: Peace, peace, peace, and that he was rapt in spirit, and hee saw the …oyes of Heauen and sorrowes of Hell. He prophecied of King Iohn, that he should raigne no longer then …scention day, within the yeare of our Lord 1213. Being asked the question, he could not tell whether he should be slaine, expelled, or of himselfe giuegive ouer the Crowne: but he was sure, he nor none of his stocke should raigne, that day once fi…shed. The King laughed thereat, when he sawe himselfe out of dange…. He prated thereof at large so, that they which l…ned the King, apprehended him, and put him in prison, the King not knowing therof: the fame hereof went through the whole Realme, and the more, becau…e he was imprisoned. When the prophesied Ascention day was came, King Iohn commaun…ed his Regal Tent to be spred abroad in the open field▪ and passed the day with his Noble Councel, and men of Honour, in the greatest solemnity that euer hee did before. When that day was passed withall, his enemies turned it to an al…goricall vnderstanding, and said, He is no King, for the Pope raigneth, and not he▪ yet raigned he stil, and his sonne after him, to proue the prophet alyer. And because this false prophet had troubled the Realme, peruerted the people, raised the Commons against the King, and was caried ouer the Sea by the Prelates, and gaue incouragement to the French King to inuade the Land, the King commaunded the false prophet should be hanged, and his sonne, least any more should rise of his race. At length, the King seeing himselfe so compassed with enemies, and treasons, and great danger that was like to follow, especially fearing the French King▪ was inforced to submit himselfe to that execrable monster, and Antichrist of Rome, conuerting his Land into the patrimony of Saint Peter, as many other had done before him: for hee was sure, though not without shame, being vnderunder his protection, no forraine Potentate was able to subdue him.

King Iohn made a Letter obligatory to the Pope, in this manner; Whereas wee hauehave grieuously offended God, and our mother Church of Rome, and our body and Realme is not a sufficient satisfaction to him that humbled himselfe on the Crosie for vsus, through Councell of the noble Earles and Barons, we freely grant vntounto God and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and to our mother Church of Rome, and to our holy Father Pope Inocent the third, and all the Popes that come after him, all the Realme, and patronage of the Churches of England and Ireland, with all the appurtenances, for the remission of our sinnes, and the helpe of our kinsfolkes soules, and of all Christian Soules; so that henceforth we will hold as Farmer to her Mother Church, doing fealtie to the Pope, and his successors. Wee will doe homage to the Popes Legate▪ as it were in the Popes presence; paying …or all manner of Custome which we sho…ld doe for the said Realmes yearely 1000. markes of siluer, sauing to vsus and our heires, our Iustices and our Franchises, and other realties that appertaine to our Crowne. And for the assurance hereof, we binde our successors and heires, that if any of our heires shall goe against these things, and being warned, will not an end, he shall then loose the foresaid Realmes for euermore.

But before the relea…ment of the Interdiction, the king was compelled to giuegive ouer his Crowne and Scepter to the Antichrist of Rome for fiue dayes, and to receiue it at another Cardinals hands.

Then all that had their hearts wounded for obeying their liege King, came and were absolued of their owne Bishops, but the Spirituall men were compelled to séeke their absolution of the Pope. Some of the Clergie were not pleased that the King should be absolued, vntill the King had payed all which any of the Clergie should demaund, and complained of the Popes Legate, that he was too partiall for the King, in the matter of restitution, and because he went, with the Kings Officers, to the Cathedrall Churches, Abbyes, Priories, and other Churches vacant, and appointed two Iucumbants, to eueryevery place, one for the King, and the other for the parties, and commonly compelled the election to passe vponupon him whom the king nominated.

The Archbishop called a Councell at Oxford, some would not tary, séeing the confysion thereof, others reuiled the king most spi…efully, behinde his backe, saying; he ought to bée taken for no Gouernour of theirs, that it grew to a grieuous tumult, p. 76and most grieuous commotion.

In this years Pope Inocent held the Councell at Rome, called Lateran; it was pretended to be for the r…formation of the Church Uniuersall, and to hauehave the holy Land recouered from the Turtes: but it was because the Doctrine of the Truth, which they call Here…, begin to … very high, by reason whereof the Emp…rour Otho, and many other Priestes and their Countries were excommunicated.

In this Councell he established by publique Deerce, that the Pope should hauehave the correction of all Christian Princes, and that no Emperour should bee admitted, except he were s…orne to him, and Crowned of him.

Item, that whosoever spake eu…il of the Pope, should be punished in Hell, with eternall damnation.

Item, Transubstantiation was first inuented, brought in, and a Pix ord…ined to couer the bread, and bell to be rung b…fore it, when it went abroad; and the Masse to bée made equall with Christs Gospell.

Item, the Act was established and ratified, of compelling Priests to abiure lawfull m…iage.

Marke how the Priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king Iohn so, Stephen Lancton, Archbishop of Canterbury, in this Councell was excommunicated of Pope Inocent, with all th…se Bishops, Pre…lates, Priests, Barons, and Commons, which had béene of Councell with him in the former Rebellion; and when the Archbishop had … instant sute to be absolued, the Pope answered; I sweare by Saint Peter, thou shal… not so soone obtaine thy absolution: for thou hast hurt the king of England, and iniured …uch the Church of Rome. He was also suspended from Church, saying Masse, or exercising other Ecclesiasticall Office, because he would not execute the Popes curse vponupon the said Rebellious Barons, and cursed all the other rebels with b…ll, book…, and candle, and they appealed to the generall Councell.

In the same yeare, many were summoned to Rome, because they would not consent to the Kings deposing, and submitting to the Pope. Thus the whole Realme was miserably deuided into two factious, some Lords, and Gentlemen, a great number followed the King, and loued his doings.

Others fled to the French King, desiring of him his eldest sonne Lodowicke, and they would elect him their King, and that he would send with him a mightie Armie, to subdue the King: but as certaine Lords and Barons were chusing Lodowicke for their king, the Pope sent a Cardinall to stop their rash and cruell attempts, charging the French king, vponupon his alegiance, with all possible power, to …auour, and de…end King Iohn of England, his Feoda…y, or Tenant. Tho French king answered. The Realme of England was neuer yet part of Peters patrimony, neither now is, nor euer should be. No Prince may pledge, or giuegive away his Kingdome, without the lawfull consent of his Barons: If the Pope shall se… vp such a president, he shall, at his pleasure, bring all Christian Princes, and their Kingdomes to naught, Though he be my aduersary, I much lament that he …th brought the noble ground, and Quéene of Prouinces, vnderunder miserable …. The chiefe of his Lords standing by, cryed by the bloud of God, in whome we hope to be saued, we will sticke in this Article to the loosing of our heads, that no King may put his …and vnderunder tribute, and make his Nobilitie captiue seruants.

Lodowicke … that his purposed iourney might not vsus let, for the Barons hauehave elected mee, and I will not loose my right, but fight for it to death, and I hauehave fri…ndes there: to which the King answered not, belike doubting somewhat, because he saw all … of the Priests, that they might liue licentiously in wealth, frée from the Kings yoake.

The same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by Clergie men, that the King knew not where to finde trustie friends. At length he went to Douer, looking for ayde from other quarters, to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from Flanders, …, Holland, and many other parts. It was reported the Pope writ to them to a…de him. First, b…cause he submitted his kingdome to his protection, and he had taken vponupon him the … of the white Crosse, to winne againe Ierusalem. Thirdly because he had gotten by him, England, and Ireland, and was like to loose both.

p. 77Upon the A…nciation day of our Lady, hee …ooke vponupon him his voyag… again… …he Turkes, to recouer Ierusalem. He told his seruants … did prospe… with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdomes to the Church of Rome.

In this yeere, one Simon Langton was chosen … of Yorke, but he was deposed by the Pope, because he was brothe… to Stephen …rchbishop of …, w…m the Pope hated, hauing brought him vp of naught, and …ound him so …, and he places the Bishop of … in his …oome.

The … night the Pope renewed his curse vponupon the king of France his …, for vsurping vponupon king Iohn, and against the said Simon Langton, and Geruas Hobruge, for prouoking him to the same, with won…erfull …, cousing, the …els to ring, ca…les to be …ghted, and doores opened, the … to be red, committing them wholy to the Deu…l, and communded the …ishops and … to poblish it through the whole Realme, to the …errour of all subiects. The … Simon, and Geruais der…d him and appealed vntounto the … all Councell, for Lodowicke and themselues. The Magestrates, and citizens of London did likewise … at the Popes commandements, and kept company with the excommunicated, at …able and Church, in contempt of the Pope, and …. Lodowicke, at … taking himselfe, king, made Simon Langton hig… Chancellour, and Geruais Hobruge, his chiefe Preache…: vy whose daily Preaching, the Bar…, and Citizens bring excommunicated, caused all the Church doores to be opened, and … sung, and Lodowicke was sit for them in all paints.

About this time Cardinall Pandulphus was made Bishop of Norwich, for gathering Peter …, an old …illage of the Pope, & other great labours …one by him for the Pope.

About this time one Uicont of Meinn, a … man, which came ouer with Lodowicke, felll …cke, and called to him certaine English Baron…, and said; I pittie the destruction that is comming towards you and your Realm…. Prince Lodowicke hath sworne a great oath, and sixtéene of his Earles and Nob…es are of … with him, that if he obtaine the Crowne of England, he will …anish and depriue of their Lands and goods, all that h… now findeth to goe against their leach King, and are Traytors to him; vponupon my Faith, n…w lying at Gods merciemercy, I was one that was … to the same: and with teares, he said, take héede in time, your King for a … hath kept you vnderunder, but if Lodowicke preuaile, he will put you from all, hee had them kéepe his counce…l, and so he dyed. This trobled the Barons, and seeing withall … Prince Lodowicke obtained by warres, he gaue to French men in spite of them, saying they were but Traytors.

They at length concluded to submit themselues, … p. 78neuer drunke before: I trust this Wassell shall make all England glad, and dranke a great draught thereof, the king pledged him: the Munke went away, and … bu…st out, and hee dyed, and had euer after thrée Monkes to sing continually Masse for his Soule, confirmed by their generall Chapter. I would you would see how religiously they bestow: heir confessions, absolutions, and Masses.

King Iohn feeling himselfe not well, asked for Symon the Monke, they answered▪ he was dead; then the tooke his Chariot, and departed, and dyed within three dayes. He admonished that his Sonne Henry would learne by his example, to be gen…le and leuing to his natiue people. He being imbalmed, his bowels were bur…ed in Crompton Abbey, his Soldiers …olded his Corps triumphantly in Armour, and honourably buried him in the Cathedrall Church or Worcester, hauing raigned 17. yeares, 6. monethmonth…, and odde daies.

After whose death the Princes, Lords, Barons, and strangers, that were on the kings part, with the Councell of the Legate Gualdo, proclaimed Henry his sonne king, and at Gloster, with the Earle there, they annointed and Crowned him King, b… the Legate Gualdo, assisted with the Bishops of Winchester, and Bath, and called him Henry the third.

The Pope sent with all spéede, that they should mightily stand …ith the young king, being but ten yeares old, and defend England with Arm…ur, and his thundring curses against Lodowicke. Hée confirmed his Legat Gualdo, and committed to his discretion all that appertained to his Office, none to appeale from him. Hee compelled the Prelates to bée sworne to the young King, and punished them which refused, Th… Bishop of Winchester laid a heauie talke vponupon his beneficed men, to helpe the king in his warres.

Gualdo left not one beneficed man vnpunished, that had taken part with the French King.

In this yeare,1219. Gualdo was sent for home to Rome▪ for by this time he had welfa…oredly vnladen the purses of the Clergie men, and returned with all his bags well stuffed, leauing Cardinall Pandulfe behind him, to supply his Baliwicke The Bishop of Lincolne, not long before, paid 1000. markes for recouery of his Office, and an hundred markes to the Legate, for his goodwill; so were other holy Prelates and Priests taught by his example.

Inocentius Pope, condemned Almeri…us, a worthy Bishop, for an hereticke, for teaching, and holding against Images: also he condemned the Doctrine of Ioachim Abbas, as before, for heresie. He brought in first the paying of priuie ty…hes, and the receiuing once at Easter, and the reseruation of the Sacrament, and the going before it with a bell and a light.

He stirred vp Otho against Phillip the Emperour, because he was elected without his will, whereupon followed much slaughter in Germany; and against Otho, which he had made Emperour, he set vp Fredericke king of Ci…le, and caused the Archbishop of Mayence to excommunicate him▪ and depose him of his Empire: for which cause, the Princes of Germany did inuade his Bishopricke, and burned his possession: all was because Otho held certaine Cities, Townes, and C…stles, which the Pope said belonged to him.

In his time came the order of Blacke Friers, called the Preaching Fryers; it began of one Dominicke a Spaniard, who after he had Preached ten yeares against the Albigenses, and others that held against the Pope, comming to Lateran, desired to hauehave his Order of Preaching Fryers confirmed, which the Pope refused, vntill hee dreamt that the Church of Lateran was readie to fall, vntill Dominicke came and propped it vp with his sholders, and so preserued it. The Pope waking, called Dominicke to him, and gr…nted his request. Dominicks mother being great with child, dreame… she had a wolfe in her wombe, which had a burning tor…ch in his mouth, the which dreame, the Preachers of that order aduance to their glory.

In his time came vp the order of the Minorits, of one Frances an Italian, hee left off shooes, had but one cote of vile cloth, and an hempen cord about his middle, and so apparelled his Disciples, teaching them to fulfill the perfection of the Gospell, p. 79walke in pouertie, and holy simplicitie; this rule was confirmed by Pope Innocent. Many Nobles, and others, in Rome, builded manflons for him and his disciples, he was likewise str…t to his flesh, leauing clothes▪ in winter, he … himselfe in Ice and snow, he called pouerty his Lady, he kept nothing ouer night, he was so desirous of Martyrdome, that he went to Siria to the Solda…, who receiued him honourably: it is written that Christ and his Saints marked him with fiue wounds. These Franciscans, or begging F…ers, though they hauehave but one Rule, they hauehave many Orders, there by 101. seueral sorts of Friers and Nunnes, which the reader, if he be disposed, may see in the booke at l…rge, with their names, Fol 70.

Hildegardis a Nunne a Prophetesse, liued in the yeare 1170. She reprehendeth grieuously the abhominations of the l…ues of the Spiritual Papists, the contempt of their Office, and destruction of Gods children with these words; Now is the Law neglected amongst the Spirituall, which negl…ct to Preach, and to doe good things. The masters and Prelates, sleepe and negl…ct Iustice. The Church appeared to her in the shape of a …, her face … with dirt, and her … rent, complaining that the Priests did not shine ouer the people neither in Doctrine, not example; but contrary, did driue the innocent lambe from them, that Eccles…asticall order grew worse and worse, and Priests destroyed the law of God, and did not teach it; and proph…eth to them Gods heauie wrath and punishments.

She prophesieth likewise of the reformation of Religion, and saith, it shall be most godly, saying; Then shall the Crowne of the Apostolicall honour bee deuided, because there shall be found no religion amongst them, and the name of that dignity shall bée despised, and they shall s…t ouer them other men, and other Archbishops, and the Apostolicall order shall hauehave scarce Rome, and a …ew other Countries thereabout, vnderunder his Crown…; and this shall be done partly be war…es, and partly by a common consent of Spirituall and Seculer persons, then Iustice shall florish, and men shall honestly apply themselues to the auncient Custo…es and disciplines of the ancient.

She prophes…eth likewise of Fryers; There shall rise a sencelesse, proud, greedy people, without Faith, and subtile, which shall eate the s…nes of the people, pretending in Order of certaine deuout persons, vnderunder the dissimuled cloake of beggers, pr…ferring themselues before others in fayned deuotion, in puffed vp knowledge, and preten…ed holinesse, walking without …, and the …ea…e of God, finding out many new mischiefes, strong and sturdy. Of wise men, and Christes faithfull that Order shall bee accursed; they shall cease from labour, and studie for quietnesse, rather taking on them the Order of flatterers then beggers, they shall study altogether how to resist the Preachers of the trueth, and kill them with the mightie. The Deuill shall roote foure vices in them, Flattery, Enui…, Hypocrisie, and Backbiting: that by flattery, they may ha…e bou…tifull gifts; that by Hypocricie they may please men, and by Back…iting, dispraise others, and extoll themselues, for the praise of men, and s…ducing of the simple. And in example of Martyres, hauing no deuotion, shall preach instantly. They shall speake euill of Princes, and withdraw the Sacraments from Pastors, rere…uing the almes of the poore, weake, and néedy; and conueying themselues into a multitude of people, being familier with women, teaching them how to deceiue their husbands, and friends, and conuey away their goods by stealth, and giuegive it them, and say that they w…uld pray for them; so that they couer other m…ns faults curiously, and forg…t their owne vtterly. They shall take away things fr…m Pirates, théeues, Church-pillers, from Usurers, Hereticks, and Apostates, Adulterers, lecherous women, b…ud…, from the mightie, p…riured Marchants, false Iudges, Soldiers, Tyrants, Princee liuing against the Law; and they shall follow the Deuill, and swéetnesse of sinne, de…icatenesse of life and … to their eternall damnation, all men shall sée this, yet shall they daily become more indurate and wicked. But when their iniquities, and seducings shall bee tryed, men shall cease to giuegive them, then shall they go… about hungry, and looking downe to the earth like madde dogges, and shrinking in their neckes, like Turtles, that they may bée filled with bread, then shall the people say, Wo… vntounto you wretches, children of sorrow, the world seduced you, the Deuill snared your mo…ths, your flesh slippery your heart without taste, your minds wandring, p. 80your eyes delighted in vanitie, and madnesse, your p…nches desire sweete dishes, your feete swift to mischiefe; consider how you were accounted … and zealous, poore rich men, and simple stout men; but you were deuout slatterers, false betrayers, peruerse backe …i…ers, holy hypocrites, peruert…rs of the truth, too much strickt and precise, proud, shamelesse, and vnstable Doctors, delicate Mar…yres, professors for lucre sake, meeke slanderers, religious couetous, lowly proud, godly hard men, pleas…nt lyers, peaceable persecu…ors, oppressors of the simple, inuenters of euill Sects, vnmercifull louers of the world, sellers of pardons, spoylers of benefices, vnprofitable makers of prayers, seditious conspirers, dronken whisperers, desirous of honour, curious in mens faults, the extortioners of the world, vnsatiable preachers, pleasers of men, seducers of women, so we…s of discord. Moses well prophesied of them in his Canticle; A people without Councell and Wisdome, would God they were wise and vnderstood, and foresaw the latter ends to come, you builded aloft, and when you could build no higher you fell downe. Like Simon Magus whom the Lord repressed, and strooke with a mightie plagne, so you likewise hauehave fallen through your deceiueable wickednesse, lies, …, the people shall say to them, away teachers of peruersitie, subuerters of verity, brethren of the Shunamite, father of Hereticall pra…i…e, false apostles, you séeme to follow the life of the Apostles, but follow not their steps one …ot, you children of iniquitie, we will none of your trades and waies, for presumptuous pride hath deceiued you, and insatiable concupiscence subuerted your erronious heart, and when you coueted to climbe vp higher and higher, then, by the iust Iudgement of God, you hauehave fallen downe to euerlasting shame.

About the same time that the Franciscans, and Dominicke Fryers began, sprang vp the Cro…bearers, or Crouche… Fryers, by Pope Innocent the 3. who raised an Army, signed with the Crosse on their brest, to … against the Albenses, whom the Pope and his sect account Hereticks. About the parts of Tholous, I finde in some records, that the opinion of them was sound enough, professing against the wanton wealth, pride▪ and tyranny of the Prelates, denying the Popes authoritie to hauehave ground in Scriptures, neither could they away with the ceremonies or traditions, as Images, Pardons, Purgatory, calling them blasphemous occupyings; many of them were slaine at times, and burned by the Pope, and Symon Ecclesiasticus, with other moe.

After King Iohn, as aforesaid, had submitted himselfe, and his whole Realme vnderunder tribute to the Pope it is incredible how the insatiable a…arice of the Romaines did oppresse the Commons, and all estates of the Realme, especially the Churchmen, who, what for the Pope, for the Legats, for the Holy Land, and other subtill deuises to get away their money, were brought to such slauery and penury, that whereas the King durst not, or could not remedy their exclamations, they were almost driuen by for…e to remedy their owne wrongs, that they writ to the Bishops, and other Ec…les…asticall Gouernours, that they had rather die then be thus confounded of the Romans, that it was not vnknowne to them, how they had deposed men, and giuen away the B…nefices after their owne lust, and how they hauehave thundred excommunications against you, if you place any, in any Spirituall Liuing, in any of your Dioces within the Realme, vntill f…ue Romaines in eueryevery Dioces, and in eueryevery Cathedrall, such as the Pope shall name, be prouided for, to the valew of 100. lib. yearely; and what other grieuances they doe inflict to the Layty, and Nobles. Wherefore, w… considering the rigorous austeritie of the …omanists, which take vponupon them to Iudg… and condemne vsus, and lay on vsus intoll…rable burdens: therefore vponupon a full aduise had amonst vsus, we hauehave though good rather to resist then to bee subict to their intollerable oppre…sions, and greater slau…ry to be looked for hereafter. Therefore we straitly command you, as your friends, that you doe not intermeddle, or take part with them, let…ing you vnderstand for trueth, that in case you shall bee found culpable herein, not onelyonly your …oods and possessions shall bee in danger of burning, but a…o your bodies, shall incurre the same perill as shall the said Romish oppr…ssors.

In the raigne of Henry the third, who succeeded King Iohn, and raigned 57. yeares, Cardinall Otho was sent to the King with Letters to him and other p. 81places for exactions of Money: the Letters were to require for the Pope two Prebends in eueryevery Cathedrall Church, a portion of eueryevery Abbot, and of eueryevery Couent, as much as belonged to one Monke: their good being equally deuided, because the Church of Rome of greatly slandered, that none could proceede there in any cause without great guifts and expences, whereof the pouertie of the Church is the cause; therefore it is sit, that you as naturall Children should helpe and succour your Mother, for if wee should not receiue of you and other good men, we should lacke, which were a great dishonour to our dignity. The King answered, Hee could doe nothing, because it concerned the Commons, and he ass…mbled a Councell, hee was answered, they could conclude nothing, because the Arch-Byshoppe, the King, and other whom it concer…ed were not there.

The next yeare the same Cardinall came againe into England, and summoned all the Cl…argy to another Councell, to be held in the Cathedrall Church of S. Paule in London, for redressing of diuers and sundry matters concerning Benifices Religion, and other abuses of the Church: putting them in feare and hope, some to lose, and some to obtaine spirituall promotions at his handes. Diuers pre…ious rewards were offered him, in Pal…ries, in rich Plate, and Iewels, in costly and sumptuous Garments richly furred, in Coyne and Uictuall, &c. The Bishop of Winchester sent him fifty fat Oxen, and hundred coome of pure Wheat, eight tun of chosen W…ne, likewise other Bishops offered to the Cardinals Boxe after their ability.

The Cardinall commaunded, at the West end of Saint Paules Church, a high solemne Throne of great State to bee prepared, rising vp with a glorious Scaffold: before the Cardinall begunne his Sermon, there happened a great discord betwixt the Arch-byshops of Canterbury and Yorke, about sitting on the right hand of the glorious Cardinall: the Cardinall shewed them a Bull of the Pope, in the middest of which was pictured the Crosse, and Paule pictured on the right side of the Crosse, and Peter on the left: saying, yet there is no contention betwixt these two, yet Saint Peter for the Prerogatiue of his Keyes, and for the Preheminence of his Apostle-ship, and Cathedrall Dignitie, séemeth most worthy to be placed on the right side, and from that time foorth, the Arch-Byshop of Canterbury hath enioyed the Dignity and Pr…heminence of the …ight hand.

The Cardinall, sitting like a God in the middest betwixt them, made his Sermon vponupon these words; In the middest of the Seate, and round about, were foure Beasts, full of eyes behind and before. He compared them about him to the foure Beasts, declaring how they ought to hauehave eyes before and behind; that is, they must be carefull and prouident, as well in disposing secular thinges, as wise and circumspect in spirituall matters, contriuing, and ioyning wiselie thinges past with thinges to come. And this was the greatest effect of his Clearkely Sermon.

Then he gaue forth sundry Constitutions and Statutes, for ordering of Churches, dedicating Temples, for seauen Sacraments, for giuing Orders, farming Benefices, Collations, and resignations, Priests apparell, and single life, for eating of flesh in religious Houses, for Arch-deacons, Byshops, Proctors, &c. The King dreading the Commons, willed him to repaire home to Rome, but he could not so be rid of him, but hee renued his commission, and still applyed himselfe to his Haruest, gleaning and raking what hee could, writing his Letters to eueryevery Byshop or Arch-Deacon, for procurations to beare his charges, and withall, to be spéedily collected and sent to him. Prouided, that the summe collected, should not excéede aboue foure Markes of a Liuing, and where small Liuings were two Liuings to ioyne, and if any contradicted or gaine-sayed him, to excommunicate them.

And they sent forth Preachers and Fryers in all places, to perswade men to fight p. 82against the common enemy the Turke, whom when they hauehave bound with a vow, and signed with the crosse, then they send their Bulles to release them for money, and the Bishops and Arch-deacons to proclaime it.

The Pope was not ashamed to require the fift part of eueryevery Ecclesiasticall liuing, and further, hee promised and gaue to the Romanes, for helping him in warrs against Fredericke the Emperour, which had married King Iohns daughter: the gift of all the spirituall liuings in England, belonging to the religious houses, and therevpon sent expresse Commandement to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other foure▪ Bishops ioined with him that they should prouide spirituall liuings, for three hundred Romanes, in the best Benefites in England, at the next voidance, so that the said Bishoppes should bee suspended in the meane time from all collation of Benefice: the Arch-bishop séeing their vnreasonable oppressions being not able to endure it, went into France.

And further one Petrus Rubeus, was sent from the Pope, to goe from Bishop, to Bishop, Abbot and Abbot, telling them such a Bishop, such an Abbot hath giuen thus much vntounto the Popes Holines, trusting you also will not be behinde, in a matter that so much concernes the good of the Church, by which cunning subtiltie he gathered together into the treasurie of the Church such a Masse of money as is almost incredible to beleeue.

At length the Bishoppes, Abbots, and Arch-deacons came to the King, whose Father they had so obstinately resisted and repugned; lamentably complaining of their extreame miseries, of the vnmeasurable exactions of the Pope, so all the Prelates were called together, and vppon talking together made many exceptions aga…nst the same: the Legate and his followe hearing these allegations, seeing their owne vtter confus…on, were the lesse importunate.

Not long after this followed a generall Councell at Lyons, in the Kingdom… of France, called by Pope Innocentius: in the which Councell the English Nation did exhibite sundry Articles of all their greeuances, and that the Italians did succeed one another in the benefices, whose language they could not vnderstand, and that there was no preaching in their Churches, nor no almes giuen to the poore, and that there came fresh Letters from the Pope, commanding the Prelates to finde at their proper costs and charge for a whole yeare, some ten armed souldiers, some more, some lesse, to be ready at the Popes commandement, when, or where be should appoint.

After these terrible greeuances and enormities, the States of England consulting together, directed their Letters to the Pope for Reformation: First the Abbots and Priors, then the Bishoppes and Suffragans, after the Nobles and Barons, and last of all the King, but all was neuer the better.

Not long after the Pope sent for new tallage and exactions, which when it came to the Kings eare hee vehemently disturbed writ seuerally to eueryevery Bishop, in manner following.

THat whereas wee hauehave heeretofore written to you, once, twice, thrice, both by our Priuy Seale, and our Letters Patents, that you should leuy for the pope no exactions, either vponupon the Clergy, or Laitie, yet you vilepending our commandement, and contrarie to our prouision made in our last Councell at London, hauehave proceeded in collecting the said your taxes and tallages wherevpon wee greatly maruell and are mooued: Wherefore we straitly will and command you, that you doe so no more, as you will enioy our …auour and your possessions; and if you hauehave made any such collection or gathering, that you suffer it not to be transported out of the Realme, but kéepe it vntill the returne of the Ambassadours, p. 83and that you make this our inhibition common to your Arch-Deacons and Officials.

At length the Ambassadors came home, bringing word that the Pope was greatly displeased with the Realme, saying; Rex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat & frederiscat suum habet consilium, ego vero & meum habeo, quod & sequar, &c. And that they were halfe counted Schismatickes, for speaking in the Kinges behalfe, and could no more be heard, the King being insenfed heere-with, sent out Proclamations through all the Realme, that none should consent to any taxe of Money for the Pope: he hearing of it, in cruell rage sent to the Prelats, vppon paine of interdiction to prouide the saide summes of Money by the Feast of Assumption, the King for feare of the Pope, durst not stand to the liberties of the Church.

Moreouer, the gulfe of the Romish Auarice waxt so immeasurable, that he shamed not, vponupon his curse, to aske the third part of Church goods, and the yearely fruit of all vacant Benefices.

Otho comming to Oxford, lying in the house of Osney, was receiued with great honour, the Schollers presenting him honourable Dishes and rewards Dinner being done, they came to welcome him; comming to the Gate, the Porter an Italian asked what they would hauehave, and holding the doore halfe open, with contumelious tearmes, thrust them out, they with force thrust open the gate, and came in, the Romaines within fell to alarum by the eares together, some of the Schollers going …or Weapons, the Maister Cooke cast scalding liquor, wherein meat was sodden, in the face of a poore Scholler, an Irish-man, which waighted for Almes: another Scholler a Welsh-man séeing it, shot the Cooke thorough with an Arrow, and killed him: Whereupon was a great clamour, the Cardinall hearing the tumult, like a valiant Romaine, ranne vp into the stéeple, and locked himselfe … vntill midnight. The Schollers sought all corners for the Legate, crying out; Where is that Usurer, that Sym…niacks, that Proylar and Extortioner of our Liuings and Monies? Who peruerteth the King, and subuerteth the Kingdome, enriching himselfe with our spoyles: The Cardinall heard all this and held his peace, and conuayed himselfe by night vntounto the King, and the King sent to Oxford a garison of armed men to deliuer the Romaines which were hid, for feare of the Schollers. One Odo a Lawyer, and thirty of the Schollers were apprehended and carried to Wallingford Castle, and thence in Charts to London, and by much intreaty of the Bishops, were brought bare-footed to the Legats doore, where they pardoned, and the Uniuersity released of interdiction.

The State of Germany, and of the Emperour Friderick the second, was then as much or more pittifull then that of England, who were so persecuted by Pope Innocentius, Honorius, Gregorius, Celestinus, Innocentius the fourth, infamed with excommunications, and did commonly warre against them in open fielde, and all with English mens Money: first they made him Emperour against Otho, whom they depriued, then for clayming his right in Apulia and Sicilia they accursed him, when they had warred against him, they sent him to fight against the Turkes, who recouered Ierusalem, Nazareth, and Ioppe, from the Souldane. Whilst hee was occupied in these Warres, these vnholy Fathers inuaded his Lands and possessions at home, subduing Apulia vnderunder his owne possession, and inhibiting his Souldiours to goe ouer to him, and when the Emperour sent to the Pope and other Christian Princes his Letters gratulatory, declaring what God wrought by him against the Turkes, the Pope stayd the Messengers, kept the Letters close, and caused it to be noysed abroad that the Emperour was dead, and the said Pope Gregorie the ninth wrote to the Souldane, that he should not render the holy Land into the Emperours handes. The Emperour hearing this stirre of the Pope, tooke truce with the Souldane for tenne yeares, and repayreth home, and driueth the Popes Army out of Apulia, and recouered all the Pope had gotten from him before: The Pope laid his cursse vponupon the Emperour, for making truce with the Souldane, and conspired with the Tuscanes and Lombards against him: the Emperor, p. 84at the instigations of the Princes, glad to compose with the Tyrant▪ was faine to ransome the absolution of the Pope for ten hundred thousand ounces of gold, and yet hee sent to the Princes of Germany, charging them to admit none of the Emperors stocke to be King of the Romaines, and stirred vp the Citties of Italy against him. The Emperor vnderstanding his politick and subtile traynes, marched into Italy, where he put downe the Rebels, and recouered againe the Citties belonging to the Empire. Wherefore a new excommunication was laid vponupon him, and all his Subiects released of obedience and loyalty, and much indulgences and eternall life promised to them that would fight against him. After Gregorie, succéeded Celestinus the fourth, who raigned not long. After him, succéeded Innocentius the fourth, who following the steps of his predecessors, called a generall Councell at Lyons, as is before mentioned, where standing vp, he cited the Emperour: his Legate required lawfull time for him to come, which hee would not graunt, but in his fury denounced him accursed, and depriued him of his Imperiall Dignity, charging him with periury and sacriledge, writing Libels of defamation to all Kings.

The Emperour made purgation of these …landers, charging the Pope, not with fained, but true and most hainous crimes, of slander, falshood, perdition, periury, rebellion, hypocrisie, and prooueth him by his Letters, to be very Antichrist. Hee wrote to the French King, that hee much marueiled that the prudence and wisedome of the French-men, did not more quicke then others sée the Popes subtilty and couetousnesse,1250. purposing to subdue all Realmes as he hath done England, and doth presumptuously achieue to subdue the Maiesty of the Imperiall Crowne. This Emperor departed to Apulia, and there dyed, being poysoned, as some thinke, by meanes of the Pope.

In the time of this Innocent, dyed one Robert Grosted, Byshop of Lincolne, a famous learned man, as that time serued, whose Sermons to this day are extant, in the Quéenes Library at Westminster. There is one speciall Sermon written to Innocent. Cestrensis writeth, that he was greeued for the exactions of the Pope in England, and would not admit of the Popes Nephew to be Canon of his Church. Writing to the Pope, that hee could not admit such into his Church, which did neither know themselues, nor their charges: hee was therefore called to Rome and excommunicated, who appealing from the Pope to Iesus Christ, shortly after departed. Two yeares after the said Pope being asleepe, one apparelled Bishoplike, appeared vntounto him, and striking him with his Staffe, saide; Surge miser & veni in iudicium, the next day after, the Popes Bed was found bloody, and he dead.

After Henry the third,1307. succeeded his Sonne Edward the first, who raigned thirty fiue yeares, Edward the second his Sonne succeeded him, who raigned twentie yeares, he was deposed, and being in prison, was striken in with a hot Spit. After whom, succeeded Edward the third, in whose raigne Calis was first wonne, and after the French King taken Prisoner,1347. and brought into England, and ransomed for 3000000. Florens. At which time happened the great conflict betwixt the Townes-men of Oxford and the Uniuersitie, whereof a remembrance remaineth to this day. In whose raigne two Friers Minorites were burned in Auignion,1374. and in his raigne was Maister Iohn Wiclife Reader of Diuinity in Oxford.