The History of the Church of Great Britain, Century 14
CENT. XIV.
IN the beginning of this Century King Edward the Firſt waged cruel Wars againſt the Scots. Then Pope Boniface the Eighth ſent his Letters to the King, to quit his claim to Scotland, to ceaſe his Wars,Fox Acts and Monum. lib. 1. p. 444, 445. and releaſe his Priſoners of the Scotch Nation, as a people exempt, and properly belonging to his own Chappel. He grounded his Title thereunto, becauſe (it was ſaid) Scotland was firſt converted, by the Relicks of S. Peter, to the unity of the Chriſtian Faith. Hereupon King Edward called a Council of his Lords at Lincoln, where he returned a large Anſwer to the Pope's Letter, endeavouring by evident Reaſons, and ancient Precedents to prove his propriety in the Kingdom of Scotland. This was ſeconded by another from the Engliſh Peerage, ſubſcribed with all their hands; declaring that the King ought by no means to anſwer in judgment in any caſe, or ſhould bring his Rights into doubt, and ought not to ſend any Proctors or Meſſengers to the Pope, &c. The Pope foreſeeing the Verdict would go againſt him, wiſely non-ſuited himſelf.
Then Pope Boniface ſent forth a Declaration in favour of the Archbiſhop, and proceeded ſo violently againſt the Abbots, Monks,Chron. Will. Thorn. col. 1997. ad 2003. and their Adherents, by Excommunications, Interdicts, &c. that he enforced them to ſubmit, and ſue unto him for Abſolution, and a friendly agreement between them.
After the death of Henry de Newark, Thomas Corbridge being elected Archbiſhop of York, repaired to Rome for his Confirmation, where he was forced to reſign his right of Election into the Pope's hands, and to receive the Archbiſhoprick from him by way of proviſion, who thereupon not only confirmed, but conſecrated him Archbiſhop at Rome, and gave him his Pall; and the King reſtored his Temporalties upon receipt of the Pope's Bull.
Thomas Stubs tells us of an high Conteſt that happened ſoon after betwixt the King and him, about the Chappel of St. Sepulchres in York, for which the King ſeized his Temporalties, and detained ſome of them till his death, for obeying the Pope's Proviſion and Commands before the King's Writ, in refuſing to admit his Clerk to this Chappel, and to remove the Pope's Clerk, whom he had placed therein by his Papal Proviſion. This Archbiſhop's Liberties in Beverley were ſeized into the King's hands, Anno 29. of his Reign, for a contempt committed by him in the King's preſence.
The King's Daughter Mary, being a Nun, profeſſed at Ambresbury, the King granted her forty Oaks each year, twenty tun of Wines, and ſeveral Manors of above the value of two hundred pounds a year, for her maintenance.
In the thirtieth year of the Reign of King Edward, the French King Philip, with all the Peers, Earls, Barons, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Priors, Clergy, Univerſity of Paris, and the Cities and Commonalty of France, did Appeal, and Article againſt Pope Boniface the Eighth his Perſon, Crimes, Interdicts, Excommunications, to the next General Council, in the ruffe of his Papal pride, as a moſt deteſtable Heretick, Simoniack, Adulterer, Sorcerer, and Monſter of Impiety: and ſoon after ſeized, impriſoned, and brought him to a ſhameful Tragical end. The particular Articles are recorded by Mr. Fox. Fox Acts and Monuments. Vol. 1. p. 450, 451.Of this Pope a certain Verſifier wrote thus.
Ingreditur Vulpes, Regnat Leo, ſed Canis exit.
Re tandem vera, ſi ſic fuit ecce chimera.
Alter vero ſic.
Vulpes intravit, tanquam Leo Pontificavit;
Exiit utque Canis, de divite factus inanis.
Then was the Biſhop of Oſtia created Pope, and called Benedict the Eleventh: Of whom one ſaith,
A te nomen habe, bene dic, bene fac, Benedicte:
Aut rem perverte, maledic, malefac, Maledicte.
The Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Robert Winchelſey, having plotted Treaſon, with ſome others of the Nobility, againſt the King, projecting to depoſe him, and ſet up his Son Edward in his Room, lurked in a Covent at Canterbury, till fourſcore Monks were, by the King's Command, thruſt out of their places, for relieving him out of their Charity, and were not reſtored till the Archbiſhop was baniſhed the Kingdom.
In the year 1305. the King ſent a Letter to the Pope for the Canonizing of Thomas de Cantelupe, late Biſhop of Hereford deceaſed, famous for ſundry Miracles (as was ſuggeſted) that ſo he and his Realm might enjoy the benefit of his Interceſſion for them in Heaven, according to the Superſtition of that blind Age.
After the death of Pope Benedict, Pope Clement was no ſooner elected, and enthroned in France, but he began to exerciſe his new Rapines in England, by complying with King Edward, in granting him a two years Diſme from his Clergy for his own uſe, though pretended for the aid of the Holy Land, that himſelf might more eaſily exact the Firſt-fruits of vacant Eccleſiaſtical Benefices to fill his own Coffers, though out of his Dominions. Which occaſioned theſe Satyrical Verſes to be made of him and the King this year:
Eccleſia navis titubat, Regni quia navis
Errat, Rex, Papa, facti ſunt unica Capa.
Hoc. faciunt do, des, Pilatus hic, Alter Herodes.
This is the firſt preſident of any Pope's reſerving, or exacting Annates, or Firſt-fruitsWhen Firſt-fruits were firſt brought into England of all Eccleſiaſtical Dignities, and Benefices throughout England, extant in our Hiſtories: which, though reſerved but for two years by this Pope at firſt, grew afterwards into cuſtom by degrees, both in England and elſewhere.
As this Pope thus introduced theſe Firſt-fruits into England, ſo he likewiſe frequently ſent abroad his Bulls of Proviſions for Eccleſiaſtical Benefices and Promotions therein for his Favourites and Clerks, which were then void, or ſhould afterwards fall void by death, or otherwiſe.
Manifold were the Cautions inſerted into Pope's Proviſions for poor Clerks, though Learned and Honeſt, which muſt be confined to an Archbiſhop's Living in one Dioceſs of ſmall value, and thoſe not formerly granted to any others, and they bound to perſonal reſidence thereon; when as others, that were rich, and more able to pay great ſums for them, were not clogged with ſo many Cautions. Many Inſtruments, under the hands of publick Notaries, theſe poor Clerks muſt procure, with vaſt ſollicitation, travel, and expence, before they get the leaſt hopes of enjoying any ſmall Prebend, or Benefice, by Popes Bulls, and yet, in fine, not enjoy actual poſſeſſion of them. Many of the Pope's Proviſions to every ſmall, as well as great, Prebendary, nor Benefice, were granted to ſeveral perſons, in poſſeſſion, or expectacy, by ſundry Bulls at once, contradicting, repealing each other by Non obſtantes, engendring infinite Suits, and Appeals in the Pope's Court, to the great vexation of the Patrons, Proviſors, and other Competitors, and neglect of the Peoples ſouls, during ſu…h Conteſts concerning them.
The King granted the Tithes and Appropriations of all his new Aſſarts within his Forreſt of Deane, which were extraparochial to the Biſhop of Landeff, to augment his ſmall Biſhoprick, and maintain a Chauntry in the Church of Newland. The like Grant the King made this year of extraparochial Tithes, within the Forreſt of Sherwood, to the Prior of Felley. The King likewiſe ordered the Tithes of all his Mills in Holderneſs to be paid to the Parſons of all Pariſh-churches, wherein they were, as the Nobles and others there uſed to pay them.
Then the King (according to the manner of that Age) commanded Prayers and Maſſes to be made for the Soul of Joan, late Queen of France, and for Blanch, late Dutcheſs of Auſtria, deceaſed.
In Scotland there aroſe a great Rebellion through the treachery of the perjured Archbiſhop of St. Andrews, the Biſhop of Glaſgo, and Abbot of Schone, who confederating with Robert Brus, Earl of Carrick, and others of the Scottiſh Nobility, reſolved to make and Crown Robert King of Scotland: who being oppoſed therein by John Comyn his Couſin-German, a man of great power in Scotland, he ſet upon and murdered the ſaid John Comyn in the Church of Dunfrees, and was ſoon after crowned King by the premiſed Biſhops and Abbot.
Pope Clement the Sixth, being informed of this murder of John Comyn by King Robert, ordered the Archbiſhop of York, and Biſhop of Carliſle to excommunicate him, and his Complices, with ſound of Bells and Candles in all places of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and elſewhere (though without their Dioceſs) and to Interdict all their Lands and Caſtles, till they ſhould ſubmit themſelves. This Bull was executed accordingly.
King Edward ſent a great and ſtrong Army into Scotland againſt Robert Brus. And Aymery de Valence, Earl of Pembrook, put to flight King Robert, took his Wife, his Brother Nigellus, and others: but himſelf eſcaped into the utmoſt Iſles of Scotland. The Earl of Athol was put to death at London, and Nigellus at Barwick. The Biſhops of St. Andrews, and Glaſgo, and the Abbot of Scone, were put in Iron chains, and kept cloſe priſoners in Porcheſter-caſtle. King Robert was brought to ſuch miſery, that he was ſometime naked, and hungry, without meat or drink, ſave only water and roots of Herbs, and his life alwayes in danger.
Robert Brus came forth at length out of the Scottiſh Iſlands, with ſuch forces as he had gotten together, taking the Caſtles of Carrick, Innerneſs, and many other.
To put an end to all which trouble, King Edward Daniel's Chron. in Edw. 1appointed a great Hoſt to attend him at Carliſle, three weeks after Midſummer-day. There he held his laſt Parliament, wherein the State got many Ordinances to paſs, for reformation of the abuſes of the Pope's Miniſters, and his own former exactions, wringing from the elect Archbiſhop of York, in one year, nine thouſand five hundred Marks. And Anthony, Biſhop of Durham, to be made Patriarch of Jeruſalem, gave the Pope and his Cardinals mighty ſums. The Pope required the Fruits of one years revenue, of every Benefice that ſhould fall void in England, Wales, and Ireland, and the like of Abbies, Priories, and Monaſteries.
King Edward in July enters Scotland with a freſh Army, and dyes at Burgh upon Sands, having reigned thirty four years, ſeven months, aged ſixty eight.
This King had founded the Abbey of Val-royal, in Cheſhire, for the Cistercians, and by Will bequeathed thirty two thouſand pounds to the Holy Land. He was obedient, not ſervile to the See of Rome.
Edward the Second, his Son, called of Caernarvan, ſucceeded in the Kingdom, in July 1307. He ſoon cauſed Walter de Langton, Biſhop of Cheſter, Treaſurer of England, and principal Executor of the laſt Will of the deceaſed King, to be arreſted by Sir John Felton, Conſtable of the Tower, and impriſoned in Wallingford-caſtle, ſeizing upon all his Temporalties, till afterwards, by means of the Papal authority, he was reſtored, and they were ſeemingly reconciled. The Biſhop's crime was a good freedom which he uſed in the late King's dayes, in gravely reproving this Prince for his miſdemeanours, and ſhortening his waſt of coin by a frugal moderation. All the Biſhop's Goods he gave to Piers Gaveſton, makes a new Treaſurer of his own; removes moſt of his Father's Officers, and all without the advice and conſent of his Council.
The King was married to Iſabel, Daughter of Philip the fair, King of France, which was performed magnificently at Boleign. Piers Gaveſton was the King's great Favourite, who filled the Court with Buffoons, Paraſites, Minſtrels, Stage-players, and all kind of diſſolute perſons.
King Edward the Second, by Letters to the Pope, requeſted, that Robert Winchelſey might be reſtored to his Archbiſhoprick, which was done accordingly; though he returned too late to Crown the King, which ſolemnity was performed by Henry Woodlock, Biſhop of Wincheſter.
Shortly after his Coronation, all the Knights TemplersThe Order of the Knights Templars aboliſhed throughout Chriſtendom. throughout England were at once arreſted, and committed to priſon. In the General Council of Vienna, this Order was utterly aboliſhed through Chriſtendom. The French King cauſed fifty four, of that Order, together with their great Maſter, to be burnt at Paris: And the Pope and Council annexed their poſſeſſions to the Order of the Knights Hoſpitallers, called commonly Knights of the Rhodes. But in England the Heirs of the Donors, and ſuch as had endowed the Templars here with Lands, entred upon thoſe parts of the ancient Patrimonies, after the diſſolution of the Order, and detained them, until not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred unto the Knights of Saint John of Jeruſalem.
Guy, Guy, Earl of Warwick ſurpriſeth Piers Gaveston, and cauſeth him to be beheaded.Earl of Warwick, ſurpriſed Gaveſton, carried him to his Caſtle of Warwick, wherein a place called Blacklow (afterwards Gaveſhead) his head was ſtricken off, at the commandment, and in the preſence of the Earls of Lancaſter, Warwick, and Hereford.
A great Battel was fought, between the Engliſh and Scots, at Bannocks-borough. There periſhed in this Battel Gilbert Clare, Earl of Gloceſter, Robert Lord Clifford, the Lord Tiptoft, the Lord Marſhal, the Lord Giles de Argenton, the Lord Edmond de Maule, and ſeven hundred Knights, Eſquires, and Gentlemen of Quality; of common Souldiers ten thouſand. There were taken priſoners, Humphry Bohun, Earl of Hereford, Ralph de Monthelmere (who married Joan de Acres, Counteſs Dowager of Oxford) with many others. The Earl of Hereford was exchanged for King Robert's Wife, who was all this while detained in England.
This diſaſter was attended with Inundations, which brought forth Dearth; Dearth Famine; Famine Peſtilence, all which exceeded any that ever before had been known.
Anno 1313. died Robert Winchelſey, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, in whoſe room Robert Cobham was elected by the King and Church of Canterbury. But the Pope did fruſtrate that election, and placed Walter Reynold, Biſhop of Worceſter.
About this time died Pope Clement, and John XXII. ſucceeded, who ſent two Legats from Rome, under pretence to make agreement between the King of England and the Scots. They, for their charges, required of every Spiritual perſon four pence in every Mark, but all in vain: for the Legats, as they were in the North parts, about Derlington, with their whole Family and Train, were robbed and ſpoiled of their Horſes, Treaſure, Apparel, and whatſoever elſe they had, and ſo retired back again to Durham: thence they returned to London, where they firſt excommunicated all thoſe Robbers, Then for ſupply of thoſe loſſes they received, they exacted of the Clergy, to be given unto them eight pence in every Mark. But the Clergy would only give them four pence in every Mark: So they departed to the Pope's Court again. This King Edward refuſed to pay the Peter-pence.
In the time of this King the Colledge in Cambridge, called Michael-houſe, was founded by Sir Henry Staunton Knight.
King Edward the Second builded two Houſes in Oxford for good Letters, Orial Colledge, and St. Mary Hall.
England may dare all Chriſtendom beſides, to ſhew ſo many eminent School-Divines, bred within the compaſs of ſo few years. And a forreign Writer ſaith, Scholaſtica Theologia, ab Anglis, & in Anglia ſumpſit exordium, fecit incrementum, pervenit ad perfectionem.
Of theſe School-men Alexander Hales leads the way, Maſter to Thomas Aquinas, and Bonaventure. He was in the time of Henry the Third. At the command of Pope Innocent the Fourth, he wrote the Body of all School-Divinity in four Volumes.
Roger Bacon ſucceeded him, who lived in the time of King Edward the Firſt; he was excellently skilled in the Mathematicks.
The next was Richard Middleton, entitled Doctor Fundatiſſimus.
Then flouriſhed John Duns Scotus, in the time of Edward the Second: he was Fellow of Merton-colledge in Oxford. He was called Duns by abbreviation for Dunenſis, that is, born at Doun, an Epiſcopal See in Ireland.
In this King's Reign Walter Stapleton, Biſhop of Exeter, founded and endowed Exeter-colledge in Oxford
It is charged on this King Edward the Second, that he ſuffered the Pope to encroach on the Dignity of the Crown. His Father had recovered ſome of his Priviledges from the Papal uſurpation; which, ſince, his Son had loſt back again.
About that time an Engliſh Hermite preached at Paul's in London, That ſome Sacraments that were then in uſe in the Church, were not of Chriſt's Inſtitution; therefore he was committed to priſon.
King Edward went into Scotland with another great Army: King Robert thought ſo great an Army could not long continue, therefore he retired into the High-lands. King Edward wandred from place to place, till many died for hunger, and the reſt returning home half ſtarved. James Douglas followed the Engliſh, and ſlew many of them; and King Edward himſelf hardly eſcaped. Then a Peace was concluded at Northampton, Anno 1327. That the Scots ſhould abide in the ſame eſtate, as in the dayes of King Alexander the Third; the Engliſh ſhould render all ſubſcriptions and tokens of bondage, and have no Land in Scotland, unleſs they ſhall dwell in it.
In England the two Spencers ruled all things, till the Queen and her Son (who politickly had got leave to go beyond the Seas) returned into England, with a Navy and Army, landing in Suffolk: She denounced open war againſt her Husband, unleſs he would preſently conform to her deſires. The young Spencer was taken with the King at the Abby of Neath, and is hanged on a Gallows fifty foot high. Many Perſons of Quality were ſent down to the Parliament, then ſitting, to King Edward, to Kenelworth-caſtle, to move him to reſign the Crown, which at laſt he ſadly ſurrendered: and Prince Edward, his Son, is crowned King.
The late King is removed from Kenelworth unto Barkley-caſtle, where he was barbarouſly butchered, being ſtruck into the Poſtern of his Body with an hot Spit, as it is commonly reported.
Among the Clergy, beſides Walter Stapleton, Biſhop of Exeter, whoſe head the Londoners cauſed to be ſmitten off at the Standart in Cheapſide; only John Stratford, Biſhop of Wincheſter, heartily adhered to him. Robert de Baldock, though no Biſhop, yet as a Prieſt, and Chancellor of England, may be ranked with theſe, who attended the King, and was taken with him in Wales, Hence he was brought up to London, and committed to Adam Tarlton, Biſhop of Hereford.
Many of the Biſhops ungratefully ſided with the Queen againſt her Husband, and their Sovereign. Walter Reynolds, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, led their Van, preferred to that See at the King's great Importunity, and by the Pope's power of Proviſion.
Henry Burwaſh, Biſhop of Lincoln, lately reſtored to the favour of King Edward: yet no ſooner did the Queen appear, in the field, with an Army againſt him, but this Biſhop was the firſt who publickly repaired to her.
Adam Tarlton, Biſhop of Hereford, was the grand contriver of all miſchief againſt the King. Witneſs the Sermon preached by him at Oxford before the Queen (then in hoſtile purſuit againſt her Husband) taking for his Text the words of the Son of the ſick Shunamite) my Head, my Head. Thence he urged, That a bad King (the diſtempered Head of a State) is paſt cure. His writing was worſe than his preaching: for when ſuch Agents, ſet to keep King Edward in Berkley-caſtle, were (by ſecret order from Roger Mortimer) commanded to kill him, they by Letters addreſſed themſelves for advice to this Biſhop (then not far off at Hereford) craving his counſel what they ſhould do in ſo difficult and dangerous a matter. He returned unto them a ridling Anſwer unpointed, which carried in it Life and Death, yea Life or Death, as variouſly conſtrued.
Life and Death. To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good.
Life. To kill King Edward you need not, to fear it is good,
Death. To kill King Edward you need not to fear, it is good.
The Body of King Edward, without any Funeral Pomp, was buried among the Benedictines in their Abbey at Gloceſter.
Edward of Windſor, called King Edward the Third. being ſcarce fifteen years of age, took the beginning of his Reign on January the twentieth; his Throne was eſtabliſhed upon his Fathers ruine.Anno 1327. Upon Candlemas-day he received the Order of Knighthood by the hands of the Earl of Lancaſter, while his depoſed Father lived; and within five dayes after he was Crowned at Weſtminſter, by Walter, Archbiſhop of Canterbury.
Twelve men were appointed to manage the Affairs of the Kingdom during the King's minority: the Archbiſhop's of Canterbury and York: the Biſhops of Winchester, Hereford, and Worceſter; Thomas Brotherton Earl Marſhal, Edmond Earl of Kent, John Earl Warren, Thomas Lord Wake, Henry Lord Piercy, Oliver Lord Ingham, and John Lord Roſs: but the Queen, and Roger Lord Mortimer, uſurped this charge.
Adam Tarlton was accuſed of Treaſon in the beginning of the Reign of this King, and arraigned by the King's Officers, when in the preſence of the King he thus boldly uttered himſelf.
My Lord the King, with all due reſpect unto your Majeſty, I Adam, an humble Miniſter, and Member of the Church of God, and a conſecrated Biſhop, though unworthy; neither can, nor ought to anſwer, unto ſo hard Queſtions, without the connivance and conſent of my Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury, my immediate Judge under the Pope, and without the conſent of other Biſhops who are my Peers.
Three Archbiſhops were there preſent in the place, Canterbury, York, and Dublin, by whoſe Interceſſion Tarlton eſcaped at that time. Not long after he was arraigned again at the King's Bench: whereupon the foreſaid Archbiſhops ſet up their Croſſes, and with ten Biſhops more, attended with a numerous Train of well-weaponed Servants, advanced to the place of Judicature. The King's Officers frighted at the ſight, fled away, leaving Biſhop Tarlton the priſoner alone at the Bar: whom the Archbiſhops took home into their own cuſtody, denouncing a Curſe upon all ſuch who ſhould preſume to lay violent hands upon him.
The King offended hereat, cauſed a jury of Lay-men to be impannelled, and to enquire according to form of Law, into the Actions of the Biſhop of Hereford. This was the firſt time that ever Lay-men paſſed their verdict upon a Clergy-man. Theſe Jurors found the Biſhop guilty, whereupon the King ſeized his Temporalties, proſcribed the the Biſhop, and deſpoiled him of all his moveables. But afterwards he was reconciled to the King, and by the Pope, made Biſhop of Wincheſter, where he died.
The former part of this King's Reign affordeth but little Church-hiſtory, as wholly taken up with his Atchievements in France and Scotland, where his ſucceſs by Sea and Land was to admiration. He had both the Kings he fought againſt, viz. John de Valois of France, and David King of Scotland, his priſoners, at one time, taken by fair Fight in open Field.
There was granted to the King of England, for theſe Wars, a Fifteenth of the Temporalty, a Twelfth of Cities and Boroughs, and a Tenth of the Clergy, in a Parliament holden at London. And afterwards in a Parliament at Northampton, there was granted him, a Tenth peny of Towns and Boroughs, a Fifteenth of others, and a Tenth of the Clergy. All ſuch Treaſure as was committed to Churches throughout England for the holy War, was taken out for the King's uſe in this.
The next year after, all the Goods of three Orders of Monks, Lombards, Cluniacks, and Ciceſtercians, are likewiſe ſeized into the King's hands, and the like Subſidy as before, granted at Nottingham. Now the Cavrſines, or Lombards, did not drive ſo full a trade as before: whereupon they betook themſelves to other Merchandiſe, and began to ſtore England with Forreign Commodities, but at unreaſonable rates, whilſt England it ſelf had as yet but little and bad Shipping, and thoſe leſs employed.
About this time the Clergy were very bountiful in contributing to the King's neceſſities, in proportion to their Benefices. Hereupon a Survay was exactly taken of all their Glebeland,Fuller. Church Hiſtory. and the ſame (fairly engroſſed in Parchment) was returned into the Exchequer, where it remaineth at this day, and is the moſt uſeful Record for Clergy-men (and alſo for Impropriators as under their claim) to recover their right.
It was now complained of, as a grand grievance, that the Clergy engroſſed all places of Judicature in the Land. Nothing was left to Lay-men, but either Military commands, as General, Admiral, &c. or ſuch Judges places, as concerned onelyonly the very letter of the Common Law, and thoſe alſo ſcarcely reſerved to the Students thereof. As for Ambaſſies into Forreign parts, Noblemen were employed therein: when Expence, not Experience was required thereunto, and Ceremony the ſubſtance of the Service: otherwiſe when any difficulty in Civil Law, then Clergy-men were ever entertained. The Lord Chancellor was ever a Biſhop, yea, that Court generally appeared as a Synod of Divines, where the Clerks were Clerks as generally in Orders. The ſame was alſo true of the Lord Treaſurer, and Barons of the Exchequer.
Robert Eglesfield, Chaplain to Queen Philippa, Wife to King Edward the third, founded a Colledge on his own ground in Oxford, by the name of Queens Colledge; and diverſe Queens have been nurſing Mothers to this Foundation, as Queen Philippa, Wife to King Edward the third; Queen Elizabeth, Wife to King Edward the fourth; Queen Mary, Wife to King Charles; and our Virgin Queen Elizabeth.
In the mean time the Pope beſtirred him in England, while the King was buſied about his Wars in France: ſo that before Livings were actually void, he pre-provided Incumbents for them. But at laſt the King looking into it, this Statute of Proviſion was made, whereby ſuch foreſtalling of Livings to Forreigners was forbidden.
Another cauſe of the King's diſpleaſure with the Pope, was, that when the Pope created twelve Cardinals at the requeſt of the King of France, he denied to make one at the deſire of the King of England.
The Papal party (notwithſtanding this Law of Proviſion) ſtrugled for a time, till the King's Power overſwayed them. Indeed this grievance continued, all this, and moſt of the next King's Reign, till the Statute of praemunire was made: and afterward the Land was cleared from the encumbrance of ſuch proviſions.
Three years after the Statute, againſt the Pope's Proviſions, was made, the King preſented unto the Pope Thomas Hatlif, to be Biſhop of Durham, one who was the King's Secretary, but one void of all other Epiſcopal qualifications. However the Pope confirmed him, and being demanded why he conſented to the preferment of ſo worthleſs a perſon, he anſwered, that rebus ſic ſtantibus, if the King of England had preſented an Aſs unto him, he would have confirmed him in the Biſhoprick.
In this King's Reign were diverſe Learned Men in England, John Baconthorp, a Man of a very low ſtature, of whom one ſaith,
Baleus in ejus vita.Ingenio magnus, Corpore parvus erat.
His wit was Tall, in Body ſmall.
Coming to Rome, he was hiſſed at in a publick Diſputation, for the badneſs, forſooth, of his Latin and pronunciation: but indeed, becauſe he oppoſed the Pope's power in diſpenſing with Marriages contrary to the Law of God. He wrote on the Sentences, where he followeth the truth in many things; eſpecially he refuteth the ſubtilties of John Scotus, as Baptiſt Mantuan hath marked.
Iſte tenebroſi damnat veſtigia Scoti,
Et per ſacra novis it documenta viis.
Hunc habeant quibus est ſapientia grata, redundat
Iſtius in ſacris fontibus omne ſophos.
Joh. Bale. Cent. 4. Sect. 82.He wrote De dominio Chriſti, where he proveth, that the higheſt Biſhop in every Kingdom ſhould be in ſubjection to Princes.
Richard Primate of Ireland (alias Armachanus) was his Diſciple, and taught the ſame Doctrine: he Tranſlated the Bible into Iriſh. He diſcovered the hypocriſie of Friers, in that though they profeſſed poverty, yet they had ſtately Houſes like the Palaces of Princes, and more coſtly Churches than any Cathedral; richer Ornaments than all the Princes, &c.
William Ockham an Engliſh Man ſided with Lewis of Bavaria againſt the Pope, maintaining the Temporal Power above the Spiritual. He was forced to fly to the Emperor for his ſafety. He was a Diſciple of John Scotus, but became Adverſary of his Doctrine. He was the Author of the Sect of Nominales. He was a follower of Pope Nicholas the fourth, and therefore was Excommunicated by Pope John. This Ockham was Luther's chief School-man, who had his Works at his finger's end.
Robert Holcot was not the meaneſt among them, who died of the Plague at Northampton, juſt as he was reading his Lectures on the ſeventh of Eccleſiaſticus.
About that time a Book was written in Engliſh, called, The complaint and prayer of a Plough-man. The Author of it is ſaid to have been Robert Langland, a Prieſt. After a general complaint of the Iniquity of the time, the Author wrote zealouſly againſt Auricular Confeſſion, as contrary to Scripture, and profit of the publick, and as a device of man: againſt the Simony of ſelling Pardons: againſt the Pope as the Adverſary of Chriſt. He complaineth of the unmarried Prieſts committing wickedneſs, and by bad example provoking others; of Images in Churches as Idolatry; of falſe Paſtors, which feed upon their flocks, and feed them not, nor ſuffer others to feed them. He wrote alſo againſt Purgatory.
In this King's Reign were diverſe Archbiſhops of Canterbury.
I will begin with Simon Mepham, made Archbiſhop in the firſt year of his Reign.
John Stratford was the ſecond, Conſecrated firſt Biſhop of Wincheſter.
The third was Thomas Bradwardine, Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford, and afterwards Chancellor of London, and commonly called The profound Doctor. He had many diſputes with the School-men againſt the errors of Pelagius, and reduced all his Lectures into three Books, which he entitled, De cauſa Dei. He was Confeſſor to King Edward the third. He died a few Months after his Conſecration.
Simon Iſlip was the fourth, he founded Canterbury Colledge in Oxford. This Colledge is now ſwallowed up in Chriſt-Church.
Simon Langham is the fifth, much meriting by his Munificence to Weſtminſter-Abbey.
William Witleſee ſucceeded him, famous for freeing the Univerſity of Oxford from the Juriſdiction of the Biſhop of Lincoln, formerly the Dioceſan thereof.
Simon Sudbury was the laſt Archbiſhop of Canterbury in this King's Reign.
In his Reign alſo flouriſhed Nicholas Trivet, a black Frier, born in Norfolk, who wrote two Hiſtories, and a Book of Annals. Richard Stradley, born in the Marches of Wales, a Monk and a Divine, who wrote diverſe excellent Treatiſes of the Scriptures. William Herbert, a Welchman, who wrote many good Treatiſes in Divinity. Thomas Wallis, Sir Rich. Baker's Chron.a Dominican Frier, and a writer of many excellent Books. Walter Burley, a Doctor in Divinity, who wrote many choiſe Treatiſes in Natural and Moral Philoſophy. Roger, a Monk of Cheſter, and an Hiſtoriographer. John Burgh, a Monk, who wrote an Hiſtory, and alſo diverſe Homilies. Richard Aungervil, Biſhop of Durham, and Lord Chancellor of England. Richard Chicheſter, a Monk of Weſtminſter, who wrote a good Chronicle, from the year 449. to the year 1348. Matthew Weſtminſter, who wrote the Book, called, Flores Hiſtoriarum. Henry Knighton, who wrote an Hiſtory, entitled, De geſtis Anglorum. John Mandevil, Knight, Doctor of Phyſick, a great Traveller; and Sir Geoffry Chaucer, the Homer of our Nation.
About the fortieth year of his Reign, there was a Prieſt in England, called William Wickham, who was great with King Edward, ſo that all things were done by him, who was made Biſhop of Wincheſter.
Towards the latter end of this King's Reign aroſe John Wickliff, a Learned Divine of Oxford, who did great ſervice to the Church in promoting Reformation, and in oppoſing Papal power, for he wrote ſharply againſt the Pope's authority, the Church of Rome, and diverſe of their Religious Orders. Certain Divines, and Maſters of the Univerſity entertained his Doctrine, viz. Robert Rigges, Chancellor of the Univerſity, together with the two Proctors, and many others. He not onelyonly Preached this Doctrine in Oxford, but alſo more publickly in London: At the Court before the King himſelf, the Prince of Wales, his Son, John Duke of Lancaſter, the Lord Clifford, the Lord Latimer, and others: likewiſe the Lord Montacute, who defaced Images throughout all his Juriſdiction; and John Earl of Sarum, who at the point of death refuſed the Popiſh Sacrament, with diverſe others of the chiefeſt Nobility, the Major of London, with diverſe other worthy Citizens, who many times diſturbed the Biſhop's Officers, who were called for the ſuppreſſing of Wickliff.
This Man being much encouraged by the Duke of Lancaſter, and Sir Henry Piercy, Marſhall, went from Church to Church Preaching his Opinions, and ſpreading his Doctrine; whereupon he is cited to anſwer before the Archbiſhop, the Biſhop of London, and others, in St. Paul's London. At the day appointed, the Duke of Lancaſter, and the Lord Marſhall, go to conduct him: there the Archbiſhop and Biſhop declared the Judgement of the Pope concerning Wickliff's Doctrine. The Archbiſhop ſent Wickliff's Condemnation to Robert Rigges, Chancellor of the Univerſity of Oxford, to be divulged. Rigges appointed them to Preach that day, whom he knew to be the moſt zealous followers of Wickliff; and among others he ordered one Philip Rippinton, a Canon of Leiceſter, to Preach on Corpus-Chriſti day, who concluded his Sermon with theſe words: For ſpeculative Doctrine (ſaith he) ſuch as is the Sacrament of the Altar, I will ſet a bar on my lips, while God hath otherwiſe inſtructed, or illuminated the hearts of the Clergy.
King Edward the third, died June 21. Anno 1377. in the ſixty fift year of his Age, when he had Reigned fifty years four Months, and odd dayes, whoſe Body was ſolemnly buried at Weſtminſter. Richard the ſecond, born at Burdeaux, the Son of Edward, called, The black Prince, being but eleven years old, ſucceeded his Grandfather in the Kingdom.
In the firſt year of his Reign Pope Gregory ſendeth his Bull, by the hands of one Edmund Stafford, directed to the Chancellor and Univerſity of Oxford, rebuking them ſharply for ſuffering ſo long the Doctrine of John Wickliff to take root.
At the ſame time alſo he directed Letters to Simon Sudbury, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and to William Courtney, Biſhop of London, with the Concluſions of John Wickliff therein encloſed; commanding them to cauſe the ſaid Wickliff to be apprehended, and caſt into priſon, and that the King and the Nobles of England ſhould be admoniſhed by them, not to give any credit to the ſaid John Wickliff, or to his Doctrine, in any wiſe.
Wickliff was ſummoned perſonally to appear before the Archbiſhop, and the reſt of the Biſhops, at his Chappel at Lambeth. He came accordingly: when in comes a Gentleman and Courtier, named Lewis Clifford, on the very day of examination, commanding them not to proceed to any definitive ſentence againſt the ſaid Wickliff. Linwood's provinc. lib. 5. fol. 183.The Biſhops affrighted, proceeded no farther: onelyonly the Archbiſhop ſummoned a Synod at London, in which he made four Conſtitutions, three whereof concerned Confeſſion, grown now much into diſuſe by Wickliff's Doctrine.
The Popiſh Biſhops and Monks obtained of King Richard, that Wickliff ſhould be baniſhed out of England. He therefore repairing into Bohemia, brought a great Light to the Doctrine of the Waldenſes, where John Huſſe, being but yet a young man,Comen. hiſtor. Sclavon. Eccleſ. had diverſe Conferences with him about diverſe divine matters. But at length he was recalled home again from Exile; and the year before he died, he wrote a Letter to John Huſſe, Encouraging him to be ſtrong in the grace that was given to him, to fight as a good Souldier of Jeſus Christ, both by word and work, Doctrine and converſation, &c. John Huſſe hereby took heart very daringly, in the Univerſity Church at Prague, to inveigh againſt the overflowing abominations of the times; and not onelyonly at Prague, but throughout the whole Kingdom of Bohemia, did he Preach againſt them. The ſame year Jerome of Prague returning out of England, and carrying Wickliff's Books with him, rooted up the [then] prevailing error with the like boldneſs in the Schools, as John Huſſe did in the Church.
Wickliff died the laſt of December 1387. and was buried in his Church of Lutterworth in Leiceſter-ſhire.
In the ſecond year of the Reign of King Richard the ſecond, a Parliament was called at Weſtminſter, where the Laity moved, That no Officer of the Holy Church ſhould take pecuniary ſums, more or leſs, of the people, for correction of ſins; but onelyonly enjoyn them Spiritual penance, which would be more pleaſing to God, and profitable to the Soul of the offender. The Clergy ſtickled hereat, for by this craft they got their gain.Ex Rotulis in Turri Lond. But here the King interpoſed, That Prelates ſhould proceed herein as formerly, according to the Lawes of the Holy Church, and not otherwiſe. Yea, diverſe things paſſed in Parliament in favour of the Clergy. As,
That all Prelates and Clerks ſhall from hence-forth commence their Suits againſt Purveyors and Buyers diſturbing them (though not by way of crime) by actions of Treſpaſs, and recover treble damages.
Alſo, That any of the King's Miniſters arreſting people of the Holy Church, in doing Divine Service, ſhall have impriſonment, and thereof be ranſomed at the King's will, and make gree to the parties ſo arreſted.
In the Parliament held at Gloceſter the ſame year, the Commons complained that many Clergy-men, under the notion of Sylva caedua, lopwood, took Tithes even of Timber it ſelf: requeſting, that in ſuch caſes, Prohibition might be granted, to ſtop the proceedings of Court Chriſtian. But this took no effect. Then the Archbiſhop of Canterbury inveighed as bitterly, of the Franchiſes infringed of the Abbey-Church of Weſtminſter; wherein Robert de Hanley Eſquire, with a Servant of that Church, were both horribly ſlain therein, at the High Altar, even when the Prieſt was ſinging high Maſs, and pathetically deſired reparation for the ſame. Complaints were alſo made againſt the extortion of Biſhops Clerks; to which (as to other abuſes) ſome general Reformation was promiſed.
In the next Parliament called at Weſtminſter, one of the greateſt grievances of the Land was redreſſed, namely, Forreigners holding of Eccleſiaſtical Benefices; for many Italians had the beſt livings in England by the Pope collated on them: yea many great Cardinals reſident at Rome, were poſſeſſed of the beſt Prebends and Parſonages in the Land, who generally farmed out their places to Proctors their own Countrey-men; and by this means the wealth of the Land leaked out into Forreign Countries, to the great impoveriſhing of this Land. Therefore the King and Parliament now enacted, That no Aliens ſhould hereafter hold any ſuch preferments, nor any ſend over unto them the Revenues of ſuch Benefices.
Sir Rich. Baker's Chron. in Rich. 2.Then burſt forth the dangerous rebellion of Wat Tyler, and Jack Straw, with thouſands of their wicked company, who burnt the Savoy, the Duke of Lancaſter's houſe: from the Savoy they went to the Temple, where they burnt the Lawyers lodgings, with their Books and Writings: alſo the houſe of St. Johns, by Smithfield, they ſet on fire, which burned for ſeven days together. Then came they to the Tower, where the King was lodged, where they entred, and finding there Simon Sudbury, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor, and Sir Robert Hales Lord Treaſurer, they led them to the Tower-hill, and there in moſt cruel manner ſtruck off their Heads, as alſo of diverſe others. Neither ſpared they Sacred places, for, breaking into the Church of the Auguſtine Friars, they drew forth thirteen Flemmings, and beheaded them in the open Streets, as alſo ſeventeen others out of other Churches. They committed outrages afterwards at St. Albans, cancelling the antient Charters of the Abbots and Monks there. At the ſame time there were gathered together in Suffolck to the number of fifty thouſand, by the inſtigation of one John Wraw, a lewd Prieſt. Theſe deſtroyed the Houſes of the Lawyers; they beheaded Sir John Cavendiſh the Lord Chief Juſtice of England, and ſet his Head upon the Pillory in St. Edmunds-bury. Then Henry Spencer, the valiant …iſhop of Norwich, gathered together a great number of Men Armed, with which he ſet upon the Rebels, diſcomfited them, and took John Litteſter, and their other Chieftaines, whom he cauſed all to be Executed: and by this means the Countrey was quieted, Jack Straw, John Kirkby, Alane Tredder, and John Sterling, loſt their Heads; Wat Tyler was ſlain by William Walworth Lord Mayor of London. Theſe had to their Chaplain a wicked Prieſt, called John Ball, Stowes Chro. in Rich. 2.who counſelled them to deſtroy all the Nobility and Clergy, ſo that there ſhould be no Biſhop in England, but one Archbiſhop, which ſhould be himſelf: and that there ſhould nor be above two Religious perſons in one houſe; and their poſſeſſions ſhould be divided among the Lay-men, for the which Doctrine they held him as a Prophet. But he was executed at St. Albans.
William Wickham about this time finiſhed his beautiful Colledge in Oxford, called new Colledge, which giveth the Armes of Wickham, viz. two Cheverons betwixt three Roſes, each Cheveron alluding to two beams faſtned together (called couples in building) to ſpeak his skill in Architecture. There is maintained therein, a Warden, ſeventy Fellows, and Scholars, ten Chaplains, three Clerks, one Organiſt, ſixteen Choriſters, beſides Officers and Servants of the Foundation, with other Students, being in all one hundred thirty five.
Within few years after the ſame Biſhop finiſhed the Colledge at Wincheſter, wherein he eſtabliſhed one Warden, ten Fellows, two Schoolmaſters, and ſeventy Scholars, with Officers and Servants, which are all maintained at his charge: out of which School he ordained ſhould be choſen the beſt Scholars always to ſupply the vacant places of the Fellows of this Colledge.
Anno 1391. There was a Synod in England, which (becauſe many were vexed for cauſes which could not be known, at Rome) ordained, That the authority of the Pope of Rome ſhould ſtretch no farther than to the Ocean Sea; and that who ſo Appealed to Rome, beſides Excommunication, ſhould be puniſhed with loſs of all their goods, and with perpetual impriſonment.
Then came the Parliament wherein was Enacted the Statute, called the Statute of Praemunire, The Statute of Praemunire.which gave ſuch a blow to the Church of Rome, that it never recovered it ſelf in this Land. The Statute of Mortmain put the Pope into a ſweat, but this put him into a Fever. That concerned him onelyonly in the Abbies, his darlings; this touched him in his perſon.
About this time died that faithful, Learned, and aged Servant of God, John de Treviſa born at Crocadon in Cornwal, a Secular Prieſt, and Vicar of Berkley, painful in Tranſlating the Old and New Teſtament into Engliſh, with other great Books.
The Hiſtory of William Swinderby Prieſt in the Dioceſs of Lincoln, whereunto he was forced by the Friars: the Proceſs of John Treſnant, Biſhop of Hereford (into whoſe Dioceſs he removed) had againſt him, in the cauſe of Heretical pravity, as the Papiſts call it: the Articles that were exhibited againſt him, with his proteſtation and anſwer to the ſame. The Proceſs againſt William Swinderby, with his anſwer and declaration to certain Concluſions: the Biſhop's ſentence againſt him, and his Appeal from the Biſhop to the King with the cauſes thereof, together with Swinderby's letter to the Parliament, may be read at large in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments of the Church.
Then were there Articles exhibited againſt Walter Brute, of the Dioceſs of Hereford, a Lay-man and Learned, touching the cauſe of Hereſie, as they called it, unto the Biſhop of Hereford; his examination and anſwer is alſo largely deſcribed by Mr. Fox.Fox. in Ric. 2.
Then were there two Bulls ſent out by Pope Boniface the ninth, one againſt the Lollards; another to King Richard the ſecond. Queen Anne Wife, to King Richard, at the ſame time had the Goſpels in Engliſh, with four Doctors upon the ſame.
King Richard wrote a notable Letter to the Pope, wherein he ſheweth, That the election of the Pope was not as before, comparing the Popes to the Souldiers that crucified Chriſt. That Secular Princes are to bridle the outrages of the Pope; and ſeemeth to Prophecy of the deſolation of the Roman Pope.
King Richard was not long after depoſed, and barbarouſly murdered at Pomfret-caſtle. In the time of the conſpiracy againſt King Richard, among all the Biſhops, onelyonly Thomas Merks Biſhop of Carliſle was for him. For, when the Lords in Parliament, nor co…nt to depoſe King Richard, were deviſing more miſchief againſt him, up ſteps the foreſaid Biſhop, and thus expreſſeth himſelf.
There is no man here worthy to paſs his ſentence on ſo great a King, as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince, full two and twenty years. This is the part of Traitors, Cut-throats, and Thieves: None is ſo wicked; none ſo vile, who though he be charged with a manifeſt crime, we ſhould think to condemn before we heard him. And you, do ye think it equal to paſs ſentence on a King anointed and Crowned, giving him no leave to defend himſelf? How unjuſt is this? But let us conſider the matter it ſelf. I ſay, nay openly affirm, that Henry Duke of Lancaſter (whom you are pleaſed to call your King) hath moſt unjuſtly ſpoiled Richard (as well his Sovereign as ours) of his Kingdom.
More would he have ſpoken, but the Lord Marſhal enjoyned him ſilence: and the other Biſhops ſaid, he diſcovered (having been a Monk) more Covent-devotion, than Court-diſcretion, in diſſenting from his Brethren: yet at that time no puniſhment was impoſed upon him. But the next year 1400. when ſome diſcontented Lord's aroſe againſt King Henry the fourth, this Biſhop was taken priſoner, and judicially arraigned for high Treaſon, for which he was condemned, and ſent to St. Albans The Pope gave unto him another Biſhoprick in Samos, a Greek Iſland. But before his tranſlation he died.