The History of the Church of Great Britain, Century 13

The History of the Church of Great Britain · Century 13

p. 51CENT. XIII.

KIng John being no ſooner poſſeſſed of the Realm of England, but in the very firſt year of his Reign, evidenced to all the World his Eccleſiaſtical Sovereignty, both by ratifying, protecting, enlarging the Eccleſiaſtical as well as Temporal Liberties, Privledges, Churches, Chappels, Tithes, Lands, Poſſeſſions, granted by his Anceſtors to ſeveral Archbiſhopricks, Biſhopricks, Monaſteries in England, Ireland, Normandy, by ſundry Charters, uſing this expreſſion in the Prologue of Confirmation to the Monaſtery of Cirenceſter. Johannes Dei gratia, &c.Prynne's hiſtory of Popes Uſurpations. lib. 5. ch. 1. Quoniam Honori noſtro condecens, & ſaluti noſtrae neceſſarium, loca ſancta & religioſa, quae ab Avo patris noſtri Rege H. primo ſunt fundata, & a Rege H. ſecundo patre noſtro confirmata, defendere, cuſtodire, & amplificare. Inde eſt, quod Deo & Sancta Mariae de Cirenceſt. & Canonitis Regularibus ibidem Deo ſervientibus, damus & concedimus. Dat. per manum H. Cant. Archiep. Cancel. noſtri apud ſag. 7. die Aug. An. Regni noſtri 10. Which prologue he likewiſe uſed in other of his Charters. K. John alſo authorized Hubert Archbiſhop of Canter. to make a Will, which he could not then Legally do without his Royal Licenſe.

In the year 1177. no leſs then 30 Nuns of the Abby of Ambresbury, were accuſed and convicted at one time for their incontinency, to the diſſolution and infamy of their Order, whereof they had been publikely defamed; whereupon King Henry the 2d. Expulſis ſanctimonialibus be Abbatia de Ambresbury, propter incontinentiam, & per alios domos Religioſos diſtributis; expelling the Nuns from this Abbey for their incontinency, diſtributed them throughout other Religious Houſes, in ſtricter cuſtody (by way of penance) and gave it to the Abbeſs and Nuns of Font-Everoit, for a perpetual poſſeſſion, who ſending a Covent of Nuns thither from Font-Everoit, Richard then Archbiſhop of Canterbury, inducted them into p. 52the Abbey of Ambresbury, on the firſt of June, King Hen. 2. Bartholomew, Biſhop of Exceſter; John Biſhop of Norwich, and many other of the Clergy and People being then preſent. And by his Charter, Anno 1179. confirmed the Lands of this Abbey to them with many liberties, and that by the advice and conſent of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and many other Biſhops, Great Men, and Barons of the Realm. King John in the firſt year of his Reign, by his Charter reciting all the premiſes in the Prologue, confirmed this Charter of his Father, ratified theſe Nuns deprivations and impriſonments in other Monaſteries for their incontinency, with conſent of his Biſhops, Nobles, and requeſt of Pope Alexander, transferring this Abbey, and all Lands thereto belonging, from one rank of Nuns to another; takes both theſe Nuns, Perſons, Lands, into his Royal protection, as if they were his own Demeſnes, grants them ſeveral Tithes, Churches, large Priviledges; and prohibits, that none of his Officers or Subjects ſhould diſturb them therein, nor implead them, but in the preſence of himſelf and his heirs. The ſame firſt year of King John's Reign, the Abbot of Weſtminſter dying, the Monks by the King's Licenſe elected Ralph Arundel Prior of Harle for their Abbot, unto which the King gave his Aſſent. Whereupon he was conſecrated Abbot; no Biſhops, Abbots, Priors, or other Eccleſiaſtical Perſons being elected to any Dignities, but by the King's previous Licenſe, and ſubſequent Aſſent to the Perſon elected, who might approve or reject him at his Royal Pleaſure.

This King ratified the Charter of K. Richard, touching the exchange, between Archbiſhop Hubert, and the Biſhop and Monks of Rocheſter, of the Manor of Lambeth for other Lands, and the Clauſe therein; authorizing the Pope, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Biſhops and Clergy of England, to Excommunicate the infringers thereof.Chart. 1. Johan. Regis part. 2. n. 147. & n. 25. Beſides, he appropriated ſeveral Parochial Churches in perpetuity to the Biſhoprick of Coventry and Litchfield; converted other Parochial Churches into Prebendaries, and ratified the Orders made by Biſhop Hugh for the better regulation of that Church by two Charters. The like Charter of confirmation of Churches, Tithes, and Liberties, he made to the Biſhop of Exeter, and his Succeſſors, the ſame year. In the ſecond year of his Reign, the Dean and Chapter of Lexoven, within this King's hereditary Dominions in France, preſuming to elect a Biſhop without his conſent, ſent a Prohibition to them, to preſerve this Antient right of the Crown deſcended to him from his Anceſtors. The ſame year this King by his Charter commanded all Clerks, then Impriſoned for offences throughout England, to be delivered to Hubert Archbiſhop of Canterbury, upon his demand of them. Likewiſe he granted a Charter to the Biſh. of Norwich, to recover all Lands and Tenements belonging to that Biſhoprick, unjuſtly alienated by his Predeceſſors.

The ſame year Geoffery Plantaginet, Archbiſhop of York, King John's baſe Brother, obſtructed the Levying of Carvage (demanded and granted to the King by common conſent paid by all others) on the Demeſn p. 53Lands of his Church, or Tenants, beating the Sheriff of York's ſervants, excommunicating the Sheriff himſelf by name, with all his Aiders, and interdicted his whole Province of York for attempting to levy it. Whereupon the King much incenſed, ſummoned him to anſwer theſe high contempts, his not going over with him into Normandy when ſummoned; and alſo to pay him three thouſand Marks due to his Brother King Richard, and by his Writs commanded all the Archbiſhop's ſervants, whereever they were found to be impriſoned, as they were, for beating the Sheriff's Officers, and denying to give the King of the Archbiſhops Wine, paſſing through York; ſummoned Geoffery into his Court to anſwer all theſe contempts; and iſſued Writs to the Sheriff of York-ſhire to ſeize all his Goods, Temporalties, and to return them into the Exchequer, which was executed accordingly. The King and Queen repairing to York the next Mid-lent, the Archbiſhop made his peace with the King, ſubmitting to pay ſuch a Fine for his offences, as four Biſhops, and four Barons elected by them, ſhould adjudge, and abſolved William de Stutvil the Sheriff, and James de Poterna, whom he had excommunicated, and recalled his former Interdict.

The ſame year there fell out a great difference between this Archbiſhop, the Dean and Chapter of York, and the Archdeacon of Richmond. R. Hoveden Annal. part. poſter. p. 817.The Praecentor's place at York falling void, the Dean and Chapter would not ſuffer him to preſent Ralph de Kyme, his Official, to it, but themſelves gave it to Hugh Murdac, Archdeacon of Cleveland, the day after he had given it to Kyme. And when the Achbiſhop would have put him into the Praecentor's Stall, the Dean told him, It belonged not unto him to put any man into a Stall, neither ſhall you therein place him, becauſe we have given it by Authority of the Council of Lateran. Whereupon when the Archbiſhop could not have his will, he excommunicated Murdac; he likewiſe injured Honorius Archdeacon of Richmond, by challenging to himſelf the Inſtitutions of Churches and Synodals, againſt the ancient Dignities and Cuſtoms of the Archdeaconry, which the Archbiſhop pretended Honorius had reſigned and confirmed to him by his Charter, which he denied. The Dean and Chapter, and Honorius, ſeverally complained of theſe injuries to the King, who thereupon iſſued two Writs for their relief.

This Honorius, Archdeacon of Richmond, complained to the Pope as well as the King, of the injurious encroachments of this Archbiſhop, who ſuſpended ſome of his Clerks, interdicted ſome Churches within his Archdeaconry, and excommunicated the Archdeacon, all which the Pope in a ſpecial Letter requires him to retract as null and void. He alſo ſent three Epiſtles more: the firſt to the Dean and Chapter of York; the ſecond to the Biſhop of Ely, and Archdeacon of Northampton; the third to King John himſelf, to defend Honorius his rights, againſt the Archbiſhop's injuries and encroachments.

p. 54The Pope wrote a menacing Letter to the Archbiſhop; but he was no way daunted at it, but proceeded ſtill againſt Honorius, till reſtrained by the King's Writs, Appeals being but then in their infancy; and that not as to a ſupreme judicature, but only by way of complaint, as a voluntary perſwading Arbitrator, and that by the King's licence firſt obtained,An Hiſtorical Vindication of the Church of England in point of Schiſm. as learned. Sir Roger Twiſden truly obſerves.

The ſame year Hubert Archbiſhop of Canterbury, intending to celebrate a Council at Weſtminſter, without the King's ſpecial Writ, thereupon (the King being then in Normandy) Geoffery Fitz-Peter, Earl of Suſſex, being then Chief Juſtice of England, ſent a Prohibition to inhibit it; yet the Archbiſhop held the Council wherein he made and promulged ſeveral Decrees, Statuens ea a ſuis ſubditis inviolabiliter obſervari.

But thoſe Decrees made concerning Procurations, Fees for Orders, Inſtitutions, Inductions, Licences of Miniſters, &c. were not eſteemed obligatory, nor were they regarded. Lyndwood, Aton, and moſt Hiſtories, take no notice of them, becauſe made againſt the King's Prohibition.

The third year of King John, Gilardus, Archdeacon of Brecknock, pretending himſelf to be elected Biſhop of St. Davids in Wales with the King's conſent, by proviſion from Pope Innocent the Third, intruded himſelf into the poſſeſſion of the Temporalties thereof, and likewiſe endeavoured to make it an Archbiſhoprick.

About that time a certain number of Greeks came from Athens into England, and aſſerted, that the Latins had erred from the way of Truth in the Articles of Chriſtian Faith; and they would ſhew the right way by invincible Arguments, which all ſhould receive if they will be ſaved. This was reported unto King John: He anſwered, Our Faith is grounded upon the Authority of Chriſt and the Saints, and I will not ſuffer that it be toſſed with diſputes and janglings of men; nor will we change the certainty for uncertainty, let me hear no more of you: So they departed.

Gilardus had procured Pope Innocent's Procuration and Proviſion to elect him Biſhop of St. Davids, at which King John (though then in Normandy with his Queen) was much incenſed, and ſent out four ſucceſſive Writs and Proclamations, directed to all the Clergy and Laity both of England and Wales in general, and the Chapter of St. Davids in ſpecial, ſtrictly enjoyning them all to oppoſe and reſiſt Gilardus his raſh attempts and innovations againſt Him, to their power, according to their Allegiance; and no wayes to aid or countenance him therein, by advice or otherwiſe, it being unjuſt to do it.

Giraldus, notwithſtanding all his pretended ſubmiſſion to the Archbiſhop, proceeding afreſh in the Court of Rome to obtain his ends, thereupon the King iſſued out a ſevere Proclamation againſt him, as a publick Enemy and diſturber of the Peace of his Kingdom.

p. 55In the ſame year Pope Innocent takes upon him (upon pretext of neceſſity for relief of the holy Land) only to adviſe and recommend to all the Prelates of the holy Church the levying of the fortieth part of their Eſtates and Benefices, and in what manner to levy it, not abſolutely to impoſe it to their prejudice. Whence Matthew Weſtminſter thus expreſſeth it: Ad inſtantiam Innocentii Papae, data eſt quadrageſima pars redditum omnium Eccleſiarum ad ſubſidium terrae promiſſionis. Therefore a free Gift, not an impoſed Tax. Neither would the King of England or France ſuffer it to to be levyed in their Realms by the Pope's Authority, but only by their Royal Order, Grant, and Aſſent thereto. But no Archbiſhop or Biſhop did put this in execution.

The ſame year the King licenſed Peter Builler by Charter to enter into what Religion he pleaſed. Rex, &c. Omnibus, &c. Sciatis nos dediſſe licentiam Petro Builler transferendi ſe ad quam voluerit Religionem, & inde has literas noſtras patentes ei rei relinquimus in testimonium. Teſte meipſo apud Barnevil, 29 die Octobris.

The French King perfidiouſly breaking his Truce with King John, made in the firſt year of his reign, to carry on that War, he not only demanded a ſupply of Moneys from his Nobility and Clergy, but likewiſe from the Ciſtercian Abbots.

The ſame year the Church and City of Rhoan being conſumed with fire, King John granted them his Letters Patents for a liberal contribution throughout all England, toward the repair of that Church, principally for the Virgin Maries ſake, to whom it was dedicated, then adored more than God himſelf. This is the firſt Patent of ſuch a Collection that we have yet met with.

Pious this King was in offering one ounce of Gold to God every Lord's-day and Holy-day, which the Archbiſhop of Canterbury then offered and disburſed for him, or claimed as his Fee, being allowed it in the Exchequer upon his account.

In the fourth year of King John, ſome Iriſh Biſhops and Archdeacons, Suffragans to the Archbiſhop of Dublin, endeavoured, without this King's precedent Licenſe and Aſſent, to elect an Archbiſhop, and get him confirmed at Rome by the Pope, againſt the King's Right and Dignity. Whereupon he entred an Appeal againſt them before himſelf, to Preſerve his Right and Dignity therein.

The ſame year there being many conteſts between the Dean and Canons, and Geoffry Archbiſhop of York, who by his Archiepiſcopal authority and violence, did much oppreſs them: the King upon their complaint, by his Authority and Letters Patents granted them a Protection againſt Him and his Inſtruments.

In the fifth year of King John, Godfrid Biſhop of Wincheſter deceaſing, Petrus de Rupibus, a Knight and great Souldier, Vir equestris ordinis, & in rebus bellicis eruditus procurante Rege Johanne, being choſen p. 56to the Biſhoprick, ſucceeded him; who going to Rome, Ʋbi magnis zeniis liberaliter collatis ad Eccleſiam Wintonienſem, maturavit Epiſcopus conſecrari.

This year the Men of Holderneſs refuſing to pay their Traves due to St. John of Beverly out of their Ploughed-lands to the Farmer of them, as they did to the Provoſt and Chapter before; the King iſſued out a Writ to the Sheriffs of York to ſeize the Perſons and Goods of thoſe the Provoſt and Chapter ſhould excommunicate, and detain them till payment, ſince He and his Tenants duly paid them out of his and their Demeſnes.

In the ſixth year of King John, the Biſhop, Dean, and Chapter of Durham, the Dean and Chapter of York, with ſundry other Deans and Chapters, Abbots and Priors within the Province of York, to prevent the unjuſt arbitrary Excommunications, Suſpenſions, and Interdicts of Geoffry Archbiſhop of York, againſt their own Tenants, Lands and Poſſeſſions, by reaſon of ſome differences between them concerning their Juriſdictions and Eccleſiaſtical Priviledges, which they complained the Archbiſhop invaded, appearing before the King at York, did there in the King's own preſence appeal him before the See of Rome, prefixing a certain day, to which the King by his Letters Patents gave his Royal Teſtimony and Aſſent, they not daring to appeal without his Licenſe.

About two years after King John and his Nobles meeting at Wincheſter, placing his hope and ſtrength in his Treaſures, required and received through all England the thirteenth part of all Movables and other things, as well of the Laity as of all other Eccleſiaſtical Perſons and Prelats, all of them murmuring at it, and wiſhing an ill event to ſuch rapines, but not daring to contradict it. Only Geoffry Archbiſhop of York openly contradicting it, privily departed from England, and in his receſs, Anathematis ſententia innodavit, actually excommunicated all Men, eſpecially within his Archbiſhoprick, making this rapine, and levying this Tax, and in general all Invaders of the Church or Eccleſiaſtical things, for non-payment of this Tax, wherewith this King was ſo highly offended, that he ſeized his Temporalities, and baniſhed him the Realm till his death about ſeven years after.

Anno 1205. died Hubert Archbiſhop of Canterbury. Before his body was yet committed to the earth, the younger ſort of the Monks elected Reginald their Superiour, and placed him in the Metropolitan See, without the King's Licenſe and knowledge: who being ſent unto by the elder ſort of Monks, requiring his gracious Licenſe to chuſe their Archbiſhop, conſented thereunto, requiring them alſo inſtantly at his requeſt, that they would elect John Grey, Biſhop of Norwich, into that See; which they alſo did. And the King ſent to the Pope to confirm it. The two Suffragans of Canterbury not being made acquainted with the matter, ſent ſpeedily to Rome, to have both the Elections ſtopped, whereupon p. 57aroſe a great tumult: for the Pope condemning both their Elections, created Stephen Langton with his own hand in the high Church of Viterbo. Upon which occaſion the King baniſhed ſixty four of the Clergy and Monks of Canterbury out of the Land,Fox Acts and Monuments. and ſharply expoſtulated with the Pope, for that he had choſen Stephen Langton, a Man brought up long among his Enemies in France; beſides the derogation to the Liberties of his Crown; threatening, except he would favour the King's liking of the Biſhop of Norwich, he would cut off the trade to Rome, and the profits that came thither from the Land. The Pope writeth, in the behalf of Stephen Langton, a froward and arrogant Letter, and not long after ſendeth a commandment and charge into England to certain Biſhops, that if the King would not yield, they ſhould Interdict his Realm. For the execution whereof four Biſhops were appointed, viz. William Biſhop of London, Euſtace Biſhop of Ely, Mauger Biſhop of Worceſter, and Giles Biſhop of Hereford, who pronounced the general Interdiction through the Realm of all Eccleſiaſtical ſervice, ſaving Baptiſm of Children, Confeſſion and the Euchariſt to the dying in caſe of neceſſity. No ſooner had they interdicted the Kingdom, but they with Joceline, Biſhop of Bath, as ſpeedily, as ſecretly, fled out of the Land. And the King took all the poſſeſſions of thoſe Biſhops into his hands. He alſo proclaimed, that all thoſe that had Church-living, and went over the Sea, ſhould return at a certain day, or elſe loſe their Livings for ever: and charged all Sheriffs to enquire, if any Church-man received any Commandment that came from the Pope, that they ſhould apprehend them, and bring them before him, and alſo take into their hands for the King's uſe, all the Church-lands that were given to any man by the Archbiſhop Stephen, or by the Priors of Canterbury from the time of the election of the Archbiſhop.

England remained under the Interdict ſix years, three months and an half, whereby not only the King and his Court, but alſo all the people of England, who had nothing to do with that Quarrel, were Excommunicated. In that long time how many thouſands of men died in England, who by the Rules of the Roman Church, and by the Pope's Judgment, are eternally damned? and that but for a Quarrel between the King and the Pope about ſome Inveſtitures of Churches, and Collations of Benefices, and Money-matters.

Then (ſaith Mathew Paris, Matth. Paris.who was an eye-witneſs of all that diſorder) All the Sacraments of the Church ceaſed in England, ſaving only the Confeſſion, and the Communion of the Hoſt in the laſt neceſſity, and the Baptiſm of Infants. The dead bodies were carried out of the Towns, as if they had been the bodies of Dogs, and buried by the High-wayes, and in Ditches, without Prayers, and without ſervice of Prieſts. By the ſame Interdict all Maſſes, Veſpers, all publick Service and ringing of Bells was forbidden, and the Kingdom was expoſed to rapine and prey, and given to p. 58any that would conquer it: Only the King was not excommunicated by name, but that was done the next year after.

Next, Pope Innocent depoſed King John from the Kingdom of England, and abſolved the Engliſh from the Oath of their Allegiance, and commanded Philip Auguſt King of France, that for the remiſſion of his ſins he ſhould invade the Kingdom of England with force of Arms, giving to thoſe that ſhould follow the King in that Conqueſt, the pardon of all their ſins, and the ſame Graces and Pardons, as to them that viſit the holy Sepulchre. Whereupon the ſaid King Philip, partly to obtain the remiſſion of his ſins, partly to make himſelf Maſter of England, raiſed a mighty Army, whilſt Innocent was ſtirring up the Engliſh to riſe againſt their King.

This moved King John to humble himſelf under the Pope, and to receive ſuch Conditions as liked him beſt. The Conditions were,

That the King ſhould yield unto the Pope the whole right of Patronage of all the Benefices of his Kingdom.

That to obtain Abſolution of his ſins, he ſhould pay to the Clergy of Canterbury, and to other Prelates, the ſum of eight thouſand pounds Sterling.

That he ſhould ſatisfie for the damages done to the Church according to the Judgment of the Pope's Legat.

That the ſaid King ſhould reſign his Crown into the Pope's hand, with his Kingdoms of England and Ireland; for which Letters were formed and given to Pandulphus the Pope's Legat.

King John being informed that his Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Clergy, intended to hold a Council at St. Albans by the command of Pope Innocent the Third, about the payment of Rome-ſcot againſt cuſtom, and ſundry other unuſual Exactions, to the great deſtruction of the whole Realm, upon complaint thereof by his Nobles and People, iſſued out a Prohibition to them, expreſly forbidding them upon their Allegiance, not to hold any Council there, by the Popes or any other Authority, nor to conſult or treat of thoſe things, nor to act or ordain any thing againſt the cuſtom of the Realm, as they tendered his Honour, or the tranquillity of the Kingdom, until he conferred with the general Council of his Realms about it.

Thomas Sprot. Speed's Hiſtory, p. 571.During this Interdict, Alexander Cementarius, Abbot of the Benedictines at Canterbury, Vir corpore Elegantiſſimus, facie Venerabilis, literarum plenitudine imbutus, ita ut Pariſiis celebris haberetur, Magiſter et Rector, et Lector in Theologia, was ſent by King John unto Rome, where he openly pleaded and fomented the King's Cauſe againſt the Pope. He maintained there, That there is no Power under God, higher than a King; and That the Clergy ſhould not have Temporal government. He p. 59proved theſe two Articles by Scripture and Reaſon, and by teſtimony of Gregory the Firſt in an Epiſtle to Augustine Biſhop of Canterbury. Anno 1209. in the tenth year of King John, Henry. Fitz-Alan was ſworn firſt Mayor of London, and Peter Duke with Thomus Neal ſworn for Sheriffs: And London-bridge began to be built with Stone; and St. Saviours in Southwark the ſame year.He wrote three Books againſt the Popes Uſurpations and Power, viz. De Ceſſione Papali, De Eccleſiae potestate, De poteſtate Vicaria, in defence of his Sovereign King John; for which his Loyalty he was afterwards, by the Pope's Power, deprived of all his Benefices by Pandulphus the Pope's Legat (after King John's ſurrender of his Crown) and enforced to beg his Bread.

King John having ſeized and detained in his hands the Temporalties of the Archbiſhoprick of Armach in Ireland, for that the Biſhop was elected without his Licenſe, againſt his Will and Appeal, two Monks coming to him, proffering him three hundred Marks in Silver, and three Marks a year in Gold, for to have the Lands, Liberties, and Rights thereof, he by his Writ returned them to his Chief Juſtice there, to do what was fitting in it.

John Reumond coming from Rome to lay claim to a Prebendary in Haſtings, ſued to the King for his Licenſe and ſafe conduct to come into and return from England, which he granted upon this condition, that upon his arrival he ſhould give ſecurity, that he came hither for no ill to the King, nor for any other buſineſs but that Prebendary. The like Licenſe he granted to Simon Langton the Archbiſhop's Brother, upon the ſame and ſtricter conditions.

King John ſent a memorable Letter to the Pope by ſpecial Meſſengers, to claim and juſtifie this ancient and undoubted Right which He and his Royal Anceſtors enjoyed; to provide and prefer Archbiſhops and Biſhops to the See of Canterbury, and all other Cathedrals, atteſted by the Letters of the Biſhops of England, and other credible perſons, deſiring him to preſerve the rights of the Church and Realm of England entire and inviolable by his Fatherly proviſion.

Then the King entred into a League with Otho the Emperour,Mat. Weſtminſt. and forced John King of Scots, who received his fugitive Subjects, and harboured them in his Kingdom, to ſend to him for peace, to pay him eleven thouſand Marks to purchaſe his peace with him, and to put in Hoſtages for his fidelity without any Fight between them. Yea, the the Welch-men themſelves, formerly rebellious, ſoon after his return from Scotland, voluntarily repaired to him at Woodſtock, and there did homage to him.

After which, Anno 1211. he entring into Wales with a great Army as far as Snowdown, Reges omnes & Nobiles ſine contradictione ſubjugavit, de ſubjectione in poſterum obſides viginti octo ſuſcepit, & inde cum proſperitate ad Albani Monaſterium remeavit, Lewellin Prince of North-Wales being enforced to render himſelf to mercy, without any Battel at all.

p. 60When the Pope's Abſolution of the Nobles and all other Subjects from the King's Allegiance would not ſhake his magnanimous reſolution, nor his Peoples loyalty;P…ynne's Hiſtory. Book 3. ch. 3. the Pope's Legats, Pandulphus and Durance, forged new deviſes to effect their deſigns by fraud and terror; to which purpoſe they procured ſundry Letters from divers Quarters to be brought unto him, whilſt he ſate at dinner at Nottingham, intending to ſet upon the Welch-men with a potent Army (whom they had ſtirred up to rebel againſt him, and invade England) to divert him from his deſign; all to this effect, That there was a ſecret Plot laid to deſtroy him. He marched to Cheſter, where he met with new Letters to the like effect: which cauſed him to diſmiſs his Army, and deſign againſt the Welch-men.

Beſides, the Popiſh Prieſts ſet up one Peter an Hermite, a counterfeit Prophet, to terrifie the King, and alienate the peoples hearts from him by his falſe Propheſies. This counterfeit Sooth-ſayer propheſied, That King John ſhould reign no longer than the Aſcenſion-day, within the year of our Lord, 1213. which was the fourteenth from his Coronation; and this (he ſaid) he had by Revelation.

When the Aſcenſion-day was come, the King commanded his Regal Tent to be ſpread abroad in the open field, paſſing that day with his noble Council and Men of Honour, in the greateſt ſolemnity that ever he did before, ſolacing himſelf with muſical Songs and Inſtruments, moſt in ſight of his truſty Friends. This day being paſt in all proſperity and mirth, the King commanded, that Peter the Hermite, that falſe Prophet, ſhould be drawn, and hanged like a Traitor.

Now behold the miſery of King John, perplexed with the French King's daily preparation to invade England, aſſiſted by many Engliſh male-contents, and all the exil'd Biſhops. Hereupon he ſunk on a ſudden beneath himſelf, to an act of unworthy ſubmiſſion and ſubjection to the Pope. For on Aſcenſion-Eve, May 15. being in the Town of Dover (ſtanding as it were on tiptoes, on the utmoſt edge, brink, and label of that Land, which now he was about to ſurrender) King John by an Inſtrument, or Charter ſealed, and ſolemnly delivered in the preſence of many Prelats and Nobles, to Pandulphus the Pope's Legat, granted to God and the Church of Rome, the Apoſtles Peter and Paul, and to Pope Innocent the Third and his Succeſſors, the whole Kingdom of England and Ireland. Fuller's Church Hiſtory. Book 3.And took an Eſtate thereof back again, yielding and paying yearly to the Church of Rome (over and above the Peter-pence) a thouſand Marks Sterling, viz. ſeven hundred for England, and three hundred for Ireland. In the paſſing hereof, the King's Inſtrument to the Pope was ſealed with a Seal of Gold, and the Pope's to the King was ſealed with a Seal of Lead. This being done, the King took the Crown off his Head, and ſet it upon Pandulphus his Knees (at whoſe feet he alſo laid his Scepter, Robe, Sword and Ring, his Royal Enſigns, p. 61as John de Serres relates) and theſe words ſaid he in hearing of all the great Lords of England. Here I reſign up the Crown and the Realm of England into the hands of Pope Innocentius the Third, and put me wholly in his mercy, and in his ordinance. Then Pandulph received the Crown of King John, and kept it five dayes in his hands, and confirmed all things by his Charter.

Now the Pope's next deſign was, how to take off, and pacifie the French King from his intended Invaſions, and ſo ſent the Archbiſhop and his Confederates into England, there to inſult over King John, as they had done abroad.

Next year the Interdict was taken off the Kingdom, and a general joy was over the Land.

The ſeventeenth of Auguſt following the exiled Biſhops landed at Dover, and were conducted in State to the King at Wincheſter? the King's extraordinary humbling to, and begging pardon of them, proſtrating himſelf to the ground at their feet, and their inſolent carriage toward him, is related by Matthew Paris.

The next day after their coming to Wincheſter, the King iſſued out Writs to all the Sheriffs of England, to enquire of their damages. There were other Writs ſent to the Kings Judges, to proceed in the ſaid Inquiſition.

After this general compliance with them, the King conceiving he had given them full content, and ſetled all things in peace, reſolved to paſs with an Army into Picardy, whither the Nobles refuſed to follow him. In the mean time the Archbiſhop, Biſhop, Nobles, meeting at St. Albans about the damages to be reſtored by the King to the Prelates, during their exile, fell to demand the confirmation of their Liberties, granted by his Grandfather King Henry the firſt, which the King condeſcended unto.

Soon after the Archbiſhop cauſed all the Biſhops, Abbots, Priors, Deans, and Nobles of the Realm to meet together at London, upon pretext of ſatisfying his and the exiled Biſhops damages, but in verity to engage in a new Rebellion againſt the Crown, and confer it on Lewis the French King's Son, as they did in the concluſion, under pretence of demanding the confirming the Charter and Liberties granted by King Henry the firſt, there produced by the Archbiſhop, which the King had but newly ratified at St. Albans.

Pandulphus, beſides his former inſolencies, endeavoured to wreſt, out of the King's hand, the power of impriſoning Clerks for Fellonies, that ſo they might be at his own diſpoſal, and act any villanies with impunity.

King John being thus diſtreſſed, ſent a baſe and unchriſtian-like Ambaſſage to Admiralius Murmelius, a Mahometan, King of Morocco, then very potent, and poſſeſſing a great part of Spain; offering him, if p. 62he would ſend him ſuccour, to hold the Kingdom of England as a Vaſſal from him, and to receive the Law of Mahomet, ſaith Matthew Paris. The Moor offended at his offer, told the Ambaſſadours, That he lately had read Paul's Epistles, Modò inſpexi l…brum in Graeco ſcriptum, cuju…dam Graeci ſapientis, & Chriſtiani, nomine Pauli; cujus actus & veroa mihi maximè complacent & accepto. Ʋnum tamen de ipſo mihi diſplicet, quod in lege ſub quâ natus eſt non ſtetit; ſed ad alia tā quam transfuga, & inconſtans avolvit.which for the matter liked him well, ſave only that Paul had renounced that Faith, wherein he was born, and the Jewiſh profeſſion. Wherefore he ſlighted King John as one devoid both of piety and policy, who would love his liberty, and diſclaim his Religion. A ſtrange tender, if true.

But Mr. Prynne proveth it to be a moſt ſcandalous malitious forgery of this Monk of St. Albans againſt the King for ſequeſtring that Abbey.

Philip King of France, together with his Son Lewis, and his Proctor, and all the Nobles of France, Anno 1216. with his own mouth proteſted againſt this Charter and reſignation to Walo the Pope's own Legat, (when purpoſely ſent to them by Pope Innocent, to diſſwade them from invading England, as being then St. Peter's Patrimony) not only as null, void in it ſelf for ſeveral Reaſons, but of moſt pernitious example.

King John out of his piety, to prevent profanations of the Lord's-day, removed the Market of the City of Exeter from the Lord's-day, whereon it was formerly kept, to the Monday.

This King to ingratiate himſelf with the Romiſh Cardinals and Court, granted them annual Penſions out of his Exchequer, the Arrears whereof he ordered to be ſatisfied in the firſt place, and likewiſe gave Benefices or Prebends to their Nephews and Creatures. Moreover to gratifie Stephen Langton, his great Enemy, he granted the Patronage of the Biſhoprick of Rocheſter to him and his Succeſſors: and to the Biſhop of Ely he granted the Patronage of the Abbey of Torney.

Mr. Prynne, who kept the Records of the Tower, tells us, that upon ſtricteſt ſearch he could find no payment of the foreſaid Annuity, or Oblation to Pope Innocent by King John himſelf who granted it, but only for one year before hand, when he ſealed his Charter, who dying about three years after, during which time his Kingdom was infeſted with Civil Wars between him and his Barons, invaded by Lewis of France, who was made King by the Barons in his ſtead, his Lands, Rents ſeized, his Treaſure exhauſted, and the People every where miſerably plundered, it is probable that …here neither was nor could be expected any other punctual payment of it.

The Pope and his Legat Nicholas, having in a manner bereaved King John of his Regal Dignity, and Authority, began forthwith to play Rex: they uſurped the Sovereign Authority both in Church and State, preſenting to all Biſhopricks,Matth. Paris. Hiſt. Anglic. p. 237, 238. Abbies, Spiritual promotions, and Benefices then void, without the Patrons conſent, by way of Proviſion and Collation, to the prejudice of the Crown, and enthralling of the Church p. 63of England, not vouchſafing to conſult either with the King himſelf, the Archbiſhop, or Biſhops concerning their diſpoſal.

This was the very original of Pope's Proviſions, and diſpoſals of Biſhopricks, Abbies, with all ſorts of Spiritual promotions and Benefices in England: no Pope preſuming to confer any Biſhoprick, Benefice, or Prebendary, in France, or England, Ʋſque ad tempora Domini Innocentii tertii, qui primus aſſumpſit ſibi jus iſtud in tempore ſuo, as the French Agent remonſtrated to Pope Innocent the Fourth. Theſe Proviſions ſoon overflowed the Church of England (and France too) for many ſucceeding Ages, notwithſtanding all oppoſitions and complaints againſt them. Which the Archbiſhop and Biſhops foreſeeing, perceiving withall the Legat more ready to gratifie the King and his Clerks in the diſpoſal of Biſhopricks and Eccleſiaſtical preferments than themſelves, meeting together at Dunſtaple, drew up an Appeal againſt his proceedings, which he ſlighting and ſending to Rome by Pandulphus, together with King John's Charter, ſo highly magnified the King, and made ſuch complaints to the Pope againſt the Archbiſhop and Biſhops, as fruſtrated their Appeal.

King John having ſatisfied and ſecured the damages of the Exiled Biſhops and Monks before the Interdict releaſed, according to his agreement; other Abbots, Priors, Clergy-men and Lay-men repaired to the Legat, craving full ſatisfaction alſo for their damages, ſuſtained by the King's proceedings during the Interdict, though never inſiſted on before.

The King iſſued out two Writs on behalf of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and the Biſhop of Lincoln, to reſtore them to the poſſeſſion of their Temporalties in the Cinque-ports, and other places. Yet on the contrary, all the Biſhops and Clergy-men, who faithfully adhered to the King, and communicated with him, or any other excommunicated perſon, or received any Benefices from them during the Interdict, were by theſe Prelates (now made their Judges) and Pope's cenſures, ordered to be ſuſpended from all their Eccleſiaſtical Offices, Benefices, Preferments, and ordered to appear perſonally at Rome before the Pope, to be examined, ere their Suſpenſions releaſed, except only ſuch as had given ſatisfaction to the Church for this offence.

The turbulent Archbiſhop ſtirred up the Barons to a new Inſurrection, againſt the King, about their Liberties, who coming all to the King after Chriſtmas, Anno 1215. demanded the confirmation of their Charter, who craved time to adviſe thereon till after Eaſter, the Archbiſhop and two more becoming his Sureties, that then he ſhould give ſatisfaction to all of them. The Barons againſt the time, rather preparing themſelves for a Battel, than Conference with the King, aſſembled together at Stamford with a mighty Army, having Archbiſhop Stephen their principal Abettor, who yet ſeemed to ſide with the King, and was moſt aſſiduous p. 64about him. The Barons marching as far as Brackley, the King ſent the Archbiſhp to treat with them, who brought back a Schedule of their claimed Liberties, with this Meſſage, That if he preſently confirmed them not to them by his Charter, they would force him to it, by ſeizing all his Caſtles and Proviſions. Whereupon the King replied, Why do they not alſo demand the Kingdom? ſwearing never to enſlave himſelf to ſuch a conceſſion. The Archbiſhop returning with this peremptory Anſwer, the Barons forthwith ſeized Bedford-Caſtle, and were admitted into London, the Citizens ſiding with them. Whereupon the King appointed to treat with them at Running-mead, whither the Barons came with armed multitudes from all parts of the Realm, whereafter ſome parley, the King granted them their deſires, not only for their Liberties ſpecified in Magna Charta, and Charta Forrestae, which he then ſealed, and by his Writs commanded to be put in due execution, but alſo that twenty five Peers elected by them (to whom all were ſworn to obey) ſhould force the King to obſerve theſe Charters (if ever he receded from them) by ſeizing all his Caſtles. Juratum eſt a parte Regis; Quod Anglicana Eccleſia libera ſit, &c. It was ſworn on the Kings part, that the Church of England is free, and all men of our Kingdom, have and do hold all the foreſaid Liberties, Rights and Cuſtoms, well and peaceably, freely and quietly, fully and wholly to themſelves and their Heirs, &c. All the Barons and Commons of the Realm then and afterwards taking the ſame Oath. The Archbiſhop and Barons thruſt into this new Charter many Articles and Clauſes, for their own, the Churches, and Pope's advantage, not extant in the Charter of King Henry the Firſt, as may be ſeen in Matthew Paris his Hiſtory.

This Charter (though it ſaved a great part of the King's Prerogative to petition him and his Heirs for Licenſes to elect, and for his Aſſent) gave a great wound to his Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy; and made all Chapters, Covents, Biſhops, Monks, yea Popes and their Agents to ſlight his Regal Authority and Licenſes too, inſomuch that he could prefer no perſon to any Biſhoprick, Monaſtery, or elective Dignity, but whom the Electors pleaſed to make choice of.

King John withdrawing and obſcuring himſelf from his Biſhops and Barons in the Iſle of Wight, ſent Meſſengers ſecretly to Rome, to complain and appeal to the Pope againſt their Treaſons, Rebellions, and the Charters forcibly extorted from him, whilſt under the Pope's protection, who thereupon vacated the Charters.

Then the Archbiſhop: to demonſtrate his gratitude to King John, for the Patronage and Royalty of the Biſhoprick of Rocheſter, newly conferred on him and his Succeſſors, delivered up Rocheſter Caſtle, with all the Ammunition therein to the Barons. King John after three months ſiege took it, by force, out of the Barons hands, who proceeding in their Rebellions againſt the King, the Pope excommunicated them The Pope's p. 65Agents gave the Archbiſhop a perſonal command to execute the Excommunication, which he delayed to do, whereupon they ſuſpended him.

King John complained to the Pope of the Barons obſtinacy, and how the Archbiſhop refuſed to Excommunicate them. Soon after there was a General Council held at Rome, to which the Archbiſhop was ſummoned, and there ſuſpended from his Archbiſhoprick upon the King's complaints againſt him. When this ſuſpenſion of the Archbiſhop was executed, the Pope commanded all his Suffragans and Subjects to diſobey him, till by his humiliation, and giving ſufficient caution for his future deportment, he ſhould demerit it. A juſt retaliation inflicted by God's providence on this Arch-enemy to King John.

The Archbiſhoprick of York becoming void, the King, by his Letters Patents, granted the Chapter of York a Licenſe to elect a new Archbiſhop, in the preſence of five Commiſſioners therein ſpecially named, and with their conſents, to prevent the Election of Simon Langton, the Archbiſhop's Brother, this being the firſt Licenſe after his forecited Charter to the Archbiſhop and Biſhops, for the freedom of Elections. After which the King ſent his Patent of Appeal to the Chapter of York, in general termes, not to Elect any Perſon for their Archbiſhop, ſuſpected to be an enemy to him, to avoid all miſconſtructions of his former Charter for freedom of Elections. He alſo ſecretly prohibited them to Elect Simon Langton by name, to whom he would never give his Royal Aſſent.

This Chapter, notwithſtanding the King's and Pope's Inhibition likewiſe, to gratifie Stephen Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Elected Simon Langton, his Brother, Archbiſhop of York. And the Canons of York appearing in the Council at Rome, juſtified their Election, and preſented Simon Langton to the Pope for their Archbiſhop Elect, and preſſed his Confirmation of him.

The Covent and Monks of Durham affronted King John in the Election of their Biſhop, whereupon he was enforced to make uſe of the Pope's and Legate's power, and yet could not effect his ends. But the Pope obtains His, to diſpoſe of all Elections and Biſhopricks at his pleaſure.

The ſame year the King, with ſome ſtrugling, procured R. de Mariſco, to be Biſhop of Wincheſter. Yet we find not, in any of our Hiſtorians, that he was ever Conſecrated Biſhop of Wincheſter, notwithſtanding his Election, and the King's approbation, and Letters to the Pope's Legate on his behalf; ſo that, he miſcarried in this deſign, as he did in that of Hugh Foliot to St. Davids. Neither did he ſucceed in his recommendation of three ſeveral Perſons to the Prior and Covent of Ramſey.

Then the Monk's of Glaſtonbury prevailed, with Money, to have their Abbey ſevered from the Biſhoprick of Bath and Wells, and to be governed p. 66by an Abbot as formerly, parting with …o leſs than four Manors, and the Patronage of ſix Benefices to Joceline Biſhop of Bath and Wells, and his Succeſſors, by way of compoſition, to obtain this diſunion.

Then the Pope exempted King John's Chappels from Epiſcopal Excommunication and Juriſdiction, without the Pope's ſpecial command, which by the Lawes of the Realm were exempted from them long before.

The Barons and the Londoners ſlighted the Pope's Excommunication, and ſo doth Lewis of France, the Ini…ition of the Pope and his Legate, not to invade England. In the mean time Lewis his Proctors at Rome pleaded, that King John had no good Title to the Crown of England, ſhewing Lewis his Title thereunto: which put Pope Innocent to a great dilemma. But the Pope himſelf became King John's Advocate, as well as Judge, not as King of England, but onelyonly becauſe he was his Vaſſal.

Then was England miſerably waſted by Lewis and his Army in the Eaſt and South, and by King John in the Weſt and North, whereupon forty of the Barons became ſenſible of their error in rejecting King John, and in calling in and Crowning Lewis for their King; and being likewiſe informed by Viſcount Melun on his death-bed, upon his Salvation, That Lewis, and XVI. others of his chief Barons and Earls, whereof himſelf was one, had taken an Oath, That if ever the Crown of England were quietly ſetled on his Head, he would condemn to perpetual Exile all the Engliſh who now adhered to him againſt King John, as Traitors to their Lawful Sovereign, and would actually extirpate all their kindred: adviſing them timely to prevent their miſeries, and lock up his words under the Seal of ſecrecy; thereupon addreſſed themſelves with their Letters of ſubmiſſion to King John, but before theſe Letters were delivered, or any Anſwer returned, the King was poiſoned by one Simon a Monk of Swinſhed-Abbey in Lincoln-ſhire, of which poiſon he died. When he ſaw his Death approaching, he with penitent Confeſſion of his ſins, and great Devotion, received the holy Euchariſt, having the Abbot of Croxton both for his Bodily and Ghoſtly Phiſitian; and then not onelyonly forgave all his Mortal Enemies, but alſo ſent Command to Henry his Son to do the like, to whom he cauſed all preſent to Swear Fealty, and ſent Letters to all his Officers abroad to aſſiſt him. After which he commended his Soul to God, and his Body to be interred in the Church of Worceſter: Where he was afterwards ſolemnly buried near the Body of Biſhop Wolſton.

In this year 1216. flouriſhed Walter Mapez, Archdeacon of Oxford, a very Witty Man, who in his Verſes, painted forth in lively Colours p. 67the Life of the Pope, the Affections and Rape of the Court of Rome, the Exceſs and Pride of the Popiſh Prelates, as may be Read in his Book, Entitled, Diverſe Poems of the corrupt ſtate of the Church. He compoſed a Treatiſe, Entitled, Apocalypſis Pontificis Goliath, by which name he ſignified, that Antichriſt was revealed in the Pope. Alſo Praedicationem Goliath; and other Treatiſes againſt the Pope and his Court, and of the dayes of the Court of Rome. Giraldus Cambrenſis mentioneth him in his Mirror of the Church, and ſaith, That he was a Man in that Age in great eſtimation.

His Poetical deſcription of the City, Popes, and Court of Rome, I ſhall here ſet down.

Roma caput mundi, ſed nil caput mundum:

Quod pendet a Capite, totum est immundum.

Trahit enim vitium primum & ſecundum;

Et de fundo redolet, quod est juxta fundum.

Roma capit ſingulos, & res ſingulorum,

Romanorum Curia non est niſi forum:

Ibi ſunt venalia jura Senatorum,

Et ſolvit contraria, copia numm…rum.

In hoc conſiſtorio ſi quis cauſam regat,

Suam vel alterius, hic inprimis legat:

Niſi det pecuniam, Roma totum negat,

Qui plus dat pecunia, melius allegat.

Romani capitulum habent in decretis,

Ʋt potentes audiant manibus repletis.

Dabis, aut non dabitur, potunt quando petis,

Qua menſura ſeminas, eadem tu metis.

Munus & petitio currunt paſſu pari,

Opereris munere, ſi vis operari.

Tullium nec timeas, ſi velit cauſari,

Munus Eloquentia gaudet ſingulari.

Nummis in hac Curia non est qui non vacet.

Crux placet, Rotunditas placet, totum placet,

Et cum ita placeat, & Romanis placet,

Ʋbi munus loquitur, & lex omnis tacet.

Cum ad Papam veneris, habe pro conſtanti:

Non est bonus Pauperi, ſoli favet danti.

p. 68Et ſi munus praeſtitum non ſit aliquanti,

Reſpondet hic tibi ſic, non est mihi tanti.

Papa quaerit, Chartula quaerit, Bulla quaerit,

P…rta quaerit, Cardinal quaerit, Curſor quaerit:

Sed ſi dares omnibus, at uni deerit;

Totum mare ſalſum est, tota cauſa perit.

About that time Nigellus Vireker, a Learned Monk at Canterbury, wrote a Book, De abuſu rerum Eccleſiae, and ſent it to William, Biſhop of Ely, Chancellor of England. In this Book he not onelyonly rebuked him, but all Teachers under the Pope's Tyranny; becauſe they committed the Cure of Souls unto Children, Belly-gods, and deſpiſers of the Sacred Word

Henry the third of that name, ſucceeded his Father King John, being about ten years old, and was Crowned at Gloceſter by a part of the Nobility and Clergy (upon the perſwaſion of William Earl Mareſhall, Earl of Pembrook, a Nobleman of great Authority) the reſt ſiding with the French Lewis: within little more than a twelve MonethMonth he recovered the entire poſſeſſion of his Kingdom.

In Whitſun-week the Pope's Legate encouraged the King's Army to fight the French King's Forces at Lincoln: and after a ſharp conflict they routed the Barons and Lewis's Forces, ſlew and took many of them Priſoners, with the loſs onelyonly of three Men, and took the City of Lincoln, with all the Treaſure and baggage of the Enemy. The King's Ships watching the French Fleet at Sea, tranſporting Souldiers and ſupplies unto Lewis, took Euſtachius a Monk, their Admiral, Priſoner, whoſe Head the King's Brother Richard cut off with his Sword, deſpiſing the great ſum of Money which he proffered for his Ranſom. Soon after which defeats by Land and Sea, both Parties had a conference at Stanes, and came to an Agreement, Septemb. 3. and Lewis ſhamefully departed this Realm.

But notwithſtanding this Agreement with the Barons, yet the Pope's Legate exempted all the Biſhops, Abbots, and Clergy, out of this Act of pacification, for their contempt of the Pope's Authority, that he might diſpoſe of their Eccleſiaſtical promotions and Benefices to his Inſtruments, and put them to exceſſive fines at the preſent, to fill the Pope's and his own Coffers.

Clauſ. Anno 1. H. 3. m. 21. & Pat. 1. H. 3. m. 16. intus.This Legate Gualo did bear chief ſway in the King's Council, and the King ſealed ſome Letters Patents; Sigillis venerabilium Patrum, Domini Gualonis Sancti Martini Presbyteri Cardinalis, Apoſtolicae ſedis Legati, & Domini Petri Wintonienſis Epiſcopi; and ſent them abroad under their Seals, in the firſt year of his Reign, becauſe as yet he had no Seal.

p. 69The Canons of Carliſle contemning both the Pope's and his Legates Authority and Cenſures, contumaciouſly celebrating Divine Service and Sacraments, notwithſtanding their Interdicts, adhering and Swearing Fealty to the King of Scots, King Henrie's and the Pope's declared enemy; yea electing an interdicted Clerk for their Biſhop, againſt the King's and Legate's Wills, and dividing the Revenues of the Biſhoprick among themſelves.

The King's Council thereupon ſent an Epiſtle to Pope Honorius the third, (who ſucceeded Innocent the third that year) in the King's name, totally to remove theſe Schiſmatical Canons, and place Prebends in their rooms, to augment the Biſhop's Revenues, which were ſmall, and diſplace the intruded Biſhop. Upon which Letter the Pope ordered Gualo his Legate, by the King's Royal aſſent, to conſtitute Hugh Abbot of Beaulieu, Biſhop of Carliſle.

In the ſecond year of King Henry III. the Archbiſhop of Dublin in Ireland, and other Biſhops there, Uſurping upon the King's Crown and Temporal Courts, preſumed to hold pleas, in their Courts Chriſtian, of Lay fee, whereupon there iſſuing Prohibitions, from the King's Court, to ſtay theſe Suits, they proceeded contemptuouſly notwithſtanding, upon which …here iſſued out a Writ of Attachment againſt them, to appear before the chief Juſtice of Ireland, to anſwer the contempt.

In the third year of King Henry the third, the Biſhoprick of Leiſmore (united formerly to the Biſhoprick of Waterford, by the Pope's Legate in Ireland, while the Biſhop was in England, at the Conſecration of the Biſhop of Carliſle) Macrobius a Canon of Leiſmore, procuring an election from the reſt of the Canons, pretending the See to be then void, obtained the Legate's and King's Royal aſſent to the Election and Reſtitution of the Temporalties; whereof the Biſhop of Waterford complaining to the King, the King nulled that election, and commanded the Biſhop to be put in poſſeſſion of his Temporalties.

The Biſhop of Ely going into France, after Lewis his return thither, reported King Henry to be dead, and laboured to ſtir up a new War againſt him: whereupon the King wrote to the Pope to deprive him, and beſtow his Biſhoprick (by proviſion) upon ſome other: in which Letter the King acknowledgeth the Pope's great favours and aſſiſtance to him during his Infancy, puts himſelf and his Realms under the protection of his wings, and (by way of Complement) ſtiles them the Patrimony of the Church of Rome, to gain the Pope's readier protection and aſſiſtance in his Suits, and Wars.

In the fourth year of his Reign, King Henry, taking notice of diverſe Uſurpations upon the right of his Crown in Ireland, by Covents, Deanes, and Chapters, electing Abbots and Biſhops as they became void, and the chief Juſtices approving them without his Privity, Licenſe, or Royal aſſent, he iſſued out a Writ to his chief Juſtice of Ireland p. 70to reform and prevent this dangerous Uſurpation for the future.

This year the Earl of Albemarle refuſing to deliver up, to the King, ſome of his Caſtles and Lands committed to his cuſtody, for which he was Excommunicated by the Biſhop of Norwich, and the Pope's Legate, thereupon the King iſſued out a prohibition to all his Barons and Subjects in Lancaſhire, and five Counties more, not to Aid him or his complices, but to avoid them as Excommunicated Perſons, till they had ſubmitted to the King.

Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures were then commonly inflicted in that Age for Temporal Offences and Rebellions, to reduce Men to obedience to the King, as well as to the Church and Pope. At laſt the Earl came to the King under the conduct of Walter Archbiſhop of York, and by the mediation of Pandulphus the Legate, was reconciled to him.

Anno Domini 1221. The King being under the Wardſhip of Peter Biſhop of Wincheſter, was, on Whitſunday, Crowned the ſecond time at Wincheſter by Stephen Archbiſhop of Canterbury.

Soon after which there being a difference concerning the Biſhoprick of Ely, between Galfridus de Burgo, Archdeacon of Norwich, and Robert of York, the Pope at laſt nulled both their Elections, and …onferred the Biſhoprick upon John Abbot of Fontain, who was Conſecrated at Weſtminſter.

The ſame year and day, Hugh Biſhop of Lincoln was Canonized a Saint, by the procurement of the Archbiſhop. He likewiſe cauſed his Predeceſſor Thomas Becket, to be Tranſlated, Enſhrined, and Adored with great Solemnity. Moſt of the Engliſh, many of the French Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Priors, Clergy, and of other Countries, were, by the Archbiſhop's invitation, preſent at Thomas Becket's Tranſlation.The tranſlation and enſhrining of Thomas Becket.

The King by the Legat's, and his Council's advice, changed the Heatheniſh, and long-continued Trials in criminal Cauſes by Fire and Water, into other ways of Trial, and Puniſhments, by Impriſonment or abjuring the Realm

Benedict Biſhop of Rocheſter, Richard Biſhop of Sarum, Hugh Biſhop of Lincoln, William Biſhop of Bath and Glaſtonbury, Richard Biſhop of Durham, Henry Abbot of Ramſey, and other Clergy-men, were all made Juſtices Itinerants this year.

Henry Biſhop of Landaff dying, thereupon Pandulphus, the Pope's Legate, conferred it upon William Prior of Goldcliff.

William de Mariſco Biſhop of London, of his own accord reſigning his Biſhoprick, Euſtachius de Faucumberge, then Treaſurer of the Exchequer, was choſen Biſhop of London, whoſe Election was confirmed by the Legate Pandulphus. This Legate ſent a Letter to Peter Biſhop of Winton, and Hugh de Burgh, to prohibit and ſuppreſs the Uſury of p. 71the Jews, taken from Chriſtians, and to ſtay a Suite brought by a Jew againſt the Abbot and Covent of Weſtminſter before the Juſtices of the Jews, wherein he exacted uſury from them, to the great ſcandal of Chriſtianity, and the King's diſhonour, and to joyn ſome diſcreet Perſons with the Sheriff in each County for the collection of Amerciaments, to prevent their Malice and Extortions.

About this time was taken an Impoſtor at Oxford having five wounds in his Body and Members, ſc. in his Side, Hands and Feet, who counterfeited himſelf to be Chriſt, with two Women his followers, counterfeiting themſelves to be the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Chriſt, and Mary Magdalen. They were immured together with him without any Victuals, and ſtarved to Death.

Then was a Council held at Oxford under Archbiſhop Stephen, where many Conſtitutions were made, moſt of them being very uſeful to reform Extortions, Abuſes, Procurations in Viſitations, the taking of any Fees for Letters of Order, Funerals, or Adminiſtring any Sacrament, as alſo againſt Pluralities, Non-reſidence, and other abuſes of Clergy-men.

Soon after this, the Archbiſhop and the Biſhop of Lincoln, commanded, by their Injunctions, That none ſhould ſell any victuals to the Jews, nor have any communion with them; of which the Jews complaining, the King iſſued a Writ to the Majors of Canterbury, Oxford, and Norwich, to countermand the Biſhop's Injunctions, that all ſhould ſell victuals and other neceſſaries to them, and that they ſhould impriſon every one refuſing to do it, till further order.

Then the Prior of St. Patrick of Dune in Jreland, ſent a Petition to the King to grant him and others ſome ſmall Cell to reſide in, in England, their Houſes in Ireland being frequently burnt in the Wars, for St. Patrick's, and other Iriſh Saints ſake, whoſe Relikes he then ſent to the King for a preſent.

The King to ſatisfie the Archbiſhop, wrote a Letter to the Pope, to give way for the return of his Brother Simon Langton into England, out of which he was formerly baniſhed (as well as Excommunicated, and deprived of all his Eccleſiaſtical Benefices) for adhering to Lewis, and contemning the Pope's Excommunications. But we find not, that the Pope conſented to this requeſt.

Our Kings by reaſon of their manifold Affairs in the Court of Rome, relating to the Pope and other Forreign States, uſually conſtituted, ſometimes general, otherwiſe ſpecial Proctors, by their Letters Patents, to implead and defend in their Names and Rights, all matters there depending for or againſt them, of which there are many different Formes in our Records.

King Henry ſtanding in need of a ſubſidy from the Biſhops and Clergy, Pope Honorius thereupon ſent his Bull to the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, p. 72Priors, and Clergy, entreating them to grant him a competent ſubſidy, to be diſpoſed of by common conſent onelyonly, for publick benefit of the Realm, leaving the grant free to the Biſhops and Clergy to impoſe and proportion it.

This year (ſc. 1225.) the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and his Suffragans, inſtead of granting the King a ſubſidy, or puniſhing leacherous Clearks, paſſed ſevere Decrees againſt their Concubines onelyonly, principally intended againſt the Wives of Clergy men, whom they ſtiled Concubines in that Age.

The Biſhop of Cork in Ireland, having obtained the King's Royal aſſent, at the Pope's requeſt, to be Archbiſhop of Caſſel, taking a journey to Rome to procure it, received his Writ for the reſtitution of his Temporalties after his return.

Then the Pope diſpatched Otto his Legate into England, with Letters to the King, for his own filthy lucre. The King aſſembling a Parliamentary Council of his Nobles and Prelates, Otto read the Pope's Letters and Propoſals, wherein the deteſtable Avarice, Extortion, and Rapine of the Pope and Court of Rome were clearly diſcovered, related by Matthew Paris.

Matth. Paris. Hiſt. Angl.Otto purſuing his Rapines in England, by exacting Procurations from the Clergy, was by the Archbiſhop's means ſuddenly recalled thence, by the Pope, to his great diſcontent: and the proſecuting the Pope's former propoſals committed to the Archbiſhop.

This year Pope Honorius the third, ſent his Bull to Geoffry de Lizimaco the King's ſworn Vaſſal, abſolutely ſubverting all Papal diſpenſations with Subjects juſt Oaths to their Sovereignes. The Pope alſo ſent prohibitory Letters to the King of England, to ſtop his intended Military Voyage into France, to recover his juſt Rights. Then the King paid ten thouſand Marks, being all the Arrears of the ſum granted by King John to the Pope by his Charter.

Godwin. Catal. of Biſh. p. 515.516.Richard de Mariſco, Biſhop of Durham, dying ſuddenly at Peter-borough-Abbey, as he was poſting to London with a great troop of Lawyers, to proſecute his Suits againſt the Monks of Durham; thereupon they beſtowed this Epitaph upon him.

Culmina qui cupi tis

Est ſedata ſi tis

Qui populos regi tis

Quod mors immi tis

Vobis praepoſi tis

Quod ſum vos eri tis

Laudes pompaſque ſiti tis.

Si me penſare veli tis.

Memores ſuper omnia ſi tis.

Non parcit honore poti tis.

Similis fueram, bene ſci tis.

Ad me currendo veni tis.

Upon his Death there grew a great difference between King Henry the third, and the Monks of Durham, about the election of a Succeſſor. p. 73There was an Appeal about this Election, pending before the Archbiſhop of York, before whom the King conſtituted his Proctor by Patent. But after two years expenſive conteſts, the Monks election of William Archdeacon of Worceſter, a Man Learned and honeſt, ſaith Matthew Paris, was cancelled at Rome, Luke the King's Chaplain put by; and Richard Biſhop of Salisbury Elected Biſhop by the Pope's favour; the Pope onelyonly gaining by ſuch conteſts.

The Emperor Frederick the third, being juſtly incenſed with the publication of divers Libellous, and Scandalous Excommunications of Pope Gregory IX. againſt him, in England, and all other Kingdoms and Churches, endeavoured to vindicate himſelf and his innocency againſt the Pope's calumnies, by diſpatching Letters into all parts, and particularly into England. Theſe proceedings of the Pope againſt the Emperor, ſo exaſperated the Citizens of Rome, that they expelled the Pope from the City, and chaſed him to Peruſium.

Anno 1228. died Stephen Langton Archbiſhop of Canterbury, after whoſe death there grew a new conteſt between the King and Monks of Canterbury, about the Election of a new Archbiſhop. The Monks choſe Walter de Heveſham, a Monk, whom the King refuſed to allow of, reſolving to make Richard, his Chancellor, Archbiſhop. Walter poſting to Rome to get Confirmation and Conſecration from the Pope, and the King's Proctors there excepting againſt him, preſſing the vacating of his Election, and making Richard Archbiſhop, with much importunity; they could not prevail with the Pope or Cardinals to ſtop Walter's Confirmation, or promote Richard; till they had promiſed, in the behalf of the King, unto the Pope, the tenths of all things moveable, from both his Kingdomes of England and Ireland. Whereupon the Pope and Cardinals forthwith vacated Walter's Election, for his inſufficiency, and made Richard Archbiſhop. So the Pope got two years payment of his annual penſion, granted by King John, and a Tenth in promiſe.

Yet where the King gave his Royal aſſent to Biſhops duly Elected by his Licenſe, where there was no competition, the Pope interpoſed not.

This Archbiſhop Richard going to Rome, to complain againſt the King, that all affairs of his Kingdom were diſpoſed by the counſel of his chief Juſtice Hubert, when he had there accompliſhed his deſignes againſt the King, was preſently taken away by ſudden Death.

Then the King iſſued out a prohibition to the Monks of Canterbury, not to do any thing prejudicial to the rights of his Crown, nor to elect any Perſon Archbiſhop, without his ſpecial Licenſe, nor to ſend any Monks to Rome by the Pope's command, to Elect an Archbiſhop there.

The Monks in purſuance of this Prohibition by the King's Licenſe, elected John their Prior Archbiſhop, whom the King by his Letters Patents p. 74approved, deſiring the Pope to confirm him, and likewiſe made new Proctors in the Court of Rome concerning this Election. And the King to promote his Affairs the better in the Court of Rome, granted Annuities to ſome Cardinals to obtain that juſtice from them by ſuch Penſions, which he could not procure without them. But yet the Pope vacated this ſecond election as well as the firſt. Hereupon the Monks proceed to a third election; but this third Perſon was alſo caſhiered by the Pope.

This See continued three years after Richard's death, and Edmond … being nominated Archbiſhop by the Pope, who ſent him a Pall, was conſecrated by Roger Biſhop of London in April, Anno 1234. the King being preſent with thirteen Biſhops, in Chriſt-Church Canterbury.

Fuller Church-Hiſtor. lib. 3.In the year 1232. the Cavrſines firſt came into England, proving the bane of the Land. Theſe were Italians by birth, terming themſelves the Pope's Merchants, driving no other Trade than letting out of Money, great Banks whereof they brought into England, differing little from the Jews, ſave that they were more mercileſs to their Debtors. Now becauſe the Pope's Legat was altogether for ready Money, when any Tax by Levy, Commutation of Vows, Tenths, Diſpenſations, &c. were due to the Pope, from Prelates, Convents, Prieſts, or Lay-perſons, theſe Cavrſines inſtantly furniſhed them with preſent Coin upon their ſolemn Bonds and Obligations. Theſe Cavrſines were generally hated for their Extortions. Roger Black, that learned and pious Biſhop of London, once excommunicated theſe Cavrſſnes for their oppreſſion: but they appealing to the Pope, their good friend, forced him after much moleſtation to deſiſt.

Theſe Cavrſines were commonly known by the name of Lombards, from Lombardy, the place of their nativity, in Italy. And although they deſerted England on the decaying of the Pope's power and profit therein; yet a double memorial remaineth of them: one of their Habitation, in Lombard-ſtreet in London: the other of their Employment; a Lombard unto this day ſignifies a Bank for Uſury, or Pawns, ſtill continued in the Low-countries and elſewhere. See here the Pope's hypocriſie, forbidding Uſury, as a ſin ſo deteſtable, under ſuch heavy penalties in his Canon Law, whilſt his own Inſtruments were the moſt unconſcionable practiſers thereof without any controul.

Elius Rubeas in Semidali. Lib. 2. c. 3. & 4.Elias Rubeus, an Engliſh-man, wrote a Book, wherein he ſaid, That the Monks had converted Religion into ſuperſtition, making ſalvation to conſiſt in things, of themſelves, vain and indifferent: that there was no kind of men more blind in concupiſcence, or infamous for uncleanneſs, than the Popiſh Clergy, &c.

Certain years after, one Laurence, an Engliſh-man, in a Sermon of his, admoniſhed the Church, That a great danger hung over her head by the Monks, that they were ſeducers, and the Miniſters of Anti-chriſt.

p. 75Matthew Paris informs us, That Hubert de Burgo, Anno 1232. being chief Juſtice of England, the King's principal faithful Counſellor, the greateſt oppoſer of the Pope's Uſurpations and Extortions, was, by the power of the Pope, and of Peter Biſhop of Wincheſter, ſuddenly removed from all his Offices, and impeached of ſeveral Crimes, ſome of them amounting to high Treaſon. Hubert, to prevent the rage of his Enemies, fled to the Church of Merton, and there took Sanctuary. Whence the King commanded the Mayor of London by his Letters (the Londoners being his mortal Enemies) to pull him out forcibly, and bring him to him alive or dead. Which the Mayor and Citizens readily undertaking, and marching thither with great Forces, the King, by the advice of the Earl of Cheſter, ſuddenly countermanded them thence to their great diſcontent. After which Godfry of Cranecumb (whom the King ſent to apprehend him, in Eſſex, with three hundred men armed) finding the Chappel doors ſhut, violently brake them open, apprehended Hubert, and carried him thence, bound with cords, a priſoner to the Tower of London.

This breach of Sanctuary being made known to Roger Biſhop of London, (whoſe Dioceſs it was) he tells the King, that if the Earl were not reſtored to the Chappel, he would excommunicate all the Authors of that outrage. The Earl is accordingly reſtored, but the Sheriffs of Eſſex and Hertford at the King's command, with the Powers of their Countreys, beſiege the Chappel ſo long, that at laſt the Earl was compelled to come forth, and render himſelf, bearing his affliction patiently. Hubert is again impriſoned in the Tower. Nothing could appeaſe the King's Ire, but that Maſs of Gold and other Riches, which the Knights Templers had in their cuſtody, upon truſt, which Hubert willingly yielded up. This mollified the King's mind toward him. Hereupon he had all ſuch Lands granted unto him, as either King John had given, or himſelf had purchaſed. There undertook for him as Sureties, the Earls of Cornwall, and Warren, Marſhal and Ferrars; and himſelf was committed to the Caſtle of Devizes, Speed's Hiſtor. in H. 3.there to abide in free Priſon under the cuſtody of four Knights, belonging each of them to one of theſe four Earls. Afterwards, though he was reſtored to the King's favour, yet upon new accuſations of his Enemies, he was condemned to give to the King Blanch Caſtle, Groſmount in Wales, Skenefrith, and Hafield, and then alſo was deprived of Title of Earl of Kent.

King Henry erected a ſpecial Church, Houſe, and form of Government for the Jews converted to the Chriſtian Religion.

The Biſhops meeting together at Gloceſter, Anno 1234. the King, being jealous, that they intended to conſult of ſome other things, prejudicial to his Crown, State and Dignity, ſent a Writ of Prohibition to them, not to treat of any thing of this nature. After this, the King and Biſhops meeting at a Conference at Weſtminſter, the King charged p. 76ſome of the Biſhops with a deſign to deprive him of his Crown, which they denied: whereupon one of them, in a great rage, excommunicated all thoſe who raiſed ſuch a report of them.

Clauſ. 18. H. 3. Memb. 16.Then the King commanded all common Whores and Concubines of Prieſts, to be impriſoned, and baniſhed out of the Univerſity of Oxford, by his temporal Officers, unleſs they had Lands therein, and by Oath and other ſecurity have good aſſurance for their chaſt and honeſt demeanour for the future, and not to reſort to Clerks Lodgings.

If a Clerk, or Beneficed perſon were indebted to the King, or incurred his juſt diſpleaſure, the King commanded the Biſhop of the Dioceſs to ſequeſter all his Eccleſiaſtical Benefices, till his debt was ſatisfied, his diſpleaſure remitted, and the ſequeſtration diſcharged by ſpecial Writ.

The Pope was grown ſo proud in this Age by his Uſurpations, that he would not vouchſafe to hear and admit the King's Proctors and Agents, ſent to Rome upon his urgent Affairs, without moſt humble ſuits and ſupplications in his Letters of credence and procurations.

The King made a Remonſtrance to the Pope of the ſeveral injuries done to him by the Earl of Britain, in ſeizing on his Caſtles, and revolting to the King of France; deſiring the Pope by his Eccleſiaſtical cenſures to compel him to reſtore his Caſtles to him. The Pope inſtead of excommunicating this treacherous Earl, ſent for him to Rome, and made him General of the Croſſadoes by Sea and Land againſt the Grecians.

The Pope commanded Peter Biſhop of Wincheſter to aſſiſt him both with his purſe and advice in his Military affairs againſt the Grecians and Romans.

The Pope, as he encroached upon the election and confirmation of the Archbiſhops and Biſhops of England, ſo did he likewiſe upon the election and confirmation of Abbots, who muſt go to Rome to attend his pleaſure for their approbation and confirmation, as in the caſe of the Abbot of St. Albans doth appear. The Pope condeſcended to the Abbot's election, but upon this condition, that he ſhould take an expreſs Oath of Fealty to the Pope and Church of Rome, and his Succeſſors, preſcribed in his Bull, directed to the Biſhops, which Oath ſuddenly tendered to him, by way of ſurpriſe, he took publickly, before the Covent, and all the Clergy and People, at his Conſecration and Inſtalment, related by Matthew Paris, Matth. Paris. p. 399.a Monk of this Monaſtery.

This new Oath of Allegeance to the Pope and See of Rome, being the higheſt encroachment upon the King's Rights and Prerogative, making all who take it the Pope's Subject, and Vaſſals, not the King's, was concealed both from the King and Abbot, till the very nick of his Conſecration and Benediction, for fear it ſhould be oppoſed and refuſed.

The Prior of the preaching Friers preſuming to arreſt and impriſon ſome perſons in York-ſhire, pretended to be Heretical, when he had no p. 77legal power to arreſt or impriſon ſuch, the King thereupon iſſued a Mandate to the Sheriff of York-ſhire, to arreſt and impriſon all Heretical perſons, till his further order therein,

Anno 1236. the Archbiſhop of Canterbury being ſued by the Prior and Monks of Canterbury, for certain Advouſons of Churches, Poſſeſſions, Rents, and Services in the Eccleſiaſtical Court,Pryn. clauſ. 20. H. 3. m. 12. dorſo. by authority of the Pope's Letters, deſpiſing the remedy of the King's Court, where they ought to ſue for them, thereupon the King iſſued forth his prohibition to the Archbiſhop, prohibiting him, in his Faith and Allegeance to him, not to anſwer them in that Court, it being prejudicial to his Crown and Dignity, &c.

The King by ſeveral Writs of Prohibition countermanded the Pope's own Bulls and Delegates, as contrary to the Rights and Dignities of his Crown, and prohibited their proceedings, which gave ſome check to his Uſurpations of this Kind.

The King's Clerks and Houſhold Chaplains in thoſe dayes wearing long Hair and Peruwigs,Pat. 21. H. 3. m. 3. dorſo. Long Hair and Peruwigs forbidden in the Clergy. thereupon the King to reform this abuſe, iſſued out a Writ to William de Perecat, authorizing and ſtrictly commanding him to cut their Hair, and pull off their yellow Peruwigs, under pain of being ſhaven and polled himſelf.

The Monks and Converts of the Cistercian Order, contrary to their Vows and Rules, becoming common Merchants, buying, and ſelling again, Wools and Skins, to the prejudice of other Merchants, and ſcandal of their Profeſſion, the King, for redreſs thereof, iſſued out a Writ of Prohibition to all the Sheriffs of England, to ſeize the Goods and Moneys of thoſe Monks and Converts, to his uſe, who ſhould offend therein.

There being a great difference between the Biſhop of Clochor in Ireland and the Archbiſhop of Armagh, and their Tennants, concerning injuries and grievances touching their Churches; the Archbiſhop of Armagh procuring the King's Letters to his Chief Juſtice by miſinformation, whilſt he was excommunicated; the King thereupon revoked his former Letters, and commanded his Chief Juſtice in Ireland, to hear and determine the Controverſies between them.

Upon the death of Richard Biſhop of Durham, the King upon the Petition of the Prior and Convent, granted his Licenſe to elect a new Biſhop. The Biſhop of Norwich dying this year, the Monks elected Simon, their Prior, for their Biſhop, whom the King diſapproving, made a ſpecial Proctor againſt him before the Archbiſhop to hinder his confirmation, and to appeal againſt him to the See of Rome, if it were expedient, where he likewiſe conſtituted his Proctor.

Then the Pope upon the King's requeſt, under a pretext to rectifie ſome of thoſe abuſes (againſt which there was an univerſal complaint) ſent Ottobone, his Legat, into England, who ſoon proclaimed himſelf a ravening Wolf, as well as his Predeceſſors.

p. 78Then was a Council called by the Pope's Legat unto St. Paul's Church in London, where moſt of the Prelates, Abbots and Priors aſſembled together. The Canons that were made and promulged in this Council who ſo pleaſe, may peruſe at leiſure in Matthew Paris, and in Johannes de Aton, his Conſtitutiones legitimae Eccleſiae, totiuſque Eccleſiae Anglicanae, ab Legatis a latere ſummorum Pontificum collectio, fol. 1. ad 121. with his Gloſs upon them. The firſt Canon was for the Dedication and Conſecration of Churches, many Cathedral as well as Pariſh-churches being then unconſecrated. The ſecond and third concerning Eccleſiaſtical Sacraments and Baptiſm. Others concerning the covetouſneſs of Prieſts, their hearing Confeſſions, the qualities of ſuch as were to be ordained; their Farmers and Vicars, Preſentations to Churches; not dividing one Church into more; the Reſidence of Biſhops and Prieſts; Pluralities; the Habit of Clerks, clandeſtine marriage of Prieſts, Prieſts Concubines; their Sons ſucceſſion in their Benefices; their Judges, Procurations, undue, unjuſt Citations; Exactions by Procurations, Regiſters; abuſes by Proctors and Eccleſiaſtical Judges; and an Oath to be preſcribed to them, to prevent the like abuſes for the future. In this Council this Legat introduced the uſe of Oaths in Eccleſiaſtical CourtsThe firſt uſe of Oaths in Eccleſiaſtical Courts in England. and Cauſes, never formerly uſed in England, by colour whereof other Oaths were introduced by the Popiſh Prelates, againſt the Laws and Cuſtoms of the Realm, till the King, by his Prohibition, reſtrained theſe Uſurpations.

Then was a private Letter ſent from Rome to the Pope's Legat in England, adviſing him to moderation, to prevent a total rejection of the Pope and See of Rome.

In the 22th year of Henry the Third, the Greek Churches renounced all obedience to, and communion with, the Church of Rome: which made the Pope and his Court fear the like Schiſm and revolt in England, occaſioned by the Legat's violent Extortions, and advancement of Strangers to Benefices; whereupon he intended to recal him thence to prevent theſe ill conſequences; but the Legat loth to depart, prevailed with the King and others to ſollicit the Pope for his continuance in England, upon pretence of publick good.

This year there happening a difference between the King and Monks of Durham about their Biſhop elect, whom the King would not approve, he thereupon iſſued his Letters Patents to the Archbiſhop of York, appointing his Proctors to appeal to the See of Rome againſt this election, only for delay to preſerve his right.

After the death of Henry de Sandford, Biſhop of Rocheſter, the Monks of Rocheſter elected Richard Windeley, a learned Man, for their Biſhop, who being preſented by the Monks to Edmond Archbiſhop of Canterbury for his confirmation, he refuſed to admit him, Ʋnde Monachi Domini Papae preſentiam appellarunt. Upon this Appeal the Pope gave Judgment p. 79for the Monks againſt the Archbiſhop, and condemned him in coſts of ſuit, confirming their election in deſpite of the Archbiſhop, with whom the Pope was very angry for oppoſing his intolerable exactions in England, whereupon this Biſhop Elect was conſecrated at Canterbury in St. Gregory's Church by the Archbiſhop, the Biſhop of London and other Biſhops.

Then the Monks of Coventry choſe Nicholas de Fernham for their Biſhop, who refuſed to accept thereof: whereupon at laſt they choſe Simon de Pateſhul, who accepted it.

The Pope having excommunicated the Emperour Frederick, Otto, the Pope's Legat, was very diligent to ſee the Pope's ſcandalous Excommunications and Bulls againſt him publiſhed throughout all England.

In the twenty fourth year of the Reign of King Henry the Third, the Monks of Cambridge having apprehended an Heretick (as he was called) the King thereupon iſſued forth a Precept to the Sheriff of Cambridge, to bring this Heretick before him, at Westminſter, to be examined, and diſpoſed of as he ſhould direct. Who he was, and what his Hereſies were, Matthew Paris tells us, ſaying, He was a man of an honeſt and ſevere life; and that he openly aſſerted, that Pope Gregory was not the Head of the Church, but there was another Head of the Church; that the Church was profaned, the Devil was let looſe; the Pope was an Heretick: that Gregory, who was called Pope, had defiled the Church, and the world too. This and divers other things of like nature, he ſpake, before the Pope's Legat, in the hearing of many.

Pope Gregory before his death, to carry on his Wars againſt the Emperor Frederick, Anno 1240. intended by way of proviſion to confer all the Benefices in England (eſpecially of the Clergy) on the Sons of Romans, and other Forreigners, upon condition to aſſiſt him againſt the Emperour, ſending his Bull to three Biſhops, to confer no leſs than three hundred of the next Benefices, that fell void within their Dioceſs, on theſe Aliens.

Anno 1241. Otto, the Pope's Legat, having long pillaged the Realm and Church of England, was ſent for the third time by the Pope. And the King to oblige the Legat, as well to promote his Affairs at Rome, as in England, before his departure hence, Knighted and conferred an Annual penſion on his Nephew, feaſted the Legat publickly at Weſtminſter, and placed him at the feaſt in his own Royal Throne, to the great offence of his Nobles and Subjects.

Edmond Archbiſhop of Canterbury deceaſing, the King commended Boniface (his Queen's Uncle, a Forreigner, and every way unfit for ſuch a truſt) to the Monks of Canterbury, to ſucceed him, whom they accordingly elected.

There being a great conteſt between the King, and the Prior and Monks of Wincheſter, about the election of their Biſhop, they electing firſt p. 80William de Raley, Biſhop of Norwich, whom the King and Pope oppoſing, thereupon they Elected Ralph Nevil, whoſe election was likewiſe vacated. After which they Elected the Biſhop of Norwich again, whoſe election was ſuddenly made, and quickly confirmed at Rome. Yet the King commanded the Major of Wincheſter to forbid the new Biſhop entrance into the City;Matth. Weſtin. which he did; who thereupon Excommunicated him for his labour, and interdicted the whole City. The King thereupon ſo perſecuted the Monks, that he impriſoned diverſe of them, and forced the Biſhop to fly the Realm, and paſs into France for a ſeaſon.

Then there aroſe a new conteſt, between the Archbiſhop and Monks of Canterbury, about Juriſdiction and Viſitation, wherein they Excommunicated one the other; and yet ſlighted theſe their mutual Anathemae's, as ridiculous nullities.

The King being in France, ſent his Writ to the Archbiſhop of York, then Cuſtos Regni, to confer Benefices that ſhould fall void on ſuch Clerks of His, who, to their great danger and expence, continued with him, and incurred many various caſualties, in his ſervices, beyond the Seas, commanding them all in general, and one of them onelyonly in ſpecial, by Name, to be firſt provided for in this kind.

Anno 1246. Boniface Archbiſhop of Canterbury, upon a feigned pretext, that his Church of Canterbury was involved in very great debts by his Predeceſſor, but in truth by himſelf, to carry on Forreign Wars, and gratifie the Pope, procured, from Pope Innocent, a grant of the firſt years Fruits of all Benefices, that ſhould fall void within his Dioceſs for ſeven years ſpace, till he ſhould raiſe out of them the ſum of ten thouſand Marks, beſides two thouſand Marks yearly out of the Biſhoprick.N. B. This Grant of firſt-fruits of Benefices to Boniface, made way for Popes appropriating firſt-fruits, and Annats to themſelves ſoon after.

About this time was Edmond Archbiſhop of Canterbury Canonized for a Saint by the Pope, to gratifie the King, and facilitate the impoſing and levying of his Papal exactions upon the Clergy and Realm.

The Biſhops and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, to avoid the turbulent viſitation and exactions of Archbiſhop Boniface, made a Tax and Collection to defray the expenſes of their Appeals and oppoſitions againſt him in the Court of Rome.

Some Abbots and Convents perceiving that Robert Groſthed, and other Biſhops, intended to vex and oppreſs them, by their new powers to viſit them, derived from the Pope, combined together to make a common purſe to oppoſe and withſtand them by Appeals to the Pope; whom they hoped would back them for Money, as the Biſhops combibined together to withſtand the Archbiſhop's Viſitation in his Province. p. 81Notwithſtanding this combination, the Biſhop of Lincoln, proceeded to Viſit both the Monaſteries and Nunneries in his Dioceſs, with great ſeverity and Tyranny.

But although Robert Groſthed at firſt was a great ſtickler for the Pope, and an oppreſſor of the Nobility and Laity of his Dioceſs, with his Viſitations; appeals to Rome, and Excommunications; yet afterwards he oppoſed the Pope's Proviſions directed to him, for which the Pope ſuſpended him from his Biſhoprick: Whereupon he ſent a notable Letter to Pope Innocent, rendring him the reaſons why he was not bound to obey his unjuſt Letters and Proviſions, as moſt contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, tending to the ruine of Peoples Souls; and that no Biſhop or other Perſon was bound to obey any of the Pope's Mandates as Apoſtolical, but what were warranted by the Doctrine and Practice of Chriſt and his Apoſtles. The Letter is to be ſeen at large in Mr. Prynne's late Hiſtory of Pope's Uſurpations, &c. Tom. 2.

A little before his death, this Robert Groſthed called ſome of his Clergy to him, and by ſtrong reaſons and arguments informed them, That the Pope was Antichriſt, becauſe he was a deſtroyer of Souls, &c. Matthew Paris gives this character of him; Migravit ab hujuſmode mundi, quem nunquam dilexit, exilio, ſanctus Lincolnienſis Epiſcopus, Robertus ſecundus, apud Bugedonam, manerium ſuum, in nocte ſancti Dionyſii, Papae & Regis Redargutor manifeſtus, Praelatorum correptor, Monarchorum corrector, Presbyterorum director; Clericorum inſtructor, Scholarium ſuſtentator; Populi praedicator; Incontinentium perſecutor; Scripturarum ſedulus perſcrutator diverſarum; Romanorum malleus & contemptor; in menſa refectionis corporalis dapſilis, copioſus & civilis, hilaris & affabilis: in menſa vero spirituali devotus, lacrymoſus & contritus: in officio Pontificali ſedulus, venerabilis, & indefatigabilis.

He died Anno 1253.Vide Ranulph Ceſtrenſ. Polychron. lib. 7. ca. 36. & Heur. de Knighton de eventib. Angliae. Lib. 2. ca. 36. Of which year Matthew Paris gives this Character, Tranſiit igitur annus ille Papae Papalibus augurialis. The Pope being much incenſed againſt Groſthed, wrote a Letter to the King of England, to cauſe his bones to be digged up, and to be caſt out of the Church: whereupon the Biſhop's ghoſt appeared unto him that night, expoſtulated with him, pricked him in the ſide, and haunted him till his death.

The Canons of Lincoln choſe Henry of Lexinton to ſucceed him, who was then Dean of the Church of Lincoln; the King approved of his Election, being Conſecrated ſoon after by Biſhop Boniface beyond the Seas.

Then the King iſſued out a Writ to the Biſhop of Chicheſter to publiſh throughout his Dioceſs the priviledges he had granted to all ſuch, who ſhould croſs themſelves for the holy Land, being the ſame in termes with thoſe, the year before, ſent to the Archbiſhop of York to publiſh, the Writ running in the ſame forme.

p. 82In the 38th. year of King Henry the third, the Archbiſhops and Biſhops having agreed to grant the King a Diſme toward the relief of the holy Land, by advice of the King's Council in Parliament; appointed it to be collected by the Biſhops of Norwich and Chicheſter, and Abbot of Weſtminſter, for which they aſſigned them an annual ſtipend. In Auguſt following, the King iſſued forth Patents to the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, &c. in Ireland, ſpecially to promote this Croyſado and Diſme in Ireland, and to aſſiſt thoſe ſent thither to promote it, whereof one was the Pope's Subdeacon.

The King being in France, iſſued his precept to the Barons of the Exchequer, to iſſue Moneys for the repair of the Church of Weſtminſter, which he intended to have conſecrated before his voyage to the holy Land.

Prynne's Hiſt. Tom. 2.He iſſued Writs to enquire of the real values of the Manors, Lands, Rents, and Revenues of Religious perſons (in nature of Doomſ-day Book) that he might the better improve them when they fell into his hand by vacancies, or deaths of Abbots and Priors, towards the debts he contracted by his forreign Wars.

Matth. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 835.Matthew Paris tells us, of ſtrange forgeries and devices ſet on foot by the Pope and his Agents, to oppreſs the Clergy of England, and involue them in bonds and debts to the Pope and King (who ſerved each others turns) and that by the treachery of the Biſhop of Hereford and and others to ingratiate themſelves with both. And the Biſhop of Hereford and Ruſtand, the Pope's Legate, oppreſſed the Clergy of England that year 1254. and great complaints were made againſt them.

The King being unable by his abſence to be perſonally preſent at the Feaſt of St. Edward at Weſtminſter, which he annually conſecrated, conſtituted ſeveral perſons to ſolemnize this Feaſt, and make Offerings, Proceſſions, and give almes in his ſtead, and commanded the Pariſhoners of St. Margaret, and the Londoners to go to Weſtminſter in Proceſſion with Wax Tapers, and other formalities for the honour of this Saint and holy-day.

The King in the 39th. year of his Reign ſent a pious Writ to the Ciſtercians and other Abbots in their general Aſſembly, to make a ſpecial devout Prayer unto God for him, his Queen and Children.

The Biſhop Elect of Winton having forcibly and unjuſtly by his power deprived the Prior of Winton, and thruſt another into his place without his due Election, the deprived Prior thereupon Appealed to the Pope and Court of Rome, where he expected to be reſtored with great confidence: but to ſhew how much more prevalent Money then was in that corrupt Court than Juſtice; this intruder was confirmed, and he returned after great expence fruſtrate of his expectation, having ſome Manors aſſigned him for his ſupport during life, out of which the Pope had an annual penſion of 365. Marks to ſupport his Table.

p. 83The Jews of Lincoln having crucified a Chriſtian Child, to the great diſhonour and diſgrace of Jeſus Chriſt, the King appointed ſpecial Juſtices, diligently to enquire of, and ſeverely to puniſh, this grand offence, by his Patent and Commiſſion.

The King this year, fearing ſome deſigns againſt him from Rome, iſſued a Writ to the Barons and Bailiffs of Dover, and to the Wardens of the Cinque-ports, not to permit any Clerks to paſs out of their reſpective Ports beyond the Seas, unleſs he would firſt take an Oath, that if he went to the Court of Rome, he ſhould demand nor require nothing againſt the King's Crown and Dignity, nor the Pope's grant or Ordinance concerning the Realm of Sicily. And the King, by his Letters Patents, conſtituted two diſtinct Proctors in the Court of Rome, concerning the affairs of the Kingdom of Sicily, and other occaſions there to be tranſacted.

The Pope had a greater ſhare in the Diſme than the King, who could diſpoſe of none of it, but by His and Ruſtand's conſents. He likewiſe iſſued his Mandate to the Sheriff of Kent, to provide a ſpeedy paſſage at Dover for Ruſtand the Pope's Agent, and to defray the charges of it, which ſhould be allowed him.

The King underſtanding the Archbiſhop's and Biſhops deſignes, intended to be proſecuted in a Council of the Biſhops of his Province, which Archbiſhop Boniface had convocated, againſt his Crown, Dignity, Courts, Judges, &c. Prohibited him and them to meet therein, under pain of forfeiting their Temporalties. The Archbiſhop and Biſhops notwithſtanding theſe Writs, met and proceeded in their Convocation, in a very preſumptuous manner, as thoſe fifty Articles then drawn up, and tendered to the King, and their Papal decrees in purſuit of them, will moſt evidently demonſtrate. They were tendered to the King, by the Archbiſhops and Biſhops, for which they reſolved to contend to the uttermoſt.

Theſe Conſtitutions are collected and Printed in John de Aton, quoting Lindewood, who cites and gloſſeth upon moſt of them under ſeveral Titles, in the Margin of every one of them, where you may peruſe them with his Canonical gloſs. Theſe were made Anno Dom. 1261.

What Procurations the Archbiſhop of Meſſana (arrived in England this year, as the Pope's Legate) exacted and extorted from the Biſhops and Abbots with great violence and what injuries the Archbiſhop of Canterbury did to the Biſhop of Rocheſter, you may read in Matthew Paris.

The King and his Council reſolving to baniſh the Poictovin Clergy-men out of the Nation, and not to impriſon them in England, iſſued a Writ to the Conſtables of the Caſtles of Winton and Dover, of the baniſhment and tranſportation, of the Archdeacon of Winton, out of the Realm, and to ſee he carried away no Moneys with him.

p. 84In the 42 year of this King, the Friers Minorites ſent a Petition to King Henry to confirm their intruſion, into St. Edmonds, by his ſecond Charter, not deeming the Pope's Bull they had got ſufficient, which the Abbots and Monks contemned and ſet at naught.

The King to ſatisfie the Pope's demands, and the eaſier to get in the Diſmes the Pope had granted him to gain Sicily, which the Archbiſhop, Biſhops, and Religious Perſons in England refuſed to pay, aſſigned thirty thouſand Marks thereof to the Pope.

Godfry de Kimeton, Dean of York, was elected Archbiſhop of that See, and forced to travel to Rome for his Confirmation.

Fulco Biſhop of London died of the Plague, and Wengham then Chancellor of England, notwithſtanding his inſufficiency, and want of learning and Knowledge, in Divinity, procured Letters Patents from King Henry by advice of his Council (in imitation of the Pope's Commendae's, then grown very common) to hold and retain all his former Eccleſiaſtical Dignities and Benefices, whereof the King was Patron, together with his Biſhoprick, for ſo long time as the Pope ſhould pleaſe to grant him a diſpenſation: whoſe diſpenſation alone would not bar the King to preſent to thoſe Dignities and Benefices, being all void in Law, by making him a Biſhop. He had the like Patent to retain his Benefices and Eccleſiaſtical preferments in Ireland. This is the firſt Patent of a Commenda retinere, granted by the King to any Biſhop Elect,The firſt Patent of a Commenda retinere, granted by the King to any Biſhop elect. ſaith Mr. Prynne, being made by the advice of his Lords and Judges, which makes it more conſiderable.

The King in the 44th year of his Reign iſſued a Writ to the Barons of Dover, and other Ports, to ſearch for, and apprehend all Italian Clerks and Lay-men, and all others that ſhould bring any Bulls from Rome, prejudicial to him and his Realm, and not to permit any to arrive with Horſe and Armes in the Realm, without his ſpecial Licenſe; and to arreſt all ſuch as ſhould there Land, till they received further order from him

The Biſhop of St. David's and his Clerks complaining to the King how much the priviledges of their Churches, Monaſteries, Houſes, Goods, and Perſons, were violated in Wales, in an hoſtile manner, throughout his Dioceſs, iſſued out a Writ and Prohibition to his Officers for their future protection and indemnity againſt ſuch injuries and oppreſſions.

Boniface, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, being an Alien, and forced to fly out of the Kingdom by the Barons, was, upon a Treaty between the King and his Barons, permitted to return into England upon certain conditions.

The King and the Barons having by common conſent, entred into Articles of Agreements under their hands, and referred themſelves therein to the determination of the French King, or the Pope's Legate, the p. 85King thereupon conſtituted three Proctors, to conclude and conſent on his behalf, to whatever ſhould be therein agreed, ſubmitting himſelf to the Legate's Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures and Excommunication to compell him to the performance thereof.

During the Wars between the King and his Barrons, diverſe Vicars and Parſons deſirous to reſide upon their Cures, ſo as they might be protected from violence therein, the King thereupon granted protections to thoſe who deſired them.

An Oxford Jew, having in contempt of Chriſt and Chriſtian Religion, in a ſolemn Proceſſion there held by the Univerſity, caſt down and broken the Crucifix carried before them, and eſcaping; and the Jews not producing his Body as the King ordered them; the King thereupon commanded the Sheriff of Oxford, by ſeveral Writs to ſeize the Bodies and Goods of all the Jews in Oxford, till they gave ſufficient ſecurity, at their proper coſts, to erect a beautifull high Marble Croſs, with the Images of Chriſt on the one ſide, and the Virgin Mary with Chriſt in her Armes on the other ſide, curiouſly and decently guilt, and the cauſe thereof engraven on it, in the place where the offence was committed, calling the Major of the Town and Cofferers of the Jews to his aſſiſtance; and till they made and delivered to the Proctors of the Univerſity another portable Croſs of Silver handſomly guilded, with a Spear as large as that carried before the Archbiſhop to be carryed before the Maſters and Scholars of the Univerſity in their future proceſſions. And becauſe diverſe Jewes, to prevent it, had ſecretly convayed away their goods to others, to enquire diligently after ſuch goods and ſell them; that the work might be ſpeedily effected before St. Edwards Feaſt.

The Money hereupon being levyed of the Jews, to make theſe Croſſes, and the King being informed, that the Marble-croſs could not be erected in the place preſcribed, without damage and prejudice to ſome Burgeſſes of Oxford, whereupon they purpoſed to erect it juſt over againſt the Jews Synagogue there: The King and his Council conceiving that place inconvenient, ordered it to be ſet up within the place of Merton Colledge, near the Church; and the other portable Croſs to be delivered to the Scholars thereof, to be kept in their Houſe, and carried in Proceſſions of the Univerſity, as aforeſaid.

Of the Diſmes granted to the King by the Pope,Parker. Antiqu. Eccleſ. Britan. p. 194. the King had uſually the leaſt ſhare; the Pope, the Cardinals, and Legates, ſwallowing up the greateſt part of them, as the Learned Archbiſhop Matthew Parker hath obſerved.

Boniface, the Military Archbiſhop of Canterbury, died beyond the Seas; Anno Dom. 1271. when he had reaped the profits of that See, and pillaged that Province twenty ſix years, ſix moneths, and ſixteen dayes; moſt of which he ſpent in Wars and negotiations beyond the Seas, and never Preached one Sermon all that time, for ought we find. That p. 86year there was ſo great an inundation of Rain at Canterbury, ſuch Lightening and Tempeſt, as had not been ſeen nor heard for a long time: The Thunder was dreadful, and continued a whole day and night, and ſuch an inundation of Water followed, that it overthrew Stones, Vines, and Trees, Cattel were drowned, and much Corn ſpoiled; and the City was ſo over-flown, that Men nor Horſes could paſs. After this Flood, there followed a great Famine, and the Plague ſwept away many in the City and Countrey round about.

Mr. Fox relates, That a little before King Henry's death, there fell out a controverſie between the Monks and Citizens of Norwich, about certain Tallages and Liberties, that after much altercation and wrangling words, the furious rage of the Citizens ſo much encreaſed, that they ſet upon the Abbey and Priory, and burned both the Church and Biſhop's Palace. At the laſt King Henry calling for certain of his Lords and Barons, ſent them to Norwich, that they might puniſh, and ſee Execution done on the chiefeſt Malefactors; ſome of them were condemned and burnt; and ſome were drawn by the heeles with Horſes through the Streets of the City, and ſo in much miſery ended their lives. King Henry having in his company the Biſhop of Ro…heſter, and the Earl of Gloceſter, followed his Juſtice Thomas Trivet to Norwich. The Biſhop having Excommunicated all who conſented to this wickedneſs, and the Judge Executed the nocent; the King condemned the Town in three thouſand Marks of Silver, to be paid by a day, toward the repairing of the Church ſo burnt, and alſo to pay one hundred pounds in Silver, toward the repair of a Cup ariſing to twenty pounds in Gold. He returning thence towards London, fell grievouſly ſick at the Abbey of St. Edmonds in Suffolk, where after he had in a Religious manner acknowledged his ſins, he rendered up the ſame to his Redeemer, when he had reigned fifty ſix years and twenty dayes.

A Prince (writes Speed) whoſe devotion was greater than his diſcretion, as we ſee, in permitting the depredation of himſelf, and his whole Kingdom, by Papal overſwayings.

After the Death and Funeral of King Henry (who was Buried at Weſtminſter Church, Founded and almoſt finiſhed by him) Prince Edward his Son, being at that time in the holy Land, where he obtained many notable Victories againſt the Saracens: Who thereupon ſuborned an Aſſaſſinate to kill him, under pretext of delivering a Meſſage to him from the Soldan of Babylon, who ſtabbed him into the Body with a poiſoned Knife,Thomas Walſingham. Matth. Weſtm. to the hazard of his Life; his Nobles notwithſtanding his remote abſence, were ſo Loyal as to Proclaim him King, and Swear Fealty and Allegiance to him, as their Sovereign Lord. They ſent out Writs whereby they Proclaimed the King's peace: They firſt of them were directed to all the Sheriffs of England, to Proclaim in their reſpective p. 87Coun…ies: the other to the King's chief Juſtice of Ireland, to be there Proclaimed, who, with others, was authorized likewiſe to receive the Fealty, as well of all the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Clergy, as Nobles and other Lay-ſubjects in Ireland, due unto him as their King and Sovereign Lord.

In the third year of this King's Reign Walter de Merton, Biſhop of Rocheſter and Chancellor of England, finiſhed the Colledge of his own Name in Oxford. This Walter de Merton, was one of the Guardians of the Realm in the King's abſence.

A Writ was iſſued to Lewellin Prince of Wales, requiring an Oath of Fealty from him to King Edward, as his Sovereign Lord; and two Abbots thereby made Commiſſioners to receive his Oath, who refuſed to appear, or give any anſwer to them. The Abbots made a ſpecial return of their proceedings therein to the Lord Chancellor.

The firſt thing this King and his Council did, was to make a publick Declaration and Proteſtation againſt Pope Clement the fifth, his late Uſurpation, who a little before King Henry his death, had, by his Papal Proviſions, conferred the Biſhoprick of Winton on John d… Pontiſſera, and the Archbiſhoprick of Canterbury upon Robert Kilwardby, without the King's precedent Licenſe, or Monks Election: rejecting William de Chilenden (duly Elected by the Monks of Canterbury by King Henry's Licenſe) that ſo he might Uſurp the diſpoſal of all other Biſhopricks by theſe and other former like Preſidents.

After the death of Pope Clement the fourth, the See of Rome continuing void for two years and ten moneths, by reaſon of the Cardinals diſcord about a Succeſſor: at laſt they Elected Theobald Archdeacon of Leige, Pope, who was with King Edward the firſt, in the holy Land: of him theſe two Verſes were made.

Papatum munus tenet Archidiaconus unus,

Quem Patrem Patrum fecit diſcordia fratrum.

Prince Edward in his return from the holy Land, repaired to this new Pope's Court, his late Chaplain, and fellow-ſouldier, who, at his requeſt, Excommunicated the Murderers of his kinſman Henry, Son and heir to the King of Germany, at Viterbium, and diſinherited ſome of them by his Imperious Decree, till they ſhould come perſonally to Rome, to purge themſelves, or ſubmit to his abſolute order in all things.

This new Pope Gregory, ſent a ſpecial Nuncio into England, under pretext to compel all Eccleſiaſtical Perſons to pay two years Diſmes of their Temporalties, and Eccleſiaſtical Livings, to the King and his Brother, but in truth to himſelf, who converted moſt of it to his own uſe: whereupon ſundry of the Abbots and Clergy of the Realm refuſed to p. 88pay the premiſed Diſme, notwithſtanding the Pope's Nuncio's Excommunications denounced againſt them, contemning his Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures: whereupon the Nuncio wrote to the Chancellor to command the Sheriffs to aſſiſt the Collectors of it by their ſecular power, and levy it by force where there was need. Hereupon the Chauncellor iſſued Writs to all the Sheriffs of England, and ſome others, to aſſiſt the Collectors accordingly.

It ſeems the Biſhop of Winton compounded, and paid a fine of five hundred Marks for his two years Diſmes to the Pope's Collector.

At the ſame time the King wanting Moneys, appointed ſpecial Collectors of the Arrears due upon the Diſmes granted to his Father, by the Pope, towards the relief of the holy Land.

A new Archbiſhop of Dublin, being elected the ſecond year of this King's Reign, who reſided with the Queen of Scots in Scotland, the King, at her ſpecial requeſt, granted him this priviledge, to make Attorneys to appear for him in all his Courts, and to exempt him from all Amercements, for not appearing perſonally in them.

Pope Gregory the tenth, uſurping the Emperor's Sovereign authority, of Summoning general Councils, ſent forth general Letters through every Nation, concerning the gathering together a Council, on May the firſt, at Lyons. Whence it was ſaid of him.

Gregorius denus, Colligit omne genus.

Clauſ. 2. Ed. 1. m. 13. dorſo.What Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, and Clergy-men repaired to this Council by the King's ſpecial Licenſe, who conſtituted Attorneys and Proxies for them in the King's Courts, to ſue and be ſued, during their abſence, may be ſeen in the Records mentioned by Mr. Prynne.

King Edward the firſt, himſelf ſent four ſpecial Proctors to this General Council, to propound, aſſent, or diſſent unto in his Name and behalf, whatever they or either of them ſhould deem fit or expedient. A clear evidence, that He and his Proxies had an affirmative and negative voice in General Councils.

Matthew Weſtminſter renders us an account of the proceedings in this Council, and of the Greek Emperors, Patriarcks, and Biſhops acknowledgement of the Supremacy of the Pope and Church of Rome, over all other Prelates and Churches, as an Article of their Faith, which they never before aſſented to.

The Executors of John Maunſel Treaſurer of York, having, by his laſt Will, aſſigned to the Vicars of St. Peter's in York, a Meſſuage of His in York, to maintain an Anniverſary for his Soul, of which they were afterwards diſpoſſeſſed by others; the King upon complaint thereof, iſſued a Writ of Inquiſition, to examine the truth thereof, and reſtore the ſaid Meſſuage to the Vicars, to maintain the Anniverſary for the ſalvation of John Maunſel's ſoul.

p. 89The next year the King iſſued Commiſſions for the apprehending ſome vagrant and Apoſtate Friers of the Order of St. Auguſtine, who had deſeted their Houſes and Order, to the prejudice of their Souls, and ſcandal of their Order.

King Edward the firſt, made at Weſtminſter at his firſt Parliament General, after his Coronation,Vide Cokes 2. Inſtit. p. 156. 157. on Eaſter-Monday in the third year of his Reign, many exeellent uſeful Statutes, ſome of them relating to the Priviledges and Juriſdiction of the Clergy, controlling ſome Canons of the Pope, formerly uſed to the obſtruction of publick Juſtice.

Soon after the Council of Lions, Pope Gregory the tenth, ſent Reymund de Nogeriis, his Chaplain, as his Nuncio into England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, for certain affairs of the Church, eſpecially to demand and receive from the King eight years Arrears of the annual Tribute, and Peter-pence, then due to the Church of Rome.

The Abbot and Covent of Feverſham being greatly indebted to Merchants and others (by their expences at Rome, and Papal exactions) the King to preſerve Them and their Houſe from ruine, took them, and all their Lands, Moneys, Goods, into his Protection, and committed them to the management of certain perſons for diſcharge of their debts, and neceſſary ſupport. The like Protections were granted, in the ſame form, to the Abbot and Covents of Bordeſley and Byndon the ſame year; and to the Prior and Covent of Thornholm; but the cuſtody of them, their Lands and Goods, to other Perſons.

The Chalices, Books, Ornaments, Goods and Lands of the Hermitage near Cripple-gate, London, being uſually imbezilled for want of good Government and Regulation, the King being Patron thereof committed it to the care and Government of the Lord Major of London, for the time being.

The Chancellor and Univerſity of Oxford, having at their proper coſts founded a Chappelry in the Church of St. Maries, in the midſt of the Town, to pray for the ſafety of the King, his Queen, and Children, Anceſtors, and all their Benefactors; the King highly commending their Piety therein, and endeavouring to promote it, wrote to all the Archbiſhops and Biſhops of England and Ireland, to grant ſome ſpecial Indulgences to all who ſhould reſort to this Chappelry to hear Maſs or Prayers.

The King upon the Petition of the Prior and Covent of Bath, and of the Dean and Chapter of Wells, granted his Licenſe to them to elect a new Biſhop, that See being then void. Upon this Licenſe they Elected Robert Burnel. This Biſhop ſoon after his Conſecration, to end the frequent Controverſies between the King, Abbots of Glaſtonbury, and Biſhops of this See, by conſent of the Dean and Chapter of Wells, and of the Prior and Covent of Bath, exchanged the Patronage of the Abbey of Glaſtonbury, and ſome other rights therein granted to him by former Kings p. 90Patents, for the City of Bath. In purſuit and execution of which exchange, the King iſſued two Parents to the Citizens of Bath, and others, to make Livery and Seiſin thereof to the Biſhop.

The King gave Licenſe, upon the Petition of the Dean and Chapter of Hereford, to Elect a new Biſhop in the place of John Breton after his Deceaſe: and confirmed their Election of Thomas de Cantilupo, and reſtored the Temporalties to him after his Confirmation by the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Pat. 3. Edw. 1.without the Pope's approbation or privity.

This King in the fourth year of his Reign, to prevent the ruine of the Abbey of Redding, iſſued Patents of protection, and regulation of the expences of it, and of the Cell belonging to it, founded by his Anceſtors, committing it's Revenues to certain perſons to defray the Debts thereof.

In the fifth year of his Reign he iſſued a Commiſſion, to enquire of all Chriſtians, who uſed uſury in London and elſe-where, and puniſh them according to Law, by ſeizing their Goods, as a thing unbeſeeming Chriſtians and Chriſtianity.

About the ſame time Walter Broneſcomb, Biſhop of Exeter, and his Officials, cited ſundry of the King's Subjects, and Officers, into his Eccleſiaſtical Courts for Debts and Chattels, that concerned not Matrimony or Teſtament,Godwin. Catal. of Biſh. p. 326.327. and for Treſpaſſes, Free-holds, and other things, of which they had no legal juriſdiction, Excommunicating, and putting them to pecuniary Redemptions, and grievous penalties, and withall exacted illegal Oathes and obligations from them: the King upon the complaints of Edmond, Earl of Cornwall, and his Officers, and of the whole County of Cornwall, of theſe his exorbitances, iſſued a ſpeedy Commiſſion, in the ſixth year of his Reign, to ſome Judges, to enquire of, hear and determine theſe his Exorbitancies and Uſurpations, before whom he was Proſecuted at the King's Suite, to his dammages of 10000 l. which the Biſhop denying in ſome ſort, appealed to the King, Pope, and Court of Rome, from the King's Juſtices: for which his high affront to the King's Crown and Dignity, he was adjudged undefended, ordered to ſatisfie the King his ten thouſand pound dammages; and likewiſe to anſwer his contempt for this his enormous Appeal to the Pope, in affront of the King's Crown and Dignity, before the King and his Council.

In the nineth year of King Edward the firſt, John Peckham, Frater Johan. Peckham, Cantuarienſis Epiſcopus ne nihil feciſſe videretur convocat Concilium apud Lambeth, in quo non Evangelii Regni Dei praedicationem impoſuit, ſed Constitutiones Othonis & Ottobonis quondam Legatorum in Angliâ innovans, juſſit eas ab omnibas ſervari, &c. Thomas Walſingham in Edw. 1.Archbiſhop of Canterbury, held a Council at Lambeth with his Suffragans, of which Thomas Walſingham, and others, render us this account. Frier John Peckham, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, leaſt he might ſeem to have p. 91done nothing, calleth a Council at Lambeth, in which he impoſed not the Preaching of the Goſpel of the Kingdom of God, but innovating the Conſtitutions of Otto and Ottobon, ſometimes Legates in England, commanded them to be obſerved of all. Moreover, he made ſixteen Eccleſiaſtical Laws, which are contained among the Provincial Conſtitutions.

The King ſuſpecting the Archbiſhops and Biſhops Loyalty, and proceedings in this their Council, ſent a Writ to them, ſtrictly commanding them upon their Oaths of Fealty they had all taken, to be faithful to him, and defend his Crown and Royal Dignity in all things, to their Power; to obſerve this their Oath therein with all diligence, and not to act, agitate, or aſſent to any thing againſt him, or the ancient Rights of the Crown enjoyed by his Progenitors, under pain of loſing all their Temporalties.

But how far this Archbiſhop and his Suffragans were from obeying this Royal Mandate, will appear by the Prologue to their Canons and Conſtitutions made therein, wherein they highly extol Thomas Becket, as a moſt glorious Martyr, for oppoſing the antient Rights of the Crown, as inconſiſtent with the Churches pretended Liberties, and revived and confirmed the Conſtitutions of Archbiſhop Boniface and his Suffragans, (againſt which the King had ſolemnly Appealed to the Pope, as prejudicial to the Rights, Priviledges, Cuſtoms, Liberties of his Crown) by ſeveral Canons made therein, and the Excommunications re-publiſhed in it:Vide Pryn. in Edw. 1. but more eſpecially by the Archbiſhop's inſolent Epiſtle to the King, in anſwer to this his Royal Inhibition and Mandate ſent unto them.

Archbiſhop Peckham (Magnus & robuſtus Antichriſti ſatelles, as John Bale not improperly ſtiles him) in his Epiſtle to the King, juſtifies what they had done: wherein he advanceth the Eccleſiaſtical and Papal Juriſdiction, Power, Laws, Canons, far above the Regal, to which all Princes and Temporal Laws ought to ſubmit.

Sundry Canons and Converts of the Order of Sempingham, this year, turning Apoſtates, and deſerting their Houſes in diverſe Priories of that Order, to the ſcandal of their Profeſſion, the King upon complaint iſſued a Writ to apprehend and puniſh them for it, and to deliver ſuch of them who were then apprehended, to thoſe of that Order to be chaſtiſed.

The King to prevent the imbezilling of the Rents, Chalices, Books,Pat. 9. Edw. 1. Veſtments, Images, Relikes, Charters, and Bulls of the Hermitage by Criple-gate, granted the cuſtody thereof, in his Name, to the Conſtable of the Tower for the time being.

This year the King recited and confirmed the antient Charter of King John to the Nuns of Ambresbury.

The King to advance Learning, and for the good of the Church, Prieſthood, and Common-wealth, gave his Royal aſſent for tranſlating p. 92the Friers of the Hoſpital of St. John in Cambridge, into a Colledge of Scholars, after the pattern and Rules of Merton Colledge in Oxford.

The Archbiſhop this year, to ſupply, his occaſions, entred into ſeveral recognizances to the Biſhops of Bath, and of Coventry and Litchfield, two wealthy Prelates and great Uſurers.

Pope Nicholas the third deceaſing, Anno 1280. and Pope Martin the fourth ſucceeding, he in the firſt year of his Papacy ſent two Friers into England, intending by his Agents, and Forreign Merchants, to export or return out of England the ſix years Diſmes therein collected, and retained for Aid of the holy Land, granted in the general Council of Lyons, and convert them to his own or other uſes; King Edward upon notice hereof, to reſerve the Moneys for his Brother's expedition to the holy Land, and ſupply the preſent exigences for defence of the Kingdom, iſſued out a Writ to prohibit Merchants, or others, under pain of loſs of Life and Member, and all their Goods and Chattels, to export or convay the ſaid Diſmes, or any part thereof, out of the Realm, and to impriſon all ſuch who did the contrary, to the Pope's great diſappointment.

In the tenth year of King Edward the firſt, Pope Martin ſent a Bull to the King, to require his Favour to, and Protection of the Monks of the Order of Cluny, whoſe piety he highly extolled.

The King now and then during the vacancy of Biſhopricks, diſpoſed of ſome of their Stocks to others.

The Biſhoprick of Durham becoming void by the death of Robert de Inſula, Anthony Beck being elected Biſhop by the King's Licenſe, and Confirmed and Conſecrated Biſhop thereof by Wickwane Archbiſhop of York, Pat. 11. Ed. 1.in St. Peter's Church of York, the King, Queen, and moſt of the Nobles of England being preſent; the King iſſued out Writs for the reſtitution of his Temporalties, and the ſtock thereon, which he bought of the King.

Richard Swinſled being elected and Confirmed Biſhop of Hereford, by the King's Licenſe and aſſent, he iſſued a Writ to reſtore his Temporalties.

John Peckham, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, reſolved to viſit all his Provinces more accurately, and puniſh offenders more ſeverely than in former times, to prevent all obſtructions by Appeals to Rome. In this Viſitation (ſaith Mr. Prynne) he domineered over his whole Province, and ſubjugated it to his arbitrary Power, which none of his Predeceſſors had attempted,Vide Spelm. Concil. Tom. 2. p. 343. much leſs effected, till then. Having viſited England, he paſſed by Cheſter into Wales, Anno 1284. to reform the ſtate of the Church. In this Viſitation he made and publiſhed a Decree, what Ornaments of Churches the Pariſhoners ſhould provide and pay for, and what the Prieſts or Incumbents.

p. 93King Edward in the twelfth year of his Reign iſſued Warrants for the payment of two years Arrears of 1000 Marks for England and Ireland, granted by King John, then due and demanded by the Pope; as likewiſe for payment of ſeveal arrears of penſions he had granted to Cardinals and others.

The Archbiſhop of Canterbury, having interdicted ſome of the Tenants belonging to the Abbey of Fiſcan in England, the Abbot thereupon Appealed to Rome againſt him, and likewiſe to the King againſt this oppreſſion, deſiring his favour, that no Proceſs might iſſue out of his Court againſt them, and that he might conſtitute Attorneys in this Caſe, ſince he could not come into England without great damage to his houſe.

The King this year conſtituted a ſpecial Proctor for three years, by Patent, to defend the Rights and Liberties of his free Chappels and Crown, againſt all Papal and Epiſcopal invaders and oppoſers of them.

The King ſeizing the Advouſons of ſeveral Churches in Wales, as forfeited by their Patrons Rebellions againſt him, gave them to the Biſhop of St. David's, with power to appropriate them to his Church of St. David's, and Lekadeken (Lancaden) and make, or annex them to Prebendaries there. Hereupon the Biſhop of St. Davids, by his Charter, with conſent and approbation of the King, and his Dean and Chapter, made and erected a new Collegiate Church of Canons in Lan Caden in Wales, conſtituted ſeveral Canons and Prebendaries therein, annexing and appropriating the forecited Churches thereunto, the Patronages whereof were granted him by the King, who ſet his Seal to the Biſhop's Charter, and ratified it with his own Charter, to make it valid in Law.

In the year 1285. a Parliament at Weſtminſter laid down the limits, and fixed the boundaries, betwixt the Spiritual and Temporal juriſdictions.

The King having totally ſubdued the Welſh, the Archbiſhoprick of York becomming void, by the death of William Wickwane Archbiſhop thereof, the King applied the profits thereof during the vacancy, towards the building of Caſtles in Wales, to ſecure it.

This year Stephen Biſhop of Waterford, was made chief Juſtice of Ireland.

In the fifteenth year of this King, Henry de Branceſton was elected and confirmed Biſhop of Sarum. The King granted and confirmed to the Biſhop of Bangor, and his Succeſſors, all the Rights, Liberties, Poſſeſſions, and Cuſtomes, they had formerly uſed and enjoyed.

In the ſixteenth year of this King's Reign, Gilbert de Sancto Leofardo, was elected, and confirmed Biſhop of Chicheſter, by the King's Royal aſſent.

This year there was a great conteſt between the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and the Abbot of St. Auguſtines, about the carrying up his croſs.

p. 94Firſt, The Abbot oppoſed the bearing up his own Croſs before him in the Monaſtery of St. Auguſtines, even within his own Metropolis and See of Canterbury, when ſpecially ſent for thither to dine with the King.

Secondly, Obſerve the Archbiſhop's pride and obſtinacy, in refuſing to ſubſcribe ſuch a Letter, as the King directed, to reconcile this difference, and preſerve the Abbot's Privildges, or repair to the King, without his Croſs carried before him; together with his malice againſt the Abbot and Covent, for not admitting him to carry up his Croſs within their Monaſtery.

Pat. 17. Ed. 1.Biſhop Godwin obſerves, That from the year 1284. the See of Salisbury had five Biſhops within the ſpace of five years, whereof William de Comer (as he ſtiles him) was the fourth. But Mr. William de Corner was his name, as the King's Writ for reſtoring of his Temporalties, together with the Patent of the King's Royal aſſent to his election, aſſure us.

The King having Conquered Wales, confirmed all the antient Rights, Liberties, Poſſeſſions, and Cuſtomes of the Church of Aſaph, to the preſent Biſhop and his Succeſſors, which they formerly uſed and enjoyed, and that he might freely make his Teſtament.

Pope Nicholas the fourth, being ſetled in his Pontifical Chair, in the firſt year of his Papacy, ſent a Bull to King Edward the firſt, to demand five years Arrears of the Annual penſion of one thouſand Marks, granted by King John. The King hereupon, the better to promote his couſin Charles to the Realm of Sicily, and expedite his own affairs in the Court of Rome, concerning a diſpenſation for his Son, to Marry the heir of the Crown of Scotland, and other buſineſs touching Gaſcoign and France (for which he had then ſent ſpecial Ambaſſadors to Rome, with Letters both to the Pope and Cardinals) iſſued a Writ for the payment of theſe five years Arrears accordingly. Mr. Prynne ſaith, That this was the laſt payment made by King Edward the first, of this Annual penſion.

The Pope upon receipt hereof, granted a diſpenſation to the King's Son, Prince Edward, to Marry with the heir of the Crown of Scotland, thereby to unite theſe two Crowns and Kingdomes, and prevent the long bloody Wars between them, though within the prohibited degrees of Conſanguinity.

King Edward, upon the receipt of this Diſpenſation, ſent Letters and Proxies to Ericus King of Norway, and likewiſe to the Guardians of the Realm of Scotland, to conſummate this Marriage, upon diverſe Articles and agreements.

King Edward likewiſe to perfect the Marriage between his Son, Prince Edward, and Margaret Queen of Scots, with the general approbation of the Keepers, Nobles, and Natives of that Realm, granted and ratified p. 95to the Nobles and People of Scotland diverſe Articles, agreed on by ſpecial Commiſſioners ſent on both ſides, and approved by him, by Letters, under his great Seal, which he took an Oath to obſerve, under the penalty of forfeiting one hundred thouſand pounds to the Church of Rome, towards the holy Wars,Pat. 8. Edw. 1. m. 8. and ſubjecting himſelf to the Pope's Excommunication, and his Kingdom to an Interdict, in caſe of Violation, or Non-performance, as the Patent atteſteth, enrolled both in French and Latine.

The King, after this, appointed the Biſhop of Durham, to be this Queen Margaret's, and his Son Prince Edward's, Lieutennant in Scotland, for the preſervation of the Peace and Government thereof. At which time he and his Son likewiſe conſtituted Proctors to Treat with the King of Norway in his, and his Son Edward's, Name, concerning his Sons Marriage, and Eſpouſals, with his Daughter Margaret Queen of Scotland. To facilitate this Marriage, the Biſhop of Durham, at the King's requeſt, obliged himſelf to pay four hundred pounds by the year, to certain perſons in Norway; to diſcharge which annuity, the King granted him ſeveral Manors amounting to a greater value.

But the ſickneſs and death of this Queen, in her voyage toward Scotland and England, fruſtrated this, much deſired, Marriage between Prince Edward and her, and raiſed new queſtions between the Competitors for the Crown.

Thomas Walſingham ſaith, That about this time (the Pope requiring it) the Churches of England were taxed according to their true value, to raiſe his Diſmes and exactions higher.

In the ſame year 1290. the King, out of his zeal to Chriſtian Religion, baniſhed all the Jews out of England, by a publick Act in Parliament,The Jews baniſhed out of England by Act of Parliament. and Confiſcated all their Houſes and Lands, for their Infidelity, Blaſphemy, Crucifying of Children, in contempt of Chriſt Crucified, and clipping of his Coyn. In Auguſt they were commanded to depart the Land, with their Wives and Children, between that time and the Feaſt of all Saints, with their moveable Goods.

Their number was ſaid to be ſixteen thouſand five hundred and eleven, they were baniſhed, never to return again into England.

There hapning many conteſts between the Biſhop of Lincoln, and the Maſters and Scholars of the Univerſity of Oxford, concerning the Preſentation and Confirmation of their Chancellor, whether he ought to come out of the Univerſity in Perſon to the Biſhop, or to be admitted by his Proxies: the King by his Prerogative to advance Learning, and ſettle Peace between them, made a friendly accord for the future.

Pope Nicholas preferring his own lucre, and favour of King Edward and his Chaplains, before God's Service, or Peoples Souls, againſt ſundry Canons, Licenſed twenty of the King's Clerks imployed in his p. 96ſervice, which he ſhould nominate to be Non-reſidents from their Eccleſiaſtical Benefices for ten years ſpace.

This year the King confirmed the grant of ſeveral Tithes, Churches, and Advouſons, formerly made by Robert de Candos to the Monaſtery of Bek and Goldclive.

Then Peter de Divion, Abbot of Rewley, an Alien, born in France, and moſt Abbots and Priors that were Aliens, took an Oath, and gave ſufficient Pledges for their Fidelity and true Allegeance to the King in that Age (eſpecially in time of War) and not to ſend the Goods of their Monaſteries out of the Realm, which they frequently did to the Kingdoms prejudice. The King iſſuing a Dedimus potestatem to the Abbot of Thame to take this Oath of Peter de Divion, the Abbot endorſed this return thereon.

Ego Frater Johannes, Abbas de Thame, virtute iſtius Mandati, recepi Sacramentum Dom. Petri de Divione, Abbatis de Regali loco juxta Oxon. apud Oxon. Dominica in feſto Apoſtolorum Simonis & Judae: & etiam recepi Manucaptores ipſius Domini Petri Abbatis de Regali loco, viz. Johannem de Doclynton Majorem Villae Oxon. Johannem de Crokesford Juniorem, Ricardum Cary, Johannem de Fallee, & Johannem le Peyntour, Burgenſis dictae Villae Oxon. Qui conjunctim & diviſim manuceperunt dictum Dom. Petrum Abbatem de Regali loco, quod idem Abbas bene & fideliter erga dominum Regem ſe habebit; & omnia alia in Brevi isto contenta perficiet & obſervabit.

The King granted two hundred pounds to the Pope's Chaplain in Scotland for his expences, pains, and labour therein taken in the ſervice of Queen Margaret deceaſed.

The ſame year William de Luda was elected and confirmed Biſhop of Ely. This year the King gave ſeveral ſums of Money to buy Books and Ornaments for Religious Houſes, that were burnt in Gaſcoign and England.

The King converted the Profits of the Archbiſhoprick of York (then void) to the repairing and building the Caſtle of Carnarvan in Wales, after his Conqueſt thereof.

Parker de Antiqu. Eccleſ. Anglic. f. 205. Anno 1290.Matthew Parker, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, ſtorieth, that John Peckham, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, this year, after the viſitation and ſubjugation of his whole Province, ſummoned a Council of his Clergy at Reding, wherein he propounded the drawing of all cauſes concerning Advouſons, meerly belonging to the King's Temporal, to their Eccleſiaſtical Courts, and to cut off all Prohibitions to them from the King's Courts in perſonal Cauſes. Which the King hearing of, expreſly commanded them by ſpecial Meſſengers, to deſiſt from it, whereupon this Council was diſſolved.

In the nineteenth year of King Edward the Firſt, Queen Eleanor deceaſing in December, the King thereupon out of his devotion (according p. 97to the practice of that blind Age) on January the fourth, iſſued a Writ to all the Religious Houſes and Monks of Cluny in England, to ſing Maſſes and Prayers for her Soul, to purge it from all the remaining ſpots of ſin, and to certifie him the number of the Maſſes they would ſay for her, that proportionably he might thank them.

William Thorn ſaith, that the Prior of Christ-church in Canterbury granted to the King, in the Feaſt of the Tranſlation of St. Edward, fifty Hymns, and two thouſand three hundred and fifty Maſſes for the Souls of his Progenitors, and Queens of England, as a great extraordinary Liberality and Spiritual Alms. The Abbot of Condam alſo ſent a Letter to the King, to inform him, what Prayers, Maſſes, and Anniverſaries, He, and his Monaſtery, had ordered for the Queens ſpeedy tranſlation to Heavenly Joyes.

Anno 1292. died John Peckham, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and Pope Nicholas alſo died, who ſate four years, one month, and eighteen dayes, after whoſe death, one delivered this Verſe for an Epitaph.

Gloria, laus, ſpeculum fratrum Nicolae Minorum,

Te vivente vigent, te moriente cadunt.

The Frier Minors pride, inſolency, and avarice was great while they lived, who were both of their Order. Archbiſhop Peckham's death this year, put a period to the Conteſts between him, and the Abbot of St. Auguſtines.

King Edward in the twentieth year of his Reign, out of his blind devotion, and love to his late deceaſed Conſort, Queen Eleanor, inſtituted a ſolemn Anniverſary to be kept for her every year, Iſſuing ſums of Money, and granting ſeveral Manors, and Lands to the Abbot and Covent of Weſtminſter for that end,Clauſ. 20. Edw. 1. wherein he preſcribed how many Tapers, and of what weight, they ſhould find; how many and what Maſſes, Dirges, Pater-noſters, Ave-Maries they ſhould ſing; and what Alms they ſhould diſtribute to the poor for her Soul; obliging the Abbot, Prior, and Monks by a ſolemn Oath duly to perform the ſame, under pain of forfeiting all their Goods, Chattels, and the Lands thus given to them for this end.

Anthony, Biſhop of Durham, erecting the Pariſh-Churches of Cheſter, and Langecheſter, which were very rich and large, into a Deanary and ſeven Prebendaries, for the advancing of God's Service, and the good of the peoples Souls, and obliging the Dean and Prebends by Oath, to perſonal Reſidence thereon, and diſcharge of their duties and God's Service therein, according as he had preſcribed by his Ordinances and Charters. The King to promote God's Service, and the good of his Peoples Souls, ratified the Biſhop's Ordinances by two Charters which recite them, warranting the diviſion of great and rich Pariſhes and Biſhopricks p. 98into many; and obliging the Dean, Prebends, Miniſters, Chaplains thereof, by Oath, to perſonal Reſidence, and diſcharge of their Duties, and Divine offices therein.

John Lythgraines, and Alice his Wife, erecting a Chappel and Chauntry to the Virgin Mary in their Manor of Laſingby, conſiſting of one Maſter and ſix Chaplains, to ſing Maſs for their Souls, and the Souls of their Anceſtors, and of King Edward and his Heirs, of the preſent Biſhop of Durham and his Succeſſors, and of all faithful Souls deceaſed, preſcribing an Oath to them of perpetual Reſidence, and diſcharge of the particular Divine Services, and truſts repoſed in them, procured the King to ratifie this his Charter,Chart. 20 Ed. 1. n. 5. by his Royal Charter enrolled in the Tower.

King Edward the Firſt, in the twenty one year of his Reign, as Superiour Lord of Scotland in that Age, exerciſed a Soveraign Authority, in and over the King, Clergy, and Kingdom of Scotland, in Cauſes and Inheritances which concerned the Church, Clergy, or Religious Perſons, as well as in Secular mens caſes, notwithſtanding any Pretences, or Appeals to Rome, where Juſtice was delayed, or refuſed to them by the King of Scots, whereof there are ſundry Preſidents in the Patent, and Plea-Rolls of Scotland in this and ſucceeding years.

Robert Winchelſey, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was no ſooner conſecrated at Rome, Vid. Godw. Catal. p. 427.but he procured a Bull from Pope Celestine the Fifth, by his Papal proviſion to confer the Biſhoprick of Landaff (which had been void for nine years ſpace, and thereby devolved to the Pope by lapſe, as he pretended) on any Perſon he ſhould think meet for that employment. Whereupon, without the King's previous Authority, he conferred it, by way of proviſion, upon John de Monmouth. Yet the King was not forward to reſtore the Temporalties of the Archbiſhoprick of Canterbury to this Archbiſhop, or of Landaff to John de Monmouth, thus intruded into it againſt his Prerogative, but detained them near two years after in his hands as vacant, receiving the profits, and preſenting to the Benefices belonging to them.

Upon the death of Robert Burnel, Biſhop of Bath and Wells, the King's Chancellor, William de Marchia (then Treaſurer of England) was elected to ſucceed him in that Biſhoprick.

This year John de Langton ſucceeded Robert Burnel in the Chancellors Office of England.

The King in the twenty two year of his Reign, notwithſtanding a Subſidy granted to him,Matth. Weſtm. wanting Moneys, ſearched all the Monaſteries and Churches throughout England, where any Moneys were depoſited by Religious perſons or others, and forcibly carried it away to ſupply his occaſions, by the advice of his Treaſurer William de Marchia, Biſhop of Bath and Wells.

p. 99The ſame year the King granted Protections to divers Abbots and Clergy-men, who aided him with their Contributions againſt the French. He alſo deſired the aſſiſtance of their devout Prayers unto God for a bleſſing upon him and his Military Forces, in defence of his Inheritance againſt their armed Powers, as appears by his Writs, under his Privy Seal, iſſued to his Biſhops, and other Religious perſons.

John Duke of Brabant (the King's dear Friend and Kinſman) dying this year, the King iſſued Writs to all his Biſhops, and ſundry Abbots and Priors, to make Prayers, and chaunt Maſſes for him, according to the ſuperſtition of that Age.

Then the Roman See (through the Cardinals diviſions) continuing void about three years and three months after the deceaſe of Pope Nicholas the Fourth, the Cardinals at laſt elected Peter de Murone, an Hermite, and Monk of the Order of St. Benedict, whom they named Celeſtine the Fifth. He, during his ſhort continuance in the Papacy, granted our King Edward the Firſt a Diſme for ſeven years from all the Clergy of England, out of zeal to the relief of the Holy Land. But his Wars with the French, Welch-men and Scots, waſted all theſe Diſmes, Pope Celeſtine in the month of September created twelve Cardinals, among whom were two Hermits. But the Cardinals being weary of this preciſe, reforming Pope, perſwaded him to reſign his Papacy, as being unfit to manage it without the Churches ruine, and his own deſtruction. So after he had ſate five months and ſeven dayes, he reſigned the Papacy. Then Benedict Cajetan, his grand Counſellor, was choſen Pope, and called by the name of Boniface. How unſutable, yea contradictory, his actions were to both his good names, he immediately diſcovered, which occaſioned this Diſtich to be made of, and applied to him.

Audi, tace, lege, bene dic, bene fac Benedicte,

Aut haec perverte, male dic, male fac, Maledicte.

Celeſtine returned to his Cell, from whence Boniface drew him forth, and caſt him into a cloſe Priſon, where he abode till his death; whence it is reported, that Celeſtine prophecied of him, Aſcendiſti ut Vulpes, Regnabis ut Leo, Morieris ut Canis, Thou haſt aſcended into the Papacy like a Fox, thou ſhalt reign like a Lion, and die like a Dog: and ſo it came to paſs.

This Pope Boniface by his Bull having appropriated the Church of Wermington to the Abby of Peterburgh, whereof they had the Patronage, the King authorized them accordingly to appropriate it to them and their Succeſſors, againſt him and his Heirs, notwithſtanding the Statute of Mortmain.

p. 100This Pope ſent two Cardinal Legats a latere, firſt to the King of France, and from him to the King of England, then engaged in Wars againſt each other, under a ſpecious pretext of mediating a Truce between England and France: but inſtead thereof theſe Cardinals did twice prey upon the Engliſh and Iriſh Churches and Clergy, and tranſported their Treaſure into France, to enrich themſelves and the King's Enemies there.

Then King Edward ſent Writs to his Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, and others, to make Prayers, ſing Maſſes, and do other Works of Piety for the Soul of his Brother Edmond, and after that of Margaret Queen of France, according to the ſuperſtition of that Age.

Tho. Walſingh. Hiſt. Angl. p. 34.In the twenty fourth year of King Edward's Reign, there aroſe a great Sedition and Combat between the Scholars and Townſmen in the Univerſity of Oxford, wherein many were ſlain on both ſides, and the Goods of the Scholars plundered and carried away: upon complaint whereof to the King by the Scholars, he ſent his Juſtices thither to puniſh the Malefactors, and repair the Scholars damages.

King Edward ſtrenuouſly oppoſed Pope Boniface's Anti-monarchical Conſtitution, againſt demanding or impoſing Subſidies on the Clergy. Robert Winchelſey, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was ſtout in the proſecution of the Popes Bull which he had procured for it: for which all his Tempoporalties were ſeized; and he being forced to hide his head, and reduced to great extremities, was reſtored to the King's favour by the earneſt mediation of his Suffragan Biſhops on his behalf. Whereupon the King iſſued out Writs to reſtore his Temporalties, with all his Oxen, Goods, and Chattels formerly ſeized, in the ſtate now they were.

In the twenty fifth year of this King's Reign, Henry de Newark being elected Archbiſhop of York, and his election approved by the King, his Proctors ſent to Rome, procured the Pope's confirmation of his election, together with a Licenſe to be conſecrated in his own Church at York by the Biſhop of Durham. The King, upon the receipt of the Pope's Bull, iſſued a Writ for the reſtitution of his Temporalties.

Pope Boniface having confirmed the election of David Martyn to the Biſhoprick of St. Davids in Wales, the King upon notice given accepted thereof.

The Biſhoprick of Ely becoming void by the death of William Luda, the minor part of the Chapter elected John their Prior, but the better John de Langten, the King's Chancellor. The King confirmed the election of his Chancellor.

The King, by his Prerogative, having granted a Licenſe to the Biſhop of Coventry and Litchfield, Anno Reg. 26.to hold the Hoſpital of St. Leonards in York in Commenda with his Biſhoprick during his life, out of his free Gift, and ſpecial Grace, confirmed it by his Patents, ſo as this Diſpenſation ſhould not prove prejudicial to him or his Heirs.

p. 101The Monks of Battel-Abbey, by ancient Charters, having the cuſtody of the Abby and Lands, during the vacancy upon their Abbot's death, the King iſſued a Writ to reſtore them to their cuſtody.

Mr. Prynne obſerveth, and relateth diverſe things of this year.

1. That the Conteſts between the Archbiſhop, Prynne's Hiſt. of Popes Uſurpations, Tom. 3.Abbots and Monks of Canterbury, about Exemptions, Priviledges, and Juriſdictions, was a great cauſe of advancing the Pope's uſurped Juriſdiction over them both, and over the Rights, Prerogative of the Crown and Church of England.

2. The Pope's Inſolency in exempting the Abbots, and Monks of Canterbury, and all their Lands, Hospitals, Churches, Impropriations, Prieſts, Tenants, from all Archiepiſcopal, and other Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, and ſubjecting them ſolely to the See of Rome: as likewiſe in ſubjecting the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, the Biſhops of London and Rocheſter, to the commands and cenſures of the Abbots of Weſtminſter, Waltham, and St. Edmond.

3. The pride of the Abbots in erecting Deanaries, Officials, Eccleſiaſtical Conſistories, and in preſcribing Oaths of Canonical obedience upon the Prieſts and Curats of their Churches belonging to their Monaſtery.

4. The ſtrange injuſtice and contradiction of Popes Bulls, nulling, repealing each other by Non obſtantes, with all former Priviledges granted by themſelves, and Contracts made or ratified by others through bribery and corruption.