History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 100-1300 · Century 13 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Of BRITAIN.
1. IN the year 1203. 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; go therefore, let me hear no more of you. So they departed. Matth. Pariſien.
2. Alexander, Abbot of the Benedictines at Canterbury, was ſent by King John in commiſſion unto Rome; there he maintained before Pope Innocentius and the Clergy, that there is no power, under God, higher then a King; and that the Clergy ſhould not have temporal Government, ſince the Kingdom of Chriſt is not of this world: He proved theſe two Articles by Scripture and Reaſon, and by teſtimony of Gregory the I. in an Epiſtle unto Auguſtine Biſhop of Canterbury. Behold the event; Pandulf the Legate, ſuborneth ſome Engliſh Barons to accuſe the Abbot; and he accurſed and depoſed him, & ſo brought him to poverty. Then the worſhippers of the Roman Beaſt did boaſt, ſaying, Behold the man that took not God for his help. Idem.
3. In the year 1205. Hubert Biſhop of Canterbury died; the ſame night Contention between the Pope and Iohn King of England.the young Monks choſe their Superior to be Arch-Biſhop, without the knowledge of King John, being then in Normandy. The elder Monks ſent unto the King, craving his gracious licence to chuſe their Arch-Biſhop according to their Canons. The King gave them his aſſent; provided, that for his ſake they would ſhew favor to John Biſhop of Norwich. They obeyed; and the King ſent to Rome for confirmation. Reginold preveeneth his Meſſenger. The Suffragans of Canterbury were offended at both parties, and ſent ſpeedily to Rome to ſtop both the elections, becauſe they both were without their knowledge. Then aroſe no ſmall trouble both at home and at Rome. At home was ſuch a ſtrife, that the King ſent Letters and Commiſſioners, commanding them to leave their contentions, and attend their miniſtration, or he would deprive them of their Benefices, &c. At Rome was reaſoning on all ſides; and Innocentius ſaid, The diſpoſition of that See appertained unto the Monks onelyonly; and he willed them to chuſe Stephen Langton, Cardinal of St. Chryſogono: None durſt refuſe but the King's Procurator. When Stephen came unto King John, he was content, ſo that his Soveraignty be preſerved entire. Stephen loved not this ſuppoſition, and ſhewed ſome haughtineſs. The Monks receive the Cardinal, becauſe it was the Pope's pleaſure. Therefore the King baniſhed ſixty four of them, as contemners of Royal Authority; and he ſent Letters unto the Pope, expoſtulating: 1. That he had rejected the Biſhop of Norwich, and had ſet up another, which was unknown to him, and brought up among his enemies; and (which is worſe) who derogateth from the Royal priviledges; wherefore I cannot admire enough, that the Biſhop and Court of Rome do not conſider how neceſſary (ſaid he) my favor is unto the Roman Church; and that they weigh not how vaſt revenues have been gathered out of England, the like whereof they have not received from any Nation about the Alps. As for his priviledges, he ſaid, he would rather quit his life then forſake them. Finally he concludeth, If the Pope will not hearken unto his requeſt, he will ſo provide, that there ſhall be no more ſuch gadding to Rome; neither the ſinews and riches of the Land any more tranſported, whereby he was made leſs able to reſiſt his enemies; and he had of his own ſufficiently inſtructed at home in all kinde of literature, that he needed not to ſeek juſtice abroad. Breifly, the Pope excommunicated King John; and forgave all his adherents in time paſt, but he condemned all who in time coming ſhall ſerve or aid him, or pay him tribute, &c. And he commanded the Biſhops and Clergy to publiſh this ſentence every Sunday. Some forſook the Countrey, but none durſt publiſh the ſentence; nevertheleſs it became known unto all; whence began great diſtraction of mindes; and the King was ſevere againſt all which denied him homage. Some were not afraid to ſpeak for the King; that the Pope had not power to domineer over any King, ſince Peter had received onelyonly Eccleſiaſtical power. Matth. Pariſi. ſaith, It were tedious to tell all their names which ſpake thus. Then Innocentius wrote unto Philip King of France, proffering unto him full remiſſion of all his ſins, and clear poſſeſſion of all England unto him and his heirs, if he will kill John or expel him. The French King accepteth, prepareth and armeth himſelf, eſpecially with Biſhops, Prieſts, Monks, and their adherents. John underſtanding this, as alſo perceiving how his Lords and Barons were diverſly enclined (for fear of the curſe, as ſuch who took part with him, and for the foreſaid diſpenſation unto all who forſook him; and they were not a little byaſſed, by that command, to deny all ſervice and debts, duties and allegiance) he knew not whither to turn. In the mean time cometh a Nuntio from Rome unto the King and his Nobles at Canterbury, with this Commiſſion; That the King and they would conſider their preſent danger, and be reconciled unto his Holineſs in time. Then the Lords ſwear unto the Nuntio, that unleſs the King will obey his Commiſſion, they will make him obey whether he will or not. The King in this ſtrait ſubmitteth himſelf, and reſigneth the Crown of England and Ireland from him and his heirs for ever; upon condition that he and his heirs ſhould have again the ſame Dominions from the Pope, for paying yearly unto the See of Rome 1000. marks of Silver. Then he kneeled, and gave his Crown unto Pandulf the Legate; who kept it five days as a ſeizing of theſe two R ealms; and the King confirmeth the ſame by his Charter obligatory Here, by way of anticipation, it is marked in the Hiſtories, that no King of England did acknowledge this ſubjection, nor pay the farm, Pol. Virgil. in Hiſt. Anglor. lib. 15. Matth. Pariſien. ſaith, It is reported by many, that this deteſtable Charter was burnt in the chamber of Pope Innocentius the IV. An. 1245. when he cauſed his own wardrobe to be burnt, to the end he might obtain a new taxation from the Biſhops, which were conveened at the general Councel; and after the Councel, he ſent a Charter, with a command unto all the Biſhops of England to ſubſcribe it; and King Henry was not onelyonly enraged againſt the Biſhops for ſubſcribing it; but did alſo ſwear, that he would ſtand for the freedom of his Kingdom, and would not pay tribute to the Court of Rome ſo long as he breathed. But to return; at that time ſome of the Prieſts and Abbots conſented not unto this ſhameful action; of whom ſome came afterwards, like blinde idiots, unto Pandulf, and begged remiſſion; the baſer ſort was forgiven, and the heads, as fatteſt and fitteſt for the Pope's mouth, were ſent to Rome. In the mean time Innocentius was holding his Latronal Councel, and there did excommunicate Otho the Emperor, John King of England, Peter King of Arragon, Raymund Earl of Tolouſe, &c. Then Stephen Langton was ſent▪ and abſolved King John: and immediately he called many Biſhops, Abbots, Earls and Barons unto London, and perſwadeth them into a league againſt the King, unleſs he will renounce all title unto vacant Benefices, wards of marriages, &c. Then Innocentius ſent Nicolaus Biſhop of Tuſculo, and he began to intrude perſons into vacant Benefices of Canterbury as it pleaſed him. The Arch-Biſhop refuſed, and appealed to Rome; and ſundry Nobles took part with him, alledging that they would defend the Liberties of their Countrey. Innocentius approveth generally all that his Legate had done. The Biſhop and Lords ſtood for their Liberties. The King began to think how to be relieved of his new tribute, and ſent unto the Pope, requeſting him to excommunicate the Biſhop of Canterbury (who had been the occaſion of all theſe broils) with ſome of the Lords, and he would never intend exemption of his fue-duty; and with his Letter he ſent a ſum of money. But this ſtir was ſoon calmed; but by and by that faction did conveen again, and did force the King to yield unto all their above named demands. The King then ſendeth unto the Pope, and ſheweth how they had wreſted his power from him, and craveth his aid for recovery. The Pope ſendeth his excommunication againſt them all: his Nuntio chargeth Stephen to publiſh the excommunication; he refuſeth, and poſteth toward Rome; where, after he was heard, he was ſuſpended; and another ſentence of excommunication was directed againſt all the Nobles and Barons, which had conſpired againſt the Pope's beloved Son; and remiſſion of ſins was proclaimed to all the ſubjects of the Kingdom, which will take part with the King and the Legate againſt the Lords; and all the Biſhops were commanded to publiſh this excommunication, under no leſs pain then to be in the ſame danger. Then the Lords (Matth. Pariſien. calleth them Londoners, to wit, becauſe of their league made in London) were in deſpair, and knew no more whither to turn, then the King did before; but they cried out in reproach of the King, ſaying, Wo to thee John, the laſt of Kings, the abomination of Engliſh Princes, and confuſion of our Nobility: Alas! thou haſt waſted England, and more wilt thou be waſted; alas! England, England, &c. Then twenty four of them, in name of the reſt, went unto Philip King of France, and intreated him to give them his eldeſt Son to be their King. The Pope underſtanding this motion, ſent Wallo Cardinal of St. Martin; and chargeth Philip to deſiſt from ſo raſh attempts; and to defend his vaſſal John, and the Lands of the Church, againſt thoſe Traitors. Philip did judge this an inſolency, and he hoped that the Lords would ſtand to their promiſe; and partly he truſted in the league lately renewed with Alexander King of Scots; and therefore he anſwered, The Kingdom of England was never a part of Peter's patrimony, nor ſhall it be hereafter; no Prince may pledge or give away his Kingdom, without the conſent of his Barons, which are tied to defend it: If the Pope ſhall bring this preparative into Chriſtendom, he will ſet at naught all Kings and Kingdoms; I love not this example which is begun in theſe days; and therefore I cannot allow what John hath done, though he be my utter enemy; and I lament that he hath ſo ruined that noble Realm. The Peers ſtanding by, cried, as in a fury, with one voice—We will ſtand to this Article, though to the loſing of our lives, let John do as he willeth; no King can put his Land under tribute, and ſo make his Nobility ſlaves. Lewes ſaid, The Barons of England have elected me for their Lord and King; ſurely I will not loſe my right, but will fight for it unto death; I doubt not but I ſhall obtain it, for I have friends among them; [his Mother was Siſter of King John.] At this time John was going from place to place, poſſeſſing himſelf of the Noble mens Lands: yet fearing their attempts, he came to Dover, expecting aid from forraign Countries; and many came to him from Flanders, Braband, and Holland, on the one ſide; and from Guien, Gaſcony, and Poictiers, on the other; and a moſt wonderful number of men from other Countries: for the report went, that the Pope had written unto them to aſſiſt King John. Wallo the Legate followed Lewis into England, An. 1216. and renewed the curſe againſt him, for uſurping againſt John, and againſt Simon Langton, and other Engliſh, which had excited Lewis; and againſt Alexander the II. King of Scots, with a wonderful ſolemnity; cauſing all the bells to be tolled, candles lighted, Church-doors opened, and committing them all to the Divel for their contumacy. Lewis cauſed the curſe to be proclaimed null; and was accepted at London as King: He made Simon high Chancellor. King Alexander waſted the North parts of England. And every one ſaid, The Bulls were of no force, ſince the ordering of temporal affairs did not belong unto the Pope; and what hath the Biſhop of Rome to do with our wars? behold, he will be the Succeſſor of Conſtantine, and not of Peter! Matth. Pariſien. ad An. 1216. It happened at that time, that the Viſcount of Mandevil, who came from France with Lewis, fell ſick; and being moved in conſcience, called unto him ſome of the Engliſh Lords, and ſaid unto them, I lament your wretched caſe, and from my heart I do pity the deſolation come upon your Country; the dangerous ſnares which are laid for your confuſion, are hid from your eyes; but take heed in time: Prince Lewis hath ſworn a great oath, and ſixteen of his Nobles, (of whom I was one) that if he obtain the Crown of England, he will baniſh them all, which are now againſt their native King, and are Traitors to his noble Perſon: And that ye take not this for a fable, I aſſure you upon my faith, being in this condition as ye now ſee, at the mercy of God; I have great conſcience hereof, and I pity your eſtate, and ſo give you this warning: your King hath for a ſeaſon kept you under; but if Lewis ſhall prevail, he will put you from all; of two extream evils chuſe the leaſt, and keep it ſecret what I have told you Shortly thereafter he departed this life. When this was once noiſed among the Barons, they were in great heavineſs; for they ſaw themſelves betrapped every way: on the one ſide was the Pope's curſe; and alſo Lewis dealing to the French all that he purchaſed, either Territories or Caſtles; yea, and they heard him ſay, They were all Traitors. Then they agree to ſubmit themſelves unto King John: they were eaſily pardoned. And John recovered Rocheſter Caſtle and City, London, York, Lincoln, and prevailed in many hazardous adventures againſt Lewis and Alexander. The ſame year John did lodge two days in the Abbey not far from Lincoln, and there died: Some ſay he was poiſoned by a Ciſtertian Monk; Matth. Pariſien. ſaith, he died of an Ague through ſorrow and ſurfeit. Rog. Hoveden and 1. Fox in Act. & Monim. give him this teſtimony; He was indeed a valorous Prince, and unfortunate like Marius, having experience of both fortunes; nor loved he the Maſs. Then many of the Lords ſwear obedience unto Lewis. But William Earl of Pembroke, Marſhal of England, a grave and wiſe Counſellor, did quietly and friendly call together ſundry of the Earls and Barons, and ſet before them Henry, (the eldeſt Son of King John, being them nine years old) and perſwaded them to embrace him for their King; and he was crowned by Wallo at Gloceſter, with conſent of them which had followed his Father: and Wallow acccurſed them all which did follow Lewis. Nevertheleſs Lewis did more and more harm in the Land, until the above named William went againſt him with an Army; and then he fled into London, and ſent unto his Father for help; an hundred Ships were prepared in France: but Richard, a baſtard Brother of King John, having onelyonly eighteen Ships for keeping the Cinque-Ports, ſet upon them, and by providence fifteen of them eſcaped not unſunk or taken. Then the Ambaſſades of Lewis writ from Rome unto him, If he left not England, the Pope would renew the ſentence of excommunication againſt him; likewiſe many of the Nobles forſook him. Then he ſought a treaty with the King; and at laſt it was concluded, that a 1000 l. ſhould be given unto Lewis to depart, and ſhould never return: So he was honourably convoyed unto the Sea. And reconciliation was made betwixt Henry and Alexander, with conſent of the Legate. Then Wallo began his harveſt; the Kings had dealt for themſelves and their Armies, and the Legate could wring nothing from them; but he calleth the Clergy to account. Hugh Biſhop of Lincoln, paid 1000. marks unto the Pope, and as much unto the Legate, &c. He ſummoned the Scotch Biſhops and Abbots to Anwick; ſome opened their purſes, and were abſolved; and the moſt ſtubborn (as he called them) were ſent to Rome. With the inferior Church-men he took another courſe: he ſent for the Prior of Dureſm, and Weſtbeck the Arch-Deacon, to go into Scotland, and call before them the Prieſts and Canons into every principal Town of the bounds; and there partly upon their confeſſions, and partly by weariſome protractions from day to day, great ſums were ſqueezed from them. They who went to Rome, had purchaſed Letters from the Biſhops and Abbots of England againſt Wallo; and accuſed him before Pope Honorius of avarice and other crimes. Wherefore the Pope took from him a part of the prey; and the accuſers were abſolved, and ſent home with empty purſes. But the Pope being not yet contented, ſent Cardinal Aegidius to exact other ſums, for abſolving them from their vow of going into Paleſtina. When Aegidius returned, he ſaid, he was robbed by the way: therefore another Legate was ſent to gather as much. The King convened his Nobles and Prelates, and all in one voice did ſend, and forbid the Legate to come into the Realm, G. Buchan. Hiſt. lib. 7. Alſo England groaned under theſe burthens, and ſent their grievances unto the Councel at Lions: Regrating, 1. That the Pope was not content with Peter-pence, but extorted from them great ſums of money, without conſent of the King, and againſt all precedent examples. 2. Patrons cannot preſent unto Benefices, which are given to Romans, ignorant of the language, to the great prejudice of ſouls, and ſpoiling of the Realm. 3. Of the frequent recourſe of the Pope's Legates, by whom faith and fidelity, the ancient Cuſtoms of the Nation, the Authority of the Statutes, Laws and Priviledges are abrogated. But the Pope's purſe had no ears to hear ſuch complaints; and anon he ſent for more money: wherefore a Proclamation was made, in name of King Henry the III. that no man ſhould conſent to any exaction of money unto the Court of Rome. The Pope, in a rage, directed inſtantly his Letters unto the Biſhop of Worceſter; charging all England, under pain of his curſe, to obey his Legate before ſuch a day; and that Biſhop to be executioner of his curſe. Fear of the curſe prevailed againſt the former Proclamation. But the Pope was not yet ſatisfied; he was not aſhamed to crave firſt the tenth, then the fifth part; and laſtly, the third part of all Church-revenues within England, beſides other extraordinary occaſions; and the yearly revenue of the Pope in England was 60000. marks ſterling. Whereupon the King ſent his Meſſengers again unto Rome; and the Nobles did, by writing, complain of the ſcandals ariſing from the avarice of the Court, and ſpread their complaint through the Chriſtian world; profeſſing, that they would not ſuffer the Country to be ſo rudely abuſed, although the King would wink at it; and unleſs theſe things (ſaid they unto the Pope) be ſpeedily redreſſed by you, let your Holineſs know for certainty, that it may (not without cauſe) be feared, that ſuch danger is like to enſue, both to the Church of Rome, and unto our King, that no remedy will eaſily be found for it. At that time John (a Cardinal, and an Engliſh man) did entreat his Holineſs, for God's cauſe, to bridle, with ſome temperance, the paſſion of his minde, which is here, (ſaid he) to tell you plain, too much commoved without cauſe; your Fatherhood may conſider, that the days be evil: 1. The holy Land lieth in miſery and peril. 2. All the Greek Church is departed from us. 3. Frederick, the mightieſt Prince of Chriſtendom, is againſt us. 4. Both your Holineſs and we are exiled from your Papal ſeat, and thruſt out of Italy. 5. Hungary, and all the Nations thereabout, look for nothing but utter ruine from the Tartars. 6. Germany is toſſed with inteſtin wars. 7. Spain is fierce and cruel againſt us, even to the cutting out of Biſhops tongues. 8. France is by us impoveriſhed, and like to conſpire againſt us. 9. Now wretched England, ſo oft plagued by us, much like Balaam's aſs goared with ſpurs, begineth to complain of her intolerable griefs; and we, after the maner of Iſmael, hating all men, do provoke all men to hate us......Matth. Pariſien. ad An. 1246. But Innocentius would relent nothing; yea, made his exaction more grievous; and began to excite Lewis King of France, to ſlay or expel King Henry. France remembred former times; and Lewis refuſed to vex his Couſin: But (ſaith the before named writer) the hearts of all men were provoked to miſlike the Pope and Church of Rome; whereof the one ſought to be eſteemed a Father, and the other to be the Mother of all Churches; but he proved a ſtep▪father, and ſhe a ſtep-dame.
4. In the year 1222. the in-dwellers of Caithnes refuſed to pay tenths unto Adam their Biſhop; and therefore he excommunicated them all: then they came into his houſe, and in his chamber they ſlew a Monk, and his Servant; and they drew him into his kitchin, and burnt him with all the houſe. Pope Honorius reſted not, till he had cauſed King Alexander to hang four hundred of them; and the Earl of Caithnes hardly obtained pardon, albeit he was not acceſſory unto the deed. Boet. lib. 13. cap. 14. About that William Biſhop of St. Andrews, brought from France ſome Dominicans, Franciſcans, Jacobines, and ſome Monks called vallis umbroſae; theſe, by their crafty inſinuations with people, did ſupplant the credit of Prieſts, and drew unto themſelves both credit and means of the Miniſtry; and were maintained by the Popes, becauſe they ſtudied eſpecially to advance their deſigns. Spotſw. Hiſt. p. 43.
5. Nigellus Vireker, a learned and much reſpected Monk at Canterbury, writ a Book, De abuſu Verum Eccleſiae; and ſent it unto William, Biſhop of Ely, Chancellour of England; a man (ſaith Bale) moſt envious. In this Book he rebuked not the proud Prelate only, but all Teachers under the Tyranny of the Pope; becauſe they committed the cure of ſouls unto children, belly-gods, and deſpiſers of the ſacred Word.
6. Walter Mapez, Arch-Deacon of Oxford, was once ſent by King John unto Rome; after his return he did write ſeveral books againſt the Pope and his Clergy; cloſely reproving the Pope, ſomtimes under the name of Goliah, ſomtimes of Pluto; and ſhewing manifeſtly that then Antichriſt was reigning in the World. He had a fellow with him, who made ſhew of a Pleaſant or Rimer; but all his rimes were ſaid to be written by Mapez himſelf: In them he plainly paints forth the Roman Court, and calleth the Prelats proud beaſts. The rimes begin thus:
Roma Caput Mundi, ſed nil capit mundum:
Quod pendet à Capite totum eſt immundum:
Trahit enim vitium primum & ſecundum,
Et de ſundo 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 nummorum.
In hoc Conſiſtorio ſiquis cauſam regat,
Suam vel alterius, hic imprimis legat;
Niſi des pecuniam, Roma totum negat,
Qui plus dat pecuniae, meliùs allegat. &c.
Io. Bale.
In Catalog. teſt. verit. lib. 14. we find theſe rimes aſcribed unto this Mapez.
Vide Deus ultionum,
Vide videns omnia,
Quod ſpelunca veſpillonum
Facta eſt Eccleſia.
Quod in Templum Solomonis
Venit Princeps Babylonis,
Et excelſum ſibi Thronum
Poſuit in medio.
Theſe words are to no ſenſe, unleſs the Temple ſignifie the Church of Chriſt; and the Prince of Babylon ſignifie the Pope of Rome.
7. An. 1237. was a conference at York between Henry the III. King of England, and Alexander the II. King of Scots; where they did accord upon the matters of debate between the kingdoms. Then Otto the Pope's Legate would go into Scotland for redreſſing (as he ſaid) the affairs of the Church: But Alexander ſaid unto him, I remember not that evera Legate was in my Land; neither have I need of one, thanks be unto God; neither was any in my Father's time, nor in any of my Anceſtours; neither will I ſuffer any ſo long as I may. Otto returned with King Henry, Matth. Pariſien. Nevertheleſs this Alexander did ſuffer Peter Red to take away 3000. pounds for the Pope, which no King of Scotland had ſuffered before. Idem ad An. 1240. But Boet. lib. 13. cap. 20. addeth, He ſent the Earls of Carrict and Athale, to accompany Lewis King of France into Syria; and he ſent unto the Pope a thouſand marks, leſt he ſhould think himſelf deſpiſed.
8. Robert Groſshead (alias, Capito) Biſhop of Lincoln, was the moſt renowned Biſhop of his time; a godly man; an admoniſher of his King; a fearfull rebuker of the Pope; a bold reprover of Prelates; a corrector of Monks; a directer and teacher of Prieſts; a favourer of Students; a Preacher to the people; a defender of fatherleſs and widows; a perſecutor of the incontinent; a ſearcher of the Scriptures; a lover of truth; a hammerer and contemner of the Romans, ſaith Matth. Pariſ. In the year 1237. his own Clarks gave him poiſon in a drink; but (as it pleaſed God) he eſcaped death at that time by help of medicine. The Prieſts which taught not the word of God, but human traditions, he called the Miniſters of Satan, theeves of the night, robbers in the day, corrupters of manners, murtherers of ſouls, and Angels of darkneſs; and he called their exemptions, ſnares of the Divel. An. 1253. Pope Innocentius ſent unto him a Letter, commanding him to provide a Canons place for an Italian in his Diocy, nihil obſtante. He returned anſwer; I am moſt willing to obey Apoſtolical commandments; but thoſe things which are contrary unto the Apoſtles command, I will gain-ſtand, ſince I am obliged unto both by the command of God.....The tenor of your aforeſaid Letter, agreeth not with Apoſtolical holineſs, but plainly diſagreeth: 1. Becauſe by that word non obſtante, in that and ſo many other Letters, do abound a deluge of inconſtancy, ſhameleſneſs, lying, deceiving, difficulty of truſting any, and innumerable other vices following thereupon, ſhaking and confounding the purity of Religion, and the quietneſs of all ſociable converſation.....2. Except the ſin of Lucifer, which is alſo the ſin of Antichriſt, there cannot be a greater ſin, nor more contrary unto the Apoſtles, or more hateful unto Chriſt Jeſus, then to deſtroy ſouls by defrauding them of the Miniſtry.....In a word, the holineſs of the Apoſtolical ſeat cannot do any thing but unto edification, and not to deſtruction; for this is the fulneſs of power, to edification: But thoſe things, which they call Proviſions, are not to edification, but moſt manifeſt deſtruction. The Pope, hearing this Letter, foamed, as in a rage, and ſware by Peter and Paul, that he would hurl ſuch a phrenetick wretch into confuſion, which durſt ſo boldly controle his command, and make him a fable unto the world: Is not the King of England our vaſſal, yea and ſlave, whom I, at my nod, may thruſt into priſon? The Cardinals, namely Aegidius a Spaniard, and ſome others touched in conſcience, could ſcarcely appeaſe his fury; and among other words they ſaid, To confeſs the truth unto your Holineſs, it is true what he ſaith, and we cannot condemn him for it; he is a Catholick man, more holy and religious then we our ſelves are; and as it is judged, amongſt all the Prelates, there is none better, nor his equal; this is not unknown univerſally, nor can our contradiction avail againſt him; wherefore we think beſt to paſs by ſuch a thing, leſt perhaps ſome tumult ariſe thereupon, eſpecially ſeeing it is manifeſt unto all men, that once muſt come a defection and departure from the Church of Rome. When Robert lay on his death bed, he ſaid unto the brethren coming to viſit him, Hereſid is an opinion taken up by human ſenſe, contrary Hereſie white.unto the holy Scriptures, openly avowed, and pertinaciouſly maintained: Is not Innocentius therefore an Heretick? and ſince Chriſt came into the The Pope an Heretick and Antichriſt.World to ſave ſouls, may not the Pope be juſtly called the Antichriſt, who feareth not to deſtroy ſouls? The Pope doth impudently annul the priviledges of his Anceſtours....and therefore the contemner ſhould be contemned; according to that ſaying of Eſay, Wo to thee who deſpiſeſt.....Matth. Pariſien.
9. In the year 1240. a Carthuſian Monk at Cambridge, ſaid openly before Otho the Legate, Gregory is not the head of the Chutch, but there is another head thereof; Satan is looſed; the Pope is an Heretick; Gregory which is called Pope, defileth the Church and the World. The Legate ſaid unto him, Is not power given from above unto the Pope to looſe and bind ſouls, and to exerce the charge of Peter on earth? The Monk replied, How can I think that ſuch power as was given unto Peter, is given to a Simoniack and Uſurer; yea, and who is defiled with greater crimes? The Legate did bluſh for ſhame, and ſaid, We may not ſtrive in words with a fool. Idem.
10. Seval, Arch-Biſhop of York, followed in the ſame footſteps, when he ſaw the pride of the Pope uſurping and tyrannizing above the Kings, he was aſtoniſhed; and in the grief of his heart, he intreated Pope Alexander the IV. by Letters, that he would leave off from ſuch daily enormities, or at leaſt refrain himſelf, and follow the example of good men; that he would feed Chriſt's Lambs, as Peter did; and not pull the skins off them, and devour them like an hungry Wolf. The Pope had given the fatteſt of his Benefices unto ſome wanton young men, and ignorant of the language; as he made Jordanus, Dean of York, &c. Seval would admit none of them: wherefore the Pope excommunicated him with bells and candles. He could ſuffer theſe ceremonies; but he could not ſuffer ſtrangers to be ſet over the people; and the more he was curſed by the Pope, he was the more beloved of the people; and they did bleſs him, yet quietly, for fear of the Romans. Although he was not murthered, yet for his ſufferings he was called a Martyr. Idem ad An. 1257.
11. Matthew of Paris (whom I have often named) was a Benedictine of Saint Alban: he wrote the Hiſtory of England, from the days of William the Conqueror, until the year of his own death, 1260. where he deſcribeth, how others ſpoke againſt the abomination of Antichriſt, to the end, that poſterity might know and abhor it; and thereby he giveth us to underſtand what were his own thoughts, as here and there he expreſſeth himſelf. e. g. ad An. 1237. he ſaith, It is manifeſtly known, that the Church of Rome (alas!) hath deſerved the wrath of God; for the guides thereof ſeek not the devotion of people, but their full purſes; not to gain ſouls unto God, but to collect revenues to themſelves; to oppreſs the religious, and many ways impudently to catch other mens goods......hence ariſeth grumbling among men, and the wrath of God is provoked dayly. Ad An. 1238. he calleth the Pope the Succeſſor, but not the imitator of Peter. Ad An. 1245. he ſaith, The Pope ſent unto the King of Arragon, and then unto the King of England, craving that he may come and abide in their Kingdoms; and the Nobility did refuſe, becauſe the Papal Court was ſo infamous, that the ſtrength thereof went up unto the clouds. Ad An. 1251. he ſaith, The threatning of the Apoſtle may be thought to be fulfilled, Vnleſs there be a departing, the ſon of perdition shall not be revealed. Behold, that mens hearts depart, and not their bodies, from the Pope, who is enraged like a ſtep-father; and from the Church of Rome, which is cruel in perſecuting, like a ſtep-mother.
12. John Ruſſel, an Engliſh Gentleman, who married the Widow of Walter Cumin, Earl of Lenox, about the year 1262. afterwards he purchaſed Letters from the Pope, to ſummon a number of Scots to appear in England before the Legate, for ſlandering his wife of witchcraft, and poiſoning her firſt husband. The Scots diſpiſed the citation; alledging their ancient priviledge, that Scotch men cannot be charged to anſwer without their own Country; and ſo the ſummons turned to nothing, ſaith Buchan. Hiſt. lib. 7.
13. Within ſome few years King Alexander the III. was encombred with The Lords and Bishops ſtrive for precedency.the pride of Prieſts and Monks, ſaith the ſame Author there▪ he underſtandeth certainly Biſhops and Abbots; which being enriched (ſaith he) by former Kings, and enjoying long proſperity, began to grow rank; and would go before the Nobility, as in wealth, ſo in all other things, or at leaſt be equal with them. The Noble men took this in ill part, and dealt roughly with them; wherefore they complain unto the King. Whether he thought theſe injuries not to be ſo hainous, as the Prieſts called them, or if he thought that they were not without cauſe, yet he made no account of them; therefore the Biſhops did excommunicate all the Noble men, excepting the King only; and with many threats do prepare themſelves to go unto Rome. Then the King, calling to minde what broils Tho. Becket had raiſed in England by his ambition, called the Biſhops from their journey, and compelled the Nobility to yeild unto their pride. Thus the ſpiritual Lords (as they would be called) had the precedency.
14. The Jews lived then in England, and waxed both in number and wealth. The Iews in England.An. 1235. they obtained from Pope Gregory the IX. that they ſhould not be taxed by Chriſtian Kings; and that they might have Chriſtian ſervants and nurſes. An. 1257. they murthered a young boy in Lincoln; therefore King Henry impriſoned ſeventy one of them at London. The Minorites, being hired for money, procured their liberty; for (ſaith I. Bale) Henry did not ſo much reign, as bear the image of the Romiſh Beaſt: but after that time, the name of a Minorite was odious in the ears of Engliſh men. Edward the I. baniſhed all the Jews, and eſcheated all their goods, allowing them only a viaticum. One good thing God wrought by them; they left many Bibles in England, whereby ſundry of the learned were ſtirred to learn the Hebrew language; as Gregory Huntington, &c. This Edward began to reſtrain the wealth of Monks, and the power of Biſhops. When Lands were given to Monaſteries, or a Monaſtery bought any Land, they did not acknowledge the Superior of thoſe Lands; ſo the King and Noble men were prejudiced of Wards, Reliefs, Knight-Service, and ſuch other things. Edward made a Law, that no perſon, religious, or any other, ſhould buy or ſell Lands that might any way come under Mortmain, [that is, in prejudice of the Superior] under pain of forfeiture of the ſame. At that time was confuſion of Courts, the Civil Judges and Biſhops endeavoring to enlarge their own, and contract their Rivals Authority: Edward fixed boundaries unto them both; as is more particularly in T. Fuller's Church-Hiſtory, lib. 3. He diſcharged the Abbot of Waltham, and the Dean of Pauls, to crave the tithe of any mans goods for the charges of Jeruſalems wars, albeit the Pope had given them this Commiſſion in three ſeveral Bulls. The Abbot died; and the Dean appeared before the King and his Councel, and promiſed to obey. He alſo ſummoned the Dean of Wolverhampton; becauſe, againſt the priviledges of the Realm, he had given a Prebend of his Chappel unto a ſtranger, at the Pope's command. The Dean appeared, and confeſſed his fault, ſubmitting himſelf unto the King's clemency. K. Iames VI. in Monitio. ex archivis Regni.
15. Alexander the III. King of Scots, fell with his horſe over the rocks, on the Weſt ſide of Kingron, March 18. An. 1285. His life was remarkable, and his death lamentable. He had divided the Realm into four parts; and abode a quarter of the year in each part, giving juſtice unto all men; ſo he knew his ſubjects, and they knew and loved him. The Judges of each part waited upon him within their juriſdiction; and when he removed, the Judges of the other part received him: ſo his Court was never populous. His children died young, except one Daughter, who was married to Erik King of Norway; and ſhe had one Daughter. After his much bewailed death, a Parliament at Scone named ſix perſons to govern the Country for the time; three for the part on the North ſide of Forth, and three for the South. The King's Daughter was dead; and Edward the I. ſent unto this Parliament, ſuing the marriage of their young Queen unto his Son. So the Eſtates conſented very readily; proviſion being made, that Scotland ſhould be governed by their own Laws and Magiſtrates. In the mean while Margaret died. Then competition followed between Robert Bruce, Earl of Haſtings in England, and of Carrict and Garioch in Scotland, and John Baliol, Earl of Galloway. The ground of this plea flowed by their genealogy from King David, who died in the year 1153. He had one Son, Henry Earl of Huntington; he died before his Father, leaving three Sons, Malcolm, William and David: So Malcolm (ſurnamed the Maiden) ſucceeded his Grandfather; and after him his Brother William, the Father of Alexander the II. and Grandfather of this Alexander the III. David, the third Son of Henry, had three Daughters; Margaret, Counteſs of Galloway; Iſobel, married to Robert Bruce (ſurnamed The Noble) Earl of Haſtings; and the third, or youngeſt, was Counteſs of Huntington. Margaret had no Sons, but three Daughters; Dornagilla, the Mother of John Baliol, and Mary the Wife of John Cumin, &c. Robert the Noble had a Son, Robert the Competitor, who married the heretrix of Carrict; and had two Sons, Robert, the King afterwards, and Edward. Then Dornagilla pleaded firſt for the Crown; but Robert, Earl of Carrict, alledged, that he, being of equal degree with her, the male ſhould be preferred in the inheritance of Lands, and rather of Kingdoms; as it hath been lately practiſed in Burgundy, and is uſual among Brethren and Siſters: as for her Son, he is a degree further off, and therefore not to be heard in that cauſe. The parties did ſo increaſe, that no Authority could command either of them; and inteſtin wars were thought dangerous; wherefore, by common conſent, Edward the I. was choſen Umpire. At the firſt he omitted no point of formality: he called unto Berwick the Competitors, John and Robert, and the Governors of the Realm; he proteſteth, that he calleth them not as Subjects before their Magiſtrate, but as his Friends before their choſen Arbiter: he cauſed them all to ſwear, that they will ſtand to his decreet, and receive one of the two whom he ſhould name: He choſe twelve Scots, and ſo many Engliſh, as his Councellors in that matter; and cauſed them to ſwear, that they ſhall give their advice uprightly, according to their knowledge. The mean while he thinketh upon his own advantage; and conſidering that Scotland was divided into two powerful factions, it ſeemed the more eaſie unto him to work his own point; in ſhew he ſendeth for Juriſts in other Nations, not doubting (as that ſort is ſeldom of one opinion) but to finde ſome reſponſe conducing to his own end; which may appear by his altering the ſtate of the queſtion; which he propounded in this maner: A King, who is not wont to be crowned, nor anointed, but only ſet in a chair, and be proclaimed King, yet not ſo free, that he is not under another King, and himſelf acknowledged ſo, dying without children, two of his Couſins, and Nephews of his Granduncle Sempronius, ſeek the inheritance, &c. The moſt part anſwered, The cuſtom of the Realm is a Law in ſuch a caſe; and if there be not a precedent, they ſhould ſtand at the will of the Superior King. Then in another meeting at Norain, Edward required acknowledgement of ſubjection from all the Scotch Commiſſioners: They did all refuſe in one voice. In a third meeting, at Berwick, he ſent privily for Robert, and proferred him the Kingdom, if he would ſwear fealty unto him. Robert anſwered, I will never prejudice the liberty of that Realm. John Baliol was ſent for, and accepted the condition. So he was proclaimed King ſix years after the death of Alexander; and all the Scots ſwear Allegiance unto him: Afterwards, both the King and Nobles, gave their oath unto King Edward, in Newcaſtle on Tine: The Nobility were male-contented, but they muſt diſſemble. It happened after ſome years, that Macduff, Earl of Fife, was killed by the Earl of Abernethy, and becauſe this family was potent, Macduffs Brother could not obtain juſtice in Scotland for the ſlaughter; therefore he appealed unto King Edward: who ſummoned King John to London: He appeared; and at firſt ſat down with Edward, thinking to anſwer by his Proctor; but he muſt ſtand at the Bar: This indignity begot in him a deſire of liberty. When variance fell between France and England, John, thinking this a fit occaſion, renewed the old league with France; and, by the Abbot of Arbroth, ſent into England (with conſent of the Eſtates) a revocation of his dedition. Wherefore Edward reſolveth to take Arms againſt Scotland: He ſent for Robert Bruce, Son of the Competitor (being then defunct) and profered him the Kingdom, if he would go with him to expel King John, or cauſe his Friends in Scotland to deſert, or not aſſiſt John. Robert did both. At that time four thouſand Scots were ſlain in ſundry fights; and in the Caſtle of the Burgh of Montroſs, King John did reſign unto the Commiſſioners of King Edward, all right to the Crown. Sir Hugh Creſſingham was made Governor of Scotland; and John was carried into England: yet by interceſſion of Pope Boniface, he was let go into France, his Son being kept in pledge, leſt he did attempt any new trouble. Then Edward went againſt France; and in his abſence, the Scots had mutual treaties with France; they choſe twelve Governors of the Country; and many incurſions were in the borders on both ſides. At that time aroſe the famous William Walace, a Gentleman of mean eſtate, but extraordinary in courage and ſtrength; he did many rubs unto the Engliſh: and becauſe the Governors were thought remiſs, he was choſen to be the only Governor, and called the Vice-Roy of King John: He recovered many Towns from the Engliſh, and threw down many Caſtles and Forts, leſt his little Army were divided in keeping them. The Earl of Warren, and the Lord Percey, were ſent againſt him; but becauſe theſe had bad ſucceſs, Edward made truce with France, and came againſt Scotland; where he prevailed ſo, that, in a Parliament at St. Andrews, all the Nobility and Eſtates did acknowledge him; only Walace kept himſelf quiet in the high-Lands. When Robert Bruce put the King in minde of his promiſe, Edward ſcoffed at him, ſaying, Had he no other thing to do, but fight for a Kingdom unto him? Buchan. Hiſto. At that time Edward deſtroyed the ancient Laws of Scotland, and ſought how to bring the two Nations in amity and affinity; He burnt the Chronicles, and Books of Divine Service, conſtraining them to follow the Miſſale of Sarum; thoſe who were repugnant unto theſe changes; were ſeverely puniſhed: He removed the moſt learned men into Oxford. Briefly, he deſtroyed all the Monuments of Antiquity; and upon the leaſt occaſion he cut off all, who in his judgement could enterpriſe any inſurrection, Boeth. lib. 14. Walace lurked a while, but he ſtirred again; and prevailed both in favor and power among the people; as followeth in the next Century.