The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 1 · Chapter 1 (3 of 3)

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 1 · Chapter 1 (3 of 3)

p. 662222SIMON LANGHAM.Simon Langham, his next Successour, **Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 275. to 282. Walsing. Hist. Angl. Ann. 1371. p. 181. Et Ypodigma Neust…, p. 132.was successively both Chancellour and Treasurer of England, and in his time all publike Offices of the King and Kingdome were administred by Clergie…men, for this Arch-Prelate was Chancellour; Iohn Bishop of Bath, Treasurer… David Wollor, Priest, Master of the Rolls; William Wickham Arch-deacon of Lincolne, Keeper of the Privie Seale; Iohn Troy, Priest; Treasurer of Ireland: Robert Caldwell, Clerke, Treasurer of the Kings p. 67House; William Bug…rig, Generall Receiver of the Dutchie of Lancaster; William Asheby, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Iohn Newnham, one of the Chamberlaines of the Exchequer, and one of the Keepers of the Treasury and Kings Jewels, and William de Mulso the other; Iohn Ronceby, Clerke of the Houshold, and Surveyor, and Comptroller of the Kings workes; Roger Barnburgh, and 7. more Clergy-men, Clerkes of the Chancery… Richard Chesterfield, the Kings under Treasurer; Thomas Brantingham, the Kings Treasurer in the parts of Guines, Marke, and Calice: All which Clerkes abounded likewise with Ecclesiasticall Benefices and Dignities; some of them possessing at least 20. Benefices and Dignities by the Popes owne license, and having further liberty to retaine as many Livings as they could get: This was in the yeare 1367. But not long after Anno 1371. upon a complaint of the Nobles in Parliament, all Clergie-men were thrust out of Temporall Offices, and Lay-men put into their places. **See Holins…d, p. 406. Caxton 7. part. An. 46. Ed. 3.Holinshed out of Caxton saith that the King this yeare in Parliament demanded a subsidie of 50000. pound of the Laity, and as much of the Clergie. The temporall men soone agreed to that payment, but the Clergie excused themselves with faire words, and shi…ting answeres, insomuch that the King tooke displeasure with them, and deposed certaine spirituall men from their office of dignity, as the Chancelour, the Privy seale, the Treasurer, and such other, in whose roomes he placed temporall men: where as Ca…ton in truth saith, that this subsidy was raised by the Clergie by good avisement out of their Lay Fee, and that this their removall from Lay Offices was at the request and asking of the Lords in hatred of men of holy Church; with which Walsingham accords. This Arch-Prelate being very ambitious, was without the Kings privity, created by Pope Vrban Cardinall of S. Sixtus … with which newes the King being much offended, seised on his Temporalties: At which the Arch-Bishop nothing troubled, did at last with much difficulty obtaine leave from the King to goe to Rome destitute of his Family, and stript of all his Archiepiscopall Ensignes, where he shortly after dyed.

William Witlesey, 2323WILLIAM WITLESEY.who next enjoyed this See, had some **See Antiq. Eccles. …rit. p. 282.differences with the King about granting Subsidies. At last he and the Clergie condescended to grant an Annuall Tenth upon condition that the King would free them from the intolerable p. 68yoak of the Popes oppr…ions; But Wil. Courtney thē Bp o… Hereford, after Arch-Bp of Cant.) standing up stoutly in the midst o… the Synod, sayd with a loud voyce; That neither he nor the Clergies of his Diocesse would give any thing to the King, be…ore the King had remedied those calamities under which the Clergie had long time suffered: Whereupon, the King sent Messengers to the Pope to Rome, to take away Provisions, Reservations, and other Exactions wherewith the Clergie and people of England were grieved; and put the Statute against Provisions in execution.

2424SIMON SUDBURY.Simon Sudbury, who next succeeded him, about whose Election there was much **Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 283. to 205.debate, was not long after his Instalment made Lord Chancellour of England, and sundry other Clergie-men formerly put from the Administration of Temporall Offices and affaires, by his example and meanes were restored to them againe; those Lay-men who managed them being disgracefully thrust out thereupon: Wakefeld Bishop of Worcester, being made Lord High Treasurer. This Arch-Bishop in the insurrection of Iacke Straw and Wat Tyler (stirred up by Iohn Ball a seditious Priest) was by this Vulgar rout (who purposed to destroy all Bishops and Abbots) proclaimed an enemie both to the King and people; who were so incensed against him as their greatest enemie, that apprehending him in the Tower of London, where the King then was, even whiles he was saying Masse; they drew him out thence, and with an Axe cut off his head like a Traytor. The manner of which Execution is thus described by **Walsing. Hist. Angl. An. 1381. p. 261, 262, 263. Ypodigma Neust. p. 139. Godwins Cat. of Bi…hops, p. 102.103. Graft…n, p. 336.Wal…igham, Godwin, and others. These Rebels in all haste came to the Tower, where the Court then was, requiring with great out-cries the Arch-Bishop. The Arch-Bishop, then Lord Chancellour, having had some inkling thereof the day before, had spent all that night in prayer, and just when they called for him was saying of Masse in the Chappell of the Tower. That ended, and hearing of their comming, Let us now goe (saith he unto his men) surely it is better to dye, seeing to live it can be no pleasure. With that, in came these murthering Rebels, crying, Where is the Traytor, Where is the Traytor? He answered, I am the Arch-Bishop, (whom I thinke you seeke) but no Traytor. With great violence then they drew him out of the Chappell, and carried him to the Tower Hill… seeing there nothing but p. 69swords and weapons; and hearing nothing but, Kill, kill, away with the Traytor, &c. yet he was not so amazed, but with great eloquence he could goe about to perswade them, not to imbrue their hands in the blood of their Arch-Bishop, their chiefe Pastor: assuring them, that all the Realme would be interdicted …or it, and the fact must needes be punished first or last by the temporall Law. And lastly, though these failed, God the just Judge would revenge it, either in this, or in the world to come, if not both. But these Varlots were so eagerly bent, that the very songs of the Syrens would nothing have moved them; seeing therefore nothing but death before his face, with comfortable words forgiving the executioner (that scarce ever requested him so to doe) with a very cheerefull countenance he kneeled, and yeelded himselfe to their fury; once he was stricken in the necke so weakely, as that notwithstanding, he kneeled still upright, and putting his hand up to the wound, he used these words; A ha, it is the Hand of God. Hee had not remooved his hand from the place, when a second stroake cut off his fingers ends, and felled him to the ground: with much adoe, having hacked and hewed his necke with eight blowes, they got off his head, upon Fryday Iune 14. 1381. All which day, and a part of the next, his body lay there headlesse, no man daring to offer it buriall: as for his head, they nayled his hood upon it, and so fixing it upon a pole, set it on London Bridge. By all which it appeares, that he was very odious to the people, and no other but a Traytor in their estimation.

William Courtney, 2525WILLIAM COURTNEY,next Arch-Bishop to him in succession, as he **Ant. Eccles. Br…t. p. 282.284.opposed the grant of a subsidy to the King whiles he was Bishop of Hereford, as you heard before, in the Acts of Whitlesey; so in the yeare 1376. when hee was Bishop of London, when King Edward the third desired a pecuniary ayd to helpe to supply his wants, and defray his Warres, this proud Prelate withstood these payments, complaining, that many injuries were done to him and to William Wickam Bishop of Winchester, which put into writing, he tendred to the Synod, and requested that nothing might be granted to the King before he had made satisfaction to them for these injuries, which the Synod assented p. 70to… and thereupon Wickam, formerly banished by the King, was restored to his Bishopricke, and admitted into his Synod. ††Antiqu. Ec…l. Brit. p. 296, to 300, &c. Holin. p. 475, 476.Hee received his Arch…Bishopricke by provision from the Pope against the Law, and made great scruple whether he might have his Crosier borne before him, or whether he might marry the Queene of Bo…omia his Sister, to King Richard the second, before he had received his Pall from …he Pope; which ye… he did at last, interposing this wary Protestation, that hee did it not in contempt o… the Court of Rome. He excommunicated the Bailiffes o… Canterbury, for p…nishing adultery and other crimes, which were to be punished by the Prelates; who neglected for to doe it. After which he excommunicated one Richard Ismonger of Ailsford in Kent, because he corrected criminals by Lay Authority, which were to be punished by the Prelates, and so violated the priviledges of the Church: he humbly desired to be absolved, promising by oath, never hereafter to violate the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, and that he would undergoe any punishment for his former contumacy and rashnesse that the Arch…Bishop should impose upon him; who enjoyned him this pun…shment: First, that in the Market place of West…alling in the greatest assembly of the people, he should for three Market dayes together be stript naked, and bastinadoed with clubs; and after that he should undergoe the same punishment as often both at Maidstone and Canterbury, and that a…ter his last castigation at Canterbury, he should enter into the Cathedrall Church there, naked, and offer a Taper of five pound weight at Thomas Beckets shrine: which punishment if he refused to performe, he should relapse into his former state of excommunication: a strange punishment for the Kings Officer to undergoe, onelyonly for executing justice upon delinquents in the Prelates defaults. This Arch-Prelate so farre incensed King Richard the second, that he commanded his goods, and temporalties to be feased, and the Bishop himselfe was glad to hide his head in secret corners, with a few attendants till he had made his peace with the King. In this Arch-bishops time, there were great contests betweene him and his Suffraganes, who opposed him in his Metropol…ticall visitation, and in levying the taxe of foure pence the pound on the Clergy within his Province, which he to p. 71their great oppr…ssion had procured from the pope: He had a great contestation with the Earle of Arundell, whose servants he excommunicated for fishing in one of his Ponds in the Mannor of Southmalling in Chichester Diocesse; whereupon the Earle complained to the King, who hearing the cause, commanded the excommunication directed to the Bishop of Chichester, to be revoked. In this Arch-Bishops time, the Statute of Provisions and Premunire was enacted; which the Pope and Prelates laboured forthwith to cause the King to repeale, to which the Nobles and Commons would by no meanes consent. Ann. Dom. 1387. when divers causes of high Treason were debated in Parliament,**Ant. Eccl. Brit. p. 299, 300… the Arch-Bishop with his Suffraganes who by Law could not be present in the House, in debating causes of blood, departing the House made this Protestation: In the Name of God, Amen. Whereas of right and by the custome of the Realme of England, it appertaines to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for the time being, as also to his Suffragans, his Brethren and fellow Bishops, Abbots, Priors, and all other Prelates whatsoever, holding of our Lord the King by **Therfore they sit there only by their Tenure, as Barons, not as Bishops.Barony, to be personally present in all Parliaments of the King as Peeres of the said Realme, and there of the businesses of this Kingdome, and other things there usually handled, with the …est of the Peeres of … said Kingdome, and others having right to be there present, to consul…, and handle, ordaine, decree, and define, and to doe other things, which are there ready to be executed in time of Parliament, in all, and every of which, we William Courtney, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, &c. for us and our Suffragans, fellow Bishops, and Confreers, as likewise for the Abbots, Priors, and all Prelates aforesaid, protest, and every one of them here present by himselfe or his proxie, publickely and expresly protesteth, that we and every of us, intend and intendeth, will and willeth to be present in this present Parliament, and others as Peeres of the said Realme, after the usuall manner, to consult, handle, ordaine, decree, and define, and to exercise other things with others who have right to be present in the same, our state and order, and each of them in all things alwayes saved. But because in the present Parliament some matters are handled, at which by the de…rees of sacred Canons it is not lawfull for us, or any to be any wayes personally present, for those things we will and every of them protest, and every of them here present protesteth likewise; p. 72that we neither intend nor desire, as by Law we neither can nor ought, neither doth any of them intend or desire to be present any way in this present Parliament, whiles such matters are or shall be in debate, but we and every of them will in this part wholly absent our selves. And we further protest, and every of them protesteth that for this our absence we neither intend, nor will, nor doth any of them intend or will, that the Processe made, or to be made in this present Parliament, as the which we neither may, nor ought to be present, as farre as it concernes us or any of them, shall in future times be any way impugned, debilitated or infringed. Which I recite to shew, that Parliaments may be held and decree things without Bishops, and to checke the pride of those Prelates who this Parliament pleaded hard to be present at the debate of the Lord Straffords Cause. I cannot here pretermit the trecherous and bloudy practice of William Cour…ney against the true Saints of God, and the Kings most loyall Subjects, for he being not content solemnely to **Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 404, &c. See Walsing. Hist. Ang. p. 300, to 330. Holinsh…d, p. 482, &c.excommunicate and persecute Iohn Wiclife, Iohn Ashton, Nicholas Herford, and Philip Repingdon, both at Pauls-crosse and at Oxford, for the true profession of the Gospell, did mo…eover by all meanes possible solicite King Henry the fourth, to joyn with all the power of his Temporall Sword, for that he well perceived, that hitherto as yet the Popis… Clergy had not authority sufficient by any publicke Law or Statute of this Land, to proceed unto death against any person whatsoever, in case of Religion but onelyonly by the usurped tyranny and example of the Court of Rome: Where note (gentle Reader) for thy better understanding, the practise of the Romish Prelates, in seeking the Kings helpe to further their bloody purpose against the good Saints of God. This King being but young, and under yeares of ripe judgement, partly induced, or rather seduced by importune suite of the foresaid Arch-Bishop; party also either for feare of the Bishops, (for Kings cannot alwayes doe in their Realmes what they will) or else perhaps inticed by some hope of a Sublidy to be gathered by the Clergy, was content to adjoyne his private assent (such as it was) to the setting downe of an Ordinance, which was indeed the very first Law that is to be found made against Religion and the Professors thereof, bearing the name of an Act made in the Parliament, holden at Westminster, Ann. 5. Rich. 2. c. 5. commonly p. 73intituled, An Act against the Lollards (the Contents whereof you may read in the Statutes at large, and in Master Fox.) This Act, though it beares the name of a Statute both in written and Printed Bookes, yet it was fraudulently and unduly devised by the Prelates onelyonly, and a meere pernicious forgery to advance their owne Episcopall power and Jurisdiction, invade the Subjects liberties, tread downe Religion, and shed our Martyrs blood; with which the Commons were so highly offended, as they had just cause so to be, that in the U…as of Saint Michael next following, at a Parliament summoned and holden at Westminster, the 6. yeare of the said King, among sundry petitions made to the King by the Commons, whereunto he assented; there is one in this forme, against this spurious Act of theirs… **See Master Full…rs Argument, p. 8, 9.Item, prayen the Commons, that whereas an Estatute was made the last Parliament in these words: It is ordained in this present Parliament, that Commissions from the King be directed to the Sheriffes and other Ministers of the King, or to other sufficient persons, after, and according to the Certificates of the Prelates thereof, to be made unto the Chancery from time to time, to arrest all such Preachers, and their Fautors, Maintainers, and Abettors, and them to detaine in strong Prison, untill they will justifie themselves according to reason, and Law of holy Church. And the King wille…h and commandeth, that the Chancellor make such Commissions at all times, as shall be by the Prelates or any of them certified, and thereof required, as is aforesaid. The which was **Note here the Prelates forgery of an Act of Parliament.never agreed nor granted by the Commons; but whatsoever was moved therein was without their assent. That the said Statute be therefore disannulled. For it is not in any wise their meaning, that either themselves, or such as shall succeed them, shall be further justified or bound by the Prelates, then were their Ancestors in former times: whereunto is answered, Il plest an Roy. i. e. The King is pleased. This supposed Statute, thus fraudulently devised by the Prelates onelyonly, was in like manner most injuriously, and unorderly executed by them; for immediately upon the publishing of this Law, without further warrant either from the King or his Councell, Commissions under the Great Seale of Engl…nd, were made in this forme, Richard, by the Grace of God, &c. Witnesse my selfe at Westminster the 26. day p. 74of Iune, in the 6. yeare of our R…igne. Without more words of Warrant under writ…en, such as in like cases are both usuall and …equisite, viz. Per ipsu… Regem, per Regem & Concilium; or Per breve de privato Sigillo. Al, or any of which words being utterly wanting in this place, as may be seene in the Kings Records of that time; it must therefore be done either by warrant of this fore-said Statute, or else without any warrant at all. And whereas the said Statute appointed the Commissions to be directed to the Sheriffe, or other Ministers of the Kings, or to other sufficient persons, learned for the arresting of such persons: they fraudulently procured the said Commissions to be directed to the Arch-bishop and his Suf…ragans, being both Judges, Accusers, Witnesses, and Parties in the Case, authorizing them further, without either the words, or reasonable meaning of the said Statute, to imprison them in their owne houses, or where else pleased them: Yea, such was this Arch-Bishops, and the other P…elates Treachery and villany in this particular, notwithstanding this unjust and spurious Law was repealed upon the forementioned Petition of the Commons, and the fraud of the framers thereof sufficiently discovered; yet such meanes was there made by the Prelates, that this Act of repeale was never published, nor ever since imprinted with the rest of the Statutes of that Parliament. Insomuch as the said repeale being concealed,Note here the injustice, treachery, and bloody practises of the Prelates. like Commissions and other Processe were made from time to time, by vertue of the said Bastard Statute, as well during the Raigne of this King, as since against the Professours of Religion; as Master Fox in his Acts and Monuments, both shewes, and proves at large. Now what is this no…orious forgery, this unjust and fraudulent execution of this pretended Act of Parliament, even after its repeale, by this Arch-Bishop and his Brethren, but the very heighth of Treachery, Villany, Schisme, and Sedition; yea, an In…ernall policy, to advance Episcopall Jurisdiction, erect a bloudy Inquisition, and shed our Martyrs blood, contrary both to the Lawes of God and the Realme? To end with this Prelate, **Thomas Walsin. …ist. Aug, p. 348 Anti. E…cl…. Brit. p. 300.Amm. 1385. this King called a Parliament at London, wherein the Laity granted the King one Quindisme and a halfe, upon condition that the Clergy would give him one Disme and a halfe. p. 75This Arch-Bishop stiffely opposed this condition saying, That it ought not to be made, especially seeing the Church ought to be free, and no wayes to be taxed by Lay-men; adding, that he would rather endanger his head for this cause, then suffer the Church of England to be so much inslaved. Which Answer so moved the company of Commons, that the Knights of the Counties, with certaine of the Nobles of the Kingdome, with great fury petitioned, that the Temporalties of the Ecclesiastickes might be taken away, saying, That the Clergy were growne to such excessive pride, that it would be a worke of piety and charity, by the taking away of their Temporalties, which did puffe them up, to compell them to be more humbly wise. These things they cryed out, these things they presented to the King in short writings, thinking to bring this Petition to effect. The Arch-Bishop to prevent the danger, consulting with his Clergy, granted the King one Tenth very willingly; which the King accepted of, and so for the present the unsatiable covetousnesse of the Enemies of the Church (saith Walsingham) was frustrated, and this Clause of the Laity obliterated out of the Bill.

††Anti. Eccle. Bri. p. 303, to 311. Godwin p. 152, &c: Fox Acts & Monuments, p. 533… Grafton p. 390, 391, Holin. p. 488. &c. to 514. Polychronicon, l. ult. c: 8. Walsingham hist. An… p: 397, to 403.Thomas Arundell his immediate successour,2626THOMAS ARVNDEL by provision from the Pope, against the Law, as he resigned his Chancellourship of England, so soone as ever he was made Arch-Bishop, as incompatible with his function (as Thomas Becket, Walter Reynalds, Iohn Stratford, with other his predecessors had commendably done before, witnesse Matthew Parker, Godwin, and Fox, in their lives, which I wish our secular Prelates would now imitate, though not in resuming this office againe, as he did at last:) so he was scarce warme in his Seat, when by King Richard the seconds displeasure, he was dispossessed of the same, for not onelyonly the Arch-Bishops Brother the Earle of Arundell, was attainted and condemned of High Treason against the King in full Parliament, for which he was presently executed; but the Arch-Bishop himselfe was by Sir Iohn Bushy, in the behalfe of the Commonalty, accused of high Treason, for that hee had evill counselled his Majesty, and induced him to grant Letters of Pardon to his brother the Earle of Arundell, being a ranke Traytor. p. 76After which he was found guilty and condemned of High Treason, adjudged unto perpetuall exile (for conspiring to take the King, the Dukes of Lancester and Yorke, prisoners, and to hang and draw the other Lords of the Kings Councell,) and commanded within forty dayes to depart the Realme, under paine of death. He thus banished got to Rome, and found such favour with the Pope, as that he first writ earnestly to the King for his Restitution: the King writes a sharpe Letter against him to the Pope, wherein he sheweth, That he plotted Treason against him, and endeavoured to take away his life; that he deserved rather to be quartered and executed as a Traytor, then banished; that the whole Kingdome wondred and were offended, hee had dealt so mildly with him, and not executed him as he deserved; that hee was a man impatient of peace, of a Trayterous and seditious spirit, so as he could not restore him, or re-admit him into the Realme without danger of his Life and Kingdome; and therefore, though all the World consented to his Restitution, yet hee would never doe it whiles he breathed. Upon which Letters, the Pope not onelyonly refused to restore him, but at the Kings request, made Roger Walden Arch Bishop in his stead.

The Pope hereupon conferred the Arch-bishopricke of S^t. Andrews in Scotland, with other livings here in England, by way of provision, upon Arundel… who confederating afterward with Henry Duke of Lancaster, against King Richard, they levyed what forces they could, and landed with them in England so that at last King Richard upon parly with this Arundell, whom he had banished, was forced to resigne his Crowne, and to render himselfe prisoner to the Duke of Lancaster, with promise of saving his life onelyonly: Hereupon the Arch-Bishop after the Resignation made in parliament, **See Fabian, par. 7, p. 351.Crowned the Duke King, and made a Briefe Collation on these words, 1 King. 9. A man shall Raigne over the People; Tending wholly to the praise of the new King, and disparagement of the old; Recorded at large by Holinshed: After which hee thrust Walden out of his See, and got restitution of it againe, the Pope confirming his Restauration, and declaring Walden to be an intruder; who after a while was made Bishop of London. This Arch-Bishop thus restored to his See, and in p. 77high favour with the King, **Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 474. to 540.proved a bloody persecutor and butcher of Gods Saints; to which end following the steppes of his predecessour Courtney, he, with the rest of the Bishops, fraudulently and surreptitiously procured by crafty… meanes and subtile pretences, the cruell bloody Statute Ex Officio, as Master Fox doth stile it (to wit, 2. Hen. 4. c. 15.) to passe the Upper House of Parliament as a Law, without the Commons assent or Privity, whose assent they yet foisted into the written and Printed **See I…annes de Aton. Constit. Prov. f. 104.Coppies of that Act, to blind the world withall, and give it the colour of a Statute, though it be not to be found in the Parliament Roll the Commons never consenting to it, as Mr. Fox hath shewed at large in his Acts and Monuments, p. 539.540. and the Statute of 25. Hen. 8. c. 14. witnesseth: which bastard Statute, by colour of which alone most or all our English Martyres were afterwards imprisoned, burned, tortured, and put to death) being thus unduly obtained, this bloody Arch-Prelate, forthwith caused many godly Martyres to be burnt to ashes, and the Worthy honourable Lord Cobham with sundry others to be put to death; by reason whereof the Kingdome of the Pope, and of the Prelates his members here in this Realme, began to be… so strong, that none durst stirre or once mutter against them. The Bishops having the King so full on their side, armed moreover with these two forged Lawes, with imprisonments, sword, fire, and faggot, raigned and ruled as they listed, as Kings and Princes within themselves: So strong were they of power that no humane force was able to stand against them, so exalted in pride and puffed up in glory, that they thought all things to be subject to their reverend majesties. Whatsoever they set forth and decreed, though in their owne names, rites, and by their owne authorities, it must of all m…n bee received and obeyed. And it was their Superstitious blindnesse, and curious vanity, that whatsoever …oy came once in their fantacy, it was straight-way determined and established for a Law of all men to be observed, were it never so …rivilous or superstitious; yea such was the pride, vaine-glory, and insolency of this Arch-Bishop Arundel, (who stuffed the Church with Ceremonies, and vaine Traditions of men p. 78as his Successors doth now) that he in great snuffe suspended all the Churches in London, not onelyonly with the Steeple and Bells, but also with the Organs, (because they did not ring …he Bells for a triumph at his comming, when he passed by the high streete of London, with his Crosse carryed in pompe before him,) till the Ministers and Officers of the sayd Churches should doe penance, and give him competent satisfaction for this indignity. Now what shall wee thinke or conclude of these two last Arch-Bishops, Courtney and Arundel, who thus tooke upon them to forge even publicke Acts of Parliament for the advancement of their own… Antichristian Hierarchie, the suppressing of the Gospel, the murthering and destroying the Kings best Subjects, and the effusion of so much Martyres blood, but that they were monsters of Trechery, Tyranny, inhumanity Traytors and enemies both to the Church and Common-wealth, yea the very Divels and Popes Arch-agents to effect their wills. But God was even with the latter of them, Arundel, who shutting up the mouthes, and silencing the tongues of many faithfull Ministers, his owne ††Tho. Gascon. in Dict. Theol. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 311. Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 276. the old Edition. Godwin, p. 110.Tongue at last by Gods just judgement swelled so big in his mouth, as hee was able neither to ea…e, drinke, no… speake in many dayes, and so dyed of hunger after he had starved so many poore Christian Soules, and burned their bodyes into ashes. In the yeare 1403. King Henry the fourth, intending to goe into North Wales to chasten the presumptuous doings of the unruly Welsh-men, and wanting money to wage his Souldiers, there were some that counselled him to be bold with the Bishops,Holinsh…d p. …24. and supply his wants with their superfluity. But as it fortuned, Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury was there present, who in the name of all the rest boldly made answere,It was spoken like a Prelate. that none of his Province should bee spoyled by any of those naughty persons; but that first with hard stripes they should understand the price of their harsh enterprise. But the King neverthelesse used the matter so with the Bishops for their good wills, that the Arch-bishop at length to pleasure him, calling the Clergie together, got a grant of one Tenth, towards the Kings necessary charges. And thereby secured their temporalities for that time. **Thomas Walsing. Hist. Aug. An. 1414.414.415. Holin…d, p. 526.The next yeare following, a Parliament p. 79being called to Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 282. p. 308. Speed. p. 775. Walsingham Yp…dig. N…ustr. p. 166.consult how the King might be relieved with money for defence of the Realme against the Scots and Welshmen at home, and the Brittaines, Flemmins, and Frenchmen abroade, it was thought most expedient, that the spirituality should be deprived of their temporall possessions to relieve the Kings necessity. Hereupon rose great alteration betweene the Clergie and the Laity, the Knights affirming, that they had often times served the King, not onelyonly with their goods, but also with their persons in very great dangers and jeopardies, whilst the spiritualty …it at home, and helpe the King nothing at all. Whereupon this Arch-Bishop stoutly answered, That the Clergie had alwayes given to the King as much as the Laity had done, considering they had oftner given their Tenthes to him then the Laity their Fifteenes: also, that more of their Tenants went to the Kings warres, than of the Tenants of them of the Lay fee: besides this they prayed day and night for the Kings good successe against his enemies. When the Speaker named Sir Iohn Cheinie, in replying by plaine speech, seemed but little to esteeme such prayers of the Church, the Arch-Bishop was set in a great chafe, and with sharpe words declaring what hee thought must needes follow both of the King and Kingdome, when Prayers and Suffrages of Church-men came to bee so little set by, hee grew to such impatiencie, that hee flatly told the Speaker,He spake like … Lord. That although hee seemed little to esteeme of the Religion of the Clergie, ye… hee would not have him to thinke that hee should thus take away the possessions of the Church, without finding such as would seeke to withstand him: For if (sayd hee) the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury may live, thou shalt have …o… taking away any manner of thing that is his. After this when the Arch-Bishop perceived that the King winked at these matters, hee rose from his place, and comming before the King he kneeled downe, and besought him to consider, how through the Grace and favour of Almighty God, hee had obtained the Kingdome; and therefore ought to remember his first purpose and intent, which was, to p. 80give to e…ery man his right, so farre as in him say… he… willed him likewse to have in consideration the Oath which he so willingly had received, that is, that hee should advance the Honour of the Church, and the Ministers thereof cherish and maintaine; Also to have in minde the danger and dishonour that redounded to such as brake their oathes; so that he besought him to permit and suffer the Church to enjoy the priviledges and Liberties, which in time of his Predecessours it had enjoyed, requesting him to stand in awe of that King by which all Kings did ra…gne, and to seare the censures and condemnations that those in…urred, which tooke or bereft …rom the Church any good or right belonging to it, who most certainely (sayd hee) are accursed. When the Arch-Bishop had used this or the like speech, the King commanded him to goe to his seate againe, assuring him, that his intent and purpose was, to leave the Church in as good state or better than hee found it. The Arch-Bishop herewith turning to the Knights and Burgesses of the Parliament, sayd unto them, You and such others as you be, have given counsell unto the King and his Predecessours to confiscate and take into their hands the goods and possessions of the Cells which the Frenchmen and Normans possessed here in England, and affirmed, that by the same he and they should heape up gr…at riches; and indeede those goods and possessions were worth many thousands of gold, and yet it is most true, that t…e King this day is not one halfe pound of silver better thereby, for you have begged and gotten them out of his hands, and have appropriated the same to your selves, so that wee may conjecture very well, that you request to have our Temporalties, not to advance the Kings profit, but to satisfie your owne greedy covetousnesse; for undoubtedly if the King (as God forbid hee should) did accomplish your wicked purposes and mindes, he should not be one farthing the richer the yeare next after: and truely sooner will I suffer this head of mine to be cut off from my shoulders, then that the Church should lose the least right that appertaineth to it. The Knights sayd little, but yet they proceeded in their suite to have their purpose forward. Which the Arch-Bishop perceiving, (as another Argus … having his eyes on every side, to marke what was done) laboured so to disappoint their doings, that he wan the favour of certaine of the Temporall Lords to assist him, p. 81who constantly avouched by their consents, that the Church should never be spoyled of her Temporalties; and herein they acquitted the Arch-Bishop and Prelates, one pleasure for another, which they had done for them before, when the Commons in this Parliament required, that all such Lands and revenues which sometime belonged to the Crowne, and had beene given away by the King, or by his predecessors King Edward or King Richard, should be restored againe to the Kings use; unto which request the Arch-Bishop and other the Prela…es would in no wise consent. Thus by this Arch-Bishop Arundel, that Petition of the Commons the …pirituall Temporalities came to naught. Afterwards, in an **Tho. Waldens… Hist. A…g. …410. p. 422. Ypodig. Neu…. p. 174. H…lin. p. 536. Fabian, Ann. 1410. part. 7. p. 386, 387.other Parliament Anno 1410. the Commons of the …ower House exhibited a Bill to the King and Lords of the Upper House, containing in effect as followeth. To the most excellent Lord our King: and to all the Nobles in this present Parliament assembled, your faithfull Commons doe …umbly signifie, that our Soveraigne Lord the King might have of the Temporall possess…ons, Lands, and Tenements which are lewdly spent, consumed and wasted by the Bishops, Abbots and Priors within this Realme, so much in value as would suffice to finde and sustaine an 150. Earles, 1500. Knights, 6200. Esquires, and 100. Hospitals more than now be: which is more largely and particularly related in Fabian. The King (as some write) mis-liked the motion, and therefore commanded, that from thenceforth they should not presume to study about any such matters. Another thing the Commons then sued to have granted to them, but could not obtaine: That Clerkes convict should no… thenceforth bee delivered to Bishops Prisons: Moreover they demanded to have the Stat…te either revoked or qualified, which had beene enacted without their consent in the Second yeare of this Kings raigne, against such as were reputed to be Heretickes or Lollards. But the King seemed so highly to favour the Clergie, that the Commons were answered plainely, that they should not come by their purpose, but rather that the said statute should be made more rigorous and sharpe for the punishment of such persons: and all this by meanes of this bloodly Arch-Bishop Arundel, of whom we have heard sufficient.

p. 822727HENRY CHICH…LY.Henry Chichely, being elected Arch Bishop by the Monks of Canterbury with the Kings consent, immedia…ly after Arundels death,**Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 312.315 God…ins Catal. p. 159. Walsingh. Hist. Aug. p. 432. hee refused to accept of this their Legall election; and against the expresse Statutes of the Realme, touching Provisions and Premuni…es, accepted of the See onelyonly by Colla…ion from Pope Iohn the 23. in affront both of the King and those Lawes, which the Pope endeavored in vaine to get repealed, and therefore opposed in point of practise all that he might, reserving by a Decree of the Councell of Constance all vacancie to his own dispo…all, bestowing all the Bishoprickes of England as soon as they were voyd at his own pleasure, by the Arch-Bishops connivence, in affront of the Lawes and the Kings royall Edicts. **Antiq. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 317. to 322. where the …opes B…ll and …he Arch-Bi…hops Lettersare …t large recited.This Arch-Prelate published throughout his Province Pope Martins Bulls, for the extirpation of the Wicklevists and Hussites by force of armes, and promised the same Indulgences to those who should take up the Crossado and warre against them, as those enjoyed who went to the holy Land to fight against the Sarecens. For which good service the same yeare (Anno 1429.) he received the Title of the Cardinall Presbyter of S. Eusebius …rom Pope Martin the 5. who also created him his Legate here in England, without the Kings privity, and contrary to Law. **Antiq. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 322.But to colour the businesse, lest he should seeme to receive that power Legatine without the Kings permission and Licence, against the Lawes and Customes of the Realme; one Richard Condray was made the Kings procurer, that hee might appeale to the next generall Councell from all injuries, grievances, and prejudices offered or to be offered by the Pope or Court of Rome to the King and the Kingdome. There…ore as soon as it was known that the Arch-Bishop had received this Legatin power without the Kings privity or licence, Condray made this appeale to Humfrey Duke of Gloster Lord Protector, and others o… the Kings privie Councell, in writing. In which he expressed, that no Legate of the Sea Apostolicke ought to come into the Kingdome of the King of England or other his Lands or Dominions, but at the vocation, petition, requisition or intreaty o… the King of England for the time being, the Roman Pontifex tolerating and consenting thereto, as well tacitely as expresly: in which appeale notwithstanding, if the sayd Arch Bishop, not as a p. 83Legate but as a Cardinall would say, open, or propound any thing from the Pope to the King, it might be lawfull for him to doe it. In which the King would so farre assi…t as he migh… doe it by the Lawes and Priviledges of his royall Crowne, and of his famous Kingdome of England. The appeale being read, the Arch-Bishop in the presence of the Prelates and Nobles there present, confessed and protested That it was not, nor is, nor should be his intention by his entring into England, nor by any things done or to be done by him, spoken or to be spoken, for to exercise the Legatine power which hee had undertaken, without the Kings permission, or to derogate in any thing from the rights, priviledges, liberties, or customes of the King or Kingdome, or t… contradict …hem, but to preserve, defend, maintaine, and roborate all and every of them. By this device he deluded both the King, Counsell, and Lawes: how well hee kept this his protestation, his subsequent Acts will evidence. For immediately after hee made a Synodicall Constitution, ††Lindwood Pr… vinc. Const. 3. Tit. de Clericis conjugatis p. 94.95.That no married man or Lay man should exercise any Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction, or be Iudge or Register in any Ecclesiasticall Court in causes of correction of the soule, under paine of incurring the greater excommunication ipso facto, if they offered to intermeddle in any of the premises cont…a…y to the Councels prohibition; which further makes voyd all citations, processe and Acts whatsoever, had and made by Laymen in the Cases aforesayd, and suspends all Ordinaries from the exercise of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction, and ingresse into the Church, who should grant any married or Lay man power to exercise any Ecclesiasticall Office or authority under them. What the true intent of this Arch-Prelates Constitution was, and how farre this Decree intrenched upon the Kings Prerogative Royall, appeares by the Statute of 37. H. 8. c. 17. (made purposely to repeale this Constitution) which I shall here insert. **37. H. 8. cap. 17. intituled, A… Act that Doctor… of Civill Law, being married, may exercise Eccl…siasticall Iurisdiction.In most humble wise shew and declare unto your highnesse your most faithfull, humble, and obedient Subjects the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, aud the Commons of this present Parliament assembled, that whereas your Majesty is, and hath alwayes justly beene by the Word of God supreame head in Earth of the Church of England, and hath full power and authority, to correct, punish, and represse all manner of Heresies, errours, vices, abuses, Idolatries, hypocrisies, and Superstitions… springen p. 84and growing within the same; and to exercise all manner of Iurisdictions, commonly called Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction. Neverthelesse, the Arch-Bishop of Rome and his **Meaning our Engli…h Prelates.adherents minding utterly as much as in him lay, to **Note this.abolish, ob…cure, and delete such power given by God to the Princes of the earth, whereby they might gather and get to themselves the government and rule of the world; have in **To wit, under Henry Chich…ly, fore-cited.their Councells and Synods Provinciall made, ordained, and established, and decreed divers ordinances and constitutions, that no Lay or marryed man should or might exercise or occupie any Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall, nor should be any Judge or Register… in any Court comm…nly called Ecclesiasticall Cour…, **Not… this.lest their …alse and usurped power, which they pretended and went about to have in Christs Church, should decay, waxe vile, and of no reputation, as by the sayd Councels and Constitutions Provinciall appeareth: which standing and remaining in their effect not abolished by your Graces Lawes, did seeme to appeare to make greatly for the sayd usurped power of the sayd Bishop of Rome, and to be directly repugnant to your Majesties Title of supreame head of the Church and prerogative Royall, your Grace being a Lay-man: and albeit the sayd Decrees, Ordinances and Constitutions by a Statute made the 25… yeare of your most noble raigne be utterly abolished, frustrate and of none effect, yet because the contrary thereunto is not used nor put in practise by …he Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Deanes, and other Ecclesiasticall persons, who have **Where then is …ur Bishops pretend…d Superiority and Jurisdiction by Divine right…no manner of Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall, but by, under, and from your royall Majesty, it addeth or a… the least may give occasion to some evill disposed perso…s to thinke and little to regard the proceeding, and censures Ecclesiasticall made by your Highnesse and your Vice-gerent, Officialls, Commissaries, Judges, and Visitators… being also Lay and married men, to be of little or none effect or force, whereby the people gathereth heart and presumption to doe evill, and not to have such reverence to your most godly injunctions and proceedings, as becommeth them. But forasmuch as your Majesty is the onelyonly and undoubtedly supreame head of the Church of England, and p. 89also of Ireland, to whom by Scripture all authority and power is wholly given to heare, and determine all causes Ecclesiasticall, and to correct all vice and sinne whatsoever, and to all such persons as your **Not th… Bishops.Majesty shall appoint thereunto; that in consideration thereof, as well for the instruction of ignorant persons, as also to avoyd the occa…ion of the opinion aforesayd, and setting forth of your prerogative royall and supremacy, It may therefore please your Highnesse, that it may bee ordained and enacted by authority of this present Parliament, that all and singular aswell Lay as those that be married now, or hereafter shall be married, being Doctors of the Civill Law, lawfully create and made in any University which shall be made, ordained, constituted, and deputed to bee any Chancellour, Vicar Generall, Commissary, Officiall, Scribe, or Register by your Not by Bishops.Majesty, or any of your Heires, or Successours to any… Arch-Bishop, Bishop, Arch-Deacon, or other person whatsoever, having To wit, by speciall Pate…t which Bishop… …hen had, and none have …o….authority under your Majesty, your Heires and Successours, to make any Chancellour, Vicar Generall, Commissary, Off…ciall, or Register, may lawf…lly execute and exercise all mann…r of Jurisdiction commonly called Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, and all Censures and Corrections appertaining o… any wise belonging unto the same, albeit such person or persons be Lay, married, or unmarried, so that they be Doctors of the Civill Law, as is aforesayd, any Law, Constitution, or Ordinance to the contrary notwi…hstanding. By this Act it is apparent, that the end of the former Constitution was trecherously to undermine and abolish the Kings Prerogative Royall in causes Ecclesiasticall, and to make the Pope and our Prelates absolute Monarches, and our Kings meere Cyphers to execute their Mandates, when by the expresse words of this Law, with that of 1. Ed. 6. c. 2.26. H. 8. c. 1.1. Eliz. c. ….5. Eliz. c. 1.8. Eliz. c. 1. and 1. and 2. Phil. and M…ry c. 8. it is most clearely resolved, that our Arch-Bishops and Bishops, have no manner of Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall over other Ministers by any divine right, (as they now See Bishop Halls 3. late …ookes of Episcopacy.vainely, if not trayterously pret…nd) but by, from, and under our Kings, in whose name and right, and under whose Seale p. 78alone all their Ecclesiasticall processe ought to issue, as hath beene **See the Breviate of the Prelates intolerable Usurpations, both upon the Kings Prerogative Royall, and the Subjects Liber…ies.elsewhere plentifully manifested, it being no lesse than a Premunire, by the Statute of 1. Edw. 6. c. 2. …or any Bishops or Ecclesiasticall Judges to issue out processes in their owne names, and under their owne Seales, as now our Prelates doe. This Law of Premunire, was such a curbe to our usurping Prelates, that this Arch Prelate Chichely, in the last Synod hee held Anno. 1439. without delay or difficulty granted King Henry the sixt a Tenth, and promised him large supplyes from the Clergie in all things, if he would abrogate those hard Lawes of Premunire, where-with the Clergie were very falsely accused and oft taken and ensuared as in unjust s…ares; (whereas in truth those Lawes were the principall safety both of King and people, to preserve and free them from the unjust incroachments of Popes and Prelates, upon their Liberties, Lawes, and Estates, which made the Pope and them so frequently to sollicite their repeale.) And by his countenance **Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 323. and Li…dwood his Epistle Dedicatory before his Institutions.William Lindwood collected and set out the Provinciall Constitutions of the Arch-Prelates of Canterbury in their Synods, in affront of the Kings prerogative Royall and the Lawes of the Realme, dedicating them to this Arch-Prelate, and entreating him to put them in due Execution being neglected, and quite disregarded formerly, both by Prelates, Judges, and people, as he complaines in his Epistle Dedicatory to him. In briefe, when ††Fabian. part. 7. p. 390.139. Hall. An. 2. H 5. f 35.36. &c… Holins…. p. 54….547, &c. 583.in the Parliament held at London, Anno 1414. under King Henry the fifth, the Commons reviewed their former Petition in Parliament made to King Henry the fourth but foure yeares before, to seize the Bishops and Abbots Temporalities, shewing how many Earles, Knights, and Esquires they would maintaine; The Bishops and Abbots whom it touched very neare, much …earing… the issue… determined to assay all wayes to put by, and overthrow this Bill, and minding rather to bow than breake, they first agreed to offer the King a great summe of money, to stay this new moven Demand. The cause of this offer seemed to some of the wise Prelates neither decent nor convenient, for they well …oresaw, and perfectly knew, that if the p. 79Commons perceived, that they by rewards or by offer of money would resist their request and petition, that they stirred and moved with a fury, would not onelyonly raile and despise them as corrupters of Princes, and enemies of the Publicke…Wealth, but would so cry and call on the King, and the …emporall Lords, that they were like to lose both worke and oyle, cost and lining. Wherefore they determined to cast all chances, which might serve their purpose, and in speciall, to replenish the Kings braine with some pleasant study, so as that hee should neither phantasie nor regard the serious Petition of the importunate Commons. Wherefore on a day, when the King was present in Parliament, this Henry Chichely Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, after low Obeysance made to the King, made a publicke Oration in Parliament be…ore the King, and Peeres, wherein hee shewed the Kings undoubted Title to sundry Provinces and the whole Realme of France; with the injustice and nullity of the Salicke Law, the onelyonly Obstacle to his Title, stirring up the King and Nobles by force of Armes to regaine the same: and withall declared that his loving Clergie and subjects of the spiritualty, to shew their willingnesse and desire to ayde his Majesty for the recovery of his ancient Right, and true Inheritance, had in their Convocation, granted to his Highnesse such a Summe of money as by Spirituall Persons, never was to any P…ince thorough the whole Christian World, before those times, given or advanced: By which device seconded by the Duke of Exe…er, he diverted and shifted off the Petition of the Commons, and engaged the King and Kingdome in a long, bloody, and costly Warre. The King himselfe professing on his death Bed, that before the beginning of the same Warres, hee was fully perswaded by men both Wise, Pious, and of great holinesse of life, that in prosecuting his just Title, he might & ought both begin the same Warres, and follow them till he brought them to an end, justly and rightly, and that without all danger of Gods displeasure, or perill of soule. Such an incendiary of war, was this Arch-Embassadour of peace that should be.

**Antiq. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 325. to 330.Iohn Stafford, 2828JOHN STAFFORD.preferred to the Bishopricke of Bath and p. 92Wells by provision from Pope Martin the fifth, contrary to the Lawes enacted against Provisions from Rome, immediately after Chichelyes death, was in farther affront of the sayd Lawes promoted to the See of Canterbury, by Pope Eugenius; that prohibited usurpation of Papall Provisions, de…ended by so many Lawes and Statutes, being no whit abated, through the Popes industry, and the Prelates Treachery and ambition, who would rather incurre the danger of these Lawes, and dis-savour of their Princes, then want a far Bishopricke, though they paid Popes dearely for it. This Arch-Prelate in the first Synod held under him at London, Anno. 1444. confederating with the rest of the Clergie, when a Subsidie was demanded of them, petitioned, that the Statutes of Provisors, and the Writs or Actions of Praemunire, which by the crafty and malicious interpretation of the Lawyers, as they …alsely …urmised, were turned to the destruction of the Clergie, and disturbance of Ecclesiasticall Discipline, might be either wholly abrogated, or their rigour moderated… and that Lay-men for suing Clergie-men falsly in Temporal Courts, might have some severe punishment inflicted on them by a Law. But this their motion vanishing into smoake, and the Judges restraining their extravagant proceedings in Ecclesiasticall Courts by Prohibitions, and bringing them within the compasse of the Statutes against Provisions, and in the danger of Premunire's, which did much terrifie them; hereupon the Arch-Bishop and Prelates in their next Synod at London, An. 1446. presented a new Petition to the King in the Name of the whole Clergie of England, wherein they grievously complained of the Lay-Judges, who were ever very troublesome and despightfull to Clerkes; desiring that the Statutes of Provision and Praemunire might be more equally expounded in favour of the Prelates by the Parliamen, than it was by the Lawyers, and that they might be restrained from granting Prohibitions to, and exercising… any Jurisdiction over Spirituall Judges; But this Petition proved ineffectuall; it being provided by Statute, that no spirituall Law shall have place contrary to a Common Law or Act of Parliament. And this were not (as the Lord **St…ph…n …ardi…r his Letter from the Fleete to the Lord Protector, Oct. 14. Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 741. in the old Edition, quite omitted i… the ne….Audley Chancellour of England, p. 93once told Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester in the Parliament House, who thought it strange, that Bishops authorized by the King could fall in a Praemunire) the Bishops would enter in with the King, and by meanes of his Supremacie order the Lairy as they listed; but wee will provide, quoth he, that the Praemunire shall ever hang over your heads, and so we Laymen shall bee sure to enjoy our inheritance, by the Common Lawes and Acts of Parliament. After this, the Pope exacted of the Clergie of England a Tenth of all their Revenues, and sent Nuncioes to the Arch-Bishop with Bulls to collect it. But the King hearing of this secret fraud, commanded the Arch-Bishop not to obey the Pope herein, who yet was so farre a servant to the Pope, and enemie to the King, that during all his Archiepiscopall Raigne the Pope made Bishops by Provision, against the Lawes of the Realme.

**Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 330.331Iohn Kemp, 2929JOHN KEMP.the next Arch-Bishop, elected lawfully by the Monkes of Canterbury with the Kings consent, refused to take his Arch-Bishoprike from the King, but waving his Election, received it by Provision from the Pope, who sent over sixe severall Bulls to this end, the first to the Arch-Bishop himselfe, the second to the Chapter of Canterbury: the third, to his Provinciall Suffragans; the fourth, to the Clergie of the City and Diocesse of Canterbury; the fifth, to the people of the same; the sixth, to the Vassals of the Arch-Bishop; by which Bulls the Pope increased much hi… Revenues: And …o obliege this Arch-Prelate the faster to him, the Pop… by another Bull created him Cardinall of Saint Ruffine: But this Arch-Bishop dying within one yeare and an halfe after his Consecration, could doe him but little service.

Antiq. Ec…les. Brit. p. 334. to 339.Thomas Burgchier, 3030THOMAS BOURGCHIERimmedia…ely succeeding him, by the speciall favour of King Henry the sixth, this ingratefull Prelate (made a Cardinall by the Pope) some …ew yeeres after (An. 1461.) crowned and consecrated Edward the fourth at Westminster to be King in his stead, during King Henry his life, and in a full Synod procured the Clergie to grant him a Tenth: Afterwards in a Synod at London, An. 1463. he… granted him another Subsidie, and obtained a Grant from p. 82King Edward under his Seale, that the Prelates should bridle the malice of those by whom their rights were violated, as well by old Ecclesiasticall Lawes as by those new Lawes they should make, both in all causes belonging to the Ecclesiasticall Court, as also in the Tythe of great Trees of twenty yeares growth or more, without the feare or penalty of the Statutes of Provisors, or of the Writs or Actions of Premunire, or of any Prohibition, and that they might proceede therein without any consultation obtained: And that if any of the Kings Judges, or other secular Judges should by any Writs or Processe hinder or deterre any Arch-Bishop, Bishop, or Arch-deacon, or their Vicars, Officialls, Commissaries, or other Ecclesiasticall Judges: That then upon the monition of the sayd Arch-Bishop, Bishop, &c. so hindered or scared, the sayd Judge should appeare in the Chancery at such day as the said Arch-Bishop or Ecclesiasticall Judge should appoint, on paine of two hundred pound, to answere to the King for this his contempt, and that his Processe against the Ecclesiasticall Judge, should by Royall Authority bee rescinded, and pronounced to be voyd and frustrate. In his time there were many Pilgrimages made both by King Edward, the Queene, and others to that Arch-traytor Beckets Shrine at Canterbury, where they offered many rich gifts: Afterwards, Anno. 1469. the Earle of Warwicke conspiring with others to free King Henry the Sixth from the Tower of London; King Edward hearing of it, went in Pilgrimage to Beckets Tombe to Canterbury, and there held a Councell of five Bishops and many Peeres of the Realme, from which the Arch-Bishop being suspected (as trecherous and unfaithfull) was wholly excluded: King Edward deceasing, this Arch-Prelate though hee made a Will sequestred all his goods as ordinary, and seized the Great Seale, the Privie Seale, and the Royall Signer, which hee detained in his custodie; and whereas Richard Duke of Gloucester had traytorously plotted to murther his Nephewes, Edward the Fifth, and his Brother, this Arch-bishop was imployed by him to goe to the Queene, to **H…lin. p. 717. to 722. Hall, in Edw. the 5. …. 8. to 14. Speed. p. 90…. to 912.get the young Duke of Clarence from her out of the Sanctuary at Westminster, who using many p. 83reasons and flattering words to her in vaine, at last made this deepe protestation: That if she were content to deliver the Duke to him, and to the other Lords present, he durst lay his owne body and soule both in pledge, not onelyonly for his surety, but also for his estate, &c. Whereupon, with much adoe, shee delivered the Duke into his treacherous hands, who forthwith brought him into the Starre-Chamber to his Uncle the Lord Protector… Hee having both Brothers now in his power, pretends them to bee illegitimate, proclaimes himselfe right Heire to the Crowne, procures first Pinker; and then **Holinsh. p. 725. to 728. Speed, p. 918.919.Doctor Shaw (no doubt by the Arch Bishops helpe and privity) in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse (by which Sermon hee lost his honesty, and soone after his life, for very shame of the World, into which hee never durst after to come abroad) to publish to the people, T…at Edward the fifth and his Brother were unlawfully begotten in Adultery, not by the Duke of Yorke, but others; That Richard of Glocester was right Heire to the Crowne, extolling him to the skies, and slandering King Edward the Fourth with his Queene, as never lawfully marryed to her. Then proceeding treacherously to murther his poore young Nephewes, and usurping their Royall Throne; this **Holinsh. p. 733.734. Hall, f. 25.26.Arch-bishop readily crownes him (though a bloody and unnaturall Usurper) as lawfull King of England, and his Lady likewise Queene, the other Bishops and Abbots assisting him in this action, and accompanying him in their Pontificalibus. This Usurper being afterward slaine, the Arch-Bishop (ever turning with the …yde of things) crownes Henry the 7. likewise King of England, and shortly after departed this world, Anno 1486. I finde not (writes ††Pag. 114.Godwin in his life) that ever any English man connued so long a Bishop, or that any Arch-bishop either before or after him in 800. yeares enjoyed that place so long; for he continued Arch-Bishop 32 yeares, and lived after the time of his first Consecration and promotion to the Bishopricke of Worcester 51. yeares, and I marvell much, that in all that while he never endeavoured to leave behinde him any good Deed for the perservation of his Memory. Sure I am, that his Treachery to the young Duke of Clarence, and King Henry who advanced him, and his Treasons in crowning two Usurpers, with his base p. 96temporising, remaine as so many survi…ing Monuments of his in…amie and disloyalty.

3131JOHN MORTON.**Hall, f. 30. to 40. H…linshed, p. 735. to 760. Spe…d, p. 931.932. to 946. Antiq Eccles. Brit p. 339. to 344. Godwin in his life.Iohn Morton his Successour, whiles Bishop of Ely, was accused by Richard the Third of many great Treasons, and committed by him to the Tower: from whence being removed and committed to the custody of Henry Duke of Buckingham, he by degrees stirred up the Duke to plot the deposing of King Richard the Usurper, and se…ting up of the Earle of Richmond, for which the Duke not long after lost his head: The Bishop in the meane time disguising himselfe, escaped out of the Dukes custody, fled first to Ely, next to Flanders, after which hee went to Rome, never more intending to meddle with the world. But King Henry the seventh having got the Crowne, married King Edward the fourth his daughter, and so united the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke, (which marriage was first devised by this Prelate) called him home againe, made him Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and Chancellour of England; whereunto the Pope annexed the honour of a Cardinall, translating him from Ely to Canterbury, by no lesse than sixe …everall Bulls, (all against Law) to augment the Fees. In his **Speed p. 960. See Hall, Holin…d, Polyd…r… Virgill, Stow, and Bacon in the life of Henry the seventh.time Richard Simon, a Priest, an ambitious wretch, on hope to make himselfe the principall Bishop in England, plotted the advancement of Lambert Synmell; (being his Pupill in the University of Oxford) to the Crowne of England, under the name of Edward Earle of Warwicke; and conveying this Imposter to Dublin in Ireland, hee there caused him to be proclaimed King of England; **Antiq. Eccles. Bri…. p. 342.343.344. Godwin p. 117.after this, to land with an Armie in England, where in a Battell at Stockefield, in which many were slaine, this Priest and his Co… …erfeit were both taken Prisoners, and attainted of High Treason, yet this Simon (or rather Sinon) out of the extraordinary reverence to his function was not executed, but onelyonly committed to the Arch-Bishop, who imprisoning him some space in his owne Prison, delivering him over to the Major of London, condemned him to a Dungeon and perpetuall shackles. After which this **Antiq. Eccles. Bri…. p. 342.343.344. Godwin p. 117.Arch-Bishop imposed two great Subsidies on the Clergie of his Province to their great oppression, forcing …hem by the Popes p. 97authoritie to contribute so largely toward the charges of his tran…lation, as of his owne Diocesse onelyonly (which is one of the least o… England) hee received 354. pound: sent Pope Inno…ents Bulls to all the Suffraga…es of his Province to publi…h and execute, in open affront of the Lawes of …he Realme, the King… Prerogative Royall, and the Subjects Libe…ties; for which good Service, the Pope by his Bulls appointed him to be Visi…r of all the Monasteries and other places exempt from Archiepiscopall and Ordinary Jurisdiction throughout England, and made him Cardinall of Saint Anastasia; he perswaded the King to sue to the Pope, not onelyonly for the Popes canonization of King Henry the Sixth, but likewise for the translation of his dead Corps from Windsor to Westminster Abbey, and that in an unwor…hy manner, when as the King might have done it by his own meere Royall Authoritie onelyonly. He procured his Rebellio…s predecessour Anselme, with a great summe of money, to be canonized at Rome for a Sa…nt; and had many conflicts and contestations with the Bishops of London, and other his Suffraganes, abou… Probate of Wills and Jurisdiction of their Eccl…ia…icall Cour…s, which caused Appeales to Rome, whereupon …he …nferiour Priests, with many others of his Province, ca… for…h sundry publike calumnies to his disgrace; against whom Pope Alexander sent forth a Bull, cruelly fulminating Excommunications against them. And by this meanes the priviledges of the See of Canterbury, oft times called into dou…t and controversie in former time, were at la…t e…ablish…. It seemes the Bishops in his dayes were very much hated by the inferiour Clergie: whereupon in a Synod **Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 341.342.at London under him, Anno Dom. 1487. certaine Preachers were sharpely reproved and threat…ed, who in their Sermons, cum plausu populari, eloquentia canina, latran… immodestius in Episcopos absentes, did with popular applause, a…d doggish eloquence barke immodestly again… B…shops that were absent. **Halls Chron. An. 15. H. 7, f. 50.51. Holin…d, p. 78….In the latter end of this Arch-Bishop Mortons rule, one Patricke an Augu…ine Fryer, had a Scholar called Ralph Wilford, whom …e in open Pulpit decla…ed to be the Earle of Warwicke, and desired all men of helpe: but the head of this sedition was Sommer topped, that it could have no time to spring p. 98any higher, the Master and Scholler being both apprehended, imprisoned and attain…ed, the Scholler was afterwards hanged, but the Master (the Grand Traytor) onelyonly condemned to perpetuall Prison: For at that time (writes Hall) here in England so much Reverence was attributed to the Holy Orders, that to a P…iest, although hee **See Stam…ord his Plees of the Crowne. l. 2. c. 41. to 51.had committed High Treason against his Soveraigne Lord, and to all other offenders in murder, rape; or theft, which had received any of the three higher Holy Orders, the life was given and the punishment of death released. The chiefe cause of this favour (saith he) was this, because Bishops of a long time did not take knowledge, nor intermit themselves with the search and punishment of such heynous and detes…able offences, by reason whereof they did not disgrade and deprive from holy Orders su…h Malefactors and wicked persons, which without that ceremony by the Canonicall Law could not bee put to death. Furthermore, what should a man say, it was also used, that hee that could but onelyonly reade (though he understood not what he read) how heynous or detestable crime soever hee had committed (Treason onelyonly excepted) should likewise as aff…nes and allies to the holy Orders, be saved, and committed to the Bishops prison. And to the intent that if they should escape, and be againe taken committing the like offence, that their lives should be no more to them pardoned, it was ordained, that Murthe…ers should bee burnt on the brawne of the left hand with an hot Iron, signed with this letter M, and theeves in the same place with this letter T, so that if… they once signed with any of these markes, did reiterate like crime againe, they should suffer the punishments they had deserved: which devise was enacted and established in **4. H. 7. c. 13.Parliament in the fourth yeare of H. the 7. and taken, as I conjecture, from the French Nation, which are won… if they take any such offender, to cut off one of his eares, as a sure marke hereafter of h…s evill doing. And the charge of keeping such offenders, because it soundeth to spirituall Religion, is committed to the Bishops and Rulers of the spiritualty, with a penalty set upon them, if any such Prisoner doe afterwards escape. The which Act and priviledge did nourish and increase abundantly the Sect and swarme of p. 99Theeves and Murtherers; for after that time there were an hundred wayes practised and invented how at one time or other to deliver or convey them out of prison, by making their purgation (by what sleight & meanes they care not) of such offences as before they were convicted and found guilty, if no man be present to lay exceptions to the same. For if the party offended and hurt be absent at the day of the purgation making, the theefe or murtherer truely found guilty from the beginning, shall be both excused and set at liberty. And oftentimes the sooner, because the Bishop would not lose the sum of an hundred pound for the escape of a poore Knave, scant worth a dandy prat: so Hall; whose words I have recited, to manifest what favorers and Protectors our Bishops have beene of Traytors and Malefactors in all ages, especially of those of their owne Tribe, who by meanes of their Orders, Sanctuaries, Purgations, and other pretended exemptions and devises, were seldome brought to execution for their most horrid Treasons, which made them the more bold and insolent to commit them. And for my part I deeme it true both in Law and conscience, that the Patrons, Receivers, and Res…ners of Traytors and other Malefactors (as our Prelates have ever beene) are as bad, nay worse, than the Traytors and Malefactors themselves, and worthy more severe punishment than they. But it is time to conclude with this Arch-Bishop.

Henry Deane who next injoyed this See,3232HENRY DEANE. was …ormerly made Chancellour of Ireland by King Henry the seventh,**Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 345.346.347.348. Godwin p. 118.119. where hee played the Warriour, and drave Perkin Warberke thence, forcing him to fly into Scotland: after this being made Bishop of Bangor, he had many great suites and …ontests with divers about the Lands won or taken from his See. And among other particulars, pretending the Island of Seales betweene Holy-head and Anglesy to be unjustly detained from his Church by the possessers thereof: they refusing to give him possession, the Bishop thereupon brings a great power of armed men and a Navie thither, and drives out the Inhabitants thence by force, annexing it to his See. This Prelate being afterward Translated to Salisbury, and from thence to Canterbury, the Pope sent him a Pall by Adrian of Castello Secretary to his holinesse, upon the receite whereof he tooke this Solemne Oath to the Pope (as his Predecessors and other Bishops formerly p. 100used, yet practised in fo…aine parts) which made him a Traytor, or halfe subject onelyonly, to his King. Are not such then like to prove faithfull Counsellours of State to Princes.I Henry Archbishop of Canterbury from this houre forward shall be faithfull and obedient to S. Peter and to the holy Church of Rome, and to my Lord the Pope and his Successors Canonically entring, I shall not be of Councell nor consent, that they shall lose either life or member, or shall be taken or suffer any violence or any wrong by any meanes. Their Councell to me credi…ed by them, their Messengers, or Letters, I shall not willingly discover to any person. The Pope-dome of Rome, the Rules of the Holy Fathers, and the Regalities of S. P…te…, I shall helpe and retaine, and defend against all men. The Legate of the See Apostolicke going and comming I shall honourably entreate. The Rights, Honours, Priviledges, Authorities of the Church of Rome, and of the Pope and his Successours, I shall cause to be conserved, defended, augmented, and promoted. I shall not be in Are not such then like to prove faithfull Counsellours of State to Princes.Councell, Treaty, or any Act, in the which any thing shall be imagined against him, or the Church of Rome, their Rights, States, Honours, or powers, and if I know any such to be moved or compassed, I shall resist it to my power, and as soone as I can, I shall advertise him or such as may give him knowledge. The Rules of the Holy Fathers, the De…rees, Ordinances, Sentences, Dispositions, Rese…vations, Provisions, and Commandements Apostolike, to my power I shall keepe and cause to be kept of others, Heretickes, Schismatickes, and Rebels to our holy Father and his Successours, I shall resist and perse…ute to my power. I shall come to the Synod when I am called, except I be letted by a Canonicall impediment. The **Limina or Lumina.Lights of the Apostles on this side the Alpes, I shall visite personally, or by my Deputy once every yeare, and those beyond the Alpes once every two yeares, unlesse I am there-from absolved by an Apostolicall dispensation. I shall not alien or sell the possessions belonging to my Arch-Bishopricke, nor give, nor morgage, nor infeofe any of them afresh, or any wayes alien them without the Popes Counsell. So God me help and the holy Evangelists. This Oath every Arch-Bishop and Bishop not onelyonly in England, **Therefore their owne Kings, if the Pope adjudge them such.but likewise in Spaine, France, Germany, and other Kingdomes, used to take to the Popes unholinesse. No wonder therefore if they were such Traytors, Rebels, and Conspirators against their Kings, such sticklers …or the Pope, such Champions …or his unjust usurpations upon th…ir Soveraignes Prerogatives, and so forward to twhart and discover al those designes o… their Princes, which p. 101were any wayes displeasing or disadvantagious to the Pope; who as long as this Oath continued, and Bishops that tooke it bore sway in our Kingdome (being both Privie Counsellers of State, Lord Chancellours, Lord Privie Seales, Lord Treasurers, or other great Officers) never lost his hold or usurped power among us, which he still ke…pes, onelyonly by meanes of Bishops in other Kingdomes, where the Prelates **Mauritiu… de Alzedo, de Praecellen…ia Epis…. dignitatis, l. 1. sect. 8.yet take this Oath of Alleagiance to him. But this Oath which like a mystery of Iniquity was concealed from our Princes, being discovered to King Henry the eighth in the twenty fourth yeare of his raigne,Fo… Acts and Monuments, p. 961. Halls Chronicle, A… 24. H… 8. f. 205.206. D. Burnes his Suppli…ation to King Henry the 8. p. …85. to 201. this wise Prince considering the disloyal…ty and mischiefe of it, sending for the Speaker and Commons House of Parliament spake thus unto them, Welbeloved Subjects, We had thought the Clergie of our Realme had beene our Subjects, but now We have well perceived that they be but halfe Our Subjects, yea and scarce our Subjects. For all the Prelates at their Consecrations take an Oath to the Pope cleane contrary to the Oath they make unto VsUs: (**Dr. Barnes, ibid. with which the Pope usually dispensed, but never with any Oath made to himselfe, which must be observed and stand good, what ever Oath else bee violated:) so that they seeme to be his Subjects, and not ours. And so delivering them the Coppy of both Oathes (of this to the Pope and the other to himselfe,) required them, to invent some order that he might not be thus deluded. The discovering and opening of these Oathes (which were read in Parliament) both to the King and People (as both Hall and Mr. Fox record) was the occasion that the Pope lost all h…s interest and Jurisdiction here in England within short while after: This Oath to the Pope being thereupon abolished and made voyd by the Statute, and a **See 25. H. 8. c. 20.28. Hen. 8. c. 10.35. Hen.. 8… c. 1.new Oath to the King prescribed and ministred to the Bishops, together with an Oath of Alleagiance; wherein the Popes Authority stands abjured, and the King acknowledged Supreame head on earth under Christ of the Church of England: the forme of which Oathes are recorded in Mr. Fox, Mr. Hall, and the Statute of 28. Hen. 8. c. 10. The Prologue of which Act, with the Oath …herein prescribed, being pertinent to our purpose, I shall here recite.