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

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

p. 1CHAP. I. Containing the severall Treasons, Conspiracies, Rebellions, Seditions, Contumacies, Disloyalties of the Arch-bishops of Canter…ury against their Soveraignes, Kings of England; the severall Warres, Tumults, Dissentions occasioned and raysed by them in, or against our Realme, with their manifold practises and attempts to undermine our Lawes.

IN relating these Disloyalties of our holy Ar…h-Prelates of Canterbury, I cannot sing as the Poet once did,

**Virg. Ecl…g. 3. p. 8.Ab Iove principium Musae; Iovis omnia plena.

(sith there is little of God in any of their actions I am now to relate:) unlesse I take Iove here, not for the true living p. 2God, but for a meere **Zuidas, H…lioke, Natal…s Comes, Diod…us Siculus, Va…o, and others, thus describe him.impious, treacherous, murthering, usurping Devill incarnate, who thrust his Father Saturne out of his Royall Throne, and injuriously possessed h…mselfe of his Kingdome against all right and equity. And in this sense I may truely chaunt, Ab Iove principium, &c. since I must not onelyonly begin, but proceede and end, with Devils incarnate, masked under a P…la…es white Rocher, rather than with holy Fathers of the Church.

11ODO.One of the first men of this stampe that encounters me in the Sea of Canterbury, is Odo, surnamed the Severe, possessing this Pon…call Chaire about the yeare of our Lord 940. This pragmaticall turbulent Arch-Prelate, as hee was **Wil. Malms. de Gestis Pontificum Angl. l. 1. p. 201. Mat. West. Flores Hist. An. 955, 957, 958. Antiq. Eccl. Brit. Odo Sev…rus, p. 46 47.51, 52, 53. Speeds History of Great Brittaine, l. 7. Monarch. 29. p. 403.404 Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 137. Godwyns Catalogue of Bishops, p. 62, 64, 65.thrice in Armes in the Field, after he was made a Bishop, where he …ought like a valiant Champion; so hee caused King Edwin, wi…h whom hee had very evill agreement, to bee divorced from his Queene, some say for consanguinity, others for other reasons: Whereupon the King betaking himselfe …o his Concubines, Odo there…pon suspended the King from the Church, excommunicated his Concubines, causing one of them, whom the King unreasonably do…ed upon, to bee fetcht out of the Court with violence, branded her in the fore-head with an hot Iron, and then banished her into Ireland: After which shee returning into England, Odo apprehends her the second time, and cuts off her sinewes at the …ocke bone. The King being therewith much exasperated, spoyled all the Monkes of all their goods, banished Dunstan, the chiefe of the Monkes in…o Flanders; (who, together with Cynesius, the Bishop on the day of this Kings Coronation, entred most audaciously into his Bed-chamber, and by violence dragged him both out of his Bed, and Bed-chamber, where they pretended hee was sporting with his Concubine) and threatned Odo, with severe punishments, who was taken away by death soone after, and so delivered from all feare of the Kings displeasure. This Odo together with his Monkes, wrought so with the Subjects before his death, that the Mercians with the Northumbrians, did utterly cast off the yoake of obedience to Edwin, and by an unanimous consent, made choyce of his Brother Edgar for their King, Deo dictante & populo annuente, God himselfe (to wit, by the mouth of Odo and the other Prelates and Monks) dictating it, and the people thereunto consenting, p. 3writes Matthew Westminster. Arch-bishop Parker, and Bishop Godwin, in the life of Dunstan, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury after Odo, record, That during the time of Dunstan his Banishment into France, King Edwin, by the Rebellion of his Subjects, **See Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p 52.53. Holinsh. Hist. of England. l. 6. c. 21. p. 157.at the instigation, as is likely, of our Monkes, Prelates, and their favourers, was deprived both of his life and Kingdome: Whereupon Edgar, that succeeded him, warned by his Brothers example, was content to curry savour with them and Dunstan, creating him first Bishop of Worcester, next of London, and finally of Canterbury. A good reward for this his Treason.

**Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 61.62. See part. 2. p. 227.228.Dunstan comming to the Arch-Bishopricke in this manner,22DUNSTAN. not long after caused King Edward to be slaine by his Souldiers, for refusing to ayde the Bishop of Rochester against his Brother Agelredus, who besieged that City and the Bishop: The Monkes of that time impute th…s trecherous Act to Queene Alsdrith, his Mother in Law, and Gods Divine Judgement, to excuse their Patron Dunstan. After his Murther, (as **In vita Sanct… Editha.Iohn Capgrave and **History of Great Brittaine, l. 7 c. 42. sect. 21. p. 409. c. 43. sect. 1. p. 410. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p 61, 62. Holinshed. Hist. of England. l. 6. c. 23 p. 59. l. 7. c. 1. p. 164.165. l. 6. c. 24. p. 161. c. 25. p. 162. Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 1. p. 201.202.Speed record) this holy Arch-Bishop Dunstan would have advanced Edgith his sister to the Crowne, and invested her against Etheldred the lawfull Heire, had she not by the late experience of Edwards fall, utterly refused that Title… which neither belonged to h… Right, nor was safe for her Person to undertake: Whereupon Dunstan and the Monkes perceiving that Queene Elfrida, Alferus Duke of Mercia, and many Nobles, combined for young Etheldred, the right Hei…e, disavowing Prince Edward (surnamed the Martyr) as illegitimate, did with all their might oppose Etheldred, holding their states dangerous, and their new-gotten footing unsure, if in the Nonage of the King, Elfrida his Mother, and other their Opposites, should rule all under him, as was probable: For Elfrida hated Dunstan, because hee desired to hinder King Edgar from ma…rying her, after he was contracted to her; rushing **An impudent audacious A….impudently into the Kings Bed-Chamber the first Night hee lay with her, demanding of the King, who it was he had in Bed with him? who answering, that it was his Queene and Consort; Dunstan replyed, that he could not marry her without offending God, p. 4and breaking the institution of the Roman Church, because of the spirituall Kindred that was betweene them, he being her God-father, often warning the King to be divorced from her, which he refused. Wherefore, Dunstan and the P…elates considering that Edward was altogether wrought in their mould, they abetted his Title to the Crowne (though a Bastard) as one lawfully borne, and begot in the Nuptiall Bed of Queene Ethelfleda. Their Claimes thus banded among the S…atesmen, began to be diversly affected among the Commons, and had put the Game to the Hazard, if the wisedome of Dunstan had not seene …he Chase: For a Councell being assembled to argue their Rights, the Arch-bishop came in with his Banner and Crosse, and not staying for further debate de Iure, did de facto present King Edward for their lawfull King; and the Assembly consisting of Clergie men, perswading peace, drew the approbation of the rest; and so was hee admitted and proclaimed their Soveraigne, and after **Malmsbury de Reg. Angl. l. 2. c. 10. p. 62. Speed l. 7. c. 43, 44. p. 413, 414.Crowned at Kingston by Dunstan, and the true Heire put by for the time by this Arch-Traytor Dunstan, and his Clergie; till about three yeares after Edward was murthered, by the procurement of Queene Elfrida, and Etheldred Crowned King by Dunstan, much against his will. This King, Dunstan and his Monkes continued to oppose… For **Math. Westm. An. 983. p. 379. Speed… p. 414. Ant. Eccles. Brit. 61. Malms. de Gestis Regum Angl. l. 2. c. 10. p. 62. Holinshed History of Engla…d l. 7. c. 1.Etheldred conceiving a just indignation against the Bishop of Rochester for his obstinacie and contumacious carriage towards him, thereupon besieged his Citie: Whereupon Dunstan commanded the King to desist from his purpose, lest hee should provoke Saint Andrew, the Patron of that City; which the King refusing to doe, without the Bishops submission, and unlesse hee would likewise pay him an hundred pounds… Dunstan wondring thereat, sent this Message to the King: Because thou hast preferred Silver before God, Money before an Apostle, and Covetousnesse before me, violent mischiefes shall come upon thee, which the Lord …ath spoken. Such an Arch-Traytor and proud imperious Prelate was this Arch-Bishop Dunstan. And if …his Saint was such, what thinke you may his Successors prove, who were not so holy as to be Canonized? This Dunstan **Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 52, 53. Holinshed Hist. of England, l. 6. c. 22 p. 158.before hee became Arch bishop of Canterbury, caused King Etheldred to p…eferre him before all his p. 5Nobles, and to …ay up all his richest Royall Household-stuffe, Charters, Records, with all his Wealth and Treasures in his Monasterie; and finally, to commit his very Kingdome, Body and Soule, to him: so that all things were in Dunstans power, the King not daring to doe any thing, either in publike Affaires of the Kingdome, or in his owne private Negotiations, without Dunstans advice; so that he alone exercised Royall Authority in every place. In and by which, he wholly imployed his endeavours, how to enrich those Monasteries with Lands and Revenues, which himselfe had founded, or the Danes wasted, wasting the Kings Treasury, and appropriating the Crowne Lands to this purpose: Which, when King Edwyn comming to the Crowne, sought to resume, Dunstan much displeased herewith, sharpely reprehended him, then affronted him, and at last cau…ed him to be murthered, as is before remembred. And for all this good service, he was not onelyonly made an Arch-Prelate, but a Saint.

Siricius, 33SIRICIUS.**Malms. de G…st. Po…tif. l. 1. f. 203. de Gestis R…gum Ang. l. 2. c. 10. p. 62. He…ry H… tingdon, Hist. l. 5. p. 357. Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 64. Godwins Catal. of Bishops, p. 65. H…linsh…d Hist. of Engl. l. 7. c. 2. p. 166.his next Successor but one, consilio infausto, by an unhappie, if no… perfidious Traytorly advice, perswaded King Etheldred, in the thirteenth yeare of his Raigne, to buy his Peace of the Danes at ten thousand pound annuall Rent, to the ignominie and almost utter destruction of …he whole Kingdome: Which evill (writes Henry Huntingdon) hath continued to this very day, and will longer endure, unlesse Gods mercy helpe us. For now wee pay that to our Kings out of Custome, which was payd to the Danes out of unspeakeable feares. (Yea, we a… this day have …ared the worse for this President, it being much insisted on, to justifie the late Taxe of Ship-Money.) Such perfidious and pernicious Counsellers of State have these Prelates beene, in teaching Princes in every Land to lay new Exactions on, and Tyrannize more and more over their Subjects. Woe (saith **M. Tindall obedience of a Christian Man, p. 116.152.Mr. Tyndall) is to the Realmes where they are of the Councell; as profitable are they to the Realmes with their Counsell, as the Wolves unto the Sheepe, or the Foxes unto the Geese: As was this Arch-Prelate, who is much blamed in our Histories for this his advice.

44ROBERT.Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury layd the first foundation of the Normans Conquest in England, perswading King p. 6Edward to make Duke William his Heire;Wil. Malms. de Gestis Ponti…icum Angl. l. 1. p. 204. Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 73. to 79. Godwyns Catalogue of Bishops, p. 68, 69, 70. Speed. l. 7. c 3. p. 203.413.414. Holinshed. Hist. of England. l. 8. c. 2.4. Whereunto when he had condiscended, himselfe became the Messenger of this good tidings unto the Duke, taking Harold with him, that he might hamper him with an oath (as hee did indeede) and so barre him from all possibility of the Kingdome: which Oath he breaking afterward, lost both his li…e and Kingdome together. The Arch-Bishop now assuring himselfe of the favour of the King not onelyonly present… but him that was to succeede, could not endure that any should bea…e so great sway as himselfe in Court; and therefore fell to devise, how he might overthrow ††See here the Pride, malice, desperate ambition and impietie of Arch-Prelates, thus injuriously to set the Sonne against the Mother.Emma the Kings Mother, who onelyonly served to over-top him. Hee began therefore to bea…e into the Kings head, how hard a hand his Mother had held upon him, when he lived in Normandie; how likely it was, that his Brother came by his death by the practise of her and Earle Godwyn; and that she used the company of Alwyn, Bishop of Winchester, somewhat more familiarly then was for her honour. The King somewhat too rashly crediting these Tales, without any further examination of this matter, seized upon all his Mothers goods, and committed her to Prison, in the Nunnery of Warwell, banished Earle Godwyn and his sonne, and commanded Alwyn upon paine of death, not to come forth of the Gates of Winchester. The Queene made the best friends she could, to be called to her answere; but the Arch-bishop so possessed the King, as other tryall of her innocencie might not bee allowed then this; shee must walke over nine Plough-shares red hot in the midst of the Cathedrall Church of Winchester: If shee performed not this Purgation, or were found any thing at all hurt, she and the Bishop both should bee esteemed guilty; if otherwise, the Arch-Bishop was content to submit himselfe to such punishment as they should have endured. The Arch-Bishops Authority was then so prevalent over the most powerfull persons, that the Queene her selfe, neither by her owne power, nor of the King her Sonne, nor of the Nobles and Bishops, nor by any other meanes than by her innocencie, could keepe off this so notorious an injury and contumely, the††Loe how Bishops Lord and Tyrannize it over Kings themselves. King and Bishops being forced to approve this most severe Edict of the Arch-Bishop, against their wills: Whereupon p. 7the Queene, led by two Bishops, in the open sight of the people, did this hard Purgation, and …o acquitted her self and Alwyn of the Crimes objected- The King then greatly bewayling the wrong done to his Mother by the Arch-Bishops malicious false suggestions, asked her forgivenesse upon his knees, restored her and the Bishop to their goods and places; and to make satisfaction, would needes be whipped by the hands of the Bishops there present; and receiving three stripes of his Mother, was by her clearely forgiven. The Arch-bishop, the author and plotter of all this stirre and mischiefe, fearing the successe of this matter, held himselfe at Dover, under pretence of sickenesse; and as soone as he heard how the world went, knowing England to be too hot for him, got him over to the Abbey of Gemmeticum; where overcome with shame and sorrow, he there shortly after ended his dayes: the King having passed a publike Sentence against him and his confederates, **Malmes. de Gest…s Regum Angl. l. 2. c. 13. p. 82.Quod Statum Regni conturbarant, &c. That they had disturbed the State of the King…dome, stirring up the Kings mind against his Mother and faithfull subjects, whereupon he was deprived.

**Malmes. de Gest. Pont. Angl. l. 1. p. 205. de Gestis Reg. A…g. l. 3. p. 102. Ant. Eccl. Brit. p. 89.90.91 Speeds History l. 9. c. 2. p. 435, 436, 437. Polichron. l. 6. c. 29. l. 3. c. 1, 2, 3, 4. Mat. West. An. 1067, 1070. God…ns Catal. of Bishop… p 71, 72 73. Hol…nshed Vol. 3. p. 8, 9. Hist. of Engl. l. 8. c. ….Stigand, 55STIGAND.placed in his Sea before his death, after William the Conquerour had slaine Harold, and vanquished his Armie in Battlefield; Edwyn and Mercar endeavoured to Crowne Edgar, Etheling, the right…ull Heire; to whos… side, most of the Nobles, the Citizens of London, with the Navall Forces, adhered; and so did Aldred, Arch-Bishop of Yorke: who presently, with the other Prelates, …ell off to William the Conquerour, being the stronger side, (to whom the Pope had sent a consecrated Banner, an Agnus Dei, and one of Saint Peters haires, in way of good speed) refusing to side with the Lords, whereupon their designements were all suddenly quashed. But Arch-bishop S…igand, and Eglesigne Abbot of Saint Augustines, assembling all the Kentish men together, encouraged them to stand for their Liberties, though with the losse of their lives; and marching before them as their Generalls, enclosed him and his Armie by a Stratagem, with Branches of trees, their Banners displayed, and Bows bent, and so purchased a confirmation of their Freedomes and Customes from him, by way of composition. Then comming to London, the p. 8Conquerour refused to be Crowned by Stigana, Aldred Arch…Bishop of Yorke performing this Ceremonie on …he day of Christs Nativitie, Anno. 1066. Stigand not long after, and Alexander Bishop of Lincolne, fled int… Scotland, where they kept themselves close for a season; and at last returning, King William departe… into Normandie, knowing Stigand to be of a crafty Pate, and perfidious heart, and of great power among his Kentish men, carryed him over Sea with him, lest he …hould raise new stirres, and cause a Revolt from him in England during his absence: and then returning into England, he caused him (with other Bishops that had beene …reacherous to him) to be deposed from his Arch-Bishopricke in a Synod at Winchester, for holding the Bishop of Winchester in Commendam with his Arch-Bishopricke; for invading the Sea of Canterbury, whiles Robert lived… for using his Pa…l, left at Canterbury; for Simonie, and to prevent him from raising any further Tumults. **Mat. Paris hist Major, p. 8. Speed hist. l. 9. c. 2. p. 441.443. Hol…nsh. p. 8, 9.The King after his degradation, spoyling him of his goods, committed him to perpetual Prison; where at last he was starved with hunger, refusing to reveale those infinite Treasures which hee had heaped up in store, to worke some mischie…e, which were discovered after his death. Not long after which, plures Episcopi & Abba…es, many Bishops and Abbots joyned in a Conspiracie with Ralph de Ware, and Roger Earle of Hereford, against the Conquerour, to thrust him out of his Kingdome: such faithfull Subjects were they to their Soveraigne, to whom they had sworne allegeance.

55LANFRANK.William the Conquerour dying, **Ma…. West. Au. 1088, 1089, 1090. Mat. Pari… p. 13.14. Wil. Mal…s. de Gest. Reg. A…gl. l. p. 4.120, 121. Antiq. Eccl. Br…t. p. 100. God…i…s Catal. of Bps, p. 74.75. Speed, l. 9. c. 3. p. 456.457. to 464. Holinsh. Vol. 3. p. ….17, 18.by the perswasion of Lanfranke Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, (who had brought up William Rufus from his Child-hood) he left the Crowne of England to his younger sonne William, putting the eldest son Robert from the Crowne, which was due unto him. In which Action, God blessed not the Arch-Bishop: for the King (though thus advanced and Crowned by him, and the Prelates, against all right, and the approbation of the Nobles and People, who stood for Robert) fell out with him, banished him the Realme, as being overbusie and pragmaticall; till at last, with much adoe, he mediated his peace. Now, what was this but an act of Treason, Treachery, and injustice, to thrust the right Hei…e from the Crown, and set up an Usurper? p. 9Which, as it procured many bloody Warres betweene the two Brethren, so it brought great misery on the whole Realme, as the Histories of those times witnesse; and procured himselfe much blame. ††Speed, l. 5. c. 3. Sect. 34. p. 463.This Arch-Prelate Lanfranke, was used by Pope Gregory before this exploit of his, for the undermining of William the Conqueror, and the subjecting both of him and his State to the Papacie; which he endevouring, but not effecting, his Holinesse growing angry with this Agent, Lanfrancke cleared himselfe of the blame, shewing him how diligently,††Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 100. (but indeede treacherously) he had bestirred himselfe in counselling to sweare to yeeld obedience and doe fealty to the Pope: Suasi, sed non persuasi, saith he, I have so advised him, but I could not perswade him. O perfidious, ungratefull counsell and swasion of this Prelate, to make his Soveraigne and his Realme mee…e Vassals to the Pope! This Lanfrancke so farre offended William Rufus, that he banished him the Land, whereupon he went to Rome, and travelled over divers Countries in Exile; till a writing on a certaine night falling as it were from heaven into the hands of a Clerke, wherein it was written that William Rufus was slaine (which afterwards came to passe) he heard the newes of Rufus his death, and thereupon returned againe to his See of Canterbury, and there dyed of a Feaver.

††Eadmerus Hist. no…orum, l. 1.2.3. Speed, l. 9. c. 3. sect. 33.34, 35. p. 462, 463, 464 Malms. de gestis Pontif. An…l… 1… …. 219. to 230. Antiq. E…les. Brit. p. 10…, &c. God…n… Catal. of Bishops, p. 76. &c. For Acts and Monument. p. 169, 170.171, &c. Holinsh. Vol. … f. 22. to 36. Wal…ham, Ypodigma N…ustr. p. 35.Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, 66ANSELME.his immediate successour, presently after his Consecration sell into contestation with his Soveraigne William Rufus, naming and accepting Vrban to be Pope, before the King had acknowledged him to be so; for which, and for his over-sawcie speeches and carririage to the King, and his refusing to acknowledge his fau…, he was commanded out of the Realme, all the Prelates of England, except onelyonly Gundalfus Bishop of Rochester, assenting to the King against Anselme, that he was guilty of High Treason, for attempting to deprive the Crowne of sundry Prerogatives Royall belonging to it… to wit, That no Arch-Bishop nor Bishop of the Kingdomes should be subject to the Pope, or Court of Rome, with whom they had nought to do: That none ought to be received for Pope in this Realm, but him whom the King and state had first approved: That none should appeale to Rome in any case without the Kings license: and for siding with the Pope, and preferring him above his Soveraigne … Pope Vrban used Anselm as his instrument to draw p. 10the King to his beck, and to subject the Crowne and Kingdom to his will; which incredible pride and Popish incroachments of his, attempted by the meanes of Anselme, and other chiefe Prelates of the Kingdome, caused the King for prevention of further mischefes, to banish th… Rebellious Trayterly Prelate; who repairing to the Pope, where hee had good entertainement, made many complaints against his Soveraigne, whose death he both plotted and conspired; as is probable by that Vision which **Anno 1091. p. 1.Matthew Westminster records to have appeared to Anselme during his exile, wherein he saw God, at the prayers of the Saints in England, deliver a fiery Arrow to Martyr Saint Alban, who delivered it to an evill Spirit, an avenger of wickednesse, that cast it flying like a Comet throw the ayre, understanding presently in the Spirit, that the King wounded and shot with that Arrow, perished that night he saw this Vision. Wherupon celebrating the Masse very early the next morning he packed up his clothes, Books, and other things which he would have carried with him, and forthwith began his journey towards his Church of Canterbury, to which when he came neere, he heard the King was slaine about the same time; he having, in all likelihood, before that plotted with and hired Walter Tyrell the French Knight (who shot the King in the brest with an Arrow in stead of the S…ag he was chasing) to murther the King in this manner about that time; which fore-plotted Treason was the occasion of this Vision: True it is, that the Monkes who favoured Anselme, and writ the Histories of those times impute this murther onelyonly to a casualty, as if the Arrow had glanced against a Tree, and so by accident slaine the King, who with one only groane fell downe and dyed: But certainely this Vision with many other of that nature, registred by our **Mat. Paris Hist. Major, p. 51, 52. Caxton Pars. 7. in his life. Wil. Ma…ms. de gestis… R…g. Angl. l. 4. p. 125.126. Eadmerus hist. Nov…rum. l. 2, 3. Huntingd. Hist. l. 7. p. 378. Mat. Westm. An. 1100 p. 21. Godwins Catal. p. 77.Monks compared with other circumstances; as the great hatred of the Clergie, Monkes, and Prelates towards him, his premonition not to ride abroad a hunting that day, that Tyrell and the King were alone, and all the company else scattered from him when this was done; that most of his followers as soone as they heard of it made away; that Tyrell so easily escaped without any prosecution for this fact; that the Kings Corpes was layd by some few Country Peasants onelyonly (all the rest forsaking him) into a Colliers Cart, drawne with one silly beast, through a very foule and filthy way, where the Car… p. 11breaking, he lay pittifully goared, and filthily bemired, that he was obscurely buried at Winchester the next day following, not onelyonly without any state or solemnity, but without any teares, In cujus Sepultura lachrymae locum prae gaudio non habe…ant (saith Matthew Paris;) that there were so many predictions of his death by Monkes; that Anselme had such speedy notice of it, and provided for his returne to England the next morning after: These severall circumstances, I say, compared with Anselmes Vision, are strong arguments to me, that his death was not casuall, but plotted by this Arch-Prelate and his instruments, to end the controversies then betweene them. This King being thus dispatched, **Mat West. An. 1102.1104.1107. Eadme…u… Hist. l. 3, 4, 5. & vita Anselm. Malms. de gestis Pontif. Angl. l. 1. in vita Anselm. Mat. Paris Hist. Major, p. 56, 57… 60. Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 103. to 111. Godwins Catalogue of Bishops, p. 78, 79, 80. M. Tindals practise of the Popish Prelates, p. 374. Speeds Hist. of Great Brit. l. 9. p. 463, 469, 472.King Henry the first succeeded him, calls home Anselme from his Exile; who immediately upon his returne deprived divers Bishops and Abbots in a Convocation at London, and presently after fell out with this King also, as hee had done with William Rufus, for disposing of all Bishoprickes that fell at his pleasure, giving investiture and possession of them by the delivery of a Staffe and a Ring, according as his predecessors had done, and all Princes generally used to doe in that Age; whereupon Anselme denying this Prerogative to his Soveraigne, refused both to consecrate any of the Bishops thus elected, and appointed, or to repute any of those, already consecrated by such election, for lawfull Bishops; alledging, that it was la…ely prohibited by Pope Vrban the second, in a Coun…cell held under him, that any Clerke should take the investiture of any spirituall pre…erment from the hand of any King, Prince, or Layman: The King upon Anselmes refusall, required Gerard Arch-Bishop of Yorke to give these Bishops Consecration; whereunto hee readily assented; but William Giffard nominated to Winchester, stood so in awe of Anselme, that he durst not accept consecration at Gerards hands. This incensed the King wonderfully, so as presently hee commanded Giffards goods to be confiscate, and himselfe banished the Realme: great adoe there was througho…t the Realme about this matter, some defending the Kings right, others taking part with the Bishops: The King thinking to pacifie the Controversies, p. 12sent an Ambassador to the Pope, together with the Archbishop, to grow to some reasonable conclusion: …ase…all the second, who then was Pope, would not yeeld one jot unto the King, animated no doubt by Anselme, a man so resolute in his quarrell: insomuch that when the Kings Ambassadour William Wartlewast sayd, he knew the King would rather lose his Crowne than this priviledge; he answered, Yea, let him lose his head also if he will, whilst I live, hee shall never appoint Bishop, but I will resist him what I may. So without doing any good, homeward they came. The King understanding before-hand how the world went, sent a Messenger to forbid Anselme to enter into the Realme, & presently seized all his goods, movables, and immovables into his hands. After three yeares Exile, Anselme at the importunate mediation of Adila Countesse of Bloys the Kings Sister, was restored, upon these conditions; that hee should be content to consecrate the Bishops already nominated by the King, and that the King should renounce all right to such nominations and investitures for time to come: No sooner returned he againe, but hee kindled a fresh combustion, by enforcing all married Priests to forsake their wives, depriving them of their goods, Benefices, and adjudging their wives Adulteresses. The King upon their complaint, pittying their case (halfe of the Priests of England being then married, mediates for them, and protected them a while from Anselmes severity, granting them Licenses to retaine their wives; but hee (a man alwayes most peremptory in his resolution) would not be perswaded to yeeld one jot in this or any other thing hee intended: so that notwithstanding the Kings inclination to succour them, many of them were miserably vexed; which ingendred a new quarrell betweene him and the King: In a word, this rebellious traytorly Prelate, did so good service for the Pope against these two Kings (whom hee caused to be in a manner excommunicated by the Pope, and subjugate to his pleasure) that in favour of him, he afforded to his See this honour, That whereas the Arch-bishop of Canterbury was wont to sit next the Bishop of Ruffine in Generall Counsels, hereafter his place should be at the Popes right Foote, and withall used these words, Includamus hunc in Orbe nostro p. 13tanquam Papa alterius orbis, Let us include this man in our world, as the Pope of another world. In a word, King William Rufus was so vexed with Anselme, William Bishop of Durham, and other rebellious Prelates, that**De Ge…. … Angl. l … 123. William of Milmesbury records of him, That he animated the Iewes at London to enter into a Dispute against our Bishops, telling them (in merriment, as this Historian conceived) that if they overcame the Christians by manifest Arguments, that he would be of their Sect. Therefore this thing was acted with great feare of the Bishops and Clergie-men, affected with a pious solicitude of the Christian Faith. But in this Combate, the Iewes obtained nothing but confusion; although they often boasted, that they were not overcome by Argumentation, but by the Faction of the Prelates.

This fire-brand of Contention departing this life, Ralph of Canterbury, 88RALPH.his immediate Successor, an insolent cholerick proud Prelate, offered two such notable affronts to King Henry the first, his Soveraigne, who advanced him to this Sea, as no Age (I thinke) can parallell. For **Eadmerus, hist. Novorum, l. …. p. 137. Rogerus d… de Costrias Antiq. Eccl. Btis. p. 111, 112. Polichron. l. 7. c. 15. Speeds History of Great Britaine, p. 475.King Henry having assembled all his Nobles to Windsor Castle; to consult with them about his Marriage with Adelicia, his second Wife, Daughter to the Duke of Loraine; the Bishop of Salisbury being requested both by the King and Queene to solemnize the Marriage betweene them, and clad in his holy Vestments, ready to performe this service, this decrepit resty proud Arch-Prelate commanded him to desist, contrary to the King and Queenes Precept and desire, and committed that service to the Bishop of Winchester, who performed it. After which, Adelicia being solemnly to bee Crowned Queene at London, on the Feast of Pentecost, in the presence of the King and Nobles, this Arch-Prelate as hee was chaunting Masse at the High Altar in his Pontificalibus, to grace this Solemnity, espyed the King sitting on his Royall Throne with his Crowne upon his head: Whereupon he grew into such choler, that intermitting his begun Masse, he goes to the King, thus sitting in the Church on his Throne amidst his Nobles, and demands of him in bigge words, Who it was that had set the Crowne upon his head? (hee being Crowned by Thomas Arch-Bishop of Yorke, in the absence p. 14of Anselme of Canterbury:) To which the King replyed: It is no great matter to me who did it, and it was done so long since, that I remember not who it was. But the Arch-Bishop enraged with choler, auswered: That whoever had done it, did it wrongfully and unjustly; therefore thou shalt either cease to weare thy Crowne, or else I will desist from saying Masse. The King nothing moved herewith, answered with a pleasant and mild countenance: If this Crowne, as thou sayest, be not lawfully set on my head, you may doe that which you conceive to bee agreeable to Law, I will not gaine-say it. At which words, the Arch-Bishop approached neerer him, and lifting up his hands to pull the Kings Crowne from off his head, whiles the King was untying the Button under his Chinne, by which his Crowne was tyed on his head, the Nobles admiring the Kings modestie, and the Arch-Bishops anger and arrogancie, cryed out with one voyce against the Arch-Prelate, and earnestly ent…eated him, That in the solemne Coronation of the Queene, he would not uncrowne the King himselfe. With who…e clamours Ralph being overcome, desisted f…om this his insolent attempt, and standing by the King, began the Song, Glory be to God on high; and then proceeded in his Masse. **Polich…on. l. 7. c. 15.Higden (and **Speed, p. 475.Speede out of him) records, That this testie old man could hardly be entreated by the Nobles to with-hold his hands from striking the Crowne off the Kings head; and that even in the Church; in the presence of all his Lords, his Queene, and God himselfe: of such an high spirit then was this devout Arch-Prelate. From hence (writes ††Antiq. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 112.Matthew Parker) it may be discerned, how unseasonably and impudently these kind of men abused the lenity of this Prince, who thought themselves more worthy in holinesse than others, and deemed they had an imperiall command over Princes.

99WILLIAM.This furious proud Prelate being dead, **Polychron. l. 7. c. 18. Fabian. pars 7. c. 232. pag. 333. &c. Malm…b. Hist. l. 1. p. 178, 179. Matth. Paris Hist. Major, p. 71. Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 115. Godwins Catalogue of Bishops, p. 83. Speeds Hist. l. 9. p. 484, 493, 494. Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 181. Hov…d. Annal… pars prior, p. 481.William Corbell his next Successor, was so good and trusty a subject to King Henry the first, who advanced him, that upon the Kings death, hee was content to betray and dis-inherite of the p. 15Crowne his Daughter Maud the Empresse, and Will…lmus Cantuariensis Archi-epi…copus qui primus Sacramentum fecerat, cum, pro… dolor, in Regem benedixit, Hoved…n, p. 481.contrary to his Oath, to joyne with Stephen Earle of Bloys, whom he Crowned with his owne hands, but with such feare and terrour of Conscience, that the consecrated Host fell out of his hands in the midst of Masse, by reason of his trembling and fearefull amazednesse. **In his Chronicles. Vol. 3. p. 46. in the l…fe of King Stephen.Raphael Holinshed his relation of this Fact, is worthy observation: Stephen (writes hee) was Crowned at Westminster on Saint Stephens day by William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, the most part of the Nobility being present, and swearing Fealty unto him, as to their true and lawfull Soveraigne: Howbeit, there were diverse of the wiser sort of estates, which regarding their former Oath (to bee true unto the Empresse Maude) could have beene contented, that the Empresse should have governed till her Sonne had come to lawfull age; notwithstanding they held their peace as yet, and consented unto Stephen. But the breach of their Oathes was worthily punished afterward, insomuch, that as well the Bishops, as the other Nobles, either dyed an evill death, or were afflicted with divers kinds of calamities and mischances, and that even here in this life. Yet there were some of them (namely the Bishop of Salisbury) which protested, that they were free from their Oath of Allegeance made to the sayd Empresse, because that without the consent of the Lords of this Land, she was marryed out of the Realme: Whereas they tooke their Oath, to receive her for Queene upon that condition, That without their assent she should not marry with any person out of this Realme. Moreover, (as some writers thinke) the Bishops tooke it, they should do God good service, in providing for the wealth of the Realme, and the advancement of the Church, by their Note this,Perjurie. For, whereas the late deceased King (Henry the first) used himselfe not altogether for their purpose, they thought, That if they might set up and create a King chiefely by their especiall meanes and authority, he would follow their counsell better, and refo…me such things as they judged to be amisse: So He. But this trecherous Act of them, in dis-inheriting Maude, (wherein the Bishop of Wi…hester was a chiefe Actor, yet afterwards joyned with Maude for a season, and then fell off againe) what Civill Warres, Tumults, Battailes, evill effects, and blood-shed it occasioned here p. 16in England, to the prejudice of the whole Realme, … all our Chronicles and Historians, in the life of King Stephen, testifie at large.

Theobald, 1010THEOBALD.Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, his immediate Successour **N…ubrigensis, l. 1. c. 10. An…. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 117.118. Godwin Catalogue of Bishops, p. 85.86. Speedes Hist. p. 496, 497.being summoned by the Pope to appeare at the Councell of Rhemes, the King (at the instigation of Henry Bishop of Winchester his Brother, the Popes Legat and Arch-Bishops opposite) prohibited him to passe beyond Sea, to stay him at home: But he thinking it safer to offend the King then the Pope, resolved to goe; and though all the Ports were stopped, and layd for him, yet over the Seas hee got. The King thereupon seized all his goods and Temporalties, and banished him the Realme: he like a tall fellow, thereupon interdicted the King, with the whole Realme; and taking advantage of the time, which was very troublesome, came home and lived in Norfolke, till by the intercession of the Bishops he was restored to his Bishopricke. After which, growing into great favour with the King, in a Convocation summoned at London 1152. the King would have constrained the Clergie to make Eustace his sonne, King: which they refusing, and delaying to doe, having a command from the Pope to the contrary, pretending that his Father King Stephen was an Usurper, and perjured Intruder; the King and his sonne cau…ed the doores to bee shut upon the Clergie, where they were assembled, thinking by force and threatning to compell them thereto, before they departed. The greater number seemed to yeeld, but the Arch-Bishop stealing secretly out of the place, tooke his Barge, and rowing downe the **H…li…sh…d, Vol. 3. p. 57, 59.Thames, got beyond Sea; so that by this meanes the Synod was dissolved. His goods hereupon were presently once more confiscate, and his Temporalties seized into the Kings hands. He thereupon troubled the Realme with Fire, Sword, and bloody Warres, causing Henry Fitz-Empresse to invade the Land, whose Title the Pope favoured, of purpose to strengthen himselfe against King Lewis of France, who had highly offended his Holinesse, by casting his Bulls (whereby he require… the Fruites of Vacancies of Cathedrall Churches in France) into the fire, saying, Hee had r…ther the Popes Bulls should r…st in the fire, than his owne Soule sho…ld fry in Hell.

p. 171111BECKEY. Antiq. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 118. to 124. Godwins Catal. 86. to 96. Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 186. to 206.1036.1390. Speede Hist. p… 503. to 5016. Holinsh…d, p. 69. to 81. R…ger de H…veden. Annal. posterior, p. 491. to 534. Matthew Paris, p. 94. to 127. Math. West. An. 1166. p. 48.49.50.Thomas Becket succeeding Theobald, by King Henry the seconds extraordinary favour (though against the Canons, he being both a souldier, a Courtier, and skilled onelyonly in …ecular affaires,) to require his Soveraignes extraordinary favour, he first resigned his Bishopricke, which hee had received from the Kings hands, into the Popes in a secret manner, receiving it backe againe as from him; and then looked so narrowly into the Lands belonging to his See, having great authority, and some skill in the Law, That under colour of defending the Rites of his Church, hee tooke violently from every man what he listed: and practising Treason secretly, he required of the King the keeping of Rochester Castle, and the custody of the Tower of London; and called Roger Earle of Clare unto Westminster, to doe his homage unto him for the Castle of Tunbridge; which the Earle denyed, through the setting on of the King; so as he provoked many of all sorts of people every where with open mouth to exclaime against him, and to make their complaints thicke and three-fold to the King; betweene whom and the King there arose a great quarrell upon this occasion. The Clergie by their flattery, policy and Canons, having exemp…ed themselves from secular Jurisdiction, and presuming upon Beckets power, grew strangely impudent and disorderly; insomuch, that the**Neubrigensis Hist. l. 2. c. 16. Speedes Hist. l. 9. p. 503.504. Bishop I…wel, Defence of the Apologie, par. 2. c. 18. Divis. 1. p. 295, 296. Chiefe Justice declared in the Kings presence, how that Clergie men had committed above an hundred murthers since his raigne; wherewith the King highly offended, he became somewhat too vehement in punishing them; but the blame of the Kings over-much earnestnesse must lye on the Prelates, inasmuch as they gave the cause thereof: For whereas sacred Canons ordaine, that Clerkes found guilty, not onelyonly of hainous and grievous sinnes, but also of lesser, should be degraded, and thousands of such were then in the Church of England, like in…umerable chaffe among a little good Corne, yet very few such for many yeares had beene then deprived. The Prelates, forsooth, while **Lo… th… Picture of our late times, and the cause of the in…rease of scandalou… Ministers…they bestirred themselves rather to uphold the liberties and dignities of Clerkes, than to chastise and cut off their vices, thought they did God and his Church good service, in protecting from publicke Discipline such heinous offenders, whom by p. 18duty of their places they ought to correct according to the Canon censure; whereby they thr…ugh their impunity, having liberty to doe what they listed, had neither feare of God, (whose Judgement they thought to be a farre off) neither of men in authority; sith on the one side their Prelates neglected to reforme them, and on the other side they were thus exempt by their order from secular Jurisdiction. This being the state of the Church and Realme, where in some were so injured without remedy, and others so injurious without coertion, as if neither sort were in condition of Subjects; the king thereupon tooke speciall care of quickning the publicke Discipline, and the rigour of ancient …awes which thus lay neglected, and thereupon would, that all such of the Clergie as were depreh…nded in any Robbery, Murther, Felony, burning of houses, and the like, **Roger H…veden, An. 1163.should be tryed and adjuged in his temporall Courts as Lay men were: Against which the Arch-Bishops resolution was: That Clergie-men so offending should be tryed onelyonly in the Spirituall Courts, and by men of their owne Coat: who, if they were convict, should at first be onelyonly deprived of their O…fice and Benefice, but if they should againe be guiltie of the like, they should be adjudged at the kings pleasure. In this maine controversie betweene the Crowne and the Mitre, the Arch-Bishop stood so peremptory on the immunities of his Clergie and See, as that he challenged from the… Crowne (to the Kings great offence) the custody of Rochester Castle and other Forts, which the King for securing his State, had resumed into his owne hands. The King finding himselfe to be hereby but a demi-king, deprived of all Soveraignty over one halfe deale of his Kingdome, and perceiving Beckets stiffenesse in thus contesting with his Soveraigne, to be no wayes mollifiable by whatsoever his old favours or fresh perswasions, notwithstanding resolved to put nothing in execution which should not first be ratified and strengthned with the consent of his Bishops: Who thereupon assembling at Westminster, the King tooke both offence there at the Arch-Bishops thwarting his desires and occasions to establish sundry Articles, which hee called his Grand…athers Customes, peremptorily urging Becket to p. 19yeeld thereunto, without any such reservation, (as saving in all things his order and right of the Church) wherewith hee would have limited his assent. The points in those ordinances which he principally stucke at, as appeares by his owne Letter to the Pope, were these:

1. That none should appeale to the Bishop of Rome for any cause whatsoever, without the Kings license.

2. That it should not be lawfull for any Arch-Bishop or Bishop to depart the Realme, or repaire to the Pope upon his summons, without the Kings license.

3. That no Bishop should excommunicate any man holding of the King in chiefe, or put any other of his Officers under interdict, without the Kings license.

4. That Clerkes criminous should be tryed before secular Iudges.

5. That it should not be lawfull for a Bishop to punish any one for perjury, or faith-breach.

6. That the Laity, whether the King or other, should hold pleas of Churches and Tithes, &c.

These points so neerely touched the Papall Soveraigntie and Church-liberties, that the resolute Metropolitane mainely opposed his whole power against them. The King being as resolute to enforce him to subscribe to them, both to …nlarge his Soveraigne authority, and to exempt his estate by degrees from dependancie on any externall Government, as lineally claiming from absolute Soveraigne Antecessors. At last Pope Alexander very desi…ous to keepe the Kings love, though secretly wishing well to Beckets attempts, sent one Philip his Almoner to compose the controversie; by whom the Pope and Cardinalls required the Arch-Bishop to promise the King to keepe his sayd Ordinances absolutely; without any savings or exceptions. Whereupon Becket seeing his Scrupulositie thus disapproved by his Soveraigne, by all his Brethren the Bi…hops, and the Court of Rome it selfe, hee rode to Woodstocke to the King, and there promised that he would keepe the sayd Lawes B…na fide, and without male engin. The King thereupon supposing now all contradictions would cease, called an Assembly p. 20of the States at Cla…endon, to collect and enact those Lawes; where Becket relapsing from his former promise to the King, sayd, He had grievously sinned in making that absolute Oath, and that he would not sinne any more. At which the King was so vehemently inflamed, that hee threatned banishment and destruction to him and his. But at last the Arch-Bishop being overcome by perswasions of divers Nobles and Bishops sware before the King, Clergie and people in the word of a Priest, and sincerely, that he would observe the Lawes which the King intituled, Avitae: And all the Bishops, Abbots, Priors, and whole Clergie with all the Earles, Barons, and Nobilitie did promise and sweare the …ame faithfully and truly to observe and performe to the King and his Heires for ever. But when the King not so contented, would have him to subscribe and fixe his Seale to an instrument, in which these Customes and Lawes were comprised, as every one of the other Bishops had done b… fore him; he once againe starting from his faith, did absolutely refuse it; alledging, that hee did promise to doe the King some honour in word onelyonly, but not with an intent to confirme these Articles, being 16. in number; neither would he subscribe or seale them, unlesse the Pope by his Bull did first confirme them. The King hereupon sent two Embassadours to Rome to the Pope, to crave his allowance of those Lawes, and to pray that the Legantine power of England might bee committed to the Arch-Bishop of Yorke; Becket being so farre from seeking to pacifie the Kings displeasure, as dayly hee provoked him more and mor… The Pope knowing the cause to bee his owne more than Beckets, rejected both these suites; Becket having dealt so with him be…ore-hand, that hee would doe nothing to his prejudice; and withall absolved him and the other Bishops from their Oath of Allegeance to their Prince: Whereupon the King commanded Becket to bee condemned in dammages …or a Manor which Iohn de Marshall claimed, and in the Parliament of Northampton demanded an accoun… of him of 30000. pound, which came to his hand during his Chancellorship; which hee excusing, and refusing punctually to answer, the Peeres and Bishops condemned all his movables t… the Kings mercy: After which, the Prelates …hemselves p. 21by a joynt consent, adjudged him guilty of perjury, for not yeelding tempo…all obedience to the King according to his Oath, disclaiming all obedien…e to him thence forward as to their Arch-Bishop: Becket the next day, whiles the Bishops and Peeres were consulting of some f…rther course with him, caused to be sung before him at the Altar: The Princes sit and speake against mee, and the ungodly persecute me, &c. And forthwith taking his silver Crosier in his owne hands (a thing strange and unheard of before) enters armed therewith into the Kings pr…sence, though earnestly disswaded by all that wished him well: Wherewith the King enraged, commanded his Peeres to sit in judgement upon him, as on a Traytor and perjured person, and accordingly they adjudged him to be apprehended and cast in prison as such a delinquent. The Earles of Cornewall and Leicester (who sate as Judges) citing him forthwith to heare his sentence pronounced; hee immediately appealed to the See of Rome, as holding them no competent Judges; wh…reupon all reviling him with the name of Traytor and perjured person, he replyed; That were it not for his function, he would enter the Duell or Combat with them in the field, to acquit himselfe from Treason and perjury: and so speeding from the Court departed into Flanders (disguised under the name of Dereman) in a poore Fisher-boate, accompanied onelyonly with Servitors: The King thereupon seized all his Goods and Temporalties into his hands, and sent Ambassadours to the Earle of Flanders, the French King, and the Pope, praying them in no wise to suffer or softer within their dominions, one that was such a notorious Traytor to him. The French King, thinking that this disagreement betweene the King and the Arch-Bishop would breed some stirre in England, dealt with the Pope, that as hee loved the Roman Church, and the ayde of France, so hee would support Beckets cause against the King; with whom though hee had amity before, yet at Beckets instigation, as is probable, (whose whole life was nothing else but a continued act of Rebellion, Treachery, and Disobedience against his Soveraigne Lord) he presently fell to invade the King of Englands Dominions, and tooke by Assault certaine Holds of his in Normandy. The Arch-Bishop also about the same p. 22time growing in great savour with the Pope, whom the King by all his friends and Agents could not move to any thing against him, sent out particular Excommunications against all the suff…agan Bishops of his Province, and all such as had obeyed, defended, or occasioned the sayd Lawes and A vitall customes, and against some of them by name; which Excommunications he published at Vizely in France on Ascension day, when the Church was most full of people, getting into the Pulpit the…e; and solemnely accursing them with Bell, Booke and Candle, threatning the like thunderclap against his owne Royall person: Whereupon the King receiving such a foile from the Pope, and such an affront from the Arch-Bishop, directs his Writs to the Sherifes of England, commanding them to attach all such who appealed to the Court of Rome, with the Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Nephewes, and Neeces, of all the Clergie that were with the Arch-Bishop, and to put them under sureties; as also to seize the Revenues, Goods, and Chattels of these Clergie-men. And by other Letters to Guilbert Bishop of London, he sequestred the profits and Livings, which within his Diocesse did belong to any of the Clergie who were fled to Thomas; and signified to his Justices by a publicke Decree, that no man should bring any Letters or Commandment from Pope Alexander, or Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury into England, containing an Indiction of the Realme, upon peril to be apprehended and punished as a Traytor to the King, and an enemy to the Realm. And that they should safe keepe whosoever did bring any Interdict into England, till the Kings pleasure were further knowne; causing all the Arch-bishops goods to be confiscated, and banished out of the Realme all the Arch-Bishops kindred, Man, Woman, Child, and sucking Babes; forbidding hee should be any longer mentioned publikely and prayed for in the Church, as Arch-Bishop of Canterbury; and to vexe him the more, because he knew hee was much delighted in the Monastery of Pontiniac, an Abbey of Cirstercian Monkes, he signified to all the Monkes of that Order in his Dominion, that he would banish them every one, if they would not procure the Arch-Bishop to bee thrust out of that Monastery; which for feare of so great calamity p. 23to so many men of their Order, was effected. And because Pope Alexander, Beckets surest Card, was ferrited much in like sort by Fredericke Barbarossa the Emperour, the King therefore determined to joyne in league with him, being a prosessed enemie both to the French King and the Pope, sending Ambassadors to him for that purpose; which the Pope having notice of, began presently to quaile, promising speedily to end all Controversies betweene him and Becket to the Kings liking: Whereupon at the procurement of Iohn of Oxford, two Legates were sent into England to reconcile the King and Thomas; but the Pope hearing when they were gone, that they were resolved utterly to confound the Arch-Bishop, sent Letters after them to rebate their absolute power, who when they came to Thomas he absolutely refused to put their cause unto them, but upon such conditions, as neither they nor the King would brooke. The passages betweene the King, and the Pope and Becket, and his Complaints to the Pope against the King, too tedious to recite at large, you may reade at leisure in Holinshed, Vol. 3. p. 70. to 75. wherein he desires the Pope to use his rigour both against the King, and the Prelates that sided with him, and to constraine them to amendment. After this, the Pope moved the French King to mediate a Peace betweene them: For which purpose, both the Kings and the Arch-Bishop were brought together at Paris; where suite being made to the King in his behalfe, That he might returne, be restored to his goods and revenues arising during his absence, and likewise to the Kings favour, upon his humble submission: The King answered, That for the rest he was contented, but that he could not allow him the profits of his Arch-Bishoprick since his Banishment, for that he had already given them to others; yet he would give him such recompence for them, as the French King, or the Senate or Students of Paris should thinke meete. Whereupon Becket being called for, and advised by his frieuds to submit himselfe in the presence of both Kings, without any more reservations, he falling downe humbly upon his knees, used these words: My Lord and Soveraigne, I doe here commit unto your owne judgement the cause and controversie betweene us, so farre forth as I may, saving the honour of Almighty God: The King much offended with his last exception, turned him p. 24about unto the French King, and telling how much hee had done for the Arch-Bishop, and how …ee had used him, sayd, I am so well acquainted with the Trickes of this Fellow, that I cannot hope for any good dealing at his hands: See you not how he goeth about to delude me with this clause, (saving the honour of God?) for whatsoever shall displease him, hee will by and by alleadge to be prejudiciall to the honour of Almighty God. But this I will say unto you, whereas there have beene Kings of England many before mee; whereof some were peradventure of greater Power than I, the most part farre lesse; and againe, many Arch-Bishops before this man, holy and no…able men; looke what duty was ever performed by the greatest Arch-Bishop that ever was, to the weakest, and simplest of my Predecessours, let him but yeeld me that, and it shall abundantly content mee. Hereunto the Arch-Bishop answered cunningly, and stoutly; That his Predecessours **Note this policie and auswer.who could not bring all things to passe at the first dash, were content to beare with many things, and that as men they fell, and omitted their duty oft times; that that which the Church had gotten, was by the constancie of good Prelates, whose example he would follow thus farre forth; as though he could not augment the priviledges of the Church in his time, yet he would never consent they should be diminished. This answere being heard, all men cryed shame of him, and generally imputed these stirres unto him; and King Lewis offended with his Answere, asked him, Whether he thought himselfe to be greater or holyer than Saint Peter? And the Peeres of both Nations accused him of arrogance, as being himselfe the wilfull hinderer of his owne and the Churches Tranquillity. Notwithstanding, the Pope forgot not faithfull Thomas; and there…ore, after hee had graced him with a Confirmation of all the Priviledges and Powers which any of his Predeces…ors in that See did enjoy (to the daring and defiance, as it were, of the Kings utmost indignation) the King sent a Letter into Germany, declaring, That hee would forsake Pope Alexander, and joyne with the Emperour and Anti-Pope. The King doubting what might become of these broyles, caused his Sonne Henry to bee Crowned King in his owne life time, to assure him of the Succession: p. 25Afterwards comming into France againe, Becket and hee were upon the point of reconciliation, but the casting out some word or other, as before, maried all; At length the King and hee were made Friends, but his full restitution referred till he had behaved himselfe quietly a while at Canterbury, which he promised to doe: But hee was so far from performing that promise, as he sent into England before him divers Excommunications, which the Pope had granted out long before, and committed to his discretion. Amongst other the Arch-bishop of Yorke, the Bishop of London and Salisbury were named in them, together with so many as were doers in the Coronation of the young King, which the Arch-Bishop sayd might not be performed by any but by his appointment. The men thus strucken with this holy fire, hasted them over into Normandy, to make their complaint to the King, who infinitely grieved at this kinde of dealing, cursed the time that ever he had made him Arch-bishop, and restored him to his place againe, adding, It was his chance ever to do with unthankefull men, otherwise some or other would long ere this have made this proud Priest an example to all such troublesome perturbers of his Realme and State. It hapned among other, foure Knights, to wit, Reynald Fitz-Vrse, Hugh de Mor…vill, William de Tracie, and Richard Briton, to be present at this speech of the Kings; who gathered thereby, they should do a deed very acceptable unto him, if they killed the Arch-Bishop, who in the meane time was come to Canterbury, and was received there with great joy: whence he went to London, and so to Woodstock wher the young King lay. But before he could get to the Kings presence, word was brought him, the Kings pleasure was, hee should first goe to Canterbury, and revoke those Excommunications, before the King would talk with him; whereupon he returned to Canterbury, without seeing the King at all: where the foure Knights before mentioned arrived upon Innocents day; who comming to the Arch-Bishop, told him, the Kings pleasure was, First, That he should goe to his Son, and reverently make offer of doing homage and fealty unto him for the Barony of his Arch-Bishoprick: secondly, That he should cause al the strangers he brought into the Realm with him, to be sworn to his obedience: thirdly, That he should revok those Excommunications which he he had caused to be denounced against the Instruments of the young King… p. 26Coronation. To which demands he answered, That neither the King nor any other mortall man should extort from him, or any of his, by his consent, any unjust or unreasonable Oath: And as for the Bishops and others excommunicate concerning the Coronation, it was indeed (quoth he) a thing done in my behalfe, for an injury offered to my Church, but it was the Act of the Pope. If therefore they will sweare, they shall be ready to make me amend… at the Popes discretion, I will absolve them, otherwise not: And whatsoever you say, it was the Kings pleasure I should take my best course for the redresse of this abuse by Ecclesiasticall authority. Many other words then passed betweene them, they breathing our terrible threates, and he continuing still the same man, without yeelding one jot. At last the Knights departed, giving the Monkes charge in the Kings name, to see the Arch-Bishop for…h-comming, and not to suffer him to escape away. At Evening Prayer time, the same day, they came suddenly into the Church with their Swords drawne, crying, Where's the Traytor? Where's the Traytor? The Arch-Bishop, who was then going up the steps towards the Quire, hearing the noyse, turned backe unto them, and every one of the foure striking mainely at him, upon the third or fourth greice of those steps he was slaine. His body these Knights determined to have cast into the Sea, or else to have hewen into a …housand peeces; but the Prior and Monkes doubting some such thing, buried it immediately in the Under-Craft; whence shortly it was taken up, and layd in a most sumptuous Shrine, in the East end of the Church. The Pope hearing of this Massacre of this his grand Champion,Roger de H…veden A…nal. pars. posterior, p. 529.530.531 Matthew Paris, p. …25. Sylvester Giraldus Cambrensis of the Conquest of I…eland. l. 1. c. 39. In H…linsh. Tom. 2. p. 25. immediately excommunicated all that were either authors or consenters to it. The King was …aine to purge himselfe thereo… by Oath, and yet could not be absolved, before he had done certaine strange Penance: as first, That hee sho…ld pray devoutly at the Tombe of this new Martyr; That hee should be whipt in the Chapter-House, receiving of every Monke one Lash; That he should maintaine two hundred Souldiers for the space of one yeare, at Hierusalem; and lastly, revoke the Declaration published at Clarindon, that originally gave the occasion of this Murther, with other particulars recorded by Master Fox. All which (such were those times) the King was faine to performe; to such slavery p. 27were Kings and Princes then brought, under the Popish Clergie: who Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 204, 205. Speedes Hist. p. 1042. sect. 100. Godwin, p. 99 See Surius, Ribadeneira, and Eadmerus in his life.pre…ently Canonize this Arch-Traytor for a Saint, write large Volumes of his Prayses and Miracles, pray unto him Morning and Evening in their solemne publike Mattins and Vespers, in elegant Rymes and Poems composed by Thomas Aquinas, in a more elegant style, to delight and ravish the Auditors; honour his Sh…ine with infinite Oblations, Pilgrimages, and Gifts: who was so much honoured an visited in times of Popery, that whereas in the Cathedrall Church of Canterbury, there were three principall Images; on, consecrated to Christ; another, to the Virgin Mary; and a third, to Thomas Becket; their Annuall Oblations to Thomas Becket, were commonly 1000. pound, or more… to the blessed Virgin 200. pounds; but to our blessed Saviour some yeares 6. pounds, 13. shillings, 4. pence; some yeares 3. pounds, 6. shillings, 8, pence; and, Hoc Anno Nih…l, some yeares just nothing: as **Apolog. l. 2. c. 12. sect. 12.Bishop Mort…n hath recorded out of their owne Register of Canterbury. So that they preferred this Traytor and Rebell, in their blinde devotion, at least one thousand times more than Christ himselfe: and, which is yet more abominable, advanced his blood above our Saviours; praying even to Christ himselfe, to save them, no… by his owne, but by this Arch-Rebels blood (as if his owne were not sufficien…) as these two blasphemous Verses, inserted into their Psalters, evidence.

**Ho…a beatissima V…rginis Maria secundum usum Sarum, Parisiis, 15…9. fol. 12. Bishop Iewel, Defence of the Apologie, par… 2. c. 18. Divis. 1. p. 295, 296.Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit,

Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit.

O Christ, by Thomas blood he for thee shed,

Make us ascend whither he ascended.

Had he beene quartered, and then hanged up for a Traytor on some high Pinacle, as he deserved, I should have liked the Prayer well; thinking it just that all who durst honour such a Traytor, or pray unto him as a Saint, deserved to have their quarters elevated as high as his. But in that sense they tooke it then, and many have used it since: yea, some at this very day: It is no le…se than Blasphemie and High Treason against Christ himselfe: Especially, p. 28i… wee consider what they there annex to these Verses, Gloria & honor… Coronasti eum Domine, R. Et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuaru… ; attributed unto Christ himselfe, Heb. 2.7, 8. 1 Cor. 15.27. Roger Walden Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, in a full Convocation held at Pauls in London, Anno Domini 1098. (if **Constitut. f. 149 150.Aton mistake not) ordained, That a solemne Commemoration should be kept on Wednesday every weeke throughout the yeare, if it were possible, for this Arch-Traytor Thomas; in which Constit… tion there is this passage: And although we oug…t to honour all and singular constituted in the heavenly Kingdomes with solicitous endeavours, and to advance them with loud prayses; yet wee ought to extoll with highest acclamations our m…st glorious Bishop and Martyr, Saint Thomas, both the Master and Patron of our Metropoliticall Church, who is knowne to have shed his blood for the defence of the Churches libertie, by whose both Merits and Passion our whole Province of Canterbury is illustrated, and the universall Church adorned; and it is meete to personate him with supremest prayses, and to worship him with spirituall honours. This Traytor shortly after became so eminent,Giraldus Cambi…n…is of the Conque…t of Ireland, l. 2. c. 33. p. 52. that divers Kings Embassadors, Bishops, and others, came on Pilgrimage from …orraine parts, to visit his Tombe at Canterbury. And though …he Trayterly Prelates, Monkes, and Clergie, thus Deified him for a Saint and Martyr (as many now account him) yet the Peeres and Nobles about the King, gave it out in strict charge, upon paine of death, and confiscation of all their goods, That …o man should bee so hardy as to name Thomas Becket to be a Martyr, or to preach of his Miracles. **Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 1035, 1036.And King Henry the eight; after he had beene a long time Canonized for, and adored as an Arch-Saint, declared him in his Inju…ctions, published Anno 1539. to have beene a Rebell and Traytor to his Prince; and therefore straightly charged and commanded, That from thenceforth he should not be esteemed, named, reputed, or called a Saint, but Bishop Becket; That his Images and Pictures throughout the whole Realme should be pl…ckt downe… and avoyded out of all Churches, Chappels, and other places; and that the Dayes used to be Festivall in his name, should bee no more observed, nor the Service, Offices, Antiphones, Collects, and Prayers in his name read, but rased and put out of all the p. 29Bookes upon paine of his Majesties indignation, and imprisonment at his Graces pleasure. After which, **Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 1390.Stephen Gardiner, Bishop o… Winc…ester, and Lord Ch…ncelour in Queene Maries dayes, with his other fellow Bishops (who were much in love with this Traytor, being such themselves) caused the Image of this old Romish Traytor Becket to be set up over the Mercers Chappell doore in Cheapeside in London, in forme of a Bishop, with a Miter and Crosier; but within two dayes after, his two blessing-fingers were first broken off, and on the seventeenth day of February his head strucke off: whereupon arose a great stirre, and many suspected for doing it, were committed to Prison. Which being againe set up the second day of March, at the suspected parties cost, and strictly watched with a Guard each night, for feare it should bee re-demolished; on the fourteen…h day of the same MonethMonth, the head of this Trayterous Beast was once more broken off, but the Agent not discovered; though there was a Proclamation made in London the next day, That whosoever would reveale the Party, though of Counsell and privity to the Act, should have his Pardon, and an hundred Crownes of Gold, with hearty thankes: So zealous were our Trayterly Bi…hops for this their Brother Arch-Traytor; whose very Crosier staffe some of late adored in the Tower, and have likewise Printed his Life.

**Speeds Hist. p. 554, 555, 564, 565. Holinshed, p. 157, 158, 159… 162, 168, 169.Hubert the 42. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, 1212HUBERT.a man that swayed the Kingdome in King Richard the first his dayes; and after that advanced King Iohn to the Crowne, p…tting by Arthur Duke of Britaine, right Heire to the Crowne, being Sonne to Geffrey, elder Brother to Iohn; which occasioned many Warres, and the losse of Normandy: Hee finding the King not so tractable as hee supposed to his will, did under-hand bolster up the Clergie, to affront him in the election of the Bi…hop of Norwich, repenting more now than any thing he did in all his life, that… he had so advanced King Iohn to the Crowne, shewing such slender respect to his Soveraigne, that being prohibited by Fitz-Peter, the Kings great Justiciarie and Minister (in the Kings absence) of Regall Command, from holding a Generall Councell of his Province, (never used to be held but by Soveraigne p. 30perm…ttance) his pleasure scorned to take any counte… mand: after which, hee spared not to out-brave his Soveraigne himselfe. For having notice, the Feast of the Nativitie then approaching, that the King intended with his Queene at Guilford to keepe that festivall with great Magnificence; hee, whose Palace ordinarily for splendour, multitude of attendants, and sump…uous entertainments, did strive with the Kings; thought this a fitting time to shew forth his great State, and little regard of his Princes discountenance, by **See Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 143, 144. Mat. Paris, An. 1201. p. 198. Matth. West. An. 1201. p. 77.parallelling to the Kings his owne sumptuous preparations, with rich Attires and costly Gifts for his attendants at Canterbury. The King, as Kings brook not to be braved by their subjects (nor is it wisedome for dis-favorites to doe it) moved with great indignation, thought the man had too much Riches, and too little discretion, (which seldome lodgeth in the Braine, where Pride dwells in the Heart) and therefore to abate somewhat the one, and learne him more of the other, hee kept his Easter at Canterbury, at the Costs of Hubert the R…ch; and not to spare him who spared not himselfe; hee there increased that great expence, with a greater of his and his Queenes solemne Crowning againe on Easter day in the Cathedrall Church: where, in lieu of his expence, Hubert had the formall Honour to set on their Crownes, but yet not the grace to sit neere the Kings heart. Such being the first overtures of heart-burnings betwixt the King and his Clergie; they afterwards… by addi…ament of dayly fuelling, burst forth into a more fearefull …ame. For Hubert, bearing too much good will to the French King, and in very deed **…e H…l…ns…d, p. 168.169.repenting himselfe of nothing so much, as for that hee had commended King Iohn to the Noblemen and Pee…es of the Realme, since hee proved another manner of man then hee looked to have found him; the King having prepared a Royall Hoast and mighty Navie to revenge his forraine losses and wrongs on the Fre…h King, Hubert the Arch-Bishop (who con…ederated with the Pope and French King against his Sove…aigne,) came with sundry others to Portesmouth to the King, and **Lo… the pride of a Prelate mixed with Treche…y.…ly forbids the King to proceed in the Voyage, (in tr…th, for feare hee should hinder King Philip from p. 31ayding the Pope against Otho the Emperour.) Whereupon the King dism…d his Forces; Hubert being the instrument, that so resolute Projects, so inestimable Charges, so necessary an Action of the Kings fell suddenly to the ground: whereby, besides the selfe-mischiefe which therewith fell on the King, many fresh grudgings accrued unto him, for suffering himselfe to bee thus violently repulsed from so behoofefull a purpose. The King the next day checking himselfe, for over-prizing the command of any man above the value of his Kingly Honour and Estate, resolved to collect his disparkled Troupes, and to put forth to Sea. To which end, taking order with his Nobles to follow him, they gave him leave with a small company to wa…t up and downe two dayes, in expectance of their attendance; till seeing them more obsequious …o Huber…s command than his, (the Arch-Bishop also sending his inhibition after them on the Sea, to stop their passage with the King) hee was forced to come againe to Land. The King hereupon put many of his Earles, Barons, Knights, and Clergie-men to a grievous pecuniary Redemption, for thus refusing to follow him, for recovering his Inheritance. **Mat. Pari… Hist. Major, p. 264.The Arch Bishop, though their Ring-leader, might well have beene exempted from this Judgement, by his passage to an higher, dying the same weeke, either of Griefe, or of a Feaver, which killed him in foure dayes: But the King forthwith in person going to Canterbury, seized upon all his Wealth and Possessions, shewing himselfe right joy…ull, that now hee was rid of him, whom men suspected of too familiar practising with the French King, ††Mat. Paris, In. 1205. p… 204 Antiq. E…cl…s. Brit. p. 144. H… linsh. p. 169. Speed, p. 565.saying, Hee was never a King till now; by reason of Huberts too presumptuous daring to crosse his Royall Resolutions, as of late hee did. This ††Holinshed, p. 15…, 15…. …. An…al… pars p…s… ri…r. p. 767, 768.769. …. Eccl. Brit. p. 138. …o 144. Speeds Hist. p. 550.Hubert, being Chiefe Justice and Arch…Bishop in Richard the first his tim…, Anno 1198 the Monkes of Christs… Church in Canterbury exhibited this Complaint against him to Pope Innocent: That their Arch-Bishop Hubert (contrary to his Order and Dignity) exercised the Office of High Iustice, and sa…e in Iudgement of Blood, being so encumbred in Temporall matters, that he could not …ave time to discharge his Office, touching Spirituall Cause… p. 32Whereupon the Pope sent to King Richard, admonishing him, not to suffer the sayd Arch Bishop to be any longer troubled with Temporall Affaires, but to discharge him thereof, and not to admit **Note this.any Spirituall person from thenceforth unto any Temporall administration. He further prohibited, by vertue of their obedience, all manner of Prela…es, and men of the Church, that they should not presume rashly to take upon them any manner of Secular Function or Office. Whereupon the Arch-Bishop was discharged of his Office of Chiefe Justice, and Geffrey Fitz-Peter succeeded in government of the Realme in his stead. Afterwards, this Arch-Prelate being made Lord Chancellor of England by King Iohn, Anno. 1199. and uttering some words unadvisedly, that shewed how hee inwardly rejoyced at the Kings favour towards him in the gift of this Office,**Hoveden, An. pars posterior p. 793.794. and so gloried in the Honour whereto hee was preferred, (which he would never have done, if he had weighed of worldly pompe, as by his Profession hee ought, and as one asketh the question in the same case, Dic mihi, nunquid,

Corporibus prosunt? Certe nil: dic, Animabus?

Tantundem &c.) The Lord Bardolfe sayd unto him, yet not so so…tly in his eare, but that some over-heard it: My Lord, to speake and not offend you: surely, if you well consider the Honour and Dignity of your Calling, you would not willingly yeeld to suffer this yoake of Bondage to be layd upon your shoulders: For we have oftentimes heard of a C…ancellour made an Arch-Bishop, (as was Thomas Becket, who **Mat. Paris Hist. Major. p. 94. An…. Eccles. Brit p. 122 Godwins Catal. of Bishops, p. 88upon his instalment in the Sea of Canterbury, immediately resigned his Lord Chancelours Office, sending his great Seale to the King then in Normandy, with a Letter, wherein he certified him, That hee could not serve the Church and the Court both at once, and that this moved him to resigne his Chancelourship, as incompatible wi…h his Arch-Bishopricke) but wee never heard of an Arch-Bishop made a Chancelour till now. Such an **See a Breviate of the Prelates intolerable Usurpations, the Epistl… to the King.unseemely and unlawfull thing was it then reputed for Bishops to intermeddle with Temporall Offices and Affaires, which are incompatible with their Spirituall Function, and are seldome managed by them, but to the great oppression, the ruin of the People and State.

p. 33Hubert being dead **Mat. Par. Hist. Major, p. 204.205, 213. to 278. sparsim. Antiq. Eccles. Brit and Godwins in the life of Steph. Langh. Mat. West… An. 1207.1208. to 1214. Speed, How Holinsh…d, Hoveden, Hu…tingdon, Grafton, Caxton, Polychronicon, Fabian, Martin, and others in the life of King Iohn. Mr Tindalls Practise of Popish Prelates, p. 374, 375. Doctor Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 189. Mr. Fox Acts and Monu…ments, p. 226. to 234.the Monkes of Canterbury secretly at midnight elected Reginald their Sub-prior,1313REGINALD. for his Successour, taking an Oath of him, not to make his Election knowne to any, till he came to the Popes presence, whither he was advised to post with all speed. The Oath hee violates as soone as ever he had crossed the Sea, bearing himselfe every where as Lord Elect, shewing withall the testimoniall of his Election to divers; which so incensed his Brethren the Electors against him, as they presently resolved to become suiters to the King …or pardon of their fault, in chusing him without his license, and also that hee would permit them to make a new Election, supposing the old frustrate by the Elects perjury: They did so, and obtained their request, the rather because they made shew of readinesse in satisfying the Kings desire, who wished them to elect Iohn Gray Bishop of Norwich: him they sent for in all haste to Canterbu…y where they sol…mnly elected him for their Arch-Bishop, publishing his Election in the Church before the King and an infinite number of people, placing him in the Bishops Chaire. The King putting him in possession of his temporalties …orth-with. These two Elections being presented to the Pope, hee adjudged them both voyd, and making use of the Monkes debate (…he greater part being then at Rome, some of them avouching their first Election as good, others importunately seeking to have the latter confirmed) he secretly practised with them, and at last perswaded them to elect Stephen Langhton an English man, and Cardinall of Rome, of singular gifts and Learning: which done, the Pope with his owne hands gave him Consecration at Viturbium; and well knowing how hayno…sly the King would take the matter, he writ Letters unto him sweetned with many intreaties, large praises of the new Arch-Bishop, and seasoned now and then with some touches of doubtfull threatning, if hee should oppose himselfe against that was then done. This notwithstanding, the King in great indignation, as hee had just cause, banished and drove out all the Monkes of Canterbury by force (who were entertained in forraigne Monasteries) seized upon all their goods, lands, and forbad Stephen Langhton entrance into the Realme: The Pope hearing this, sends his Mandates unto p. 34William Bishop of London, Eustace Bishop of Ely, and Mauger Bishop of Worcester, wherein hee willed them first to admonish and perswade the King to restore the Monkes their goods and place, and to give the Arch-Bishop possession of his Temporalties by a day: then if he refused so to doe, to interdict the whole Realme. They durst not but obey, and finding the King resolute in his determination, at the time appointed, they published the Popes Interdiction, interdicting the whole Realme: And as well foreseeing the ensuing trouble to come, as their present danger, got them out of the Land, together with Ioceline Bishop of Bath, and Giles of Hereford. The King immediately seized all their Goods and Temporalties into his hands, and moreover banished all the friends and Kinsfolks of these Bishops, that were likely to yeeld them any comfort or reliefe. During the time of this Interdict, **Oh the impiety of Popes and Prelates, thus to preferre their wills before Gods Service & the peoples soules.all Divine Service ceased throughout the Realme (Gods Service giving place to the Popes pride and malice) except onelyonly Baptisme of Children, Au…icular Confession, and the Administration of the Sacrament unto such as lay upon the point of death. The Pope seeing this Curse prevailed not; at the instigation of the Arch Bishop and other Prelates, proceeded to a particular Excommunication of the King, and not long after deprived him (by a Judiciall sentence) of his Crowne, Kingdome and all Regall authority; a thing till that time in no age ever heard of. For the better executing which sentence, he writes to Philip the French King, to expell King Iohn out of his Kingdome, promising him remission of all his sinnes, and giving the Kingdome of England to him and his successors for this his good service; and withall sends …orth his Bulls to the Nobles, Knights, and Souldiers in divers Countries, that they should signe themselves with the signe of the Crosse, to cast the King of England out of his Throne, and revenge the injury of the Universall Church, by ayding King Philip in this Catholike Warre, promising them all as large and ample indulgences in all things as those enjoyed, who visited the Lords Sepulcher at Hierusalem: whereupon the French King prepared a great Armie both by Sea and Land, to expulse King Iohn; who made himselfe so strong by Sea and Land in a short p. 35time, that he had farre more Ships and Land-Souldiers than Philip; which Pandolfe the Popes Legate perceiving, and doubting of the successe, willingly repaires into England, tells King Iohn, in what danger he and his whole kingdome were, how much Christian blood he was like to cause to bee spilt… to prevent all which inconveniences, hee counsels him to resigne his Crowne and Kingdome to the Pope, and then to receive it from him againe; which he yeelded to at last. See now to what extremities this poore King was brought by these rebellious and traytorly Prelates meanes, ††Matth. Paris, Ann. 1208.who refused to appeare before him when he sent for them; his whole Land was under Interdiction, and so remained for 5. whole yeares, like an Heathenish Nation, without the celebration of Divine Service and Sacraments. **Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 229. to 234.409.719.Iohn himselfe was by Name Excommunicated, and had so remained for divers yeares. **…dem Ann. 1209.All his Subjects were released & freed a Regis fidelitate & subjectione, from owing either fidelity or subjection to him, yea, they were forbidden, and that under paine of Excommuni…ation, **Idem Ann. 1212.so much as to company or converse with him, either at Table, or a… Councell, or in speech and conference. Further yet, **Mat. Paris, Hist. Min.Iohn was deposed from his Kingdome, and that judicially, being in the Romane Court deprived of all right to his Kingdome, and judicially condemned; and **Mat. West…n. Hist. 1213. and Mat. Paris, An. 1213.that sentence of his deposition and deprivation was solemnly denounced and promulgated before the French King, Clergie, and people of France; ††Mat. Paris. loc. cit. p. 310.Neither onelyonly was Iohn thus deposed, but his Kingdome also given away by the Pope, and that even to his most mortall enemie; for the Pope to bring his sentence to execution, **Mat. Westm. loc. cit. ex part… Dom. Papae Regi Franc…r…m al …isq… inju…run… & idem nit Paris. p. 311…writ unto Philip the French King, perswading, yea, enjoyning him, to undertake that labou… of dethr…ning Iohn actually (as judicially hee was before) and expelling him from the Kingdome, promising him not onelyonly remission of all his sinnes, but that hee and his Heires …hould for ever have the Kingdome of England; withall, ††Paris. loc. c…t…the Pope writ Letters to all Nobles, Souldiers, and Warriors in divers Countries, to signe themselves with the …rosse, and to assist Philip for the dejection of Iohn. **Paris. & Westm. loc. cit.Philip was not a little glad of such an offer, b… hereupon gathered Forces and all things fit p. 36for such an expedition, expending in that preparation no lesse than 60. thousand pounds: all **Paris. A…n. 1213.these things being notified to King Iohn, did not a little daunt him, and though he was too insensible of the impendent calamities, yet to strike a greater terrour into his amazed heart, and make a more dreadfull impression in his minde of the dangers which now were ready to fa…l on his head, Pandolph was sent from the Pope unto him to negociate about the resigning of his Kingdome; to which if hee would consent, he should finde favour, protection, and deliverance at the Popes hands. Pandulf by a crafty kinde of Romish Oratory, at his comming to the King, expressed, yea painted out in most lively colours all the difficulties and dangers to which the King was subject; **Paris. in loco cit. dum aut…m, &c.the losse of his Crowne, the losse of his honour, the losse of his life; that there was no other way in the world to escape them, but by protection under the Popes wings. **Matth. W…stm. Paris. lo…. cit. Holinshed, p. 177.178.Iohn seeing dangers to hang over him on every side, by the French abroad, by the Barons at home: and being dejected and utterly dismayed and confounded with the ponderation of them, resolved for saving his life, to lose his liberty and honour, and to save his Kingdome from his open Adversary, to …ose it and give it quite away to his secret but worst enemie that hee had, and to take an Oath of sealty to the Pope, recorded in Holinshed, p. 178. doing herein as if one for feare of being slaine in the open field, should kill himselfe in his owne chamber. It was not piety, but extreame misery; nor devotion, but feare onelyonly and despaire, that caused and even …orced Iohn against his will being then drowned in despaire, to resigne his Crowne, and to make two severall grants thereof to the Pope. The **Mat Paris, and Mat. West. An. 1217. Doctor Craking ther p… up…on the Popes Temporall Monarchy, p. 245. to …48.first Charter was made to Pandulph the Popes Lega…e, on the 15. day of May in the 14. yeare of King Iohns raigne, the Copie whereof is set downe in Matthew Paris, Matthew Westminster. The second Charter was made to Nichol…s Bishop of Tusculum the Popes Lega…e, for the Popes use, in Saint Pauls Church in London, the 3. of October in the 15. yeare of King Iohn, An. Dom. 1213. agreeing verbatim with the former, differing onelyonly from it in this; that the first was sealed with Wax, the second with Gold: which severall Grants were so detestable to the whole world, that it p. 37made all men exclaime against and detest King Iohn. How much the Barons disliked this Grant of King Iohn, his **V…rbae Epist. Ioh… ad Innoc. ci…n… in resp. ad Apoll. Bellar. c. 3. See Holins. p. 177.178.owne words to Pope Innocentius, as also the Popes answere, do witnesse… Our Earles and Barons, saith he, (and the Pope writes the like) were devout and loving unto us, till we had subjected our selves to your Dominion, but since that time, and specially even for so doing, they **In illum insu… gunt postqu…m Ecclesia satisfecit …ui assist…bant …dem quando Eccl…siam off…nd…bat. in Epist. Innoc. 3. apud Mat. Paris. An. 1217. Innoc. p. 356.all rise up against us. The manifold **D…risionibus mu…plicatis subsannando dix… run… Mat. Paris, An… 1215. … p…ractis. Idem An. 1216. Ho…nsh p. 186.opprobrious speeches used by the Barons against King Iohn, for subjecting himselfe and his Kingdome to the Pope, doe declare the same. Iohn (say they) is no King, but the shame of Kings; better to be no King, than such a King: behold a King without a Kingdo…e, a Lord without dominion. Alas thou wretch, and servant of lowest condition, …o what misery of thraldome hast thou brought thy self? Thou wast a king, now thou art a Cow-heard, thou wast the highest, now the lowest: Fie on thee Iohn, the last of Kings, the abominaton of English Princes, the confusion of English Nobility Alas England, that thou art made tribu…ary and subject to the rule of base servants, of strangers; and which is most miserable, subject to the servant of servants. Thou Iohn whose memory will be wofull in future time; thou of a most free King, hast made thy selfe tributary, a farmer, a vassall, and that to servitude it selfe: this thou hast done, that all might be drowned in the Hell of Romish Avarice. Yea, so detestable was both this Fact of Iohn, and dealing of the Pope, that Philip the French King, though the mortall enemie of King Iohn, hea…ing thereof, even upon this very point, That the Barons and State did no… consent to that Act, did proclaime both the absolute freedome of the Kingdome of England, no…wi…hstanding this grant of Iohn, and declaime also against this Pope, for seeking to enthrall Kingdomes unto him. As the King, by the Treason and trechery of these Prelates, and especially of the **I…ti commun…s conjura… & confad…rati capitalem censent…n…um ha…u…runt, & juraverunt omnes in prasentia Archi…piscopi, quod viso …emper e… congruo, propriis libertatibus, si necesse fu… rit, d…c…rtabunt u…qu… ad mort…m. Id…m.Arch-Bishop, was thus enforced most ignominiously to resigne and prostitu…e his Crowne and Kingdome to the Pope, to the losse of his Kingly honour, and the hearts of all his Barons and Subjects; so he was faine to receive the Arch-Bishop, and restore the other Bishops, Monkes, and banished Rebels against him to their Bishoprickes, Goods, and Revenues; and to give them such Dammages and Recompence, as the Pope should thinke …. For this King, Anno Domini 1213. intending a Voyag… into Guien, his Realme standing as p. 38yet **Holin…ed, p. 180, 181, 182.interdicted, his Lords refused to goe with him, unlesse the interdicting might be first released, and he clearely absolved of the Popes Curse, to the end that Gods wrath and the Popes being fully pacified, hee might with better speede move and maintaine the Warres: whereupon he was constrained to alter his purpose; and comming to Winchester, dispatched a messenger with letters, signed with the hands of twenty foure Earles and Barons, to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, Lincolne, and Hereford, then sojourning in France; requiring them, with all other banished men, to returne into England; promising them by his Letters Patents, not onelyonly a sure Safe-conduct for their comming over, but that hee would also forget all passed displeasures, and frankely restore unto every man all that by his meanes had beene wrongfully taken from them, and as yet by him detained. Hereupon the Arch-Bishop, and other Bishops, with all speede came into England, with the other exiles, and went to Winchester, where the King then remained: Who hearing that the Bishops were come, went forth to receive these Traytors; and at his first **Oh, to what base slavery was this King brought by these Trayterly Prelates?meeting with the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, the King kneeled downe at his feete, (who should have rather kneeled to the King) and asked him forgivenesse, and that it would please him and the other Bishops also to provide for the miserable state of the Realme: requiring of the Arch-Bishop (having as then the Popes power in his hands, as being his Legat) to be absolved; promising upon his solemne received Oath, That he would before all things defend the Church, and the Order of Priesthood, from receiving any wrong: also that he would restore the old Lawes made by the ancient Kings of England, and namely those of S. Edward, which were almost extinguished and forgotten; and further, that he would make recompence to all men whom he had by any meanes endammaged. This done, he was absolved by the Arch-Bishop, and shortly after sent his Orators to Rome, to take off the Interdict. The Pope hereupon sent the Cardinall of Tusculum into England, to compound the differences and dammages betweene the King and the Bishops, and then to release the Interdict. Who, after a Convocation summoned, and sundry meetings had at London, Reading, Wallingford, and elsewhere, & some messages to Rome p. 39ordered the King to pay 40000. Markes dammages to these rebellious Prelates; which done, the Interdict was solemnly released by the Legat, in the Cathedrall of Pauls in London, Iune 29. 1214. after the terme of 6. yeares, 3 moneths, and 14. dayes, that the Realme had beene shaken with that dreadfull Dart of Correction, as it was then esteemed. After this, King Iohn raysed an Army, intending to goe against those Lords who refused to follow him to Poictou. But the Arch-Bishop meeting him at Northampton, sought to appease him… but hee marching on to Notingham, there with much adoe, the Arch-Bishop following him, and threatning to excommunicate all those that should ayde him, enforced him to desist his Enterprise. This done, he thought all troubles at an end, but the worst were yet behind. For the King having wound himselfe into the Popes favour, by this his Resignation, and holding his Crowne from him as his Feudatarie, began to curbe the Arch-Bishop and his Faction; who finding the King stronger in the Popes favour than they, **Mat. Paris, p. 244, 230. Speed l. 9. …. 8. s…ct. 55. p. 582, 584.thereupon stirred up the Barons to rebell and take Armes against the King, who had lost their hearts by his Resignation: In this Rebellion and Conspiracie,**All…gaba…t Archiepis…pum Cant…ariensem Regis Anglia h… stem esse …ublicum, ut qui Bar… nibus Angliae inconti…um c…ntra Reg…m …undem pr…buit, & consensum; quodqu… …psius favore & …nsili… ii…m Bar…n… dictum R…g…m … s…l… d…p…ll…r… molir…t…r. &c: Matth. Paris, Hist. Major, p. 261, 263. Stephen Langthon the Arch-Bishop was the Ring-leader, yea, the principall Abettor, Conspirer, chiefe Agent, and Counsellor (as Matthew Paris, Wendover, Speed, Holinshed, and other our Historians testifie:) The Pope hereupon excommunicates the Barons, and all other English or French, who impugned King Iohn, even in the generall Councell of Lateran, then held… and the Bishop of Winchester, and Pandulph the Popes Legat (who solemnly denounced the Popes Curse against the Barons) did likewise suspend the Arch-Bishop from all his Episcopall authority: who thereupon repairing to Rome for absolution, was in the Councell of Lateran accused and convict of Conspiracie and Treason against the King, and contempt against the Pope and Churches Censure: for which, the Pope resolving to depose him from his Sea and dignity, by the Cardinals intercession for him (hee being their brother Cardinall) was intreated to deale somewhat milder, but yet confirmed his suspension from his Bishopricke by publik sentence; commanding by his Letters, all his Suffragan Bishops to withdraw their obedience from him and for a further revenge whereas Simon Langthon, his brother, by his procurement p. 40had beene elected to the Sea of Yorke, (a strange example, to have an whole Kingdome ruled by two Brethren, of so turbulent humors:) the **See here the doubling and juggling of the Pope.Pope not onelyonly did cassate his Election, but likewise made him uncapable of any Episcopall Dignity, placing in that Sea Walter Gray (a trustie …riend to the King, and a professed enemie to the Langhtons) whose Pall cost him no lesse than a thousand pound. King Iohn having thus procured all his Barons to be excommunicated, and the City of London (siding with them) to be interdicted, and the Arch-Bishops suspension to be confirmed; the Barons and Arch-Bishop held these Censures in such high contempt, that they decreed, neither themselves nor the Citizens should observe them, nor the Prelates denounce them; alledging, that they were procured upon false suggestions, and that the Pope had no power in Secular matters from Christ, but onelyonly in Spirituall, and that Prelates had nothing at all to doe with Warres; and thereupon sent for Lewis, the Dolphin of France, to receive the Crowne of England: Who not so voyd of Ambition, as to lose a Crown for want of fetching, was not long behind, landing here in England, in despight of the Popes inhibition, and threats of Excommunication to hinder him, with a great Army, and Fleete of sixe hundred Boates. After which, he repaires to L…ndon, electing Simon Langhton for his Chancelor, the Arch-Bishops Brother, the Arch-bishop being the chiefe man in this Rebellion and Trea…on against King Iohn; by whose Counsell and Preaching, the Citizens of London, and Barons, though all excommunicated by the Pope, did celebrate Divine Service, and drew on Lewis to doe the like. King Iohn levying a great Armie, and hasting to give Battaile to those Rebels and Enemies, comming to Swinshed ††Fo… Acts and Monuments, p. 719. with the Authors th…re cited, and Speeds Historie of Great Brittain, l. 9. c. 8. sect. 63. p. 578, 588.Abbey, was poysoned in a Chalice, by a Monke of that House; who went to the Abbor and shrived himselfe, telling him, how he intended to give the King such a Drinke, that all England should be glad and joyfull thereof: at which, the Abbot wept for joy, and praysed God for the Monkes constancie; who being absolved before-hand by the Abbot, tooke the Cup of Poyson, and therewith poysoned both the King and himselfe, to doe the Arch-Bishops and Prelates a favour; since this **Holinsh. p. 196, 204, 205.King could not abide the pride and pretended p. 41authority of the Clergie, when they went about to wrest out of his hands the Prerogative of his Princely Government. He dying, Henry his young Son was received to the Kingdome, Lewis forsaken, the Barons absolved by the Pope and Clergie-men too, after a composion payd by them. After this, Stephen Langhton enshrines his Predecessor Becket (as great a Traytor as himselfe) in a very sumptuous Shrine (the King and greatest part of the Nobility of the Realme being present at the solemnity:) which done, this Arch-Traytor, after he had endeavoured to raise a new Warre betweene the King and the Nobles, dyed himselfe, Iuly 9. 1228. To obscure whose Treasons and Rebellions, our Monkes, who writ the Histories of those times, have raised up many slanders and lyes of this poysoned King Iohn, to his great defamation.