Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
K. Henry the 3d. his ſucceſſion to K. John; his Coronation, neceſſitated Oath, Homage, Subjection to, Tranſactions, Complyance with the Pope and See of Rome, against his own and the Nobles wills; his and their Complaints, Oppoſitions, Prohibitions againſt the Popes, Biſhops, Clergies Encroachments, Exactions both in England and Ireland; with the chief paſſages concerning the Eccleſiaſtical affairs in them, during the first 20. years of his young & troubleſome reign.
KIng John being *Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 1. p 331, to 336. Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 278. Caxton, Speed, Daniel, Graftor, Holinſhed, Baker, Anno 1 H. 3.taken out of this world by poyſon, through theAn. Dom. 1217 implacable malice of the Monks and Prelates, having then many Enemies both of Earls, Barons, and more eſpecially of the Popiſh Clergy, Henry his eldeſt ſon was then but of the Age of 9. Years: at which time moſt of the Lords of England adhering to Lewes the French Kings ſon, (whom they had ſent for before in diſpleaſure of King John to be their King, and had ſworn to him their Allegiance.) Thereupon William Earl Marſhall, a Noble man of great Authority, and a grave, ſound Counſellor, friendly and quietly called unto him divers Earls and Barons, and taking this Henry the young Prince, ſon of King John, ſet him before them all, uſing theſe words, Behold Right Honourable and Well-beloved: Although we have perſecuted the Father of this young Prince for his evil demeanour, and worthily, yet this young Childe, whom here you ſee before you, as he is in years tender, ſo is he pure and innocent from theſe his Fathers doings: Wherefore in as much as every man is charged only with the burthen of his own works and tranſgreſſions, *Ezech. 18.Neither ſhall the Childe (as the Scripture teacheth us) bear the iniquity of his Father: We ought therefore of duty and conſcience to pardon this young Prince, and take compaſſion of his Age as ye ſee. And now foraſmuch as he is the Kings natural and eldest ſon, and muſt be our Soveraign and King, and Succeſſor of this Kingdom, come let us appoint him our King and Governour, and let us remove from us this Lewes the French Kings ſon, and ſuppreſſe his people, which is a confuſion and ſhame to our Nation, and the yok… of our ſervitude let us caſt off from our ſhoulders. To theſe words ſpake and anſwered the Earl of Glouceſter: And by what reaſon and right (ſaid he) can we ſo do, ſeeing we have called him hither and ſworn to him our Fealty? Whereunto the Earl Marſhall inferred again, and ſaid: Good right and reaſon we have, and ought of duty to do no leſſe, for that contrary to our mind and calling, he hath abuſed our a…fiance and Fealties. Truth it is, we called him and meant to preferre him to be our Chieftain and Governour, but he eftſoons ſurpriſed in pride, hath contemned and despiſed us, and if we ſhall ſo ſuffer him, he will ſubvert and overthrow both us and our Nation, and ſo ſhall we remain a ſpectacle of ſhame to all men, and be as outcaſts of all the world.
At theſe words all they, as inſpired from above, cryed all together with one voice, Be it ſo, he ſhall be our King; and ſo the day was appointed for his Coronation, which was the day of Simon and Jude. This Coronation was kept not at Weſtminſter, foraſmuch as Weſtminſter at the ſame time was holden of the French-men, but at Glouceſter, the ſafeſt place (as was though) at that time in the Realm, Anno 1216. by Gualo the Popes Legate, through counſel of all the Lords and Barons that held with his Father King John.
The manner of his Coronation is thus related by Matthew Paris.