Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 1 – Document 19
BOOK IV. CHAP. II.
Conteining ſundry Records, Patents, and Hiſtorical paſſages, evidencing the Kings Supreme Juriſdiction in and over Eccleſiastical Perſons, Courts, Affaires, in England and Ireland: The Intollerable Uſurpations, Extortions, Oppreſſions, Innovations, Proceedings of Popes, their Legates, Agents, Inſtruments, to the prejudice of the Rights, Priviledges of the King, Church, Kingdom, Subjects, in both theſe Realms; with the ſeverall Complaints and Oppoſitions against them: The Engliſh and Iriſh Biſhops, Covents, Courts Chriſtians Encroachments upon the Kings Temporal Courts, Rights, Royal Dignity, and Subjects Liberties; Prohibitions and Oppoſitions against them; with the principal Eccleſiaſtical Affaires and Tranſactions in relation to England and Ireland, from the beginning of the 21. to the end of the 40. year of King Henry the 3d. his Reign.
I Have in the cloze of the preceding Chapter preſented you with King Henry the 3d. his memorable Writ of Prohibition directed to Edmond Archbiſhop of Canterbury, not to anſwer to a ſuit brought againſt him by the Prior and Monks of Trinity, concerning Advouſons of Churches, Lands, Services, and gifts to his Church, before the Popes Delegates, authorized to hear the ſame, to the prejudice of the Rights of his Crown and Royal Dignity: I ſhall now begin this Chapter with this Kings Prohibition, Attachment, for diſobeying his former Prohibitions, iſſued againſt the Popes Delegates themſelves, (being three Abbots) and the Prior who ſued him, with other Prohibitions not to proceed therein under pain of ſeizing their Temporalties, for citing the Archbiſhop to appear before the Pope out of the Realm, or elſewhere, upon this untrue ſuggeſtion to the Pope, that ſuch caſes had been formerly handled in Eccleſiaſtical Courts in the time of his Anceſtors, without any Prohibition, which the King and his Counſel deny, ſending ſpecial Meſſengers to the Popes Delegates, together with Prohibitions to inhibit their proceedings, as theſe Records atteſt.
REX Vicecomiti Kanc. ſalutem. Pone per Vad. & ſalvos Pleg. de Boxle, ſanctaeAnno 1237. Clauſ. 21 H. 3. m. 15. dorſo. Radegund. & de Leſnes Abbates, quod ſint coram Iuſticiariis noſtris apud Weſtmonasterium in Octabis Sanctae Trinitatis, oſtenſuri quare tenuerunt placitum in curia Chriſtianitatis, ſuper advocationibus Eccleſiarum Maneriorum Prioris et Monachorum ſanctae Trinitatis Cantuar. et ſuper xeniis, quae idem Archiepiſcopus percipit, de Maneriis ipſorum Prioris et Monachorum, et ſuper obedientiis domus ſanctae Trinitatis Cantuar. contra Prohibitionem noſtram, cum placita de advocationibus Eccleſiarum, alibi teneri non debeant, nec conſueverint in Regno noſtro quam in Curia noſtra. Et praeterea, cum vacante Archiepiſcopatu Cantuar. ad nos et Haeredes noſtros dictorum xeniorum perceptio, et praedictarum obedientiarum diſpoſitio pertineat. Pone etiam per Vad. & ſalvos Plegios praedictum Priorem, quod tunc ſit ibi oſtenſurus, quare ſecutus eſt idem placitum in eadem Curia contra Prohibitionem noſtram. Et habeas ibi nomina plegiorum & hoc breve.
Teſte Rege apud Windles Quinto die Maii. Per W. de Raleg.
A Maur. de Sancto Amando, Bertramus de Crioil, Johannes de Pleſſetis, & SilveſterClauſ. 21 H. 3. m. 16. dorſo. de Everdon Clericus, miſſi fuerunt ex parte Regis apud Roffian. 13. die Marc. ad Iudices delegatos ad inhibendum eis ne procederent in cauſa quae ventilabatur coram eis, inter Dominum Cantuar. et Priorem Sanctae Trinitatis Cant. de patronatu Eccleſiarum, quia hujuſmodi placita ſpectant ad Coronam et dignitatem Regis: et ſi hujuſmodi cauſae coram eis terminarentur, intereſſe ejus praejudicium verteretur.
Poſtea ſcripſit eis ſub hac forma.
REX Abbati de Leſnes ſalutem. Audivimus quod Prior et Monachi ſanctae Trinitatis Cantuar. coram te et Conjudicibus tuis trahit E. Cant. Archiepiſcopum in placitum, in curia Chriſtianitatis Authoritate Literarum Domini Papae, ſuper advocationibus Eccleſiarium Maneriorum ſuorum, et ſuper xeniis quae idem Archiepiſcopus percipit, de Maneriis ipſorum Prioris et Monachorum, et ſuper obedientiis domus Sanctae Trinitatis Cant. Quia vero manifeſte eſt contra Coronamet dignitatem noſtram quod praefata loquela teneatur in Cur. Chriſtianitatis, cum placitum de advocationibus Eccleſiarum alibi teneri non debeat nec conſueverit in Regno noſtro quam in Curia noſtra: Et praeterea cum vacante Archiepiſcopatu Cantuar. ad nos et haeredes noſtros pertineat dictorum xeniorum perceptio, et praedictarum obedientiarum diſpoſitio, prohibemus tibi ne de cetero placitum illud teneas in Curia Chriſtianitatis. Teſte Rege apud Roff. 14. die Marc.
Theſe Abbots notwithſtanding this Prohibition proceeded in theſe ſuits; thereupon the King iſſued this ſecond Writ of Prohibition to them and the Prior of Trinity, not to proceed therein under paine of ſeaſing their Temporalties.
REX Abbatibus de Boxle, ſanctae Radegund. & de Leſnes ſalutem. Memoriter tenemus,Clauſ. 21 H. 3. m. 10. nos alias inhibuiſſe, ne teneretis placitum in curia Chriſtianitatis inter venerabilem Patrem E. Cant. Archiepiſcopum ex una parte, & Priorem & Monachos ſanctae Trinitatis Cant. ex alia, ſuper advocationibus Eccleſiarum, Mariſcis, Exeniis et ſervitiis hominum. Et quia non obſtante prohibitione noſtra praedicta, iterum ſummoneri feciſtis eundem Archiepiſcopum, ut certo die coram vobis compareat ad reſpondendum ſuper praemiſſis, vel diem recipiend. quo per ſe vel per procuratorem, coram Domino Papa compareat inde reſponſurus, et literae Apoſtolicae quorum authoritate hoc faciatis per falſi ſuggeſtionem ſunt impetratae, cum contineant eandem cauſam in foro Eccleſiaſtico alias fuiſſe tractatam, nullo praedeceſſorum noſtrorum Regnum Angliae illum prohibente, quod manifeſte falſum eſſe dignoſcitur, cum hujuſmodi cauſa nullo tempore alibi quam in Curia noſtra et praedeceſſorum noſtrorum tractari conſueverit: Vobis diſtricte prohibemus ſuper omnia tenementa veſtra, quae tenetis in Regno noſtro, ne in dicta cauſa procedatis, ipſi Archiepiſcopo diem praefigentes extra regnum noſtrum, vel alio modo, ante adventum Domini Legati in Angliam, qui in januis eſt, cui volumus praedicta communicare, et in eiſdem ejus uti conſilio. Teſte Rege apud Woodſtock Decimo die Julii.
After which I finde no more proceedings in this caſe.
The like Writ of Prohibition, upon the ſame grounds, was iſſued to the Abbot of St. Albans, and other Delegates of the Pope, in the caſe of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, touching the Temporalties, Lands, and Services of the Biſhoprick of Rocheſter, during the vacancy.
HENRICƲS Dei gratia Rex Angliae, &c. Abbati ſancti Albani & conjudicibusPat. 21. H. 3. m. 13. Dorſ. ſuis ſalutem. Quibuſdam referentibus audivimus, quod cum Cuſtodia Epiſcopatus Roffenſis ratione vacationis ſuae *By vertue of King Johns Charter, Here p. 339.exiſtar in manu venerabilis Patris E. Cantuarienſis Archiepiſcopi, cum omnibus ad Epiſcopatum illum ſpectantibus, tamſpiritualibus quam Temporalibus, vos, eundem Archiepiſcopum in cauſam trahitis in Curia Chriſtianitatis, authoritate literarum Domini Papae, ſuper quibusdam xeniis de Maneriis veſtris annuatim debitis Epiſcopo Roffenſi, qui pro tempore fuerint ſicut annuus Redditus, deſicut praeſtatio illa et venit de Laico feodo, temporalis eſt. Et quoniam ſi in cauſa illa optineretis nobis in futuro poſſet praejudicium generari, ſi contingeret quod vacarent eodem tempore tam Archiepiſcopatus Cantuarienſis, quam Epiſcopatus Roffenſis, cum utriuſque Cuſtodia ad nos immediate pertineret; vobis prohibemus, quod cauſam illam in curia Chriſtianitatis non proſequamini de caetero, quia proſecutio ejus manifeſte eſt contra coronam, et dignitatem noſtram, et etiam contra libertates noſtras quas habuimus, de ſingulis Epiſcopatibus vacantibus in Regna noſtro. Teſte Rege apud Windles 14. die Novembris.
In both theſe precedent caſes of the Archbiſhop, the King by ſeveral Writs of Prohibition, countermanded the Popes own Bulls and delegates as contrary to the Rights and Dignities of his Crown, and prohibited their proceedings, which gave ſome check to his Uſurpations of this kinde, though he was enforced to connive at or ſubmit to other Papal incroachments for the preſent, as unable to withſtand or redreſſe them.
The Kings Clerks and Houſhold Chaplains in thoſe dayes wearing long hair and Peruwigs, (againſt the *1 Co. 1… 4…Apostles and Natures dictates) thereupon the King out of piety and zeal to reform this abuſe, iſſued this Writ to William de Perecat, authorizing and ſtrictly commanding him to cut their hair, and pull off their yellow Peruwigs, under pain of being ſhaven, and polled himſelf, as this Writ aſſures us.
REX Willielmo de Perecat. ſalutem. Sciatis quod conceſſimus & plenam poteſtatemPat. 21. H. 3. m. 3. dorſo vobis dedimus, ſcindendi capillos Clericorum noſtrorum, qui ſunt de Hoſpitio noſtro, et familia noſtra longos crines habentium, et comas untrientium, et ad crocos Capillorum ſuorum deponendos. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quatenus ad hoc modo debito diligenter intendatis; hujuſmodi poteſtatem noſtram vobis conceſſam taliter exequentes, circa praedictos Capillos ſcindendos et crocos deponendos, ne ad Capillos veſtros ſcindendos forcipes apponere debeamus Teſte meipſo apud Clyne ſecundo die Septembris.
A memorable Preſident fit to be imitated and put in execution in our effeminate degenerous age, more peccant in this kinde then any former times, there being more falſe Heads (if not hearts too) in England, and more long-haired Ruffians, both of the Clergy, Court, City, Country, needing ſuch a Reformation and Reformer as this Writ preſcribes, then in any precedent age.
The King having newly founded and endowed the Hoſpital of St. Johns in Oxford, whereby he became Patron thereof, the Archdeacon of Lincoln grew ſo preſumptuous, as without the Kings privity, to remove Freer William, to whom he had for a time committed the adminiſtration of the Temporalties thereof, and to make one Ely Maſter of the Hoſpital. Whereupon the King iſſued this Writ to the Archdeacon, and another to the Biſhop of Lincoln, to rectify this his uſurpation and preſumption without delay.
REX Magiſtro R. Archidiacono Oxoniae, ſalutem. Cum ſuper Jure patronatusClauſ. 21 H. 3. m. 13. dorſ. Hoſpitalis Sancti Johannis Oxoniae nobis quaeſtio referri non poſſit, nec debeat, utpote qui pro ſalute Anteceſſorum noſtrorum idem Hoſpitale fundavimus, ac de bonis noſtris ditavimus; Miramur non modicum, ac pariter movemur, quod vos nobis irrequiſitis, fratrem Willielmum, cui adminiſtrationem temporalium ejuſdem domus ad tempus commiſimus amoventes, Elyam Capellanum ejuſdem Hoſpitalis, Magiſtrum praefeciſtis, in regiae dignitatis praejudicium et gravamen. Quocirca vos requirimus firmiter prohibentes, ne falcem veſtram mittatis in meſſem alienam, ſet potius jure veſtro contenti, jus patronatus quod in dicto Hoſpitali obtinemus perturbare deſiſtatis, culpam praecedentem per patientiam ſubſequentem taliter redimentes, ne de caetero de talibus ad aures magnificentiae noſtrae querela perveniat. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſt. 27 die Maii.
Item Mandatum eſt Domino R. Lincolniae Epiſcopo, quod det ipſi Archid. in mandatis, ut quod praeſumptum eſt ab eo in hac parte ſine morae diſpendio ſtudeat revocare. Teſte Rege ut ſupra.
The Monks and Converts of the Ciſtercian Order, contrary to their vows and rules, becomming common Merchants, buying and ſelling again Wools and Skins, to the prejudice of other Merchants, & ſcandal of their profeſſion; the King for redreſſe thereof iſſued this enſuing Writ of Prohibition to all the Sheriffs of England, to ſeize the goods and monies of thoſe Monks and Converts to his uſe, who ſhould offend therein.
MAndatum eſt Vicecomiti Rotel. quod in pleno Com. ſuo, & per omnes bonasClauſ. 21 H. 3. m. 14. dorſ. villas Com. ſui, & per totam Ballivam ſuam, clamari, etex parte Regis firmiter prohiberi faciat, ne aliquis Monachus vel Converſus Ciſtercienſis ordinis, lanam vel coria emat aliis vendenda, nec aliquis eis hujuſmodi Mercandiſas vendat per manum ſuam iterum vendendas. Et ſi de cetero aliquis Monachus vel converſus praefati ordinis interceptus vel convictus fuerit ſuper hujuſmodi emptione, tam Mercandiſae quam denarii eis quorum fuerint deperdentur, et ad opus Regis incurrentur.
Eodem modo mandatur omnibus Vicecomitibus Angliae.
The Dean and Chapter of Artferten in Ireland, electing a Biſhop upon an avoydance by reſignation, without the Kings Licenſe firſt obtained contrary to *Here p. 378, 402, 407, 424, 479.former Inhibitions, the King upon their Petition, would no ways confirme their election ſo unduly made, but declared it utterly voyd, leſt he ſhould derogate from, and deſtroy his own Regal Right, by ſuch diſpenſations and connivance; yet becauſe of the poverty of this Church, he did by ſpecial Writs Authorize the Archbiſhop of Dublin and his cheif Juſtice of Ireland, to give the Dean and Chapter in his name and right a licenſe for a new election, and to give his royal aſſent to the perſon they ſhould elect, as theſe 3. Records inform us.
REX L. Dublinenſi Archiepiſcopo, & M. filio Geroldi Juſtic. ſuo Hyberniae, ſalutem.Clauſ. 21 H. 3. m. 1…. dorſ. Cum nuper nobis Nunciarunt Decanus & Capitulum Eccleſiae Artfertenſ. quod Eccleſia ſua vacante per reſignationem G. quondam Epiſcopi Artfertenſis, praeter aſſenſum noſtrum et licentiam alium ſibi eligerent in Paſtorem, et inſtanter nos rogaſſent, per Nuncium ſuum ad nos propter hoc deſtinatum, quod Electioni ſuae aſſenſum regium adhiberemus et favorem, non duximus ipſos in petitione ſua exaudiendos, cum ſic videremur juri noſtro manifeſte derogare, eo quod mos eſt, ſicut non ignoratis, in Eccleſiis Cathedralibus ad noſtram ſpectantibus advocationem, quod vacante ſede ante Electionem celebrandam, licentia Regia eſt requirenda, unde Electionem praedictorum Decani et Capituli irritam, quantum ad Hos, reputavimus et inanem. Uerumtamen audita paupertate Epiſcopatus memorati, ut laboribus et expenſis memoratae Eccleſiae parceremus, hanc eis duximus gratiam faciendam, quod conceſſa vobis poteſtate noſtra hac vice, dandi eis talem eligendi licentiam, ipſam a vobis tanquam dignitate noſtrae in hac parte utentibus requirant, et ea obtenta iterato ad eligendum procedant, et Electioni factae poſtmodum, de perſona nobis fideli et noſtrae terrae Hyberniae neceſſaria, authoritate noſtra favorem regium praebeatis et aſſenſum. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod cum praedicti Decanus et capitulum ad vos venerint, aut certum nuncium cum literis Capituli ſui patentibus ad vos miſerint, licentiam praedictam petituri, ipſam authoritate noſtra hac vice eis concedatis, et poſt Electionem rite celebratam, eidem Electo ſuo vobis praeſentato nomine noſtro aſſenſum regium pr…beatis et favorem. In cujus, &c. Teſte Rege apud Werleberg. ſexto die Decemberis.
ET mandatum eſt per Literas Clauſas Decano & Capitulo Artferten. Eccleſiae,Ibidem. quod quia *See here p. 378, 402.Rex quidem inhibuit, ne in aliqua Eccleſia Cathedrali vacante in terra Regis Hyberniae, fieret electio, niſi Licentia a Rege petita prius et obtenta: Et ipſi nihilominus ſine Licentia Regis proceſſerunt ad Eligendum ſibi paſtorem, electioni per eos factae ſine licentia, Rex non duxit aſſenſum Regium praebere, cum ex eo poſſet ſibi et Haeredibus ſuis praejudicium imminere, et volens Rex laboribus ſuis, quantum poteſt ſalvo jure ſuo, deferre, poteſtatem dedit L. Dublin. Archiepiſ. et M. filio Geroldi Regis Juſt. Hyberniae, eis licentiam eligendi, et Electo eorum aſſenſum regium praebendis et praeſentent electum ſuum eis, petita prius ab eis vice Regis licentia eligendi, et procedant ad electionem ſuam faciendam. Teſte Rege ut ſupra.
REX M. Caſſalenſi Archiepiſcopo ſalutem. Quia vacante nuper ſede Artferten,Clauſ. 21. H. 3. m. 11, 12. Ibidem. Decanus & Capitulum ejuſdem Eccleſiae, praeter licentiam noſtram quam prius debuerunt requiſiſſe, eligere praeſumpſerunt, cum ad nos mitterent in Angliam Rogantes, quod Electioni ſuae aſſenſum regium praeberemus, Noluimus, ſicut nec debuimus ipſos exaudire: ut autem parceremus laboribus et expenſis praedictorum Decani et Capituli, et dignitatem regiam ſervaremus illaeſam, dedimus in mandatis venerabili in Chriſto patri L. Dublinenſi Archiepiſcopo, et Juſticiario noſtro Hyberniae, quibus poteſtatem dedimus hac vice dandi praedictis Decano et Capitulo Licentiam eligendi, et poſt electionem eidem aſſenſum ſuum nomine noſtro praebendi; Quod cum praedicti Decanus et Capitulum ad ipſos venerint vel miſerint, licentiam petituri, eam authoritate noſtra eis concedant, et electioni poſtea rite celebratae, Aſſentiant. Cum igitur oporteat ipſos licentiam adhuc ab Archiepiſcopo et Juſticiario noſtro petere, ne Juri noſtro derogare videremur, et petita licentia iterato eligere, paternitatem veſtram rogamus attentius, quatenus et ſi per errorem et negligentiam praedictorum Decani et Capituli contigerit ſemenſtre pertranſiri, propter quod videatur forte vobis, quod ad Epiſcopatum illum manum poſſitis extendere, contra Coronam et dignitatem noſtram inde nihil attemptetis ordinare, quia nullatenus ſuſtineremus dignitati Regiae in hac parte derogari; maxime, cum ex parte noſtra nulla fuerit negligentia que nobis debeat eſſe dampnoſa. Teſte ut ſupra.
There being a great difference between the Biſhop of Clochor in Ireland and Archbiſhop of Armach, and their tenants concerning ſpoliations, injuries and greivances touching their Churches, the Archbiſhop of Armach procuring the Kings Letters to his Chief Juſtice by miſinformation, whiles he was excommunicated: The King thereupon revoked his former Letters, and commanded his Chief Juſtice in Ireland to hear and determin the controverſies betwen them, according to the Law and Cuſtom of Ireland.
MAndatum eſt M. Juſtic. Hiberniae, quod diligenter audiat querelas N. Clocoren. Clauſ. 21. H. 3. m. 16. dorſ.Epiſcopi quas audivit, & coram eo deponet per praeceptum Regis, ſuper injuriis, gravaminibus, ſpoliationibus terrarum & Eccleſiarum, ei & ſuis irrogati ab Archiepiſcopo Armach. et ſuis. Et querelis ſuis plenius auditis et intellectis ſecundum legem et conſuetudinem terrae Hiberniae, plenani et celerem Iuſtitiam ei exhibeat. Nec remaneat aliquatenus eidem exhibitio Juſtitiae facienda occaſione Literarum Regis quas aliquando Rex ei tranſmiſit, pro parte praefati Archiepiſcopi contra memoratum Archiepiſcopum, de captione hominum ipſius Epiſcopi, quos ipſe Archiep. Regi ſuggeſsit eſſe excommunicatos, quia ipſe Archiepiſcopus in impetratione earum per procuratores ſuos Regem circumvenit, cum ipſe et ſui fautores tempore impetrationis earundem Literarum eſſent excommunicati, ſicut Regi poſtea plenius innotuit, exmandato Venerabilium Patrum Archiepiſcopi Cantuar. et Epiſcopi Cyceſtrenſis, Cancellarii Regis, conſervatorum cauſae memorati Epiſcopi contra praefatum Archiepiſcopum, qui ad mandatum Venerabilis Patris Dublin. quibus praefati Archiepiſcopus Cantuarienſis et Epiſcopus Cyceſtrenſis, vices ſuas commiſerant ſuper executione praedicta, per literas ſuas Patent. eis ſignificaverunt. Teſte Rege apud Kenet. Decimo die Februarii.
The Archbiſhop of Rohan being elected, and his election approved by the King this year, the King out of his extraordinary favour, diſpenſed with his perſonal Oath of fealty to him, accepting it from his Proctor at this time, provided that who ever was elected Biſhop afterwards, ſhould do his fealty to the King in proper perſon not by proxy, as this memorable Record atteſts.
MAndatum eſt Magiſtro P. de Colle Medio, Electo Rotom. & capitulo ejuſdemClauſ. 21. H. 3. m. 19. intus. loci, quod propter ſpecialem & fidelem amicitiam quam Dominus Rex invenit in praedicto Electo, & propter affectionem quam ſperat ipſum erga dominum Regem velle continuare, quod petitioni ſuae quam fecerunt, ut fidelitatem a Magiſtro Bileberto de Commovill, vice ipſius Electi juraret in animam ipſius Electi, benigne condeſcendit; ſed Dominus Rex vult eos ſcire, quod quociens de caetero continget Eccleſiam ſuam vacare, a nullo alio fidelitatem recipiet Dominus Rex, quam ab eo qui praefatae Eccleſiae praeficietur. Teſte Rege ut ſupra.
After his Proctor had thus ſworn fealty to the King he iſſued this Writ to the Sheriffs and others to reſtore the Temporalties of his Archbiſhoprick in England to this his Proctor, in the Archbiſhops behalf.
REX vicecomiti Eborum, ſalutem. Scias quod Electioni factae, de Magiſtro Petro Clauſ. 21. H. 3 m. 19. intus.de Colle Med'o in Archiepiſcopum Rotom. quam Dominus Papa confirmavit, Regium adhibuimus aſſenſum et favorem. Et ideo tibi praecipimus, quod de terris & tenementis ad Archiepiſ. praedictum pertin. in Balliva tua, & de quibus proximus praedeceſſor ſuus ejuſdem loci Archiepiſcopus obiit ſeiſitus Magiſtro Gileberto de Comonvil, nomine ejuſdem Electi plenam ſeiſinam habere facias. Teſte Rege apud Merleberg. Duodecimo die Decembris.
Eodem modo ſcribitur Bullivo de Odyham, de terris & tenementis in Balliva ſua.
Upon the death of Richard Biſhop of Durham, the King upon the Petition of the Prior and Covent, granted this Licence to elect a new Biſhop.
REX Priori & Coventui de Dunholm. ſalutem. Venientes ad nos cum literisPat. 21. H. 3. m. 8. intus. capituli veſtri patentibus fratres, Robertus Supprior, Thomas de Witwell, & Rogerus de Now Burgo, Monachi domus veſtrae, nunciaverunt nobis Epiſcopatum Dunholmenſem, vacantem eſſe per mortem R. quondam Epiſcopi eiusdem loci, et petierunt a nobis licentiam alium vobis eligendi in patrem et paſtorem. Nos vero petitioni veſtrae & ſuae in hac parte benigne condeſcendentes, licentiam vobis concedimus alium vobis eligendi in Paſtorem, Rogantes quatenus talem vobis eligere curetis in Patrem & Epiſcopum, qui Deo devotus, nobis et regno noſtro neceſſarius, et Eccleſiae veſtrae Regimini utilis eſſe dinoſcatur. Teſte Rege apud Windles Quinto die Maii.
Pope Gregory granted this ſpecial favour to King Henry, upon a Treaty with his Legat, that 6. of his Clerks might enjoy pluralities of Benefices; when as in his Inſtrument of diſpenſation there were only 5. which defect his Legat by his own power undertaking to ſupply, the King recommended a ſixt Clerk to him by this Writ.
REX Legato ſalutem. Nuper, ſicut recolimus, London. conſtituti, cum vobiſcumClauſ. 21. H. 3. m. 4. dorſ. tractatum haberemus, de gratia nobis a Domino Papae conceſſa, dixiſtis nobis, quod Dominus Papa vobis cum ſex de Clericis noſtris diſpenſandi dederat▪ poteſtatem. Et nos ſecundum dictum veſtrum, illam gratiam quam dommus Papa nobis fecerat ſex de Clericis noſtris conceſſimus, de…gratia liberali. Verum poſtmodum Dominus Valentinus Eccleſiae procurator nobis retulit, quod inſpexerat autenticum ubi non niſi de quinque Clericis noſtris mentio habebatur, ſed dixiſtis ei veſtri gratia, Quod illud quod in Autentico deerat, ex officio veſtro ſuppletis, ſuper quo multimodas vobis referimusigratiarum actiones, nihilominus diſcretionem veſtram rogantes, quatenus illam ſextam gratiam Willielmo Hardel Clerico noſtro ad preces noſtras concedatis. Teſte Rege apud Windeleſ. 14. die Auguſti.
The Biſhop of Norwich dying this year, the Monkes elected Symon their Prior for their Biſhop, whom the King diſapproving, made a ſpecial Proctor againſt him before the Archbiſhop to hinder his confirmation, and to appeal againſt him to the See of Rome, if it were expedient, where he likewiſe conſtituted his Proctor, as theſe Records inform us.
REX Cantuarienſi Archiepiſcopo ſalutem. Mittimus ad vos dilectum ClericumClauſ. 21. H. 3. m. 13. dorſ: noſtrum Magiſtrum W. de Kilkenny, Conſtituentes ipſum procuratorem noſtrum ad aſſignandum quaſdam cauſas contradictionis noſtrae contra Electionem de Priore Norwic. celebratam, & contra ipſum Priorem & Electores ipſius, ſalvis nobis aliis Juris remediis competentibus; ratum habituri quicquid idem Willielmus ſuper praemiſſis fecerit, Damus etiam eidem poteſtatem appellandi ad ſedem Apoſtolicam ſi viderit expedire. Hoc idem Priori Norwic. & Monachis ejuſdem lioci ſignificamus. In cujus, &c. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſterium Undecimo die Novembris.
REX Domino Papae ſalutem. Conſtituimus dilectum Clericum noſtrum MagiſtrumClauſ. 21. H. m. 12. intus. Will. de Kilkenny, procuratorem noſtrum in Curia Romana, ad proſequendum Cauſas contradictionis noſtrae contra electionem, Electum & Electores Norwic. Eccleſiae; damus etiam eidem Magiſtro Willo. poteſtatem ſubſtituendi procuratorem in negotio memorato; ratum habituri quicquid idem Magiſter VV. vel ab eo ſubſtitutus procurator fecerit in praemiſſis. Idem praemiſſis electoribus & Electo ſignificamus. Teſte Rege apud VVeſtmonaſterium 23. die Januarij.
What the iſſue was of this Election aFlores Hiſt. Anno 1237. p. 145.Matthew Weſtminſters, and bHiſt. Angl. p. 422, 423. Godwins Catalogue of Bps. p. 345.Matthew Paris thus relate.
INgreſſis itaque viam univerſae carnis, piae memoriae Venerabilibus Patribus Wigornienſi & Norwicenſi Epiſcopis, elegerunt Monachi Wigorniae Magiſtrum Walterum de Cantelupo, filium Willielmi de Cantilupo, viri potentis & praeclari, in Praeſulem & Paſtorem animarum ſuarum: quem ſine difficultate Dominus Papa acceptavit,▪ et in Epiſcopum conſecravit. Norwicenſes autem Priorem ſuum, virum religioſum & diſcretum, in ſuum ſibi Praeſulem elegerunt: cu us electio, licet rite facta, quia tamen Regi diſplicuit, quibuſdam ridiculoſis rationibus vel exceptionibus contradicentium, fuit diu in pendulo, non ſine peccatorum ſcrupulis, impedita. After near three years conteſts, William de Raleigh was conſecrated Biſhop thereof, and the Prior put by.
The deplorable, ſervile, irreligious condition of the Church and Realm of England at this time, under the manifold tyrannical Uſurpations, Exactions, Corruptions of the Pope and his Inſtruments, (bonis terra in Regni perniciem ſaginati) is thus moſt emphatically remonſtrated by an *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 423. Miſerabilis ſtatus Angliae.eye witneſſe then living.