Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 210

Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3 · Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 210

p. 706REX Epiſcopo Lincoln. ſalutem. Ex querela multorum accepimus Clauſ. 36 H. 3. …. 14. d…ſo.tam Magnatum de Diocaeſi veſtra quam aliorum, per quoſdam Clericos veſtros et Decanos quoſdam citari facitis paſſim, et indifferenter pauperes homines de Diocaeſi veſtra, et quoſdam liberos homines cujuſcunque ſint homines, et trahitis eos de locis variis ad loca varia, et eos artari faciatis, per poenam Excommunicationis, ad comparendum coram praedictis Clericis et ſubditis veſtris ad loca varia, et eis honeroſa, dum vacare deberent agrorum cultur… et aliis Temporalibus agendis ſuis neceſſariis, per quod depauperantur indebite, et enormiter vexantur. Et inſuper quod inauditum eſt, eos jurare compellunt praedicti ſcrutatores veſtri de privatis peccatis aliorum, quae non ſunt, ut dicitur, publica cohercione purganda; pro quo multi Chriſtiani, forte praeter merita turpiter diffamantur. Et quia hujuſmodi vexationes contra longam Conſuetudinem Regni noſtri ſunt excogitatae, et duplex populo per eas imminet periculum, tum propter laborum neceſſariorum amiſſionem, tum propter Sacramentum praeſtitum ſuper privatis factis aliorum, in quibus homines decipiuntur, per quod reatum perjurii de facili poſſunt incurrere; Vobis prohibemus, ne de caetero hujuſmodi convocationes populi fieri faciatis in Diocaeſi veſtra, contra Regni noſtri Conſuetudinem et uſum longaevum. Nec etiam audivimus, quod Eccleſia conſueverit aliquem ad teſtimonium perhibendum compellere, niſi in certis cauſis, et niſi quis ſe gratia, odio vel timore ſubtraxerit a teſtimonio perhibendo. Et ſciatis, quod niſi a praedictis inuſitatis populi ac indebitis vexationibus deſiſtatis, nos ſuſtinere non poterimus ulterius, quin ad hoc manus Regias apponemus. Teſte Rege apud Windeſ. 14. die Junii.

By theſe premiſed paſſages and Regal Writs of Prohibition, it is moſt evident:

1. That Groſthead Biſhop of Lincoln, by colour of a pretended Priviledge and Grant from the Pope, (not King) was the firſt Introducer of Inquiſitions upon Oath, and Oathes in private cauſes, into the Church, Realm of England, in the 30. year of King Henry the 3d. there being no warrant nor preſident (for ought I can find upon my ſtricteſt ſearch) in Hiſtories or Records, of any ſuch Inquiſitions or Oathes uſed in England or elſewhere, by Biſhops or Eccleſiaſtical perſons in their Viſitations or Conſiſtories. And no wonder, ſince aaTract. 35. in Mat.Origen, bbIn Sermone de Paſſione & Cruce Domini.Athanaſius, ccIn Expoſit. in Pſal. 118.Ps 118Ambroſe, ddComment. in cap. 5. Matth. in cap. 4. Jer. & Comment. in Zach. cap. 8.Zech 8Jerome, eeHomil. 15. … Gen. Hom. in Pſal. 5. Hom. 17 in Matth. Hom. 9. in Act. Apoſt. Hom. 8. & 19. ad Pop. Antioch. Hom. in Pſal. 109. & lib. 1. De compunctione cordis.Ps 5Ps 109Chryſoſtome, ffCan. 4. in Matth. 5.Matt 5Hilary, ggLib. 1. Panacii contr. Oſſenos.Epiphanius, hhComment. in. Mat. 5.Matt 5Cromatius Aquili… Epiſcopus, iiComment. in Mat. cap. 5.Matt 5Euthymi…s, kkComment. in cap. 5. Jacobi.Oecumenius, llEnar. in cap. 5. Mat.Theophylactus, and other Ancients collected by mmSixtus Senenſis Bibl. Sanctae, l. 6. Annot. 26. p: 433, 434, &c.Sixtus Senenſis, from Mat. 5. 34, to 38. But I ſay unto you, ſwear not at all, &c. but let your communication be Yea, Yea, and Nay, Nay, for whatſoever is more then theſe cometh of evil: and Jam. 5. 12. But above all things my Brethren ſwear not, &c. but let your Yea be Yea, and your Nay, Nay, le…t you fall into condemnation: and the nnPelichdorffius contra Waldenſes, c. 36. Bibl. Patrum Tom. 13. p. 331. See here Book 1. ch. 5. p. 369, 370, 374, 375.Waldenſes, with ſundry modern Commentators, condemned the uſual impoſing of Oathes (interdicted to Chriſtians under the Goſpel) as dangerous, and not to be enforced upon any, (unleſs in extraordinary caſes of neceſſity, for ending controverſies) eſpecially by, or on Clergymen: Whence the Author of the imperfect Work on Matthew (attributed to St. Chryſoſtome) thus admoniſhed Clerks who tendred Oathes to others: ooHomil. 12. Tom. 2. p. 707.Audite p. 707Clerici, qui exigentibus▪ Evangelia Sancta porrigatis; quomodo poteſtis ab illo Juramento eſſe ſecuri, qui occaſionem perjurii datis? Si erat benè jurare juſtum, juſtè dicebatis; Quia de dimus illis Evangelium, ut jurent, non ut perjurent: nunc autem, cum ſciatis, quia & benè jurare peccatum eſt: quomodo poteſtis eſſe liberi, qui occaſionem datis peccandi in Deum? Haec de illis dicta ſunt, qui jurant per Deum; eorum autem, qui jurant per elementa, execrabilior iniquitas eſt. Thoſe Fathers and Godly Biſhops then, who writ thus **Et quia pejurare non poteſt, qui non jurat, ideo ra…ò & non niſi neceſſitate▪ utamur juramento, &c. Beda in Mat. Evang. c. 6▪ Tom. 5. col. 13.againſt the ordinary impoſing of Oathes under the Goſpel, did never doubtleſs preſcribe or enforce them on any in their Conſiſtories or Viſitations. Beſides, it is moſt apparent, that antient Councils and Popes were very carefull to inhibit the impoſing of Oathes upon Clergymen or Laymen, to prevent Perjury: Hence the ppSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 280.Council of Cavailon under the Emperor Charles the Great, about the year 813. prohibited Biſhops from exacting an Oath of Canonical obedience from Clergymen; or any Oath from Laymen in caſes of Tythes, by theſe expreſſe Canons. Can. 13. Dictū eſt de quibuſdam Fratribus, quod eos quos ordinaturi ſunt, jurare cogunt, quod digni ſint, et contra Canones non ſint facturi, et obedientes ſint Epiſcopo, qui eos ordinat, et Eccleſiae, in qua ordinantur: Quod juramentum, quia periculoſum eſt, omnes una inhibendum ſtatuimus. And Can. 18. Qui verò Decimas poſt crebras admonitiones & praedicationes Sacerdotum dare neglexerint, Excommunicentur, Iuramento vero eos conſtringi nolumus propter periculum perjurii. And our qqSee Bracton l. 3. f. 106. Mirror des Juſtias, l. 2. c. 2. Cooks 2 Inſtit. f. 44. 142.Statutes of Magna Charta, c. 28. of Marlbridge, 51 H. 3. c. 22. 3 E. 1. c. 30. & 2 E. 6. c. 13. prohibite Oathes of Parties and Champions upon the like account, to prevent Perjury. Pope Cornelius (as rrCauſ. 2. qu. 5.Gratian atteſts) affirmed in one of his Decrees, Nos ab Epiſcopis Sacramentum neſcimus oblatum, (therefore not then uſed in their Courts or Viſitations) nec unquam fieri debet niſi pro recta fide. Yea, Pope Honorius the 2. Pope Eugenius the 2. and the ſſSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 682.Council of Lateran under Pope Alexander the 3d. Anno 1180. expreſly decreed and reſolved according to former Canons, and Juſtinians Laws, Ʋt jurare Clerici omnino non audeant; Dignum eſt ut totus Clericalis ordo à praeſtando juramento immunis eſſe proculdubio cenſeatur. Nos itaque utriuſque legis divinae & humanae intentione ſervata, decrevimus, ut non Epiſcopus, non Presbyter, non cujuſlibet Ordinis Clericus, non Abbas, non Monachus, non Sanctimonialis, in quacunque cauſa vel controverſia, ſive criminali ſive civili, juſjurandum compellatur qualibet ratione ſubire. Verum cum hac moderatione, ut Epiſcopus inconſulto Romano Pontifice, vel quilibet Praelatus inconſulto Praelato ſuo, minime jurare audeat: Et ſi quis in hanc conſtitutionem commiſerit, veniam ſibi deinceps noverit denegari. If then no Biſhop, Monk, Clergyman, may be compelled by Judges or Laymen to ſwear, much leſſe then ſhould they compel Laymen or Clergymen to ſwear before themſelves. Moreover▪ Pope **Surius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 682.Eugenius reſolves, Canones Juramentum calumniae nulli prorſus indicunt. Sanè Romana Eccleſia in quibus cauſis de Decimis Eccleſiarum & rebus ſpiritualibus tantum agitur, Iuramentum calumniae nec dare, nec recipere conſuevit: nor yet the Church of England, till Otto the Popes Legate introduced it in a Council at London An. 1237. forecited p. 439. much leſſe then did the Church of Rome or England uſe or enjoyn any ſuch Viſitation, Inquiſition, or Ex Officio Oathes as theſe Writs prohibited. Finally, Pope Paſchal the 2. and the whole ttSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 51…, 607, 674. Here, Book …. p. 336, to 340. Book▪ 3. p. 327, 328.Council of Rome An. 1112. with other Councils, Popes ſince, reſolve, That Oathes impoſed by force, and taken by conſtraint against mens wills, are not only unlawfull, but alſo void and unobliging: Therefore the enforced Viſitation & other Oathes of Biſhop Groſthead, his Archdeacons, Deans, Officials were ſuch, and juſtly prohibited, ſuppreſſed by the King and his Courts at their firſt introduction. The uuSurius Concil. Tom. 3. p. 561.Council of Friburge under Arnulphus the Emperor A… ▪ 893. c. 11. De querimonia inter Presbyterum & Laicum, reſolves, Laicus praejuramento, ſi neceſſe ſit, conſtringatur; Presbyter vero vice praejuramenti per ſanctam conſecrationem interrogetur, quia Sacerdotes ex levi cauſa jurare non debent. Manus enim per quam corpus & ſanguis Christi conficitur (& will not the ſelf-ſame reaſon hold in a Laymans hand, per quam corpus & ſanguis Chriſti recipitur) juramento polluetur? Abſit, cum Dominus in Evangelio Diſcipulus ſuis (quorum vicem nos gerimus in Eccleſia) dicat, Nolite omnino jurare, ſitMat. 5.Matt 5 autem ſermo veſter, Eſt, Eſt, & Non, Non; quod autem his abundantius eſt, à malo p. 708eſt: Non dixit, quod amplius eſt, malum eſt, ſed à malo; id eſt, a mals homine de cujus incredulitate cogimur jurare. And if thoſe who preſſe others to ſwear be evil uncredulous men, by this Councils and our **Id eſt ab illi infirmitate à quo cogeris jurare: Et haec infirmitas malum eſt; tu autem benè facis, qui bene juratione uteris, ut al…ri perſuadeas, quod utili. ter ſuades, Beda in Mat. c. 5. Tom. 5. col. 13.Matt 5Venerable Beda his Expoſition on this Text, then Biſhop Groſthead, his and all other Eccleſiaſtical Officers, compelling Laymen to ſwear as aforeſaid, were evil uncredulous men, and their Inquiſitions, Oathes moſt juſtly inhibited by the King, his Courts, Counſil, and oppoſed by the Nobility, Laity of his Dioceſſe, and the whole Realm, as a dangerous Innovation, not formerly practiſed in our Church or Realm.

2ly. It is evident by the premiſes, that both the Kings, Nobles, and Commonalty of England and France in that age, magnanimouſly, unanimouſly and ſtrenuouſly oppugned the Uſurpations, Encroachments, Innovations of the Pope, Prelates, Clergy, upon the Rights, Priviledges of the Crown, and Liberties, Conſciences of the Subject, againſt their extravagant Viſitations, Inquiſitions, Oathes, Excommunications, Canons, and new Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdictions, to preſerve themſelves from perjury, ſlavery, and unjuſt vexations.

3ly. That theſe Inquiſitions, Oathes, and the enforcing of them by Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures on the Subjects, by theſe Biſhops and their Officers, were generally, frequently oppoſed, and publickly complained againſt to the King, as well by the Nobility as Commonalty, and moſt ſtrictly prohibited by ſpecial Writs of Prohibition, ſucceſſively iſſued by the King, his Counſil, Courts, Judges, who all reſolved theſe Oathes and Inquiſitions to be, 1. New illegal grievances, then firſt introduced, contrary to the Cuſtome and long-continued uſage of this Realm. 2ly. Very prejudicial to the Kings Crown and Royal Dignity. 3ly. New deviſed intollerable vexations, grievances, oppreſſions to his Subjects, and that in four reſpects: 1. Becauſe they tended to the enormous defamation, and intollerable ſcandal of many of his Subjects of all ranks, and of both ſexes. 2ly. Becauſe they occaſioned great ſchiſms and diviſions amongſt his people. 3ly. Becauſe they withdrew them from their Husbandry, and other neceſſary temporal occaſions, to dance attendance from time to time, and place to place on them and their Officers, to their grand vexation and impoveriſhing. 4ly. Becauſe they involved them in the danger or guilt of perjury, by enforcing them to ſwear concerning the ſecret, private actions of others, wherein they might eaſily be miſtaken. All which reaſons remain ſtill in full force, againſt all ſuch like Oathes, Inquiſitions, Innovations, Vexations of Biſhops, Archdeacons, Rural Deans, Officials, and other Eccleſiaſtical Officers: which the King, his Courts, Judges, Counſil, may and ought by Law to prohibite, redreſſe from time to time by like Writs of Prohibition for the Subjects relief upon all occaſions; as is evident by theſe ſix antient ſucceſſive Writs, the Regiſter of Writs, part 2. f. 36. Fitzherbert Natura Brevium, f. 41. a. Raſtals Abridgement of Statutes, Tit. Prohibition, ſect. 5. and xxSee Cooks 12 Reports, p. 26, 27, 28, 29.other Law-books concurring with theſe Writs.

4ly. That Biſhops, Archdeacons, Officials, and other Eccleſiaſtical Officers and Courts, had then no legal authority by the antient Laws, uſage, Cuſtom of this Realm, to adminiſter any Oath to Laymen, except only in cauſes of Matrimony and Testament, as theſe Prohibitions, with ſundry others hereafter cited in their due Chronological order, the Statutes of 2 H. 5 c. 3. 2 E. 6. c. 13. and the laſt recited Lawbooks, reſolve.

5ly. That yySee Raſtals Abridgement of Statutes, Prohibition 5.Biſhops have been and may be legally attached, and their Temporalties ſeized into the Kings hands, if they prejudice the Kings Crown, Dignity, or vex his Subjects by adminiſtring, enforcing illegal Oathes and Articles of Inquiry upon them by Excommunications and other Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures, contrary to the Laws and antient Cuſtom of the Realm.

6ly. That by the zzCooks 3 Inſtit. p. 149, 164, 165.antient Laws and Cuſtom of this Realm, no new Oathes whatſoever may or ought to be framed, impoſed on any of the Kings Subjects, by any Biſhops, Eccleſiaſtical, or other perſons whatſoever▪ nor any old legal Oathes altered, but by ſpecial Acts of Parliament, preſcribing both the forme, words of the Oathes themſelves, and the perſons who ſhall take and adminiſter them, who muſt be ſpecially authorized either by expreſs words in the Acts themſelves, or by ſpecial Commiſſions from the King under the Great Seal of England, to adminiſter them when made, and not otherwiſe. This is moſt apparent by all the Oathes heretofore preſcribed to Juſtices of the Kings Courts, Juſtices of Oyer and Terminer, and of the Peace, Barons and Officers of the Exchequer, Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, the Officers of the Court of Wards p. 709and Liveries, the Court of Augmentations, Cuſtomers, Searchers, Commiſſioners of Sewers, of Caſtles and Holds, Conſervators of the Truce, Bayliffs of Franchiſes, Coroners, Sheriffs Clerks, Attornies, the Kings Privy Counſil, Knights of Shires, Burgeſſes of Parliament, Champions, Clerks of the Council, Mayors, and other Officers; by the ſeveral Oathes of Fealty, Allegiance and Supremacy, made from time to time for the neceſſary preſervation of the Sacred Perſons of our Kings, the ſafety of the Kingdom, and defence of the Rights, Priviledges, Juriſdiction of the Crown againſt all Papal Uſurpations, and Treaſonable practiſes whatſoever, all made, preſcribed by **See an Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower, p. 30, 33, 34, 37, 48, 51, 74, 88, 202, 294, 318, 323, 353, 369, 371, 372, 387, 456, 471, 473, 475, 565, 568, 608, 612, 667.ſpecial Acts of Parliament, as theſe enſuing reſolve us: 9 H. 3. c. 28. 51 H. 3. c. 14. 3 E. 1. c. 40. 6 E. 1. c. 8. 13 E. 1. c. 43. 13 E. 1. Stat. of Wincheſter c. 6. 13 E. 1. Stat. Merchant, and Articles of Inquiſition upon the Statute of Wincheſter, 34 E. 1. Statute of Liberties, c. 6. Totles Magna Charta, 1556. f. 164, to 168. Raſtals Abridgement of Statutes, Coroners ſect. 3. 9. E. 2. Statute of Sheriffs, 17 E. 2. c. 4. 1 E. 3. Parl. 1. c. 8. Parl. 2. c. 4. 5 E. 3. c. 2. 9 E. 3. of Money, c. 9. 15 E. 3. c. 3, 4. 15 E. 3. Rot. Parl. num. 10, 20, 28, 37, 41, 42, 17 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 11. 18 E. 3. Star. 3. 20 E. 3. c. 1, 2, 3. & Rot. Parl. num. 25. Raſtal Juſtice and Juſtices, ſect. 2, 3, 4. and Clerks of the Chancery, ſect. 1. 21 E. 3. Rot. Parl. num. 7. 25 E. 3. Rot. Parl. num. 10. 25 E. 3. Stat. 1. c. 5. Stat. 4. c. 1. Stat. 7. of levying the Quindiſme, 27 E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 1, 15, 16, 23, 24, 26. 31 E. 3. Stat. 2. 5 R. 2. Stat. 1. c. 11, 13, 14. 5 R. 2. Rot. Parl. num. 74. 6 R. 2. c. 12. 7 R. 2. Rot. Parl. num. 27. 9 R. 2. c. 3. 11 R. 2. Rot. Parl. num. 23. 12 R. 2. c. 8. 13 R. 2. c. 7. 14 R. 2. c. 3. 17 R. 2. c. 9. 17 R. 2. Rot. Parl. num. 18. 21 R. 2. c. 5. 21 R. …. Rot. Parl. num. 21, 37, to 44, 51, 52, 53, 89. 1 H. 4. Rot. Parl. num. 38. 4 H. 4. c. 10, 18, 20, 21. 8 H. 4. Rot. Parl. num. 66. 11 H. 4. Rot. Parl. num. 14, 39, 63. 1 H. 5. c. 6. 2 H. 5. c. 4, 6, 7. 4 H. 5. c. 2, 4. 1 H. 6. Rot. Parl. num. 62. 2 H. 6. Rot. Parl. num. 17. 2 H. 6. c. 10. 11 H. 6. c. 8. 11 H. 6. Rot. Parl. num. 14, 15, 16. 18 H. 6. c. 4, 10. 20 H. 6. c. 10. 23 H. 6. c. 2. 33 H. 6. c. 3, 5. 39 H. 6. Rot. Parl. num. 25, 26, 29. 3 E. 4. c. 3. 7 E. 4. c. 1. 8 E. 4. c. 2. 12 E. 4. c. 2, 3. 17 E. 4. c. 2. 1 R. 3. c. 6. 19 H. 7. c. 7. 22 H. 8. c. 8, 14. 23 H. 8. c. 5. 25 H. 8. c. 22. 26 H. 8. c. 2. 28 H. 8. c. 7. 10, 16. 31 H. 8. c. 14. 32 H. 8. c. 46. 33 H. 8. c. 22. 2 & 3 Phil. & Mar. c. 1. 1 Eliz. c. 11. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. 13 Eliz. c. 7. 18 Eliz. c. 6. 27 Eliz. c. 12. 29 Eliz. c. 4. 43 Eliz. c. 1, 2. 1 Jac. c. 9. 3 Jac. c. 4. 7 Jac. c. 2, 6, 8. …1 Jac. c. 7. 20, 33. 1 Car. 1. c. 1. 2 Car. 1. c. 1. The Petition of Right 3 Car. 1. 17 Car. 1. An Act for repeal of the Branch of the Statute of 1 Eliz. c. 1. (a meer Declaration of the antient Common Law of England in point of adminiſtring Oaths by Eccleſiaſtical Courts and Perſons) and the Act for Explanation of a Clauſe therein 13 Car. 2. p. 66, 67. The Acts for well Governing and Regulating of Corporations, An. 13 Car. 2. p. 11. 12, 13, 14, 15. The Act againſt Quakers and others refuſing to take lawfull Oathes, p. 3, 4, 5, 7. The Act for Ordering the forces in the ſeveral Counties of this Kingdom, p. 53, 54. An Act for the Uniformity of publike Prayers, &c. p 73, 77, 80. An Act for Regulating the making of Stuffs in Norfolke and Norwich, p. 49, 108, 110. An Act for Diſtribution and ſupply of Threeſcore thouſand pounds, &c. for relief of Poor and maimed Officers and Soldiers, p. 178, 188. An Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuſes in his Majeſties Cuſtoms, p. 210, 219, 238, 239. An Act for regulating the Trade of Silkthrowing, p. 290. An Additional Act concerning matters of Aſſurances uſed among Merchants, p. 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, An Act for repairing of Dover Harbour, p. 389, 392. An Act for the better Regulating of the Manufacture of Broad Wollen Cloth within the Weſt riding of the County of Yorke, p. 411, 413, Anno 13 Caroli 2. with ſundry other Acts made ſince, reſolve. As all theſe Acts in general, ſo more particularly, The late Act for Safety and Preſervation of his Majeſties Perſon and Government, againſt Treaſonable and Seditious Practices and Attempts, Anno 13 Caroli 2. p. 6. reſolves and declares, That the Oath uſually called. The Solemne League and Covenant, (being not made by Act of Parliament, and without the Kings Royal Aſſent) was in it ſelfe an unlawfull Oath, and impoſed upon the Subjects of this Realm againſt the Fundamental Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdom; and that all Orders and Ordinances of both or either Houſes of Parliament. (though all the Biſhops as well as Temporal Lords be Members of, and preſent in them: much more then of any Council, Synod, Archbiſhop, p. 710Biſhop, Archdeacon, Co…miſſary, or other Eccleſiaſtical perſon or officer out of Parliament) FOR IMPOSING OF OATHES, to which the Kings Royal aſſent either in perſon or by Commiſsion was not expreſly had or given (and by conſequence all other Oaths hereafter ſo made or impoſed in or out of Parl.) were in their firſt creation and making, and ſtill are, & ſo ſhall be taken to BE NULL AND VOID TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES WHATSOEVER. And Sir Edward Cooke in his **c. 74, p. 164, 165.4. Inſtitutes, from the conſideration of ſome of theſe Acts, aſſerts, That an Oath is ſo ſacred, and ſo deeply concerneth the conſciences of Chriſtian men, as the ſame cannot be miniſtred to any, unleſs the ſame be **To wit, by preſcription & uſage time out of minde.allowed by the Common Law, or by ſome Act of Parliament: That no old Oath allowed by the Common Law, or an Act of Parliament, can be altered, nor any New Oath raiſed without an Act of Parliament, nor any Oath adminiſtred by any that have not allowance by the Common Law, or by an Act of Parliament. And ſo was it reſolved in Parliament, Anno 26 Elizabeth. in the caſe of the Ʋnderſheriff, and in the caſe of Commiſſioners for Policies of Aſſurance; in which Parliament I attended (writes he) as Attorney General. Whereunto he ſubjoynes, That Oathes which have no warrant by Law, are rather Nova Tormenta, quàm Sacramenta: and that it is an high contempt to 3 Inſtitutes, c. 74. p. 161.adminiſter any (old, much more then to make or impoſe a New) Oath, without warrant of Law, to be puniſhed by Fine and Impriſonment: And therefore Commiſſioners that ſit by force of any Commiſſion that is not allowed by the Common Law, nor warranted by Authority of Parliament, (much leſſe then ſuch who have no Commiſſion at all from the King under the Great Seal, but only from a Biſhop,See the Authorities he there quotes in his Margin. Exact Abridgement of the Records of the Tower, p. 13, 18, 32, 34, 35, 44, 48, 53, 62, 66, 109, 406, 466, 443. See Raſtal, tit. Purveyors. Archdeacon, or other Subject) that miniſtreth any Oath whatſoever, are guilty of an high contempt, and for the ſame are to be fyned and impriſoned: And no Commiſſions are legal but ſuch as are allowed by the Common Law, or warranted by ſome Act of Parliament: And therefore Commiſſions (much more Articles) of new Inquiries, or of Novel Inventions are againſt Law, and ought not to be put in Execution. Dorſ. Clauſ. An. 19 R. 2. n. 17. Certain poor Chriſtians that had ſpoken againſt the worſhipping of Images, were by the Biſhops inquired of, and ſworn to worſhip Images, which Oath was againſt the expreſs Law of God, and againſt the Lawes of the Land, for that they had no warrant to miniſter the ſame. And in his 12. Report, f. 26, 27. Paſch. 4 Jacobi, He reports, That upon a motion made by the Commons in Parliament, in what caſes the Ordinary may examine any perſon upon Oath? Chief Juſtice Popham and himſelf upon a reference and demand from the Lords of the Counſil, touching this queſtion, upon good conſideration and view of the Books reſolved, That the Ordinary cannot constrain any Eccleſiaſtical or temporal perſon upon their Oathes to anſwer in caſes of Infamy, Adultery, Incontinency, Felony, Simony, hearing of Maſſe, Hereſie, &c. but only of Matrimony, and Teſtaments, it being not only againſt the antient Lawes of the Realm, but alſo in prejudice of the Kings Crown and Diginty, as they proved by the forecited Books and Prohibitions. After theſe Prohibitions, I do not find by our Hiſtories or Records, that any Biſhops made Inquiſitions upon Oath in their Viſitations or Conſiſtories from 36 H. 3. till Queen Maries dayes, when **Fox Acts & Monuments, London, 1610. p. 1339.Biſhop Boner introduced them: Yea bbProvinc. Conſtit. l. 1. De cap. Extern. habitus, f. 13. a. De Jurejurando, l. …. cap. Evenit, f. 80. b.William Lindewood our greateſt Canoniſt and Advocate for Epiſcopal Juriſdiction, and the Canon Law, flouriſhing and made Biſhop in King Henry the 6. his reign, writing of Epiſcopal Inquiſitions, aſſerts, That ſolemn preparatory Inquiſitions are regularly made, ſine exactione Iuramenti, without exaction of an Oath; That from the beginning, when a general Inquiſition is to be made (by Archbiſhops, Biſhops, or Archdeacons in their Viſitations,) non debet exigi Iuramentum, an Oath ought not to be exacted, eſpecially by which any one ſhall be conſtrained to detect another mans ſecret finne or offence. And Angelus de Elavaſio a famous Canoniſt, writing about the year of our Lord, 1480. in his Viſitatio 2. See Gratian, cauſ. …. qu. 5.Summa Angelica, reſolves, That Biſhops and other Viſitors in their Viſitations, ought first to preach the word of God, and afterwards Inquirat et ſine Iuramento et coactione, they are to inquire of thoſe things which belong to their office to correct, without an Oath and coaction, inducing the people to reform thoſe things that are amiſſe, by wholeſome connſels and gentle perſwaſions, or p. 711or by reprehentions, as they ſhall deem meet. This courſe was obſerved in all the Viſitations of our Archbiſhops of Canterbury recorded by ddMat. Parker, Antiq. Eccleſ. p. 185, 186, 187, 196, 199, 200, 204, 205, 225, 226, 227, 235, 267, 268, 309, &c.Matthew Parker, or Godwin in their Lives, out of our Hiſtorians, and their own Regiſters, wherein I finde no mention of any Inquiry or preſentations upon Oath; witneſſe the Viſitations of Boniface Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Robert Kylwarby, John Peckham, Walter Raynolds, John Stratford, Simon Iſlippe, William Courtney, Thomas Arundell, Thomas Bourgchier, John Morton, and others. All which I thought fit from theſe preſidents to demonſtrate, for vindication of the Kings Prerogative, the antient Laws, Cuſtoms of the Realm, the Subjects Liberties, and others information. I now return to my former Chronological method and theam.

K. Henry the 3. not only to evidence his Devotion, (though Superſtitious) but EccleſiaſticalAnno 1247. Mat. Paris, p. 712, 713. Quaedam portio ſanguinis Chriſti Londinum allata. Juriſdiction in Spiritual and Religious things, Feaſts, and Reliques, as they were then reputed: Circa idem tempus, ſcripſit Dominus Rex omnibus Regni ſui Magnatibus, ut in feſto Sancti Aedvardi, videlicet tranſlatione, quae celebratur in Quindena Sancti Michaelis, jubens ut omnes ibidem convenirent, ut joeundiſſimos cujuſdam Sancti beneficii coelitus Anglis nuper collati, rumores exaudirent: Et praetereà, ut tam glorioſi Regis & Martyris tranſlationem venerarentur: tertio, ut Willielmi de Valentia fratris ſui uterini, quem ipſe Rex ea die baltheo cincturus erat militari, cum quibuſdam Nobilibus juvenibus, intereſſent tyroeinio: ut ſie feſtum multiplex praeſentia ipſorum Magnatum, tàm Praelatorum, quàm aliorum, jocundior, ad Regis & Regni honorem, ſerenaretur. Die igitur praefixo convenientes apud Weſtmonaſterium, certificati de die Sancti Aedvardi, & dicti Willielmi tyrocinio, ſciſcitabantur, quinam eſſent illi jocundi rumores, quos ibidem forent audituri? Qui relati fuerunt fideles, & omni acceptione digni. Magiſter enim Templi & Hoſpitalis, cum teſtimonio quamplurimorum ſigillorum, videlicet Patriarchae Hieroſolymitani, Archiepiſcoporum quoque & Epiſcoporum, Abbatum & aliorum Praelatorum & Magnatum de Terra Sancta, miſerant quandam portionem ſanguinis Dominici, quem pro ſalute mundi fudit in cruce, in quodam vaſe cryſtallino venuſtiſſimo, per quendam fratrem Templarium benè notum. Dominus autem Rex, utpote Princeps Chriſtianiſſimus, ab Auguſto Heraclio victorioſiſſimo ac piiſſimo Imperatore, crucem Sanctam exaltante, & à Rege Francorum, tune ſuperſtite, crucem eandem, ut praeſcribitur, Pariſiis honorante, ſumens exemplum; devoto ſpiritu ac contrito in vigilia Sancti Aedmundi, in pane & aqua jejunans, & nocte vigilans, cum ingenti lumine, & devotis orationibus, ſe ad craſtinam ſolennitatem prudenter praeparavit.

Praecepit igitur Dominus Rex, ut omnes Presbyteri Londinenſes feſtivè veſtiti ſuperpelliciisRex Angli… defert ſanguinem Chriſti ad S. Petrum Weſtmonaſter. & capis, cum ſuis Clericis decenter veſtitis, cum vexillis, crucibus, & cereis accenſis, die craſtina, videlicet Sancti Aedvardi, ſummo mane ordinatè & reverenter convenirent apud Sanctum Paulum. Quo & ipſe Rex venit, & cum ſummo honore & reverentia ac timore accipiens illud vaſculum cum Theſauro memorato, tulit illud ferens in propatulo ſupra faciem ſuam iens pedes, habens humilem habitum: ſcilicet pauperem capam ſine caputio, praecedentibus veſtitis praedictis, ſine pauſatione, uſque ad Eccleſiam Weſtmonasterienſem, quae diſtat ab Eccleſia Sancti Pauli circiter uno milliari. Nec praetermittendum, quod ambabus manibus illud deferens, cum per ſtratam ſalebroſam & inaequalem pergeret, ſemper vel in coelum vel in ipſum vas lumina tenebat defixa. Supportatur autem palla per 4. haſtas. Supportabantque duo coadjutores brachia ſua, ne in tanto fortè labore deficeret. Conventus autem Weſtmonaſterienſis, cum omnibus qui convenerant, Epiſcopis, Abbatibus, & Monachis, qui plùs quàm centum aeſtimabantur, canentes & exultantes in Spiritu Sancto & lachrymis, occurrebant eidem Domino Regi ſic adventanti, uſque ad portam Curiae Epiſcopi Dunelmenſis. Tunc autem reverſi ſicut ierant, videlicet proceſſionaliter, ad Eccleſiam Weſtmonasterienſem, vix in ea prae copioſa turbae multitudine continebantur. Nec adhuc ceſſabat Dominus Rex, quin indefeſſus ferens illud vas, ut prius, circuiret Eccleſiam, Regiam, & thalamos ſuos. Demùm illud quaſi donum impreciabile, & quod Angliam illuſtraverat, donavit & obtulit Deo & Eccleſiae Sancti Petri Weſtmonasterii: & charo ſuo Aedvardo, & ſacro Conventui, qui ibidem Deo & Sanctis ſuis miniſtrant.

Dominus Epiſcopus Norwicenſis, qui & Miſſam eadem die ſolenniter celebravit,Epiſcopus Norwicenſis concionatur populo de dignitate ſanguinis Chriſti. populo praedicando aſſeruit, quod inter ſacra quae inter mortales habentur, ſacratiſſmum eſt ſanguis Chriſti. Eſt enim pretium mundi, & ejus effuſio, ſalus generis humani; & ut condignè illud magnificaret amplius, addidit illud Philoſophi; Omne p. 712propter quod, dignius quàm illud quod. Revera crux Sancta, ſanctiſſimam quid eſt. Sed ipſa ſacra fuit, propter ſacratioris ſanguinis aſperſionem; non ſanguis ſacer, propter crucem. Et haec eum dixiſſe credimus, ut in poſſeſſione tanti Theſauri non minus gaudeat & glorietur Anglia, quam Francia in adeptione ſanctae crucis; quam Dominus Rex Francorum non immerito diligit, & ſuper aurum & topazion amplectitur & veneratur. Et addidit, quod pro maxima Domini Regis Angliae, qui dignoſcitur eſſe inter omnes Chriſtianitatis Principes Chriſtianiſſimus, miſſus fuit ille Theſaurus impreciabilis ex parte Domini Patriarchae Hieroſolymitani; cujus rei certitudo ſufficienter examinatur, reverentia & ſanctitate, ut plus in Anglia veneraretur, quàm Syria, quae jam paenè derelinquitur deſolata; viget enim ibi plus fides et ſanctitas, ut novit mundus, quam in aliqua alia regione per totius mundi latitudinem. Cum autem examinaretur, & alii tardi cordis ad credendum adhuc **Had they not good cauſe to doubt?haeſitarent, ait Dominus Theodoricus, Prior Hoſpitalis Hieroſolymitani, Epiſcopis & aliis circumſedentibus: Domini chariſſimi, quid adhuc fluctuatis? Exigit ne ob hoc beneficium aliquis noſtrum, vel Templarius, vel Hoſpitalarius, vel etiam frater qui portavit, vel de Domino Rege, vel alio, vel aliquo, aliquam in auro vel argento retributionem, vel quantulumcunque praemium? Et Rex: Nequaquam. Et Frater: **Let themſelves reſolve this Queſtion.Quare ergo in damnationem animae ſuae tot & tanti viri, tali aſſertioni perhiberent teſtimonium, apponentes ſigna ſua, quae ſunt fidei pignora manifeſta? Et approbata fuerunt verba, licet Laici, ab univerſis, tàm Epiſcopis quàm auditoribus. Sed nunc ad propoſitum redeamus. Cum ſatis autem eleganter dictus Epiſcopus in ſermone peroraſſet, annunciavit populo exultanti, quod quicunque ad ſacratiſſimum ſanguinem illic habitum, venerandum convenirent, gratuita ex **It ſeems this bloody Relique was not ſufficient to purchaſe ſuch a Pardon, without this ſuperadded Biſhops indulgence.conceſſione omnium, qui illuc venerant Praelatorum, ſex annorum, & 140. dierum veniam de injuncta ſibi poenitentia liberè conſequerentur. Et cum inter loquendum, aliqui de aſſidentibus obgrunuirent haeſitantes, quaeſtionem hanc moverent: Quomodo cum plenè & integraliter tertia die poſt paſſionem reſurrexerit Dominus, ſanguinem in terra reliquerit? Quae quaeſtio ab Epiſcopo Lincolnienſi ad unguem tunc determinabatur, prout habetur ſcriptum in libro Additamentorum; prout hujus paginae ſcriptor audivit, & de verbo ad verbum ſatis dilucidè ſcripſit. Such was the ſtrange ſuperſtition, deluſion, credulity of that age, as to believe this Relique to be the very blood of Chriſt, upon the Teſtimony of thoſe Impoſtors, who under their hands and ſeals thus confidently atteſted it, though not preſent at Chriſts paſſion, and living 1200. years after it. But let us hear Biſhop Groſtheads Legend, Argument evincing it to be Chriſts blood, in anſwer to the premiſed Objections.

Cum autem quod ſacratiſſimus foret Domini noſtri Jeſu Chriſti ſanguis, quemAdditamenta Matthaei Pariſ. p. 161, 162, 163. Rex Henricus tertius die Sancti Edwardi, videlicet die Tranſlationis ejus, Anno Gratiae 1247. indiciis, probationibus & examinationibus conſtaret evidentiſſimis, & omni acceptione digniſſimis; tamen ab aliquibus qui tardicordes erant ad credendum, adhuc dubitabatur utrum verus ſanguis Chriſti fuiſſet? Quibus haec relatio ſatisfecit inventa in Apocryphis, quibus non diſſidet, imò concordat **The Evangeliſts in the Hiſtory of Chriſts death relate no ſuch things as this fabulous Legend ſuperaddes thereunto.textus Evangelicae veritatis. Quod videlicet cum Joſeph ab Arimathia nobilis decurio, qui ſic dicebatur quia decem militibus praefuit, vel decurio, id eſt, de Curia & de numero Curialium, fuiſſet unus de auditoribus Jeſu, & potius de diſcipulis, & amator ſpecialis; compatiebatur ei, & ſollicitabatur qualiter corpus conſervari poſſet tam venerabile à furore Judaeorum. Erat enim amiciſſimus Jeſu, ſicut & Nicodaemus. Sed hii & alii divites occulti, propter metum Judaeorum; ne accuſati, jacturam incurrerent & odium amicorum. Magnum enim vinculum ſervitutis in ſe habent divitiae. Crucifixo igitur Jeſu & mortuo, poſtulavit Joſeph corpus Jeſu, ingrediens ad eum audacter (per quod creditur fuiſſe potens) & conceſſum eſt ei. Ipſe igitur (licet obmurmuraſſent Judaei) cum omni honore & reverentia, ipſum corpus ſanctiſſimum depoſuit de cruce ſaucium & multiformiter cruentatum, habenſque linteamen ſubtile dependens à collo & humeris (ne indignè tam dignum corpus nudis manibus contrectaret) ipſa ſacra vulnera adhuc madida ac diſtillantia, ſedulo ac devoto deterſit officio. Imò etiam loca clavorum extractorum tincta cruore in ipſo crucis patibulo, exhauſit abſtergendo; utens vice ſpongiae ipſo linteamine. Cum autem jam non procul à Golgotha, id eſt loco Calvariae (loco videlicet crucifixionis) corpus Christi detuliſſet dictus Joſeph tumulandum, in loco ubi nunc ſepulchrum adoratur, in ſepulchro novo in quo nullum adhuc corpus poſitum erat, non ignobiliter inciſo, quod p. 713& ipſe comparaverat, lavit corpus illud, quia multipliciter ut jam dictum dignoſcebatur, ſaucium & cruentatum, tum propter ſudorem ipſius, de quo ſcribitur, **Luc. 22▪ 44.Luke 22:44Factus eſt ſudor ejus quaſi guttae ſanguinis decurrentis in terra▪ tum propter flagella quibus caeſus fuit aſperrimè uſque ad livorem & cruorem, tum propter coronam ſpineam quam Judaei plectentes violenter capiti ejus impreſſerunt▪ (cujus multi aculei caput & frontem non tantum pungerent & laederent, imò potius vulnerarent & cruentarent) tum propter clavorum per mediam manuum & pedum perforationem▪ tum propter militis lanceam qua ipſe latus Jeſu non tantum vulneravit ſed aperuit; amplum enim fecit & hiatum patulum fortè ſaepius, vel ſaltem ſemel fecit impingendo▪ Memoratus igitur venerabilis decurio Joſeph corpus ipſum lavit; hic enim erat Judaeorum conſuetudo, & adhuc eſt aliquorum honeſtorum Chriſtianorum, maximè religioſorum. Lavit, inquam, quia condiendum. Lavit, quia ſanè arbitrabatur & religioſè dignum cenſuit ſanguinem ipſum ſibi prorſus vendicandum, & ut Theſaurum vel medicamen precioſiſſimum reſervandum. Ipſamque aquam loturae rubicundam, & ſanguine mixtam & tinctam, non projiciendam excepit in vaſe mundiſſimo. Reverentius tamen, ipſum purum ſanguinem à vulneribus manuum & pedum diſtillatum; maximo autem timore & honore ipſum ſanguinem cum aqua quem cenſuit praecordialem, à latere dextro foeliciter eliquatum & expreſſum, in vaſe recepit nobiliſſimo tanquam Theſaurum impreciabilem, ſibi & ſucceſſoribus ſuis ſpecialiter reſervandum. Manifeſtum eſt igitur, quadruplicem ibidem fuiſſe liquorem.

Primò, Aquam rubicundam, ſcilicet loturam; quam ipſe amicis infirmantibus diſtribuit efficaciter medicinalem.

Secundò, Sanguinem puncturarum in capite & fronte, & ſciſſurarum per flagella inflictarum cum ſudore. Iſti duo liquores, ex pluribus mixti dignoſcuntur.

Tertiò, Sanguis ex vulneribus manuum & pedum, qui purus fuit & impermixtus emanavit.

Quartò, Ille formidabilis tremendae & reverendiſſimae recordationis cruor praecordialis, qui ex ipſo corde Chriſti, vel ſaltem latere conſtat effluxiſſe.

Praeter quos quatuor liquores, aquam cum ſanguine de ipſo latere ſcimus emanaſſe. Haec ergo cum piè & prudenter perfeciſſet Joſeph, & corpus jam eſſet conditurus, ſupervenit Nicodemus eodem tactus ſpiritu pietatis, multum commendavit diligentiam Joſeph. Erat antem Nicodemus nobilis & potens ſicut & Joſeph, unde in Evangelio dicitur fuiſſe Princeps Judaeorum. Et factus eſt ipſi Joſeph in adjutorium & ſolatium. Iſti namque duo nobiles ac religioſi viri, erant de diſcipulis Jeſu, audientes eum clam; de noctibus videlicet, ne commoverent ſeditionem in populo, & plenius ab ipſo eruditi expectabant Regnum Dei. Iſte igitur Nicodemus prout praelibatum eſt, ut exequiarum tantarum decus adaugeret, & ſua praeſentia fide & devotione plenius proſequeretur: attulit (ut teſtatur **Joan. 19. 39, 40, 41, 42.John 19:39John 19:40John 19:41John 19:42Johannes in Evangelio ſuo) mixturam myrrae & aloes quaſi libras centum, ad condiendum corpus tantae auctoritatis. Erant enim devoti ac ſtabiles in fide, quia viderant multa ejus in vita miracula, necnon & in morte: quia terraemotum & tenebras univerſales (quod erat ſupra naturam cum tunc fuiſſet luna panſelenos) aquamque de latere ejus (quod erat inſolitum & miraculoſum) diſtillaſſe. Loquitur igitur Johannes Evangeliſta exin pluraliter, propter aſſociationem ſupervenientis Nicodemi; dicens, Acceperunt ergo corpus Jeſu. Porrò, praeter illam myrram aloem quam attulerat Nicodemus; appoſita ſunt illi confectioni etiam aromata Joſeph. Dicit enim Johannes, Ligaverunt linteis corpus ipſum cum aromatibus. Et ſic conditum & involutum aptaverunt, & ordinatè poſuerunt in monumento novo: quod compoſitum fuit per modum clibani▪ Ita videlicet, ut ibi plura corpora reponi potuiſſent. In ipſo quoque ſepulchro, nondum quis, nec poſtea, ponebatur. Decuit enim quod ſicut in uterum virginis deſcendit, & ex virgine natus fuit primogenitus (id eſt unigenitus) & per clauſam portam exivit: ſic & in novo ſepulchro in quo nullus poſitus vel ponendus erat, Christus dignè collocaretur. Et appoſuerunt oſtium ad os monumenti: lapidem quippe magnum. Unde **Mat. 27. 60. c. 28. 2.Matt 27:60Matthaeus Evangeliſta vocat illud Saxum magnum. Et mulieres quae licet tres fuiſſent (quae poſtea venerunt, ut ungerent Jeſum) neſcientes quod jam unctus eſſet, ſollicitarentur quomodo ab oſtio monimenti revolveretur. Quo facto, receſſerunt Joſeph & Nicodemus, & qui eos ſequentes, ipſis aſſiſtebant. Poſteà verò acceſſerunt Judaei verſuti & in odio obſtinati: & ex permiſſione Pilati, **Mat. 27. 6… ▪ 66.Matt 27:6Matt 27:66lapidem memoratum ſignaverunt, apponentes militum cuſtodiam. Et cum inde receſſiſſent Joſeph & Nicodemus, partiti ſunt inter ſe (ratione amicitiae p. 714& condiſcipulatus) liquores memoratos: utpote pretioſam adquiſitionem. Sic igitur devoluta fuit hujus chariſſimae rei poſſeſſio, de patribus in filios, & de amicis ad amicos. Videlicet inter nobiliſſimos, quod poſt multorum annorum curricula devenit ad poſſeſſionem Patriarchae Jeroſolymitani, utpote Theſaurus Eccleſiae, cui praeeſſe Patriarcha dignoſcitur, Anno Gratiae 1247. Qui tum propter diſcrimen Terrae Sanctae quam tunc timuerunt amittere Chriſtiani, tum propter hoc, quod Regem Angliae Chriſtianiſſimum cognoverunt, & ipſam terram Chriſtianiſſimam: memoratus Patriarcha de Conſilio ſuorum Suffraganeorum Magiſtrorumque militiae Templi & Hoſpitaliorum, & aliorum nobilium tranſmarinorum, qui in teſtimonium veritatis vel ſigilla ſua appoſuerunt, vel aſſertionem mandati tranſmiſerunt, ſaepedictum Theſaurum ſanguinis memorati, piiſſimo Regi Angliae Henrico tertio, ut ſub ejus tutela dignius veneraretur et tutius reſervaretur, prudenter duxit tranſmittendum, & non pro alicujus commercii retributione, imo in merae charitatis liberalitate conferendum. Unde aſſerunt nonnulli, quod generoſiori modo poſſidet illud munus Rex Angliae Henricus, tantaeque dignitatis reliquias quàm Rex Francorum ſuas, quas paucis antea annis evolutis, inſtitoriè adquiſivit. Et ſi Sancta nimis ſit crux vera, propter contactum Sancti corporis Chriſti; & corona, & lancea, & clavi; multo ſanctior fuit ſanguis ipſe Chriſti, pretium videlicet humanae redemptionis, quia propter cruorem & in cruore ſanctificata eſt crux & caetera, & non cruor propter crucem, vel propter alia paſſionis inſtrumenta. Sed quia tardi cordes & oblocutores ſolent ſic objicere & dicere, quod cum Chriſtus tertioNota. die reſurrexiſſet cum corporis integritate, & non exanguis, qualiter eſſe poſſet quod ſanguinem ſuum poſt ſe reliquerit in terra. Reſponſum fuit ſufficienter. Duo ſunt ſanguines, vel genera ſanguinum. Unus enim ſanguis eſt, qui ex nutrimentis generatur, qui aliquando ita ſuperfluit, ut à naribus ſponte prorumpat, vel aliquem alium exitum, ut minutione indigeat ſic repletus. Et de tali ſanguine Chriſti, habemus in terra, licet ſanè non fuiſſet ſanguinolentus; Deo ſic volente, ut videlicet habeatur recentior memoria dominicae paſſionis. Eſt & alius ſanguis, qui corpori animato ſubſtantialis. De quo dicitur, quod ptyſis eſt conſumptio ſubſtantialis humiditatis, id eſt ſanguinis vitae neceſſarii. Qui ſecundum phyſicos dicitur amicus naturae, & de quo dicit **Gen. 9. 4. L. vit. 17. 14.Gen 9:4Moyſes, quod in ſanguine ſedes eſt animae. Sed ille ſanguis reponitur in triclinio cordis, ſine quo non poſſet quis vivere. De illo Chriſti ſanguine, non habemus fortè in terris: Fortè dico, quia omnia quaecumque voluit, Dominus fecit. Surrexit enim Deus, & quicquid fuit de ſubſtantia corporis ſui & decoris plenitudine, cum ipſo, & quod de veritate humanae fuit naturae cum ipſo, id eſt ſanguis eidem conſubſtantialis. Alius verò qui diſtillavit habetur hic. Et nos quidem ſic reſurgemus, videlicet ſine aliqua corporis vel mutilatione vel deformitate. Qualiſcumque enim extiterit homo in hoc mundo, contractus, gibboſus, vel leproſus, vel nanus, vel abortivus, in reſurrectione ſibi plenè reſtaurabitur. Revera in corporis Chriſti, ſuorum **Joan. 20. 25, 27, &c.John 20:25John 20:27vulnerum ſtigmata, poſt reſurrectionem ſuam, recentium, & adhue hiantium, quod apparuerunt, & quod ſe Christus poſt reſurrectionem & glorificationem corporis palpabilem praebuit, & ad ſuum bene placitum viſibilem, vel vulneratum monſtravit, miraculoſum & obſtupendum. Ut ſic videlicet dubitantium fides roboraretur, quia tam duri & tardi fuerunt quidam diſcipulorum ad credendum reſurrectionem, quod poſtquam viderant, non crediderunt, & ut benedictio non verius & tamen credituris, largius donaretur. Tertia cauſa fuit & potiſſima, ut ſcilicet ſic ſciretur quod omnipotens fuit, ut contra conſuetum uſum & naturalem foret corpus ejus, qui fuit Dominus naturae, ad ſuum nutum & beneplacitum monſtrabile, & palpabile, & ſaucium cerneretur, qui tamen ad diſcipulos intravit foribus obſeratis. Et ſic omnium ceſſare debent morſus detractatorum.

How unſatisfactory this Legend, theſe Teſtimonies are to evidence this Relique to be Chriſts very blood to any pious Chriſtian, all men may judge; yet ſuch was the Ignorance and Superſtition of that age, that the King, Prelates, Clergy, and generality of the people received and really adored it as Chriſts very blood wherewith they were redeemed, not only at firſt Anno 1247. but the next enſuing years, by the Kings ſpecial Summons, prohibiting all Faires or ſales of Wares in London and elſewhere, to draw multitudes of people to Westminſter to adore this falſe Relique, and enrich the Abbot, Monks, and Inhabitants by the profits of this Faire, which undid many Merchants reſorting to it with their Wares, as Matthew Paris there preſent thus relates.

p. 715**Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 726. Novae Nundinae conſtitutae apud Weſtimonaſterium.Anno quoque ſub eodem, Dominus Rex cum Londinum properaret ad feſtum Sancti Edwardi, quod eſt de tranſlatione ejuſdem Sancti, in Quindena ſcilicet Sancti Michaelis, tertio Idus Octobris, quamplurimis Praelatis, Magnatibuſque ſub obtentu amicitiae ec devotionis ſignificavit, ut praeſentialiter cum ipſo apud Weſtmonaſterium beati Edwardi feſtum ſolenniter ac devote concelebrarent. Venerunt igitur illuc vocati Comes Richardus, Comes Rogerus Bigod Mareſcallus, Comes Herefordiae, & Barones praeelecti cum Militibus nonnullis, Epiſcopi autem Wintonienſis, Londinenſis, Elyenſis, Wygornienſis, Karleolenſis. Abbates autem & Priores quamplurimi. Juſſit autem Dominus Rex denunciari, & voce praconia, fecit per totam Civitatem Londini, & alibi acclamari, quod conſtituit Nundinas novas exerceri plenè apud Weſtmonaſterium per quindenam duraturas; omnes quoque Nundinas quae ſolent per tantum tempus per Angliam exerceri, utpote Nundinas Elyenſes, & alias, & omnem mercaturam, quae ſolet Londini haberi, & extra tectum vel ſub recto exerceri, ſub poena magnae forisfacturae & jacturae praecisè interdixit, ut ſic Nundinae Weſtmonaſteriales populis & mercibus copioſius abundarent. Ʋnde factum eſt ut illic innumerabilis populus undique velut ad celeberrimas Nundinas conflueret, ibidemque tranſlatio beati Edwardi, et ſanguis Chriſti a populo illuc tracto et ibi congregato, inopinabiliter veneraretur. Verum omnes illic mercimonia ſua emptui exponentes, cum non haberent tecta, niſi de panniculis tentoria, magnis incommodis premebantur, quia variis procellis aereis, ut tunc temporis ſolet, ingruentibus, algebant, madebant, eſuri…bant, ſitiebant mercatores; Pedes luto ſordebant, mercimonia eorum imbribus contabuerunt. Ʋbi n…mque ad menſam pranſuri ſedebant, qui ad caminos refici conſueverunt prandentes in medio familiae ſuae, penitus ſic egere neſcierunt. Epiſcopus autem Elyenſis, pro jactura nundinarum ſuarum Elyenſium, edicto Regio ſuſpenſarum, graviter conqueſtus est Domino Regi ſuper hoc, qui tales adinvenit in gravamen ſubditorum novitates; Sed nihil niſi inania verba mulcentis promiſſionis & futurae conſolationis reportavit. After this Anno 1249. the King by his Letters ſummoned his Nobles and Prelates magnificently toAnno 1249. lebrate the Feaſt of St. Edward in St. Peters at Weſtminſter, **Mat. Paris, p. 7…. Mat. Weſt. p. 236, 237.Congregati ſunt igitur ibi quamplurimi, tum pro devotione & amore Sancti, tum pro Domini Regis ipſos v…cantis reverentia, tum pro veneratione ſancti ſanguinis Chriſti nuper adepti, et venia conceſſa ibidem obtinenda: Such was their blind anniverſary devotion …and ſuperſtition. For evincing whereof, I ſhall only ſubjoyne, That Our learned Thomas Beacon in his **Chapter of the Reliques; Third Part of his Works, fol. 182, 185.Reliques of Rome, and others relate; That in the Church of Lateran in Rome (amongſt other reliques) they have the water and bloud which flowed out of Chriſts ſide when he hanged on the Croſſe; And that part of his foreskin which was cut away when he was circumciſed. That in the 7th principal Church they have Two Cups, of the which one is full of the bloud of Christ; the other full of the milke of the bleſſed Virgin Mary, (the Reliques of whoſe milke, and hair, are ſhewed in above 20 other places) That S. Swoll the Daughter of Fulco King of Jeruſalem, and Wife of King Theodoricus, by the Conſent of her Husband, became a Nun, or Anno 804.Religious woman at Jeruſalem, where ſhe found (as they write) a good quantity of Chriſts bloud, which Nicodemus, and Joſeph of Arimathea got out of the Wounds of Chriſt when they waſhed his body, and ſhe ſent it to her Husband; which bloud (as they ſay) is at this day kept **Fortè ſanguinis ex imagine crucifixi Salvatoris in Syria effuſi portio delata Mantuam fuerat: eaque multis editis miraculis omnium Chriſtianorum pectora incredibili religione perfude▪ rat. Sigonius de Regno Italiae, l. 4. p. 101.at Bruges, and is there ſhewed to the people on the Third day of May: Beſides this Viol of his Bloud, ſent into England; which he likewiſe mentions. If the Reliques of the bloud of Chriſt ſhed on the Croſſe, be extant in ſo many places; then it could be no ſuch peculiar bleſſing to England, as was then pretended, yea being found out only by this Nunne above a thouſand years after Chriſts death, it muſt doubtleſſe be a Groſſe Impoſture, as it was afterwards reſolved, declared; and thoſe moſt audatious falſe Witneſſes, who durſt thus publickly atteſt the truth and reality of it under their Hands and seals upon her ſingle evidence, yea this our devout King, his Nobles, Prelates, Clergy were ſtrongly deluded to believe lyes, who annually adored this bloud with ſuch ſolemn Devotions, Proceſſions, and uſed ſuch artifices to induce the people to adore it, as you have already heard.

In the year 1248. (32 H. 3.) the Biſhop of Durham preſuming upon the PriviledgesAnno 1248. * Mat Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 720, 721. of his Biſhoprick (being a County Palatine) granted by our Kings favour, oppreſſing the Prior of Tynemouth againſt the Liberties granted to the Priory by the Kings royal predeceſſors, and the Lawes of the Realm, and refuſing upon two former p. 716Letters ſent unto him by the King, intreating him in a fair and friendly manner to deſiſt from oppreſſing the Prior, in reſpect he was under his ſpecial protection; the Biſhop notwithſtanding moſt contemptuouſly and ungratefully perſevering in his illegal vexations, aud ſlighting the Kings former Letters; he therupon by his royal Prerogative ſent this ſpecial Writ and Mandate to him, to do juſtice to the Prior, or elſe he would do him juſtice himſelf, notwithſtanding his Liberties, and puniſh the injuries done unto him, which he could not, yea ought not any longer to endure.