Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book 3 · Chapter 2 · Document 128
TUnc dixit Papa: Quod Regnum Angliae ſuum proprium eſt, et eſt in Nota.poſſeſſione Dominii ratione fidelitatis, quae ſuper hoc eſt ei facta per juramentum, et etiam ratione cenſus, qui jam ei ſolutus eſt de Regno: Unde cum in nullo delinqueret, non deberet ſibi guerram movere Lodovicus, nec deberet eum ſpoliare a Regno Angliae *Why would himſelf do it before his Charter of Surrender by War & force of Armes▪per guerram; maxime cum Rex Angliae multas habeat terras in feudo Regis Franciae, de quibus poteſt ei movere guerram. Ad haec Nuncii: Mota fuit guerra & juſtum Bellum contra Regem Angliae, antequam Regnum illud eſſet Domini Papae. Sed de Regno Angliae venit Willielmus de Longa spata, & multi alii cum eo, in manu valida & armata; qui damna multa & injurias intulerunt Domino Lodovico in terra ſua propria; & ideo Dominus noſter poteſt movere juſtum Bellum contra Regem Anglorum. Ad haec Papa dixit: Quod licet Rex Angliae tanquam Vaſſallus ejus Lodovico, non ipſe tamen deberet ei movere guerram; ſed deberet conqueri Domino ſuperiori, ſcilicet Papae, cui ſubeſt Rex Angliae, tanquam Vaſſallus ejus. Ad haec Nuncii reſponderunt. Quod conſuetudo eſt, ex quo aliquis Vaſſallus alterius movet guerram alicui authoritate ſua, ille cui mota eſt guerra, poteſt ei movere guerram authoritate ſua, nec tenetur conqueri Domino illus. Et ſi Dominus vult defendere Vaſſallum ſuum quamdiu movet talem guerram, ipſe Dominus dicitur facere guerram. Item dicit Papa: Quod in generali Concilio ſtatutum eſt, quod inter omnes diſcordantes debet eſſe pax vel treuga uſque ad quatuor annos, pro ſuccurſu Terrae Sanctae; & ideo tempore medio Lodovicus non debet Regno Angliae guerram movere. Nuncii dixerunt: Quod in receſſu ſuo a Francia Lodovicus non fuit requiſitus de pace vel treuga: & ſi requiſitus eſſet, crediderunt tantam eſſe malitiam Regis Angliae, quod noluit pace vel treuga gaudere. Item dicit Papa: Quod Rex Angliae, cruce ſignatus eſt: unde ex conſtitutione generalis Concilii, ipſe Rex & omnia ſua debent eſſe ſub protectione Eccleſiae. Ad hoc Nuncii reſponderunt: Quod Rex Angliae aute crucem ſumptam guerram moverat Domino Lodovico, & damna multa fecerat, Caſtra ſua ceperat; & adhuc Milites ſuos & ſervientes incarceratos retinet, & hucuſque in guerra eſt contra Dominum Lodovicum, nec pacem vel treugam cum eo habere voluit, ſuper hoc etiam ſaepe requiſitus. Item dicit Papa: Quod de communi conſilio generalis Concilii excommunicaverat Barones Angliae, & omnes fautores eorum, & ita Dominus Lodovicus fententiam incurriſſe videtur. Nuncii dixerunt: Quod Lodovicus non adjuvat Barones Angliae, nec fovet eos, ſed jus ſuum proſequitur: nec etiam credit Lodovicus, nec credere debet, quod Dominus Papa, vel tantum Concilium, injuſte velit aliquem excommunicare. Nam tempore latae ſententiae Dominus Papa neſciebat, quod Lodovicus haberet jus de Regno Angliae, & cum hoc illi conſtiterit, non credit Dominus Lodovicus, quod Concilium poſſit ei jus ſuum auferre. Item dicit Papa: Quod Rex Francorum & Lodovicus filius ejus, poſt ſententiam a Baronibus Franciae in Regem Angliae latam, ipſum Regem appellaverunt, & pro Rege habuerunt: & cum eo tanquam cum Rege Angliae treugas ſtatuerunt. Ad haec Nuncii reſponderunt: Quod poſt latam ſententiam a Baronibus in Regem, nunquam illum pro Rege habuerunt: ſed ipſum Regem depoſitum appellaverunt, ſicut, Abbas depoſitus, & quilibet alius dici ſolet. Noviſſime vero dicit Papa: Quod ipſe *non.ſtatuet ſuper hiis antequam veniant Nuncii Domini Walonis.
By which relation we ſee the Pope himſelf became King Johns Advocate, as well as Judge, not as King of England, but only becauſe he was his Vaſſal, (as he frequently ſtiles him) and the Kingdom of England his Kingdom, not Johns, in point of Intereſt. Whiles theſe things were agitated at Rome, England was miſerablya Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 357. Speed, p. 585. Holinſhed and others. waſted and harried by Lewes and his Army in the Eaſt and South, and by King John in the Weſt and North; whereupon 40. of the Barons, conſidering the miſeries of their native Country, the power, ſucceſſes of K. John, became ſenſible of their errors in rejecting him, and calling in and Crowning Lewes for their King, and being likewiſe informed by Vicount Melun on his death-bed, upon his ſalvation, That Lewes and 16. others of his chief Earles and Barons, whereof himſelf was one, had taken an Oath, That if ever the Crown of England were quietly ſetled on his head, he would condemn to perpetual exlle all the Engliſh who now adhered to him againſt King John, as Traytors to their lawfull Soveraign, and would actually extirpate all their kinred; counſelling them, timely to prevent their miſeries, and lock up his words under the ſeal of ſecrecy; thereupon addreſſed their Letters of ſubmiſſion to K. John, hoping that Royal blood was ever ready to ſhew mercy to ſuch who were ready to yield and proſtrate themſelves, as ſollicitors for mercy. But before theſe Letters delivered, or any anſwer returned, King John fell ſuddenly ſick at Swinſhed Abby, being at the mercy of an higher Soveraign. When he perceived that his death approached, he with penitent confeſſion of his ſins, and great devotion, received the bleſſed Euchariſt, having the Abbot of Croxſton both for his bodily and ghoſtly Phyſitian; and then not only gladly forgave all his mortal Enemies and Perſecutors, (though very difficult to fleſh and blood) but alſo ſent command to Henry his ſon to do the like, to whom he cauſed all preſent to ſwear Fealty, as next heir to the Crown, and ſent Letters to all his Officers abroad to aſſiſt him. After which he commended his ſoul to God, and his body to be interred in Worceſter Church, where he was afterwards ſolemnly buried, near the body of Biſhop Wolſton, renowned for his conſtant fidelity to his Prince, againſt the Nobles of his time. Our Hiſtorians much differ about his ſickneſſe, and true cauſe of his ſudden death; ſome relate he died of grief, others of a feaver, a third ſort of a flux, a fourth of a ſurfet, a fifth of poyſon: the moſt probable opinion is, that he was poyſoned by a Monk of Swinſhed Abby, where he dyed, being of the Ciſteaux Order, which the King had formerly bHere, p. 262.much oppreſſed and incenſed; whereupon by way of revenge (to prevent further miſeries to the Church, Realm, and gratifie the Rebellious Biſhops, Monks, Clergy, Barons, his profeſſed Enemies, then highly enraged againſt him) this Monk preſented the King with an envenomed Cup, whereof the King commanded him to be the Taſter, of which both of them drinking, this Votary became the Diabolical inſtrument of his own and his Soveraigns deſtruction. Some of our Monkiſh Hiſtorians themſelves relate, that the Monk revealing his intention of poyſoning the King to his Abbot, though he poyſoned himſelf to effect it, and ſaying, That he would ſuffer this voluntary Martyrdome for the publique, as Caiphas ſaid of Chriſt, better one periſh then a whole Nation; the Abbot at this reſolution and conſtancy of his, wept, and prayſed God for joy: whereupon the Monk being abſolved before hand by the Abbot, reſolutely took the Cup wherewith he poyſoned both himſelf and the King. For a reward and memory of which his execrable Treaſon, after his deceaſe, five Monks of that Abby did ſing for this their Brothers ſoul ſpecially, and ſo would do whiles the Abby ſtood, as the Manuſcript Chronicle of St. Albans, Caxton, Eulogium,(cActs and Monuments, vol. 1. p. 332, 333.) Mr. Fox,(dHiſtory of Great Britain, p. 586, 587.) Speed, and others more at large relate: whereas on the contrary theſe Monks fable, That it was revealed to a Monk, That King John was in Hell, though a Poet for ſo ſaying is cenſured byeMat. Paris, Anno 1226. Matthew Paris himſelf as Reprobus verſificator, who (though a bitter Enemy to K. John, as if he thought ill of, and renounced his Religion) gives us this final judgement of his death and future eſtate, only for his liberality to two Monaſteries.fMat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 277. Cum autem regnaſſet Rex Johannes annis octodecim, menſibus quinque, diebus autem quatuor, ab hac vita post hujus ſaeculi multas perturbationes, & labores inutiles, in multa mentis amaritudine ſubtractus, tranſmigravit; Nihil terrae, imo nec ſeipſum poſsidens. (Such was his infelicity througſt his Prelates, Subjects Treachery.) Sperandum eſt autem, et certiſſime confidendum, quod quaedam bona opera, quae fecit in hac vita, allegabunt pro eo ante Tribunal Ieſu Chriſti: conſtruxit enim Abbatiam Ciſtercienſis ordinis de Bello loco, et moriturus domui de* Crokeſtuna decem librarum terram contulit, opulentam. Yet the malice of many of his Biſhops, Monks, Clergy, and other Enemies againſt him was ſuch, that they would neither permit him to enjoy his Temporal Crown and Kingdoms on earth whiles he lived, nor permit God himſelf to beſtow on him any Crown, or ſhare at all in the Kingdom of Heaven, after his untimely death.
I have now with all poſſible induſtry and integrity preſented you out of our Hiſtories and Records with the exacteſt Chronological Hiſtory hitherto publiſhed, of the Popes and Prelates manifold, unparalleld, grand Uſurpations upon the Crown, Kingdoms, Churches of England and Ireland, during the reign of King John, with his ſtrenuous various oppoſitions againſt them for ſundry years, till by armed violence, fear, fraud, treachery, perjury, rebellion, enforced to reſign up his Crown, Scepter, Kingdoms, to his grand Enemy Pope Innocent the 3d. who afterwards undertook his protection againſt his Rebellions Prelates and Barons, not out of any love or reſpect unto him as King of England, but meerly as his ſworn Vaſſal and Tributary, by an enforced Charter, the nullity whereof both in Law and Conſcience I have atgHere, p. 274 to 330. large demonſtrated, againſt all Popes and their Paraſites pretences. The new Uſurpations made by this Pope, and the Engliſh Biſhops confederating with him, upon this Kings ſupream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, during his unfortunate reign, are reducible to theſe heads.
1. An uſurped arbitrary power for the Pope to examine in the Court of Rome, the Elections of Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, though duly made by the Electors with the Kings licenſe. 2ly. A Juriſdiction for the Pope to compell ſome few members of Chapters and Covents in England to elect whomſoever he recommended to be their Archbiſhop, Biſhop, Abbot, without the conſent of the majority of the Chapter or Covent, even in Rome it ſelf, againſt their Oathes, Truſts, Charters, Priviledges. 3ly. A Juriſdiction without the Kings previous Regal licenſe to elect, or ſubſequent aſſent to ſuch Elections, to compell the King himſelf to inveſt Biſhops in the actual poſſeſſion of their Temporalties, by Eccleſiaſtical cenſures, and force of armes, againſt the Rights and Priviledges of the Crown. 4ly. A new Prerogative for the Pope or his Legates by their own Proviſions or Tranſlations to promote whom they pleaſed to any Archbiſhoprick, Biſhoprick, Abby, Deanery, Benefice, in England or Ireland, whereof the King himſelf or any other was rightfull Patron, without and againſt his Royal aſſent, or the Patrons. 5ly. A meer arbitrary Juriſdiction to Interdict the King and Kingdom of England, to prohibit all Divine Service and Sacraments therein for ſundry months, yea years together, againſt Gods and the Kings expreſſe commands; and that not for any perſonal or national ſcandalous crimes, found in the King or Kingdom, but meerly for oppoſing the Popes apparent incroachments on the Rights of the Kings imperial Crown. 6ly. A power perſonally to excommunicate the King himſelf, and all others who ſhould either eat, drink, diſcourſe or communicate with him, only for diſobeying the Popes illegal commands, againſt his antient Rights and Priviledges. 7ly. An Authority to abſolve all his Subjects from their Oathes of Allegiance and Obedience to him, till conformable to his Papal pleaſure; and to diſpence with the Kings own Oathes to his Barons and people. 8ly. A pretended ſupream Antichriſtian Papal authority, actually to deprive the King and his Heirs of his very hereditary Crown, Kingdoms, and give them away to other foreign Princes. 9ly. To command foreign Kings, and all Chriſtian Nobles, Knights, Souldiers, by force of armes to ſeize upon and expell him his Kingdoms, and iſſue out Croſſadoes to War againſt and dethrone him, as if he were a meer Saracen and Turk. 10ly. A Juriſdiction to deprive, ſuſpend, ſequeſter, excommunicate the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Priors, Eccleſiaſtical and Temporal Peers, and Cities of the Realm at his Papal pleaſure, and ſummon them to attend the Pope perſonally at Rome, to undergo his Papal cenſures. 11ly. A liberty inſerted into the Great Charter for all Biſhops, Clergymen, Monks, and others to depart out of the Realm, reſort to Rome, or to the Kings Enemies, without his Royal licenſe firſt obtained, and to return again at their pleaſures. 12ly. A liberty for all Chapters, Covents, Monks, Clergymen, freely to elect whom they pleaſed to Biſhopricks, Monaſteries, Deaneries, and other preferments in the Kings Donation, and to reject whatever perſons the King ſhould ſpecially recommend unto them, though never ſo deſerving; ſo as the King could prefer no perſon to any elective Dignity within his Realms, but whom the Chapters, Covents, Clergy ſhould voluntarily elect, and the Pope or his Legates actually confirm at their pleaſures. 13ly. A power to ſequeſter, ſuſpend, deprive, excommunicate, and reduce to extream neceſſity all ſuch Scholars, Clergymen, and Loyal Subjects, who had ſo much loyalty and courage as to appear in defence of the King and his Cauſe, againſt the Popes illegal injurious encroachments; and to protect, advance, reward, encourage all Traytors and Rebells againſt the King, to advance the Popes Uſurpations. 14ly. A power to ſell Archbiſhopricks, Biſhopricks, Monaſteries, and all other Eccleſiaſtical preferments, Palls, to thoſe who would give moſt money for them; to extort monies for Papal Benedictions, Valedictions, diſmiſſions from attendance in General Councils, or the See of Rome, upon ſummons thither. 15ly. An over-awing authority over all the Biſhops, Clergy of England & Ireland, to obey the Popes moſt unjuſt, treaſonable commands, againſt the expreſſe commands, proteſtations of the King, Barons, Kingdoms, to the Kings, Realms, and Churches prejudice. 16ly. A power to hear and determine, by Appeal or otherwiſe, all cauſes and controverſies concerning elections, unions or diſunions of Churches, or other Eccleſiaſtical Offices.
As to the Kings and Kingdoms Temporal Rights and Juriſdictions, Pope Innocent made theſe unparalleld encroachments on them. 1. An actual Interdiction of the whole Realm ſundry years, for a pretended perſonal contempt in the King alone; and after that the like Interdict of the Londoners and Barons temporal Eſtates, for their Rebellions and civil offences againſt the King. 2ly. An Antichriſtian power to dethrone, diſ-inherit the King and his Heirs of their hereditary right in the Crown, Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and to transfer them to foreign Kings and Enemies, without the Kings or Kingdoms conſent, or any tryal, hearing of the King or Kingdom. 3ly. A forcible wreſted reſignation from the King of his Crown, Scepter, Kingdoms to the Pope and his Succeſſors, without his Barons or Kingdoms conſents, by a void, illegal, extorted Charter. 4ly. A reſuming of them by King John and his Heirs from the Pope and his Succeſſors, under an Annual Rent or Penſion; and extorting of an Oath of Homage and Fealty from the King, as a meer Vaſſal and Tributary to the Pope and Church of Rome, directly contrary to the Rights of the Crown, and freedom, Office, Royaly of a King. 5ly. A power to confirm, null, repeal the Kings own Temporal Charters, yea Great Charters of Liberties and the Forreſt, and judge of their validity or invalidity at his Papal pleaſure. 6ly. A power to examine, hear, determine the Right and Title of King John and others to the Crown of England, and decide them in the Court of Rome, as the ſupream Judicature in ſuch caſes. 7ly. A Juriſdiction to hear and determine all civil controverſies touching Priviledges, Rights, Franchiſes, between the King and his Barons, and excommunicate them for not ſubmitting to his Papal Edicts therein. 8ly. A power to make Truces, and prohibit Chriſtian Kings to War upon each others Kingdoms, under pain of Excommunication and Interdiction. 9ly. A pretended right to protect all Kings and Nobles who took up the Croſſe, from any civil proceedings, Wars againſt each other, during the Croſſado, and to recommend, promote, grant, preſcribe Taxes, Tenths, to maintain thoſe Wars againſt the Turks, but in truth to fill his Papal coffers. 10ly. A power to exempt Treacherous, Rebellious Clergymen from being Out-lawed or Interdicted by the King, and force the King by publike Patents to diſclaim this his antient Prerogative, with his power of detaining any Clerks in Priſon, for capital Crimes or Felonies, if demanded to be delivered by and to their Ordinaries. All theſe with ſome other Uſurpations of leſſe concernment, reducible to theſe heads, were introduced by Pope Innocent the 3d. during the reign of King John, never practiſed in England before by any of his ambitious Predeceſſors; and ſo faſtned upon the necks of the King, Kingdom by wholeſale, by means of King Johns forced reſignation of his Crown to the Pope, inteſtine Wars, differences between the King, his Biſhops, Barons, this Pope and his Legates policies, that his Succeſſors for many years after, though they frequently complained, petitioned againſt them, with much earneſtneſſe and regret, yet were hardly able with all their power or policy to reſiſt, much leſſe to ſhake them off, but only by piece-meal and inches as they had ſtrength and opportunity to do it.
I ſhall now proceed to his Sons and Succeſſors long, yet troubleſome reign, by like unhappy conteſts between the Croſ…er and Scepter, the King and his Barons, upon pretext of publike Liberty, and our Eccleſiaſtical affairs under him.