Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book 3 · Chapter 2 · Document 80 – Document 83
N. Tuſculanenſi Epiſcopo, Apoſtolicae ſedis Legato. Olim (prout bene meminimus)Charta 16 Johannis Regis, m. 8. intus. Venerabilibus fratribus S. Cantuarienſi Archiepiſcopo, Sanctae Romanae Eccleſiae Cardinali, W. London. E. Elyenſi, E. Herefordenſi, & H. Lincolnienſi Epiſcopis, noſtris dedimus Literis in mandatis, ut viros Eecleſiaſticos qui Chariſſimo in Chriſto filio I. Regi Angliae Illuſtri, tunc excommunicationis vinculo innodato, Miniſterium, conſilium vel auxilium praeſtiterunt, in hiis quae ſunt contra Juſtitiam et libertatem Eccleſiaſticam attemptata: Illos quoque qui ab eodem Rege poſt excommunicationem, vel ab aliis excommunicatis ſcienter per collationem vel praeſentationem Eccleſiaſtica beneficia ſunt adepti, et ſimiliter eos qui ob cauſas excommunicati praedictas, excommunicationis ſuae tempore beneficia contulere, ſimiliter Clericos et viros Religioſos qui publice communicaverunt praefato Regi, et aliis exc…ommunicatis Authoritate Apoſtolica nominatim in Caſibus non conceſſis, ab officiis et beneficiis Eccleſiaſticis ſuſpenderent, donec ſe Apoſtolicae conſpectui praeſentarent, cum ſuarum teſtimonio literarum plenam et meram continentium veritatem. Illis duntaxat exceptis qui per ſatisfactionem condignam ad mandatum Eccleſiae redierunt. (This was the firſt ſentence denounced againſt them, which becauſe it now ſeemed too ſevere and burdenſome, was thus qualified.) Quia vero divina gratia inſpirante idem Rex ad mandatum Eccleſiae rediit, propter quod ejus meruit gratiam & favorem, et nimis oneroſum eſſet ac durum ut tanta Clericorum multitudo, praeſertim cum quidam illorum minus, quidam vero gravius in praemiſſis deliquiſſe noſcantur, ad noſtram praeſentiam elaboret. Mandamus quatenus cum eis quos minus exceſſiſſe conſtiterit, miſericorditer agas, prout penſatis undique circumſtantiis videris expedire.
How mercifully theſe Eccleſiaſtical perſons were dealt with for their Loyalty to the King, is evident by the *Here, p. 257, 258, 259.fore-mentioned proceedings againſt the White Monks, but eſpecially againſt Alexander Cementarius, (enforced to beg his bread) who had many other fellow ſufferers in a very high degree, inſtead of being advanced, rewarded, or at leaſt indempnified, for their fidelity to their Soveraign.
*Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 240.Illis diebus, per praedictum Legatum depoſitus eſt Radulphus de Arundel, Abbas Weſtmonaſterienſis in craſtino Sancti Vincentii per N. Abbatem de Waſtham, miſſum ex parte Legati; fracto ipſius ſigillo in capitulo. Cujus loco ſubſtitutus eſt Willielmum de Humes; Prior Frontoniae Monachus Cadonenſis; by this Legates uſurped power, who plaid the part of a Pope as well as King in England.
The turbulent, trayterous Archbiſhop after the Interdict releaſed, out of malice and diſcontent, ſtirred up the Barons to a new inſurrection againſt the King about their Liberties, the ground-work whereof he had laid the year before; in purſuance of which, *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 243.Convenerunt ad colloquium apud Sanctum Edmundum Comites & Barones Angliae, quaſi orationis gratia, licet in cauſa aliud fuiſſet. Nam cum diu & ſecretius tractare coepiſſent, producta eſt in medium Charta quaedam Henrici Regis primi, quam iidem Barones à Stephano Archiepiſcopo (ut praedictum eſt) in Urbe Londoniarum acceperant. Continebat autem …harta quaſdam Libertates, & Leges Regis Edwardi Sancti, Eccleſiae Anglicanae pariter & Magnatibus Regni conceſſas, exceptis quibuſdam Libertatibus quas idem Rex de ſuo adjecit. Itaque convenerunt Ʋniverſi ad Eccleſiam Sancti Edmundi, & incipientibus Majoribus, juraverunt ſuper majus altare, quod ſi Rex Leges et Libertates jam dictas concedere diffugeret, ipſi ei guerram tam diu moverent et ab ejus fidelitate ſe ſubtraherent, donec eis per Chartam ſigillo ſuo munitam confirmaret omnia quae petebant. Atque in hoc tandem, communiter conſenſerunt, ut poſt natale Domini ſimul omnes ad Regem venientes, Libertates praeſcriptas ſibi peterent confirmari. Atque interim in equis ſibi et Armis taliter providerent quod ſi forte Rex a proprio vellet juramento, quod bene credebant, reſilire propter ſuam duplicitatem, ipſi protinus per captionem Caſtrorum ſuorum, eum ad ſatisfactionem compellerent. Et his ita geſtis unuſquiſque ad propria remeavit.
*Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 143, 144, to 254. Speeds Hiſtory, p. 581, 582. Roger de Wendover. Holinſhed, Grafton, Daniel.After the Nativity, Anno 1215. they all coming to the King, demanded theAnno 1215. confirmation of this Charter, who craved time to adviſe thereon till after Eaſter, being a great and difficult matter, highly concerning both himſelf and his Crown; the Archbiſhop and two more becoming his ſureties, that then he ſhould give ſatiſfaction to all of them. The Barons againſt the time, rather preparing themſelves for a Battle, then Conference with the King, aſſembled together at Stamford, with an Army ineſtimable for number, having Archbiſhop Stephen their principal Abettor and Conſpirer, who yet ſeemed to ſide with the King, and was moſt aſſiduous about him: The Barons marching as far as Brackly, the King ſent the Archbiſhop to treat with them, who brought back a Schedule of their claimed Liberties, with this Meſſage; That if he preſently confirmed them not to them by his Charter, they would force him to it, by ſeiſing all his Caſtles and Poſſeſſions. Whereupon the King replyed, Why do they not alſo demand the Kingdom; ſwearing never to enſlave himſelf to ſuch a conceſſion? The Archbiſhop returning with this peremptory anſwer, the Barons forthwith ſeized Bedford Caſtle, and were admitted into London, the Citizens ſiding with them: whereupon the King appointed to treat with them at Running-meed, whither the Barons came with armed multitudes from all parts of the Realm; where after ſome parly, the King granted them their utmoſt deſires, not only for their Liberties ſpecified in Magna Charta, and Charta Forestae, which he then ſealed, and by his Writs commanded to be put in due execution, but alſo that 25. Peers elected by them (to whom all were ſworn to obey) ſhould force the King to obſerve theſe Charters, if ever he receded from them, by ſeizing all his Caſtles, *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 252.Juratum eſt etiam a parte Regis; Quod Anglicana Eccleſia Libera ſit, & quod omnes homines de Regno noſtro habeant & teneant omnes Libertates praefatas, jura & conſuetudines benè & in pace, liberè & quietè, plenè & integrè, ſibi & haeredibus ſuis, de nobis & haeredibus noſtris, in omnibus rebus & locis in perpetuum: Et quod omnia ſupradicta, bona fide & ſine malo ingenio, obſervabimus. All the Barons and Commons of the Realm then and afterwards taking the ſame Oath.
The Archbiſhop and Barons thruſt into this new Charter many Articles, Clauſes for their own, the Churches, and Popes advantage, not extant in the Charter of King Henry the 1. For whereas the firſt branch of his Charter runs thus: *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 230, 231.Sanctam Dei Eccleſiam liberam facio: Ita quod nec eam vendam, nec ad firmam ponam, nec mortuo Archiepiſcopo, vel Epiſcopo, vel Abbate, aliquid accipiam de dominio Eccleſiae, vel de hominibus, donec ſucceſſor in eam ingrediatur. This clauſe is thus altered and inlarged in King Johns Charter: *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 246.In primis conceſſiſſe Deo, et hac praeſenti Charta noſtra confirmaſſe pro nobis et haeredibus noſtris in perpetuum, quod Anglicana Eccleſia libera ſit, et habeat jura ſua integra, ſuas et libertates illaeſas, et ita volumus obſervari, quod apparet ex eo, quod libertatem electionum quae maxima et magis neceſſaria reputatur Eccleſiae Anglicanae, mera et ſpontanea voluntate, ante diſcordiam inter nos et Barones noſtros manifeſte motam, conceſſimus, et Charta noſtra confirmavimus, et eam obtinuimus a Domino Papa Innocentio Papa tertio, confirmari: quam et nos obſervabimus, et ab haeredibus noſtris in perpetuum bona fide volumus obſervari. By which Clauſe the Archbiſhop and Biſhops cunningly obtained and wreſted a new Charter from the King, concerning the freedom of Elections to Biſhopricks and Abbies, (never inſiſted on before) to deprive the King of his antient Right and Prerogative of recommending ſuch as he though fit and faithfull to him and the Kingdom thereunto, as right Patron of them. And whereas no Archbiſhop, Biſhop, Abbot, Clerk, or Religious perſon could go out of the Realm, or repair to Rome, or to the Pope upon any occaſion or Appeal, without the Kings ſpecial licenſe firſt obtained, nor return without it in caſes of contempt; they inſerted this Article into this Charter: *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 249.Liceat unicuique de caetero exire de Regno noſtro, et redire ſalvo et ſecure per terram et per aquam, ſalva fide noſtra; niſi in tempore guerrae per aliquod breve tempus, propter communem utilitatem Regni; exceptis Impriſonatis et Utlagatis, ſecundum Legem Regni, et gente contra nos guerrina et Mercatoribus. By which they obtained liberty to depart the Realm, and repair to the Pope or Court of Rome, to all foreign Monaſteries, Councils, and to return again freely at their pleaſure, to the great prejudice of the King, Kingdom, and enlargement of the Popes uſurped power and encroachments on the Crown. They likewiſe inſerted for the Clergies advantage: *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 248.Nulla Eccleſiaſtica perſona amercietur ſecundum quantitatem beneficii ſui, ſed ſecundum Laicum tenementum ſuum, (of which they had ſeldome any) & ſecundum quantitatem delicti. Moreover the Archbiſhop and Clergy would not be ſatisfied with this Great Charter, thus ratified and ſworn unto by the King, without another ſpecial Charter to themſelves concerning the freedom of Elections, which the King himſelf muſt not only confirm and ſeal, but the Pope too: *Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 252, 253.Conceſſit inſuper eodem Anno Rex Johannes, ut pronius corda Praelatorum et Magnatum ſibi conciliaret, liberas in omnibus Eccleſiae Angliae electiones. Et procuraverunt tam ipſe Rex, quam Magnates et Praelati, ut illa ſua ſimiliter hac Charta et conceſsio, A PAPA CONFIRMARETUR, (an Innovation not formerly uſual, much advancing, countenancing the Popes uſurped power above the Crown, as if his ratification were more valid then the Kings Charter under his Great Seal) unde ad maiorem ſecuritatem, Regalis▪ Charta in Papali confirmatione inſeritur Bullata. Volens autem Rex Johannes ad maiorem ſecuritatem et robur diuturnitatis haec inviolabiliter obſervari; (as if the Popes Bull were then more valid and perpetual then his own Charters) miſit ad Dominum Papam Innocentium: rogans conſtanter, ut huic piae conceſſioni et confirmationi ſuae favorem dignaretur exhibere, et eandem Bullae munimine confirmare. Quae quia jam factus fuit obſequens Papae vaſſallus (an honourable Title for a King of England) et Rex Apoſtolicus, meruit quae petiit citius impetrare ſub hac forma.
INNOCENTIUS Epiſcopus, &c. Venerabilibus fratribus & dilectis filiis univerſis Eccleſiarum Praelatis per Angliam conſtitutis, ſalutem & Apoſtolicam Benedictionem. Dignis laudibus attollimus magnificentiam creatoris, poſtquam idem, qui eſt mirabilis & terribilis in conſiliis ſuper filios hominum, aliquamdiu tolleravit ut per flando diſcurret per Areolam horti ſui ſpem tempeſtatis quaſi ludens, taliter in orbe terrarum, ut ſic oſtenderet infirmitatem & inſufficientiam nobis, ſtatim cum voluit, dixit & Aquiloni, da, & Auſtro, noli prohibere, imperanſque ventis per mare, ſtatuit procellam in aura, ut nautae portum inveniant praeoptatum. Cumque enim inter Regnum et Sacerdotium Anglicanum, non ſine magno periculo atque damno, ſuper electionibus Praelatorum gravis fuerit controverſia diutius agitata; illo tandem, cui nihil impoſſibile eſt, quique ubi vult ſpirat mirabiliter operante, Chariſſimus Iohannes Rex Anglorum illuſtris, liberaliter ex mera et ſpontanea voluntate, (Therefore an Act of grace, though forced, not of right, duty to the Biſhops and Church) de conſenſu communi Baronum ſuorum, pro ſalute animae ſuae, et praedeceſſorum ſuorum et ſucceſſorum, nobis conceſſit, et ſuis Literis confirmavit: ut de caetero in univerſis et ſingulis Eccleſiis ac Monaſteriis, Cathedralibus et Conventualibus totius Regni Angliae, in perpetuum liberae fiant electiones quorumcumque Praelatorum, majorum et etiam minorum. Nos igitur hoc gratum et ratum habentes, conceſſionem hujuſmodi vobis et per vos Eccleſiis et ſucceſſoribus veſtris, prout in eiſdem Literis Regis perſpe…imus contineri, authoritate Apoſtolica confirmamus, et praeſentis ſcripti patrocinio communimus. Ad majorem autem firmitatem, et perpetuam memoriam hujus rei, praefatas Regis Literas ſuper hoc confectas, praeſentibus miſceri fecimus, quarum tenor talis eſt.
JOHANNES Dei gratia Rex Angliae, Dominus Hiberniae, Dux Normaniae &Anno 1215. * Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. … ▪ 253.Aquitaniae, Comes Andegavenſis, Archiepiſcopis, Epiſcopis, Comitibus, Baronibus, Militibus, Ballivis & omnibus has literas viſuris ſalutem. Quoniam inter nos et venerabiles patres noſtros Stephanum Cantuarienſem, totius Angliae Primatem et ſanctae Eccleſiae Romanae Cardinalem, Willielmum Londinenſem, E. Elyenſem, E. Herefordenſem, Iohannem Bathonienſem et Glaſtonenſem, et Hubertum Lincolnienſem Epiſcopos ſuper damnis et ablatis eorum tempore interterdicti, per Dei gratiam de mera et libera voluntate utriuſque partis plene convenit; volumus non ſolum eis quantum ſecundum Deum poſſumus ſatisfacere, verum etiam toti Eccleſiae Anglicanae ſalubriter et utiliter in perpettum providere. Inde eſt quod qualiſcun que liſcunque conſuetudo temporibus et praedeceſſorum noſtrorum hactenus in Eccleſia Anglicana fuerit obſervata, et quidquid Juris nobis hactenus vendicaverimus, de caetero in univerſis et ſingulis Eccleſiis et Monaſteriis, Cathedralibus et Conventualibus, totius Regni Angliae, liberae ſint in perpetuum, electiones quorumcunque Praelatorum, Majorum et minorum: ſalva nobis et Haeredibus noſtris Cuſtodia Eccleſiarum et Monaſteriorum vacantium, quae ad nos pertinent. Promittimus etiam, quod nec impedire permittemus, per noſtros, nec procurabimus, quin in univerſis et ſingulis Monaſteriis et Eccleſiis poſtquam vacaverint praelaturae, quemcumque voluerint libere ſibi praeficient electores Paſtorem; petita tamen a nobis prius et Haeredibus noſtris licentia eligendi; quam non denegabimus nec differremus. Et ſi forte accidat quod denegaremus, vel differremus; nihilominnus procedant electores ad electionem Canonicam faciendam. Et ſimiliter poſt celebratam electionem noſter requiratur aſſenſus, quem non denegabimus niſi adverſus eandem rationale propoſuerimus, et legitime probaverimus propter quod non debemus conſentire. Quare volumus et firmiter jubemus, ne quis vacantibus Eccleſiis vel Monaſteriis, contra hanc noſtram conceſſionem et conſtitution em in aliquo veniat vel venire praeſumat. Si quis vero contra hoc aliquo tempore veniat, maledictionem Dei omnipotentis et noſtram incurrat. His Teſtibus P. Wintonienſi Epiſcopo, W. Mareſchallo, Comite Penbrock, Willielmo Comite Warrenniae, R. Comite Ceſtriae, S. Comite Wintonienſi, G. de Mandevilla Comite Gloverniae & Eſſexiae, W. Comite de Ferrariis, G. Briwere, W. filio Geraldi, W. de Cantelupo, H. de Novilla, Robertus de Wer, W. de Huntinfeild. Datum per manum Magiſtri Roberti de Mariſco Cancellarii noſtri, decimo quinto die Januarii, apud novum Templum Londini; Anno Regni noſtri decimo ſexto. Nulli ergo omnino homini liceat hanc paginam noſtrae confirmationis infringere, vel ei auſu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare praeſumpſerit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei, et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apoſtolorum ejus, ſe noverit incurſurum. Datum Laterani, Tertio Calendas Aprilis; Pontificatus noſtri Anno Decimo Octavo.
That this Charter was originally contrived as well as promoted by the Archbiſhop, is evident by this Record.
REX S. Cantuarienſi Archiepiſcopo, &c. Noverit ſanctitas veſtra quod grataCharta 16 Johannis Regis, part 2. m. 3. intus. eſt nobis, & accepta forma nobis nota de Electionibus faciendis, Salvo in omnibus Jure noſtro. Dimittemus autem poſt nos Venerabilem Patrem noſtrum P. Wintomenſem Epiſcopum, una cum aliis fidelibus noſtris quos deputabimus & potentes faciemus ad aſſenſum noſtrum praeſtandum in huiuſmodi Electionibus ſalva dignitate noſtra. Sciatis etiam quod nulla inter nos eſt controverſia. Teſte me ipſo apud Turrim London. Duodecimo die Jun.
This Charter (though it ſaved this part of the Kings Prerogative, to petition him and his Heirs for licenſes to elect & for his aſſent) gave a great wound to his Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy, and made all Chapters, Covents, Biſhops, Monks, yea Popes and their Agents to ſlight his Regal Authority, and licenſes too, inſomuch that he could preferre no perſon to any Biſhoprick, Monaſtery, or Elective Dignity, but whom the Electors pleaſed to make choice of; and if he recommended any to them, though never ſo fit, and with great importunity, courtſhip, and ſubmiſſion to every Chapter or Covent, yet they to ſhew their pride, power; and preſerve their freedom in Elections, would ſeldome elect any whom our Kings recommended, unleſſe upon ſome ſpecial reaſons for their own emolument.
The Archbiſhop beſides this general Charter, obtained from the King this ſpecial Charter to him and his ſucceſſors, of the Advowſon, cuſtody, diſpoſition of the Biſhoprick and Temporalties of Rocheſter, during the vacancy, and that they ſhould reſtore the Biſhop of Rocheſter his Regalia, and receive Fealty from him as Patron of this Biſhoprick, without his regal aſſent before or after the election, reſerving only a Fealty from the Biſhop of Rocheſter, as to his Prince, but not for his Lands▪ whereby he created the Archbiſhop a petty King, and in ſome ſort unkinged himſelf as to this Biſhoprick, giving away all the ſervices due to him and his Heirs out of it; to the Archbiſhop and his ſucceſſors, to reclaime him from his Treachery and Rebellion by this tranſcendent favour, which he preſently turned into treachery.