Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 1 · Document 89 – Document 101

Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3 · Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 1 · Document 89 – Document 101

p. 419CAſſata ſane in hunc modum electione praefata, procuratores Regis Angliae &Mat. Paris Hiſt. Angl. p. 343. Mat. Parker Antiqu. Eccleſ. Brit. & Godwin in the life of Richard the Great. Epiſcoporum Cantuarienſis Eccleſiae Suffraganeorum, Literas de rato eorundem tam Regis quam Epiſcoporum, in Domini Papae praeſentia exhibentes: propoſuerunt de Magiſtro Richardo Lincolnienſis Eccleſiae Cancellario, quod eſſet vir eminentis ſcientiae & literaturae, ac converſationis honeſtae, quodque tam Eccleſiae Romanae, quam et Regno Angliae eſſet non mediocriter fructuoſus: atque modis omnibus coram Domino Papa ejus perſonam commendantes, Dominum Papam trahunt cum ſuis Cardinalibus ad conſenſum. Sicque memorato Richardo, non electo ad Archiepiſcopum, ſed dato; Dominus Papa Suffraganeis Cantuarienſis Eccleſiae Literas in haec verba direxit.

p. 420GREGORIƲS Epiſcopus, &c. Ex commiſſa nobis a **Let him ſhew by what Text ſuch a plenitude of power, to conferre all Biſhopricks by his Bulls and Proviſions, without due election, or Kings conſent, is granted to him or Peter.Domino cura Paſtoralis officii, et conceſſa (licet immeritis) plenitudine Eccleſiaſticae poteſtatis, cogimur Eccleſiarum omnium per quotidianam inſtantiam, ſollicitudinem et curam gerere, eiſque cum neceſſitas ingruerit, et ex juſtitiae debito, et ex gratiae beneficio, paterna diligentia providere. Inter caeteras autem particulares Eccleſias, & metropoles univerſas ad Cantuarienſem Eccleſiam, tanquam ad nobiliſſimum ſedis Apoſtolicae membrum, in ejus opportunitatibus oculos conſiderationis expandimus; quam mater Eccleſiarum, Apoſtolica ſedes, tanto benigniori debet favore proſequi, quant… eam inter alias divina diſpoſitio in ſpiritualium plenitudine et **Had it not been for this neither the Pope, nor King, nor Biſhop elect would have contended for the bare Spiritual office.temporalium ubertate gratia praetulit ampliori. Hanc etenim velut paradiſum voluptatis, et hortum deliciarum, ordinatione ſua plantavit altiſſimus, de qua producere valuit lignum ſcientiae boni et mali: in inſtitutione dignitatis metropolicae, lignum vitae: in ordine religionis Monaſticae, et regularis obſervantiae diſciplina, ligna pomifera: in Suffraganeis, quae per operationem Sanctam delectant in viſu, per fidelem Doctrinam delectant in guſtu, per opinionem bonam recreant in olfactu. De eodem loco fluvius egreditur, per quem **Perfidioſiſſimi proditoris had been a truer Epithite.glorioſiſſimi Thomae Martyris ſanguis exprimitur; qui dum vitam mortuis, ſanitatem aegrotis, libertatem ſervis, et audaciam timidis contulit; inde progrediens, in quatuor proculdubio capita derivatur. Cujus miraculorum excellentium ſigna dum ſollicita meditatione diſcutimus, ratas & inſolitas divinae plantationis delicias invenimus. Hujus itaque paradiſi cuſtodiae, bonae memoriae Stephano quondam Cantuarienſi Archiepiſcopo, Sanctae Romanae Eccleſiae Cardinali, viro utique **In Treaſons and Rebellions againſt his lawfull Soveraign, and the Pope too at laſt.pereminentiſſime donis ſcientiae, et munere gratiae, ſupernis cariſmatibus delibuto, et erepto de carnis ergaſtulo, et ad paradiſi coeleſtis jucunditatem et requiem, ſicut ſperamus et credimus, evocato: dilecti filii Cantuarienſis conventus, electionem celebratam ab eis de Waltero Monacho Cantuarienſi, nobis praeſentare curarunt. Qua primo electionis merita, et examinata perſonae literatura, juſtitia mediante, caſſata: hominem culminis, quem per vitam et ſcientiam, intellectum pariter et affectum, ad imaginem et ſimilitudinem Dei conditum, habentem per ſalutarem Doctrinam vitae ſpiraculum, in paradiſo, ut operetur et cuſtodiat illum, duximus collocandum, Magiſtrum Richardum Lincolniae Cancellarium; quem tam ex fratrum noſtrorum, qui eum in ſcholis noverunt, quam ex venerabilium fratrum noſtrorum Roffenſis et Coventrenſis Epiſcoporum, et aliorum plurium teſtimonio, virum didicimus eminentis literaturae, converſationis honeſtae, famae integerrimae, excellentiſſimae induſtriae, Zelatorem animarum et Eccleſiaſticae libertatis, Cantuarienſis Eccleſiae, de fratrum noſtrorum conſilio, praeſentibus praefatis Epiſcopis, **Without any precedent election.praeficimus in Archiepiſcopum et Paſtorem. Quapropter fraternitatem veſtram monemus, & hortamur, per Apoſtolica ſcripta mandantes, quatenus tanquam charitatis filii & devotionis, ipſum ad honorem omnipotentis Dei, & Apoſtolicae ſedis, & Cantuarienſis Eccleſiae recipientes, cum humilitate debita & devotione ſincera, intendatis eidem, & tanquam Patri & Paſtori animarum veſtrarum, & Metropolitano veſtro obediatis humiliter & devote. Gaudere quidem debetis in Domino, quod **The Tenth, and money promiſed him, not Gods grace, procured his Proviſion.illius gratia principaliter cooperante, qui inſpirando praevenit, et adjuvantem proſequitur, proviſum eſt laudabiliter Eccleſiae viduatae. Data, &c.

This is the firſt inſtrument and form I find in Hiſtory or Record, of a Popes Proviſion to a Biſhoprick, which you ſee is very ſpecious, lofty, Pontifical, rhetorical.

p. 421Though the Pope by reaſon of the differences between the King and Monks, uſurped by Proviſions, thus to fill the See of Canterbury in the caſe of Stephen Langhton before, and this Richard his immediate Succeſſor, being of greateſt concernment for the Popes intereſt on the one hand, and the Kings, Church of Englands on the other, yet where the King gave his Royal aſſent to Biſhops duly elected by his Licenſe, where there was no competition the Pope interpoſed not, as theſe two preſidents in the ſelf-ſame year atteſt.

EOdem Anno, Euſtachius Londinenſis Epiſcopus diem clauſit extremum. In cujusMat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 340. Godwins Catalogue of Bps. p. loco Canonici elegerunt Magiſtrum Rogerum, cognomento Nigrum; virum in literatura profundi pectoris, honeſtum, ac per omnia laudabilem, religionis amatorem ac defenſorem, omni genere ſuperbiae carentem, Canonicum de gremio Eccleſiae ſuae: quem Dominus Rex ſibi praeſentatum, ſine difficultate recepit. Eodem tempore obiit Galfridus Elyenſis Epiſcopus, menſe Decembri, & ſepultus eſt in Eccleſia Cathedrali ſua, pridie Idus menſis ejuſdem, ſicut et praedictus Euſtachius in ſua. Quo Galfrido defuncto, Monachi elegerunt communi aſſenſu Hugonem Sancti Edmundi Abbatem. Qui Regi praeſentatus, gratanter ſuſceptus eſt, et Epiſcopatus bonis omnibus inveſtitus.

Richard Archbiſhop of Canterbury by Proviſon, and theſe two Biſhops elect, were the next year conſecrated all together, as Matthew Paris informs us.

EOdem tempore, in die Sanctae Trinitatis, Convenientibus Cantuarienſis EccleſiaeMat. Paris Hiſt. Angl. p. 350. Suffraganeis apud eandem Civitatem, conſecratus eſt Magiſter Richardus Cantuarienſis electus, per manum Henrici Roffenſis Epiſcopi, **He had not then paid for it, being neverſent but for ready money payd down.ſine pallio, (therefore not abſolutely neceſſary) ita quod licuit ei vel ordines celebrare, vel Eccleſias dedicare. Conſecrati ſunt etiam cum eo eadem die, per miniſterium ejuſdem Epiſcopi, ante majus altare in Eccleſia Sanctae Trinitatis, Rogerus electus Londinenſis, & Hugo Elyenſis, iiij. Idus Junii.

What Letters of recommendation and reception of other Biſhops this Pope ſent to the Biſhops of England, you may diſcern by this relation.

HOc denique Anno venit in Angliam Archiepiſcopus quidam Armeniae majoris,Mat. Paris Hiſt. Angl. p. 339. gratia peregrinationis: ut Sanctorum Anglicanae Regionis reliquias, & loca venerabilia, ſicut & per alia Regna fecerat, viſitaret. Literas quoque Domini Papae ad commendationem perſonae ſuae, viris Religioſis et Praelatis Eccleſiaſticis exhibuit, ut ab ipſis cum debita reverentia reciperetur, et honorifice tractaretur. Hic demum, cum apud Sanctum Albanum veniens, cauſa orandi Angliae proto-Martyrem, ab Abbate & Conventu reverenter ſuſceptus eſt. His fabulous ſtory of the life of Joſeph of Arimathea, even at that day in Armenia, (therefore if true not dead and buried at Glaſtonbury) you may read in Matthew Paris.

How the Pope and his Legates (at the Kings ſpecial requeſt) intermedled in reſtoring the Impropriations and Churches alienated from the Biſhoprick of Carliſle, appears by the **Here p. 375, 376, 377. Clanſ. 12 H. 3. m. 14. intu.▪premiſes, and this enſuing Record.

QUia conſtat Domino Regi, Eccleſiam de Novo Caſtro ſuper Tinam, ſimul cum quibuſdam aliis Eccleſiis a Praedeceſſoribus Domini Regis, Eccleſiae Carleolenſi fuiſſe collatam, rogat Dominus Rex Eborum Archiepiſcopum, quatenus cum ipſa Eccleſia vacans fuerit, quod ſuum eſt in hac parte, ſecundum ordinationem Authoritate Domini Popae factam, a bonae memoriae Dominis G. titulo Sancti Martini, Presbytero Cardinali, & P. Norwicenſ. Epiſcopo, Apoſtolicae ſedis Legatis, exequatur circa perſonas Venerabilis Patris Carleolenſ. Epiſcopi. Teſte, &c.

Pluralities being prohibited by many Councils and Canons, the Pope took upon him, notwithſtanding theſe Canons, (for money) to grant Clerks Diſpenſations to hold Pluralities. Amongſt others, he granted a Diſpenſation to two of King Henries p. 422Clerks, which he ſhould name to hold pluralties, whom he nominated by theſe his Letters Patents.

UT R. Sar. Epiſcopus, ſciat quibus Dominus Rex vult gratiam dispenſationis impendi, Anno 1228. Pat. 12 H. 3. m. 6. intus.quam dominus Papa Domino Regi conceſſit, de duobus Clericis ſuis ut plura obtineant beneficia, eidem Sar. Epiſcopo ſignificat Dominus Rex, quod gratiam iſtam fieri vult L. Capell. Decano ſancti Martini London. & Waltero de Kirkham; In cujus, &c. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſterium Decimo Tertio die Februari.

The King oppoſing the election and conſecration of Biſhops in Ireland without his precedent Licenſe to elect, and ſpeciall approbation of them when elected, they thereupon appealed to the Pope; who ſometimes heard both parties at Rome, ſometimes referred the Appeal to be heard and determined by the Archbiſhop of the Province in Ireland; before whom the King conſtituted his proctor, to defend the Rights of his Crown by this enſuing Patent.

REX Venerabili Patri in Chriſto Archiepiſco Caſſel. & Epiſcopo Fernenſi & dilectoPat. 12 H. 3. …. 4. intus. & fideli ſuo G. de Theurevil Archid. Dublin ſalutem. In cauſa quae vertitur coram vobis de mandato Domini Papae, inter nos & Magiſtrum Johannem Ocolingham, qui ſe gerit Electum Imelic. ſuper Electione quae de ipſo dicitur celebrata fuiſſe, dilectum & fidelem noſtrum Magiſtrum Laurentium de London. Procuratorem noſtrum conſtituimus ad Iura noſtra procuranda et defendenda, ratum habituri, & gratum, quicquid in praedictis vice nostra duxer it faciendum. Hoc idem parti adverſae ſignificamus. Teſte Rege apud Lambeth. Decimo die Maii.

How fraudulently and unworthily the Biſhops in Ireland, dealt with the King, this writ for ſeaſing the Temporalies of the Biſhop of Liſmore into the Kings hand, for his fraud, will diſcover.

REX Dilecto & fideli ſuo Richardo de Burg. Juſtic. ſuo Hiberniae ſalutem. QuiaClauſ. 12 H. 3. m. 10. intus. Magiſter Griffinus, qui gerit ſe tanquam Electum Liſmorenſem, nos decepit prout intelleximus, aſſerendo ſe electum eſſe in Epiſcopum Liſmorenſem et confirmatum, cum non ſit confirmatus, vobis mandamus quatenus ſtatim viſis Literis iſtis, Epiſcopatum Liſmorenſem qui eſt in manu ipſius Magiſtiri Griffini, cum omnibus pertinentiis ſuis et terris, et rebus, et redditibus, et omnibus poſſeſſionibus, ad eundem Epiſcopatum pertinentibus, in manum noſtram capiatis, et ſalvo cuſtodiatis, donec aliud inde praeceperimus. Teſte meipſo apud Weſtmonaſterium Viceſimo Quinto die Aprilis.

Although theſe Iriſh Biſhops and Clergy men, were very prone to invade the Kings Rights and Royalties, yet they were very backwards to contribute to his neceſſities or ſupplies though **Here, p. 406,commanded by the Popes ſpecial Bulls, as this Record atteſts.

REX Archiepiſcopo Armachano & ſuffreganeis ſuis ſalutem. Quia nondum Pat. 12 H. 3. m. 4. intus.impenſum eſt nobis auxilium a Praelatis et Clero Hiberniae, ſicut in Anglia jampridem nobis eſt impenſum: Et ſicut Dominus Papa tam in Hibernia, quam in Anglia nobis fieri mandavit, rogamus Paternitatem veſtram, affectuoſe. Quatenus, quo et quantum indigeamus auxilio pie penſantes, ac mandato Domini Papae reverenter obtemperantes, petitum jam pridem ſubſidium, ſine mora nobis impendere velitis, et ab aliis impendi omni adhibita diligentia procuretis, ut tam munificentiae veſtrae liberalitatem propriam, quam erga alios adhibitam diligentiam, multiplici gratiarum actione proſequi debeamus ſpecialiores et obnixiores ſolito vobis affectu. Teſte p. 423ut ſupra fiat autem ſolutio praedicti auxilii ad ſcaccarium noſtrum Dublin. in manus J. Fernenſis, & G. Archid. Dublin.

The Arcbiſhop inſteed of collecting monyes for the King upon theſe Letters, procured this Patent for him to receive the profits of all the Temporalties of Biſhopricks falling voyd in Ireland during their vacancy, to ſatisfy a debt owing him by the King, till his debt ſhould be fully payd.

REX Juſticiario Hiberniae ſalutem. Sciatis quod conceffimus Uenerabili Pat. 12 H. 3. m. 4. intus.Patri H. Dublin. Archiepiſcopo, Cuſtodiam omnium Archiepiſcopatuum et Epiſcopatuum quos de caetero vacare contigerit, in Hibernia, ad percipiendum fructus et exitus inde provenientes quamdiu vacaverint per manum Ueneravilis Patris I. Fernenſis Epiſcopi, et dilecti et fidelis noſtri G. de Turrevil Archid. Dublin. donec debitum quod eidem Archiepiſcopo debemus, de praedictis fructibus et exitibus ei plene ſolverimus; Cum autem ſoluto debito inde quieti fuerint praedicti Epiſcopus et G. de Turrevil exitus et fructus ab hujuſmodi Archiepiſcopatibus et Epiſcopatibus vacantibus provenientes ad opus noſtrum reſervent, inde ad Scaccarium noſtrum Dublin. reſpondeant quam diu nobis placuerit. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod cum contigerit Archiepicopatus vel Epiſcopatus aliquos in Hibernia vacare, permittatis praedictum Epiſcopum Fernenſem et G. de Turrevil de fructibus et Exitibus inde provenientibus libere et ſine impedimento diſponere, ad reſpondendum inde praedicto Archiepiſcopo, et nobis poſtquam debitum ipſius Archiepiſcopi perſolutum fuerit ſicut praedictum eſt. In cujus, &c. Teſte meipſo apud Weſtmonaſterium Undecimo die Maii.

By this Patent the Kings right to retain, and diſpoſe of the Temporalties and profits of all the Biſhopricks in Ireland, during their vacancy, towardes the payment of debts or otherwiſe, is moſt fully evidenced.

What power the Pope then obtained in promoting, ratifying Truces made between the Kings of England and France, when accorded and reduced by them into certainty, this Record will intimate.

VEnerabili in Chriſto Patri R. Dei gratia titulo ſancti Angeli diacono Cardinali, &An. 1229. Clauſ. 13 H. 3. m. 16. dorſo. Franc. Legato H. &c. Rex Angliae, &c. ſalutem & ſinceram in Domino dilectionem. Grates paternitati veſtrae referimus ſuper Literis veſtris, quas nuper per dilectum & familiarem noſtrum Abbatem de Cliva tranſmiſiſtis, & de mandato quod idem Abbas, ex parte veſtra ore nobis expoſuit. Sane quamuis per eundem quondam illum ad vos miſimus veſtrae paternitati, ſignificaſſemus, quandam pacis formam illuſtrem Regem Franciae, & nos ineundam idem reverſus in nullo nos reddidit certiores de dicta forma a praedicto Rege Franciae, approbata, vel etiam an illi eſſet adhuc patefacta. Et quoniam ad ſedem apoſtolicam ſuper tanto Negotio non expedit mittere ſub incerto, ad vos mittimus praedictum Abbatem, & dilectum & fidelem noſtrum Magiſtum W. de Cantilupo, rogantes, quatenus nos certificetis per eoſdem, quae forma certa pacis Regi placuerit memorato, ut ſic demum Nuncii certi Romam mittantur, qui negotium illud ſub certa forma procurent, ſecundum quod a partibus providebitur melius eidem negotio convenire. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſterium ſexto die Februarii.

That all elections to Biſhopricks in Ireland ought to be made by the Kings precedent Licenſe to elect, or elſe they were abſolutly voyd, will evidently appear by this memorable Patent, though ratifying a ſpecial election for certaine cauſes, made without it, with ſome cautions.

p. 424REX Capitulo Lethlin. & Clero ejuſdem Dioc. ſalutem. Licet Electiones Pat. 13 H. 3. m. 12. intus.quae aſſenſu noſtro irrequiſito celebratae fuerint in Ecleſiiis Cathedralibus quae de noſtra ſunt advocatione nullius eſſe debeant momenti, et pro nulla reputari, et poſt tranſitum piae memoriae R. quondam Lethlin. Epiſcopi, non optenta prius licentia noſtra, ad eligendum vobis Paſtorem proceſſeritis, propter quod merito quantum ad nos nulla debeat eſſe Electio veſtra. Uolentes tamen ad praeſens, de gratia noſtra et pro honeſtate W. Archidiac. Lethlin. Electi veſtri vobis parcere Electioni factae de ipſo in Epiſcopum Lethin. regium Aſſenſum praebere duximus et favorem; Ita tamen quod prius Literas veſtras fieri faciatis patentes Iuſtic. noſtro Hiberniae porrigendas, de petita a nobis eligendi licentia, ne futuris temporibus nobis aut Haeredibus noſtris in Electione conſimili praejudicium valeat generari. In cujus rei teſtimonium has Literas noſtras Patentes vobis mittimus. Teſte meipſo apud Weſtmonaſterium Decimo Quarto die Novembris Anno regni noſtri Decimo Tertio.

This diſpenſation (though qualified in this manner) had this ill conſequence, that it encouraged many Chapters and Covents in Ireland to proceed to elections without any precedent Licenſe from the King, and to procure a ſubſequent approbation or Licenſe afterwards, as ſubſequent Records will evidence. So dangerous is it for Kings to connive at, or diſpence with ſuch Incroachments upon their prerogatives, eſpecially in caſe of ambitious, covetous, proud Prelates, and ſelf-willed refractory Clergymen.

It ſeems there aroſe a queſtion in Ireland in the 14th year of King Henry the 3d. whether Tithes ſhould be payd of Fiſh in Ponds, eſpecially ſuch as belonged to the King; who by his Eccleſiaſtical Soveraign power, reſolved and ordered they ſhould be payd, and ſo declared by this Patent.

MAndatum eſt Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, Militibus, Civibus, Pat. 14 H. 3. m▪ 4.Burg is, & omnibus infra Archiepiſcopatum Dublin. quod non expectato mandato Regio vel aſſenſu, de Gurgitibus Piſcariis Eccleſiis in quarum Parochiis ſunt Praedicti Gurgites vel Piſcariae, decimas ſolvant, quia Rex non vult in periculum animae ſuae hujuſmodi decimas detineant. Teſte meipſo apud Porteſmue Decimo Nono die Aprilis, Anno &c. Decimo Quarto.

You heard the year **Here p. 413. to 420.before of the Popes malicious ſlanders and perſecutions of the Emperour Frederick, with excommunications, fire and ſword, of his endeavours to exact monyes and Tenthes in all places eſpecially in England, to carry on the war againſt him, and King Henryes Proctors promiſe to gratify him therein, for promoting his Chancellour Richard to the Archbiſhoprick of Canterbury, and vacating the Monks election; which he put in vigorous execution this year, publiſhing many libels aginſt the Emperour to alien mens affections from him, which our Hiſtorians thus relate.