Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 203
INNOCENTIUS Epiſcopus, Servus ſervorum, &c. Dilecto filio fratri Johanni Mandatum Papae fratri Johanni de Ordine Minorum.Ordinis Minorum, Nuncio noſtro in Anglia ſalutem, & Apoſtolicam Benedictionem. Noſtris eſt nuper auribus intimatum, quod plerique Eccleſiarum Praelati regni Angliae, non attendentes ad humanos uſus non debere transferri, quae juribus ſunt aſcripta divinis, jure patronatus, & advocationis quae in aliquibus Eccleſiis obtinebant, in perſonas laicas conceſſionis vel alienationis titulo, ſeu alias, pro ſuae voluntatis arbitrio tranſtulerunt, Capitulorum ſuorum aliquando interveniente conſenſu, & Dioceſanorum, quod vix credimus accedente favore. Nonnulli quoque Abbates & Priores diverſorum ordinum tàm exempti quàm non exempti regni praefati propris Commodis per modos illicitos inhiantes (as this Pope and his agents really did) in Eccleſiis Parochialibus jus Patronatus exemptionis titulo, vel aliis perverſis contractibus aſſequuntur. Et ſic eaſdem Eccleſias quandoque de ſuorum Dioceſanorum conſenſu, quandoque motu proprio non verentur ſuis, vel membrorum ſuorum contra Deum & Canonic as Sanctiones, uſibus applicare. Quidam vero Executores ſuper Clericorum Proviſionibus dudum in eodem regno a ſede Apoſtolica deputati, cum aliqua beneficia Eccleſiaſtica, de quibus eiſdem Clericis provideri poterit, vacare contigerit, in alienis negotiis ſuae fidei confidenter commiſſis, privata commoda infideliter proſequuntur, dum Abbates et Priores alioſque Eccleſiarum Patronos, ad quorum praeſentationem noſcuntur eadem beneficia pertinere, excommunicant et ſuſpendunt, ipſoſque taliter impeditos, ad ordinationes Eccleſiarum ſuarum procedere non permittunt, donec ſibi ipſis vel aliis ſuis conſanguineis vel amicis, non autem illis quibus provideri mandavimus, a patronis eiſdem, minis et dolis interdum inductis, eadem beneficia ſeu proviſiones Annuae aſsignentur. Aliqui etiam executores hujuſmodi, ſe nuncios noſtros in Regno Angliae aſſerentes (quanquam alium praeter te in codem regno nos habere nuncium neſciamus) mandati noſtri praetextu quo eis in aliquibus Clericis in eodem regno de beneficiis Eccleſiaſticis, quae tanto tempore vacaverunt, quod ad nos eſt collatio ſecundum Lateranenſis ſtatutum Concilii devoluta, providere procurent, dicuntur injunxiſſe religioſos viros ſuper Eccleſiis qua ſibi conceſſas in uſus proprios per longiſſima tempora pacifice poſſiderunt, infeffant, nec ab eorum ſuper hiis infeſtatione deſiſtunt, donec iidem religioſi aliqua ſumma pecuniae, vel aſsignatione annuae penſionis, vexationem ſuam redimere compellantur. Cum igitur haec non ſint ſub diſſimulationis ſilentio tranſ…undae, diſcretioni tuae in virtute obedientiae diſtrictè praecipiendo mandamus, quatenus per te ac alios ſeculares, vel cujuſcunque religionis vel profeſsionis viros, quos ad hoc in diverſis locis ejuſdem regni vice nostra, quam tibi ſuper hoc praeſentium authoritate concedimus, duxeris deputandos, ſuper praemiſſis diligentiùs veritate, hujuſmodi alienationes, venditiones, ſeu emptiones, de patronatibus vel advocatiis Eccleſiarum, quae cum ſpiritualibus ſint annexae, vendi vel emi taliter nequeunt, à quibuſcunque praeſumptas vel in poſterum praeſumendas, quas irritas eſſe decernimus; denuncians nullas eſſe eas, & quicquid ex ipſis vel ob eas circa Eccleſiarum Parochialium ſtatum inveneris temerè immutatum, in statum debitum de plano & abſque judicii ſtrepitu revocare procures. Executores verò praedictos, ad reſignanda & reſtituenda quaecun que ipſ…s inveneris de praedictarum concuſſionum ſcelere percepiſſe, authoritate noſtra per te ac alios quos ad hoc (ut praediximus) deputabis, qua convenit diſtrictione compellas, redditurus nos nihilominus de illis quos de hiis deliquiſſe compereris, per tuas literas continentes meram & plenam rerum ſeriem, certiores, ut circa eos prout culpae qualitas exegerit procedamus. Contradictores per cenſuras Eccleſiae Apoſtolicae appellatione poſtpoſita compeſcendo, non obſtante ſi aliquibus ſit ab Apoſtolica ſede conceſſum, quod excommunicari, ſuſpendi, vel interdici non poſsint per literas Apoſtolicas, non facientes plenam et expreſſam ac de verbo ad verbum de indulto hujuſmodi mentionem, ſeu quod ad ſuſceptionem cauſarum vel executionum, quae ſibi authoritate ſedis ejuſdem committi contingit, minime teneantur, vel conſtitutione de duabus dietis edita in Concilio generali. Datum Laterani quinto Idus Januarii, Pontificatus noſtri Anno undecimo.
This pretended reformer of theſe Simoniacal practices, and former Nuncioes abuſes, rapines, armed with ſo many Papal Bulls, proved as bad yea worſe an exactor, and oppreſſor, then any of his predeceſſors. Whereupon
Per idem tempus, Dominus Rex comperiens Regnum ſuum enormiter Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. p. 707, 708, 709 Convocatio Nobilium Angliae ad Parliamentum.periclitari, juſsit omnem totius Regni Nobilitatem convocari, ut de ſtatu ipſius, tam manifeſte periclitantis Oxonii die qua cantatur, Quaſi modo geniti, diligenter contrectarent. Praelatos autem maxime ad hoc Parliamentum vocavit arctius, quia videbat eos Dominus Rex tam frequenter depauperari per Papales extorſiones, et theſaurus Angliae tam frequenter aſportabatur, nullumque commodum inde provenit Eccleſiae, imo multimodum incommodum generavit. Vnde veraciter perpendebatur, quod talis extorſio ſummo quamplurimum diſplicuit Creatori. Sperebatur autem certiſsime, aliquid ſalubre Eccleſiae, et Regno ibidem ſtatuendum, quod tamen omnes hoc ſperantes fefellit: Nam cum antea aliqui Praelatorum praetactae contributioni praepoſuiſſent contradicere, ibidem omnes in contributionem undecim Millium Marcarum conſenſerunt; exceptis Exemptis, et tribus Clericis. Ipſi igitur Clerici per hanc impetrationem toti regno ſe ſuſpectos reddiderunt, (and that deſervedly, ſuch was their ſordid cowardice, treachery to the King, Kingdom, Nobles, Church of England, and their own intereſt.) Pecunia autem memorata per manus Wintonienſis & Norwicenſis Epiſcoporum armatorum authoritate Papali ſoluta eſt & recepta, & Clerus compulſus est ad plenariam ſolutionem ejuſdem faciendam. Exponebantur autem exempti Papali arbitrio, qui eis minimè pepercit; ſed per fratrem ſaepedictum Iohannem tot jacturis et injuriis, ut praenotatur, fatigavit. Nee idcirco mitius cum Abbate Sancti Albani egit Dominus Papa, quo anno proximò praeterito ipſi Octoginta Marcas tranſmiſit. Timebatur autem, ne Dominus Rex, ex permiſſione mutua & conſenſu relativo, inter ipſum et Papam Eccleſiam et etiam Regnum conſimili exactione foret compulſurus. Sicut nuper pro Rege Dominus Papa ſcripſerat Angliae Magnatibus, in pecunia colligenda promovendo.
Not long after, to promote the Popes Exactions, and drain the Engliſh Clergies purſes, Applicuit in Anglia Epiſcopus Sabinenſis, Romanae Eccleſiae Cardinalis, iturusMatth. Paris p. 708. Applicat in Angliam Sabinenſis Epiſcopus Cardinalis Legatus. in partes Boreales Legatus, Norwegiam, Dac…am, & Suetiam; & Regem Norwegiae Haconem in Regem inuncturus & coronaturu…. Qui tamen in Angliam zingreſſurus, primo difficultatem de licentia a Rege invenit, quia ſemper ſolent Legati quales quales, et omnes nuncii Papales, Regna quae ingrediuntur depauperare, vel aliquo modo perturbare, donec juraſſet in anima ſua, quod ob nullum Regis vel Regni, vel Eccleſiae detrimentum, in Angliam veniret: niſi tantummodo tranquillum tranſitum faceret per ipſam terram de Portu Doverae ad portum Lennae, ad Regna ulteriora ſtatim tempore opportuno, et obtento vento proſpero, migraturus. Sed poſtquàm licentiam benignè dicto modo obtinuiſſet, intrepidus intravit, & Domino Rege ſalutato, & muneribus gratuit…s acceptis ab eodem, ad Lennam iter maturavit, et ibidem per tres ferè menſes commorans, non potuit Romanis innatam cupiditatem cohibere, quin ad Epiſcopos et Abbates, et Priores nuncios furtivos, ad uberes mitteret poſtulando procurationes, et munera precioſa, in domibus Manerii Epiſcopi Norwicenſis, quod Geywudae dicitur, commorando, ita quod quaeſtus ſui, ad quatuormillia Marcarum aſcendere dicebatur: veruntamen ut ſub ſpecie ſanctitatis omnia palliaret, crebro ſermonem faciebat populo. Et cum navem aſcenſurus fuiſſet, quem opulentiſſimè communiverat multo frumento & doliis quàmplurimis vino plenis praeelecto, & aliis victualibus, juſſit cuidam fratri de ordine Praedicatorum in ipſa Miſſam celebrare, quod & factum eſt, non ſine multorum, qui hoc non praeviderant, admiratione. Habebat namque in ipſa navi, ficut de Arca Noë legitur, (ſuch was his Pomp and Pride) diverticula & tristegas, cameras & conclavia, quae ſpecialiter propter ipſum artificialiter fuerunt compoſita. Et ſic vento flante proſpero, dataque Angliae, & ſuis Anglis prodigis benedictione, pelago ſeptentrionali ſeſe dives factus commiſit. How he fleeced and preyed upon the Northern kingdoms for the Popes and his own advantage, as his Confederates had done the Engliſh and French, *Page 716.Matthew Paris informs us. Coronatus eſt Rex Hacon, & in Regem inunctus ſolenniter apud Bergas, ab Epiſcopo Sabinenſi, Legato tunc in partibus illis existen…e. Pro cujus honoris et beneficii exhibitione, Papae Dominus Rex quindecim millia marcarum eſterlingorum numeravit. Legatus vero acceptis donativis impreciabilibus quingentas extorſit marcas ab Eccleſiis Regni illius. Verunta. men idem Rex cruce ſignatus à Domino Papa impetravit recipere tertiam partem proventuum à viris Eccleſiaſti…is Regni ſui, ad ſuae viatica peregrinationis; The tranſactions and Letters paſſed between the King of France and Haco concerning this his pretended pilgrimage to Jeruſalem (worthy peruſal) you may read more at large in this Hiſtorian.
The Pope not contented thus to extort money in all places by Croyſadoes, Procurations, and ſuch like Exactions, made a very gainfull Trade of ſelling Archbiſhopricks, Biſhopricks, and other Eccleſiaſtical Preferments to ambitious perſons who would give moſt for them, as Matthew Paris thus inſmuates in one memorable inſtance, of Odo Archbiſhop of Rhoan, of whom *Here, p. 686▪before.
Anno quoque ſub eodem Odo Archiepiſcopus Rothomagenſis, quondam Abbas Sancti * Hiſt. Angl. p 709. Odo Archiepiſcopus Rothomagus obiit.Dionyſ…, divino, ut creditur, percuſſus judicio, ſubito obiit; cum jam vix per annum ſophiſticè ſede Archiepiſcopali praeſidens, nomen tantum et officium ſibi temere uſurpaſſet, & Petro ſuo anteceſſori fructus Archiepiſcopatus diſtribuiſſet. Ipſe enim Anglicus Natione, Abbas extiterat Sancti Dionyſii, quem ambitio et ſuperbia adeo ad Archiepiſcopatus praedicti dignitatem infoeliciter attraxerant, ut domum ſuam irremediabiliter aere alieno obligatam dereliquerit, et dignitatem praetextatam, ſymoniace in ſui perniciem conſequebatur▪ as moſt other Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Abbots did in that Simoniacal age.
Moreover this avaritious Simoniacal Pope made a gain of his very Bulls for canonizing and tranſlating Popiſh Saints, as he did this year by his long deferred Canonization and tranſlation of St. Edmund, Biſhop of Canterbury, (the Bull and Hiſtory whereof, you may read at leiſure in *Hiſt. Angl. p. 607, to 612. 696. Additamenta, p. 158. Anno 1246, 1247. De Eventibus Angliae, l. 2. c. 14.Matthew Paris, Matthew Weſtminſter, Henry de Knyghton, Matthew Parker, and Godwin in his Life, (to omit all others) from whom this Popes predeceſſors had extorted vaſt ſumms of money, and ſo much vexed, diſcontented (notwithſtanding his pretended Sanctity and miracles) that he left his Biſhoprick, and *Here p. 563, 564.died for meer grief.
And to adde oppreſſion to oppreſſion, this Aegyptian Papal Taxmaſter to gratifie Richard Earl of Cornwall, William de Longa Spata, and other Engliſh Nobles, to abate or take off their oppoſitiō againſt his inſufferable exactions, granted thē ſpecial Bulls (as he had done to the King of France, and Haco, who had taken up the Croſſe, under pretext of ayding them in their voyage to the Holy Land, for which they had croſſed themſelves) to exact monies from the Engliſh, to their great oppreſſion.
Eodem quoque Anno Epiſcopus Wygorniae, & Willielmus Longa Spata, & Galfridus * Mat. Paris Hiſt. Angl. p. 709. Willielmus de Longa Spata, cum aliis Nobilibus cruce ſignatur.de Lucy, in Epiſcopatu Wigornienſi, & multi alii Nobiles de Regno Angliae, exemplo Regis Francorum, & Nobilium de Regno Francorum armati, cruce ſignabantur circa tempora Rogationum. Willielmus autem Longa Spata, ut de Cruceſignatis emolumentum metens ubi non ſeminavit, prudenter ad inſtar Comitis Richardi, colligeret, Romanam Curiam adiit, & ſuper negotio ſuo alloquens Dominum Papam, ait; Domine, videtis quod cruce ſignor, & in procinctu itineris paratus ſum eum Domino Rege Francorum militare Deo peregrinando. Magnum nomen habeo et notum, Willielmus ſcilicet Longa Spata, ſed ſubeſt res parva. Dominus enim Rex Angliae meus cognatus, & Dominus naturalis, nomen mihi Comitis cum ſubstantia abstulit: hoc tamen judicialiter & non in ira ſua fecit, vel impetu voluntatis, quapropter ipſum non criminor. Neceſſe habeo ad ſinum miſericordiae veſtrae paternum refugere, auxilium à vobis in hac neceſſitate petiturus. Videmus namque nobilem virum Comitem Richardum, qui licet cruce non ſignetur, per obtentum gratiae vestrae in hac parte nimis fructiferae, à cruce ſignato populo non minimam pecuniam vindemiare in Regno Angliae, & ego ex eo ſpem conſequenter accipiens, cruce ſignatus & indigens, eandem mihi postulo concedendam. Conſiderans igitur Dominus Papa loquentis facundiam, rationis efficaciam, corporis elegentiam, ſe ipſi favorabilem exhibuit, concedens ei in parte quae poſtulavit, latam videlicet ex aliena cute corrigiam.
*Mat. Paris, p. …11. …degit Comes Richardus pecuniam de Cruce ſignatis.Tunc etiam temporis Comes Richardus, authoritate Domini Papae, cujus indigentiae clàm & cautè ſatisfecerat, a cruce ſignatis infinitam collegit pecuniam, ita quod ab uno Archidiaconatu dicitur ſexcentas libras reportaſſe, harum literarum fretus auctoritate. Conſimilique cautela Willus Longa Spata mille marcas et amplius de cruce ſignatis, ut praeſcriptum eſt, reportavit; beſides what Archbiſhop Boniface (qui in partibus tranſmarinis Domino Papae militabat) violently extorted by Excommunications from the Biſhops and Clergie of his Province at the ſame time; of which before.
In regard of the manifold Extortions this year both at home and abroad by the Pope and his agents principally to raiſe and maintain Wars againſt the Emperor, Mat. Paris and Matthew Weſtminſter render us this Epitome, and brief character thereof.* Mat. Paris Hiſt. Angl. An. 1247. p. 717. Mat. Weſtm. p. 216. Brevis totius Anni deſcriptio
Tranſiit igitur annus ille uberrimus in frugibus, in fructibus autem ſterilis, Angliae nocivus, Walliae dominator Tyrannicus, Terrae Sanctae inimicus, ſuſpectus et formidabilis, Eccleſiae nocivus univerſali, et ſpoliator turbulentus, Italiae cruentus, Imperio et Curiae Romanae infamis et inimicus, et praecipue Regno Alemanniae martius et hoſtilis; Regnis Francorum et Anglorum exactor hoſtilis et praedator turbulentus; odium generans in cordibus Praelatorum, et aliorum plurium contra Papam, eo quod Patronis violenter ſpoliatis, ſuſpendit a beneficiorum collatione, quod eſt hactenus inauditum, et contra Dominum Regem, eo quod talia toleravit.
As the Pope thus vexed, oppreſſed the Clergy and Religious perſons on the one hand this year; ſo Biſhop Groſthead and his Eccleſiaſtical Officers, vexed, oppreſſed the Nobility and Laity on the other hand, by Bulls & Priviledges obtained at a dear rate from this Pope, as our Hiſtorians and Records inform us: For this Robert Groſthead Biſhop of Lincolne after a long conteſt and ſuit at Rome, Anno Dom. 1245. purchaſing from Pope Innocent the 4th. a Priviledge *Here, p. 629, 630. Mat. Paris, p. 667, 668forecited) to viſit the Dean, Chapter, Canons, Clerks, Miniſters of the Quire, and Cathedral Church of Lincolne, and all the Ministers, Chaplains, Churches and Pariſhioners belonginging to the Churches within his Dioceſſe; et ad correctionem exceſſorum ac morum reformationem libere admittendum. And likewiſe, that the Canons of Lincolne ſhould yield and render to him Canonical obedience and reverence; Obligare ſe tamen ad hoc Iuramento manuali praeſtatione, ſeu promiſsione minime tēneantur, cum ad hoc conſuetudine non juveris. The next year (Anno. 1246.) he viſited his Dioceſſe in purſuance of this priviledge, by his Archdeacons, Deans and Officials, and (at the ſuggeſtion of the Friers Minorites and Predicants) in his Viſitations and Conſiſtories made ſtrict Inquiſitions concerning the continency and manners as well of the Noble as ignoble, to the enormous defamation and ſcandal of many, compelling Laymen to preſent and give in teſtimony in theſe caſes upon Oath; an Innovation never uſed in the Realmes before: The King upon complaint thereof, iſſued forth Writs to the Sheriff of Lincoln, to inhibit any Lay perſons within his County to appear before them to make any Inquiſitions, or take any Oath at the will of the Biſhop, except only in cauſes of Matrimony and Teſtament; which *Hiſt. Angl. Angliae. p. 693, 694.Matthew Paris thus records to poſterity, living at that time, within this Dioceſſe, and taking ſpecial Notice of theſe proceedings.
His quoque diebus cum Epiſcopus Lincolnienſis, ſupra quàm deceret vel expediretRex prohibet Inquiſitiones ab Epiſcopo Lincolnienſi Inſtitutas. in Subjectos ſuos, ad ſuggeſtionem, ut dicitur, Praedicatorum & Minorum, deſaeviret, ita ſcilicet, ut faceret Inquiſitiones diſtrictas per Archidiaconos et Decanos ſuos in Epiſcopatu ſuo, de continentia et moribus tam Nobilium quam Ignobilium, in enormem laeſionem famae multorum et ſcandalum, QUOD NUNQUAM FIERI CONSUEVERAT, Dominus Rer audiens ſuper hoc populi graves quaerimonias, CONSILIO CURIAE SUAE, ſcripſit Vicecomiti Hertfordiae in haec verba,
Henricus Dei Gratia Rex Angliae, &c. Praecipimus tibi, quod ſicut teipſum et omnia tua diligis, non permittas, quod aliqui Laici in Balliva tua ad voluntatem Epiſcopi Lincolnienſis, Archidiaconorum, Officialium ſeu Decanorum ruralium in aliquo loco conveniant de caetero AD COGNITIONES PER SACRAMENTUM EORUM, VEL ATTESTATIONES ALIQUAS FACIENDAS, niſi in Cauſis Matrimonialibus vel Teſtamentartis. Quod cum audiſſet Epiſcopus, aſſerebat, Dominum Regem quorundam Conſpiratorum qui jam in Francia in conſimilem audaciam proruperunt, veſtigia ſecurum. An inſolent undutifull anſwer of a furious turbulent wilfull Prelate.
The Conſpiracie of the Nobility and Commonalty of France which Groſtheads words related to, is thus recorded by Mat. Paris; They being intollerably oppreſſed by the Inſolencies, uſurpations of the Pope, French Biſhops, and Clergy upon their antient Liberties, Rights, Priviledges, by citing them into their Eccleſiaſtical Courts for Temporal Matters and cauſes belonging to the Civil Juriſdiction; judging them by new Canons and Conſtitutions made by themſelves alone, without common conſent in their Parliaments; when as they ought rather to be Judged by the Nobles and Laity, by whoſe Valour and Liberality they enjoyed all their Eccleſiaſtical Priviledges and poſſeſſions; Excommunicating, interdicting, enforcing them to take new Oathes, and tyrannizing over them at their pleaſures, as if they were ſlaves, and vaſſals, rather then Freemen, they thereupon after all other fruitleſſe complaints entred into a Solemne League and Confederacy againſt them, to vindicate and regain their antient Rights and Priviledges.
Cum vero dierum iſtorum fluenta prolaberentur, tepuit devotio fidelium, * Mat. Paris p. 697, 698. Preuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, p. 229, 230. Conſpiratio quorundam Nobilium Franciae contra Papam.et filialis affectus Charitatis, quem quilibet Chriſtianus adverſus Patrem noſtrum ſpiritualem, videlicet Dominum Papam gerere teneretur, non ſine animarum periculo, laeſus deperiit, imo et in odium execrabile, et maledictiones occultas eſt converſus. Videbant enim omnes et ſinguli, et videntes ſentiebant, ipſum Dominum Papam pecuniae et pecuniarum rapinis, in multorum damnum, et depauperationem inſatiabiliter inhiare. Nec credebant jam multi ipſum poteſtatem beato Petro conceſſam coelitus, videlicet, ligandi et ſolvendi obtinere, qui penitus beato Petro diſsimilis probabatur. Reſolutum eſt igitur os magna loquentium et obloquentium Nota.ubique locorum, et praecipue in Francia. In qua quidem multi Nobiles in ipſum Papam et Eccleſiam, quod nunquam meminimus eveniſſe, conſpirabant, ſicut in hac Chartula quae Gallica lingua conſcribitur, quia ſic ad notitiam noſtram pervenit, poterit conſiderari.
A tous ceux qui ces lettres verront, nous tous deſquels les ſeaux pendent en ceſt preſent eſcript, faiſons ſcavoir, que nous par la foy de nos corps avons fiance tant nous comme nos eirs a touſiours, a aydder les uns aux autres, et a tous ceux de nos terres, et d'autres terres, qui vouldront eſtre de ceſte compagnie, a pourchaſſer et a requirir et a defendre nos droitz et les leurs en bonne fay envers la Clergie. Et pour ce qe ſerroit grieve choſe nous tous aſſembler pour ceſte beſoigne, nous avons eſlu par le common aſſent et octory de nous tous, le Duc de Burgoine, le Conte Perrun de Bretagne, le Conte de Anguleſme, et le Conte de S. Pol, a ce que ſi aucuns de ceſte communite avoit a faire envers la Clergie, tel ayd comme ces quatre devantdits eſgarderoient que un homme luy deuſt faire, nous luy ferious. Et ceſt a ſcavoir, que a ſe defendre, pourchaſſer et requerir, chaſcun de ceſte communite mettre la centieſme part par ſon ſerment de la vaillance de un an de la terre quil tiendra. Ct chaſcun riche homme de ceſte compagnie fera lever ces deneers chaſcun an a ſon povoir a la Purifification noſtre Dame, et les deliura ou il ſera meſtier pour ceſte beſoigne, par les letres pendantes de ces quatre avout nommez, ou des deux de eux. Et il aucun avoit tort, et il ne vouloit laiſſer par ces quatre avant nommez, il ne ſerroit pas ayde de la Communite. Et ſi aucun de ceſte compagnie eſtoit excommunie par tort, cognu par ces quatre, que la Clergie luy feiſt, il ne laſſeroit aller ſon droit ne ſa querele pour les Communiment, ne pour autre choſe qu'on luy face, ſi ce n'eſt par l'accord de ces quatre, ou de deux de eux, ains pourſuiveroit ſa droiture. Et ſi les deux des quatre moureroient ou alloient hors de la terre, les autres deux qui demuroient, mettroient autres deux en lieu de ces deux, qui auroient tel pouoir que eſt a devant diviſe. Et ſil advenoit que les trois, & les quatre allaſſent hors de la terre, ou mouriſſent, les douze ou les dix des riches de ceſte communite eſliront autres quatre, qui auront ce meſme pouvoir que les quatre devant ditz. Et ſi ces quatre, ou aucun de la Communite par le Commandement de ces quatre, faiſent aucune beſoigne, qui appertenſiſt a ceſte Communite, la Communite l'en delivreroit.
Quia Clericorum ſuperſtitio, non attendens quod bellis et quorundam ſanguine ſub Carolo Magno et aliis, Regnum Franclae de Errore Aliud Scriptum contra Clerum.gentilium ad fidem Catholicam ſit converſum, primo quadam humilitate nos ſeduxit, quaſi vulpes ſe nobis opponentes, ex ipſorum caſtrorum reliquiis, quae a nobis habuerunt fundamentum, juriſdictionem ſecularium Principum ſic abſorbent, ut filii ſervorum ſecundum ſuas leges judicent liberos et filios liberorum, quamvis ſecundum leges priorum Triumphatorum, deberent a nobis potius judicari, et per Novas Conſtitutiones non deberet Anteceſſorum noſtrorum conſuetudinibus derogari, cum nos deterioris conditionis faciant, quam Deus etiam voluit eſſe Sentiles, cum dixerit, Reddite quae ſunt Caeſaris Caeſari, & quae ſunt Dei Deo. Nos omnes Regni majores attento animo percipientes, quod regnum non per jus ſcriptum, nec per Clericorum arrogantiam, ſed per ſudores bellicos fuerit adquiſitum, praeſenti decreto omnium juramento ſtatuimus et ſancimus, ut nullus Clericus vel Laicus alium de caetero trahat in cauſam coram ordinario Judice, vel Delegato, niſi ſuper Haereſi, matrimonio, vel uſuris, amiſsione omnium bonorum, et unius membri multilatione tranſgreſsionibus imminente, certis a nobis ſuper hoc Executoribus deputatis, ut ſic Juriſdictio noſtra reſuſcitata reſpiret, et ipſi hactenus ex noſtra depauperatione ditati, quibus Dominus propter eorum ſuperbiam prophanas voluit revelare contentiones, reducantur ad ſtatum Eccleſiae primitivae, et in contemplatione viventes, nobis ſicut decet activam vitam ducentibus, oſtendant miracula, quae dudum a ſeculo receſſerunt.
Haec cum audiſſet Papa, ingemuit ſpiritu perturbato, & cupiens eorum emollire corda, & conſtantiam enervare, admonitione praemiſſa eos minis perterruit, nec ſe ſic ſenſit praevalere. Contulit igitur multis conſanguineorum eorum multa beneficia Eccleſiaſtica, & licentiam *Licenſes for Pluralities how introduced.plura obtinendi cum indulgentiis multis, necnon & plura ipſis Nobilibus contulit donativa, & ſic multos eorum à praedicta praeſumptione revocavit. Multos tamen perterruit hujuſmodi tenor Epiſtolae, credebaturque haec a conſenſu Frederici emanaſſe, maximè cum hujuſmodi clauſula finalis concordet Epiſtolae Frederici quam multis miſit Principibus. in cujus fine ſic dicit, Semper fuit noſtrae intentio voluntatis, Clericos cujuſcunque ordinis ad …oc inducere, & maximè maximos, ut tales perſeberarem in fine, quales fuerunt in Eccleſia primitiva Apoſtolicam vitam ducentes humilitatem Dominicam unitantes. Tales namque Clerici ſolebant Angelos intueri, miraculis coruſcare, &c. Require in anno 1245 in Epiſtola Frederici ad Regem Angliae miſſa & ſingulis Principibus.
That the Kings, Nobles, and Parliaments of France and Normandy▪, ſomewhat before and after this, declared, proteſted in ſundry notable Writings and Declarations, That neither the Pope nor his Legates had any right or power at all to Interdict, or Excommunicate the Realm or Kings of France; neither he, nor the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, or Clergy of France, any Juriſdiction to Excommunicate or inflict any Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures upon the Kings Barons, Miniſters, Officers, without the Kings Royal aſſent; that they commanded Biſhops and Eccleſiaſtical Courts to abſolve their Subjects when Excommunicated; allowed them power to hold Plea of Chattels only in three caſes, you may read at large in Preuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, cap. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, &c. I ſhall recite but two inſtances, the firſt relating to Normandy whiles ſubject to the Kings of England.
Extraict d'un Acte des Barons de Normandie, qui declare les Droicts du Roy ſurPreuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, cap. 4. p. 165. & cap. 35. P. 1263. les Egliſes & perſonnes Eccleſiaſtiques de Normandie, An. D m. 1205.
Notum facimus univerſis, ad quos praeſens ſcriptum pervenerit, quod nos juravimus ſuper Sacroſancta Evangelia, quod jura quae Henricus & Richardus quondam Reges Angliae habuerunt in Normannia, adverſus Clerum & apud Lexovaeum & alibi, & jura noſtra diceremus.
Item diximus per Sacramentum noſtrum, quod Archiepiſcopus vel Epiſcopus, vel alia inferior Eccleſiaſtica perſona, non debet ferre ſententiam Excommunicationis in Barones, vel in Ballivos, aut in Servientes Domini Regis, aut in Clericos domus ſuae, Rege non requiſito, vel ſuo Seneſcallo.
Item diximus per Sacrament um nostrum, quod nulla Eccleſiaſtica perſona debet aliquem trahere in cauſam pro fide, vel pro Sacramento quod fiat de feodo Laico, vel Caſtello hominis Laici, ſed ſi fides data fuerit de Catallo Maritagii, vel de Legato Mortui, vel Catallo Clerici, vel Cruceſignati, de cauſa illa bene poſſunt judicare.
Item diximus per Sacramentum noſtrum, quod in feoda terrae Gornaii et feritatis, et Goellenfontis non debet Archiepiſcopus tenere niſi tria tautum placita, ſcilicet de Maritagio, et Legato Martui, et de Catallo Clerici. Actum Rothomagi Anno gratiae 1205. menſe Novembris, Dominica poſt Octavem Feſti Omnium Sanctorum, cum viginti Sigillis.
This was the only Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction the Clergy of Normandy enjoyed▪ whiles under our Engliſh Kings.
The ſecond is this memorable Declaration, Prohibition, Arreſt of King Charles the 5th. of France, and his Parliament, declaring the antient Priviledge of the Kings of France enjoyed time out of minde, (agreeing with this in Matthew Paris) That the Kings Officers and Subjects ought not to be cited, vexed, excommunicated, interdicted by any Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Archdeacons, or other Eccleſiaſtical perſons for executing their Offices; commanding them to revoke their illegal Excommunications and Interdicts denounced againſt them, for not delivering Clerks impriſoned for Murder upon their Ordinaries demands, and ſeiſing their Temporalties, and ſummoning them to anſwer their contempts therein.