Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 204 – Document 209
Quod Officiarii Regii non poſſunt Excommunicari. Preuves des Libertez de Legliſe Gallicane, cap. 5. p. 166, 167.An. Dom. 1369.
CAROLUS Dei gratiâ Francorum Rex, Leodegario Waront Parliamenti noſtri Hostiario, aut alteri primo dicti Parliamenti noſtri Hoſtiario, & Servienti noſtro, ad quem praeſentes Literae noſtrae pervenerint, ſalutem. Procurator noſter generalis pro nobis, ac Petrus Garnerii Burgenſis & Cuſtos Juſtitiae noſtrae in Villa de Medunta, Curiae noſtrae expoſuerunt, aſſerendo, quod licet per certa privilegia à ſede Apoſtolica nobis & Praedeceſſoribus noſtris Franciae Regibus conceſſa, quae adeo ſunt notoria, quod nullus ea poterat ſive poteſt ignorare; de hoc quod dicti Praedeceſſores nostri fuerunt & nos etiam fuimus & ſumus in poſſeſſione & ſaiſina pacifici, iidem quoque Praedeceſſores noſtri dictas poſſeſſiones & ſaiſinam continuarunt, & nos etiam continuavimus, à tanto tempore quod hominum memoria in contrarium non extabat, nullis Archiepiſcopis, Epiſcopis, aut quibuſvis aliis judicibus Eccleſiaſticis, ſeu eorum Officialibus, apparatoribus, ſive gentibus quibuſcunque, authoritate ſive virtute eorum Iuriſdictionis Eccleſiaſticae ordinariae, vel alia quacunque de cauſa in Villis et locis noſtris in Regno noſtro Franciae ſituatis, maxime de noſtro proprio domanio exiſtentibus, ceſſum ſeu Interdictum ponere, ſeu poni facere, aut ſententias Excommunicationis, vel Interdicti proferre, aut proferri, ſeu promulgari facere liceat quoquomodo: & nihilominus cum Robertus Munerii dictus de Maule, voerius & receptor noster apud Meduntam, pro ſuſpicione homicidii in perſonam defuncti Magistri Johannis dicti Bout du Monde in dicta Villa de Medunta perpetrati, nuper in Carceres nostros apud Meduntam, ſponte ſua priſonarium ſe reddidiſſet & poſuiſſet, gentes dilecti & fidelis Conſiliarii nostri Epiſcopi Carnotenſis, videlicet Petrus Peregrini Presbyter, Magister Domus Sancti Lazari de Medunta, & nonnulli alii Clerici in Curia Eccleſiastica dicti Epiſcopi frequentantes, necnon P—de Sancto Sylveſtro Officialem Archidiaconi de Pinſereio, ex parte nostra propter debatum Juriſdictionis, inter dictos Epiſcopum & Archidiaconum contentioſe, & de ſuper quo lis inter dictos partes in ipſa nostra Curia pendere dicitur, commiſſum & deputatum ſe dicens, ac nonnulli alii Clerici in Curia dicti Officialis frequentantes, ac Camer…rius de Columbis peries praedictum Petrum Garnerii in dicta Villa de Medunta, quae eſt in & de proprio domanio noſtro, nuper acceſſerunt, et eundem ſub poena Excommunicationis ac Centum Marcarum Argenti requiſiverunt, ut praefatum Robertum, necnon Gulielmum de Commeny Lachomum, pro ſuſpicione homicidii ſupradicti ibidem priſonarium detentum, quos Clericos forè, & in habitu & tonſura Clericali existere aſſerebant, una cum caſibus pro quibus detinebantur eis traderet, & deliberaret inſtrumentum ſuper hoc à Roberto Gomer Presbytero illic praeſente, ſibi fieri requirendo. Verum quanquam idem Petrus eiſdem amicabiliter reſpondiſſet, quod ipſe locum tenens Ballivi de Medunta non exiſtebat, nec ab his commiſſus extiterat, vel erat, niſi in caſibus civilibus duntaxat, & ob hoc de dictis priſonariis eis tradendis, & deliberandis poteſtatem non habuerat nec habebat, praenominati gentes & officiales praedictorum Epiſcopi & Archidiaceni reſponſione dicti Petri vera & licita non obstante, eundem Petrum excommunicaverunt, et excommunicatum denunciaverunt, et quod deterius fuit et eſt, ceſſum ſeu Interdictum in praedicta Villa noſtra poſuerunt, et poſitum tenuerunt, atque tenent taliter, quod divinum ſervitium et alia Eccleſiae Sacramenta in ipſa Villa celebrari non poſſunt: Quae facta ſunt, et fuerunt in noſtri et Juriſdictionis noſtrae temporalis dictorumque privilegiorum nobis ut ſupradictum eſt, indultorum ac poſſeſſionis, et ſaiſinae noſtrarum praedictarum, necnon praedicti Petri praejudicium et contemptum, ut aſſerunt. Procurator noster & Petrus Garnerii antedicti ſupplicantes, ſibi ſuper hoc de remedio competenti provideri, attento quod dictus defunctus tempore quo vivebat & deceſſit, erat noſter Advocatus in dicta Villa, ac in nostra ſalva & ſpeciali gardia notoriè & competenter publicata, quanquam dicta noſtra Curia ex certis justis cauſis ad hoc ipſum moventibus ordinavit, & mandavit dictum Robertum Priſonarium, ad eandem nostram Curiam adduci. Quocirca tibi tenore praeſentiam committimus, & mandamus, quatenus ſi deceſſu ſeu Interdicto pradictis ſibi ſummariè conſtiterit praedictos Epiſcopum, Archidiaconum, & Camerarium, ac eorum Officiales, vicarios, promotores, & gentes de quibus pro parte dicti procuratoris nostri, & Petri ſuper hoc fueris requiſitus ex parte noſtra requiras, & etiam praecipias eiſdem ſi ſit opus, ut hujuſmodi ceſſum ſeu Interdictum in dicta Villa ut praemittitur, appoſitum revocent, et adnullent: quod ſi facere renuerint, aut plus debito diſtulerint, …ſos ad hoc per captionem et detentionem temporalitatis eorundem, abſque aliqua recredentia de hoc facienda viriliter compellas indilate: et inſuper dictos Epiſcopum, Archidiaconum, et Camerarium, ac eorum Officiales, vicarios, et gentes, ex parte noſtra requiras, ut ipſi et eocum ſinguli prout ad eos ſpectabit, Citationes, Monitiones, Sententias, Excommunicationes, denunciationes et proceſſus Eccleſiaſticos quoſcunque contra praedictum Petrum aut alios Officiarios, vel Servitores noſtros in praedicta Villa, occaſione praemiſſorum factos ſeu inchoatos, ſimiliter revocent omnino et adnullent: et ipſum Petrum et alios Officiarios noſtros, et gentes ſi qui ſint a ſententiis Excommunicationum eorundem Epiſcopi, Archidiaconi, Camerarii, Officialiumque promotorum et gentium ſuarum ſumptibus et expenſis abſolvi, et ab omnibus Citationibus, Monitionibus, denunciationibus, et proceſſibus Eccleſiaſticis totaliter ceſſari faciant indilate, ipſos ad hoc per captionem, et detentionem eorum temporalitatis praedictae compellendo: et in caſu quo dicti Epiſcopus, Archidiaconus, Camerarius, et eorum Officiales, et alii praedicti, ſententias Excommunicationis, ac Monitiones et proceſſus praedictos contra dictum Petrum et alios Officiarios noſtros factos et inchoatos revocare noluerint, et ad hoc ſe opponere voluerint, praedictos, quoad hoc opponentes, et etiam praedictos Epiſcopum, Archidiaconum, Camerarium, et gentes, et Officiarios ſuos ſuperius nominatos, qui expleta praedicta feciſſe dicuntur, adjornes ad certam brevem et competentem diem in noſtro praeſenti Parliamento non obſtante quod ſedeat, et ex cauſa videlicet dictos opponentes ſupradicta oppoſitione proceſſuros, et ipſos et alios ſuperius nominatos praedictis. Procuratori noſtro, et Petro Garnerii, ſi et prout experiti voluerint, ſuper praemiſſis, et ea tangentibus, reſponſuros, et ulterius proceſſu…os et facturos, prout fuerit rationis, eiſdemque ex parte noſtra ſub cerris magnis poenis nobis applicandis injungas ne interim ad ulteriores ſententias Monitiones, et proceſſus, contra dictum Petrum et alios Officiarios noſtros procedant occaſione pr…miſſorum, ſed e… onmia in …atu in quo ſunt teneant, quouſque per dictam noſtram Curiam partibus auditis aliud extiterit ſuper hoc ordinat…, eandem …ram Curiam ad diem ſuper praedictis …; de requiſitionibus, praeceptis, adjournamentis, nominibuſque adjornator…m, & al…s q… … in … parte certificando competenter; ab omnibus autem Juſtitiariis & ſubditis nostris tibi in praemiſſis, & ea tangentibus p…rere volumus efficaciter, & jubemus. Quod prafata noſtra Curia ſic fieri voluit, & Procuratorio noſtro, & Petro Garnerii memoratis conceſſit, & ex cauſa. Datum Pariſiis in Parliamento quinto die Januarii, Anno Domini 1369. & Regni noſtri Sexto.
There are many like Arreſts of the Kings and Parliaments of France, for ſeiſures of the Temporalties of Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Archdeacons, and Eccleſiaſtick Judges, for admoniſhing, excommunicating, interdicting the Kings Officers, and others, and refuſing to abſolve them when enjoyned: and exceeding the legal bounds of their Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction: And ſome declaring the Monitions and Excommunications of Biſhops againſt ſeveral perſons, to be abuſive, ſcandalous, vexatious, full of falſities, impoſtures, tending to ſedition, rebellion, derogatory to the Kings Crown and dignity, and commanding them to be revoked, yea torn, and publickly burnt by the Executioner as ſuch; which you may peruſe at leiſure in the 5, and 6. Chapters of Prenves des Libertez de L'egliſe Gallicane.
The Engliſh Nobility and Laity in the Dioceſſe of Lincoln, (as this innovating, turbulent Biſhop conceived, encouraged by theſe Preſidents of the French) unanimouſly oppoſed his Uſurpations of like nature upon their Liberties, Reputations, Conſciences, complaining to King Henry the 3d. and his Counſil againſt the Biſhops, Archdeacons, Deans and Officials vexations, and illegal Oathes, proceedings; the King thereupon by ſpecial Writs prohibited them, as prejudicial, derogatory to his Crown and Dignity, repugnant to the antient Cuſtoms of his Realm, his peoples Liberties, and hurtfull to their fames, ſouls: But this obſtinate head-ſtrong Biſhop ſlighting the Kings Writs, and proceeding in theſe his illegal Vifitations and Inquiſitions notwithſtanding; the King and his Counſil upon new complaints the next year, (Anno 31 H. 3.) iſſued forth new Prohibitions to all Sheriffs within the Dioceſſe of Lincoln, thus recorded in the Clauſe Rolls in the Tower.
MAndatum eſt Uicecomiti Lincolniae, quod non permittat quod Clauſ. 31 H. 3. m. 1…. dorſo.aliqui Laici in Balliva ſua, ad vocationem Lincoln. Epiſcopi, Archidiaconorum vel Officialium eorum, ſeu Decanorum ruralium in aliquo loco conveniant de caetero AD ALIQUAS RECOGNITIONES PER SACRAMENTUM EORUM, VEL ATTESTATIONES ALIQUAS FACIENDAS, niſi in cauſis Matrimonialibus vel Teſtamentariis tantum. Teſte, &c.
Eodem modo ſcribitur omnibus Uicecomitibus Epiſcopatus Lincoln.
Eodem quoque anno (as Matthew Paris relates) Dominus Rex Anglorum, exemplumMat. Paris, p. 705. Nova Statura Regis Angliae. accipiens ab illis Baronibus, qui ſua ſtatuta ſanxerunt in Francia, quibus et Dominus Francorum favorem jam praebuit, et ſigillum appoſuit; ad inſatiabilem Romanae Curiae in parte ad praeſens cupiditatem refraenandam, conſtituit in Anglia inviolabiliter obſervanda haec. Lites de fidei laeſione et perjurio prohibentur a Rege, quando ſuper his conveniuntur Laici coram Iudice Eccleſiaſtico. Prohibetur Eccleſiaſticus Iudex tractare omnes cauſas contra Laicos, niſi ſint de Nota.Matrimonio vel Teſtamento. Item, de novo praeſcribit Rex, certam formam Epiſcopis de Bastardia; utrum ſcilicet ante Matrimonium contractum, vel poſt nati ſint? Prohibentur Clerici per Breve Regis, inſtituere actiones ſuas coram Iudice Eccleſiaſtico ſuper decimis; et appellatur illud Breve, Indicavit. De Sacramentis quae exiguntur a Clericis coram Iuſtitiariis Regis praeſtandis, quia dicuntur proceſſiſſe in cauſis contra Prohibitionem Regiam; cum jurare non teneantur Clerici, niſi coram Iudice Eccleſiaſtico, maxime in cauſis ſpiritualibus. Item, de Clericis quos miniſtri Regis capiunt, propter famam quae a Laicis eis imponitur.
The Biſhop of Lincoln, notwithſtanding the former Prohibitions, and theſe new Statutes, proceeding in theſe his illegal Inquiſitions and Oathes, in high contempt of the Kings Crown and Dignity, and compelling men and women by Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures to appear and take his new deviſed Oathes againſt their wills; the King thereupon iſſued out new Writs to the Sheriff of Lincoln to attach the Biſhop, and enforce him to put in good bayle and ſureties to appear before the King to anſwer this contempt, as theſe Records atteſt.
REX Vicecomiti Lincolniae, ſalutem. Pone per Uadium et ſalvos Clauſ. 33 H. 3. m. 11. dorſo. See Raſtals Abridgement of Statutes, Prohibition 5. See Cooks 12 Reports, p. 26.Plegios R. Lincoln. Epiſcopum, quod ſit coram Nobis in Octab. Sanctae Trinitatis, ubicunque tunc fuerimus in Anglia, oſtenſurus, quare fecit ſummoneri, et per Cenſuram Eccleſiaſticam diſtringi Laicos homines et Laicas foeminas ad comparendum coram eo, et ad praeſtandum jucamentum pro voluntate ſua, ipſis invitis, et in grave praejudicium Coronae noſtrae et Regiae Dignitatis, necnon et magnam laeſionem Regni noſtri. Et habeas ibi nomina Plegiorum, et hoc Breve. Teſte Rege apud Wistm. ſecundo die Maii.
REX Vicecomiti Lincolniae, ſalutem. Pone per Uadium et ſalvos Plegios R. Lincoln. Epiſcopum, quod ſit coram Nobis in Octab. Sanctae Trinitatis, ubicunque, &c. oſtenſurus, quare pro voluntate ſua diſtringit Laicas perſonas ſuae Dioc. ad jurandum, eis invitis, in grave praejudicium Coronae et Dignitatis noſtrae, et contra Conſuetudinem Regni noſtri. Et habeas, &c. Teſte, &c.
(Anno 35 Henr. 3.) The Biſhop of Worcester, by the Biſhop of Lincolns encouragement, in his Viſitations and Conſiſtories by himſelf and his Officers, ſummoned Lay perſons, as well Villains as Freemen, to take an Oath of Inquiry upon Articles at his own pleaſure, without the Kings ſpecial command, againſt the Cuſtom of the Realm, and his Royal Dignity, which Innovation cauſed great ſcandal and raiſed a ſchiſm among the people; whereupon the King iſſued the like Writs to the Sheriffs of Glouceſter and Worceſter, (as he formerly did to the Sheriff of Lincoln and others, An. 30 & 31 H. 3.)
REX Vic. Glouc. ſalutem. Audivimus, quod W. W…gornienſis Epiſcopus Clauſ. 35 H. 3. m. 6. dorſo. See the Regiſter of Writs, part 2. f. 36. Fitzherbert. Nat. Brev. f. 41. a. Raſtals Abridgement of Statutes, Prohibition 5.tranſeundo per ſuam Dioc. vel Clericos ſuos ſpecialiter deſtinando, compellit tam Liberos quam Uillanos, ad praeſtandum Sacramentum ſine mandato noſtro ſpeciali, ſuper Inquiſitione pro voluntate ſua fac. contra Conſuetudinem et Regiae Dignitatis excellentiam: Et quia ex hoc ſcandalum magnum et ſchiſma in plebe generatur; Tibi praecipimus, quod nullum Laicum de caetero coram eodem Epiſcopo vel Clericis ſuis comparere permittas ob cauſam memoratam, ita quod inde diligentia tua merito valeat commendari.
Teſte Rege apud Westm. 14. die Auguſti. Per ipſum Regem. Eodem modo mandatum eſt Uic. Wygorn. Teſte, &c.
The Bp. of Lincoln and his Officers, notwithſtanding the former Writs, ſtill vexing thoſe of his Dioceſs, as well Noble as Ignoble, citing many poor Husbandmen from place to place, and Excommunicating them for not appearing, ſo as they could not attend their Husbandry and Temporal affaires, to their great impoveriſhing & vexation; and likewiſe compelling them to inquire & give teſtimony upon Oath of the private ſins of others, whereby many were defamed, and might eaſily incurre the danger of perjury; The King upon the general complaint of his Subjects againſt theſe grievances and Innovations, An. 36 H. 3. ſent this memorable Prohibition to the Biſhop himſelf, commanding him from thenceforth to deſiſt from theſe Citations and Vexations newly invented, againſt the long Cuſtom of the Realm, bringing a double dammage to his Subjects, which he neither would nor could any longer endure, without putting his Royal hands to redreſſe them, and puniſh him for his contumacy.