Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 211 – Document 221
HENRICUS Dei Gratiâ, &c. Dunelmenſi Epiſcopo ſalutem. Non poſſumus Literae Regis Angliae ad Epiſcopum Dunelmenſem.non mirari ſuper eò, quod cum ſemel & ſecundò vos affectione plena rogaverimus, ut à vexatione dilecti nobis in Chriſto Prioris Thinemua deſiſtatis, qui, ſicut noſtis, ſub protectione & defenſione noſtra militat ſpeciali, precibus noſtris pro ipſo porrectis, condeſcendere minimè curaviſtis, nolentes ad animum revocare, quod pro honore veſtro, vobis detulimus in hac parte; credentes firmiter & ſperantes, quod veſtrae diſcretionis benignitas vos ad hoc gratis faciendum induceret, quod per legem Regni noſtri, et Regiam poteſtatem vos facere oportebit. Ʋt autem vobis liqueat manifeſtè quod vobis hucuſquè in facto iſto volumus deferre; tertiò Paternitatis veſtrae dilectionem duximus attentius implorandam, quatenus intuitu precum noſtrarum et ob reverentiam quam Principi veſtro debetis impendere, averia ſive bona dicti Prioris, quae contra legem terrae coepiſtis, & detinetis injuſtè, quod per Libertates ſuas, quas habet per Chartas Praedeceſſorum noſtrorum Regum Angliae, & maximè per Chartam Richard… Regis avunculi noſtri, apertè poterit comprobari, & quibus temporibus praedeceſſorum noſtrorum liberè uſi fuerunt, deliberari, abſque morae diſpendio faciatis; Scituri pro certo quod niſi infra octavas Sancti Hillarii proximo futuras, has preces noſtras plen… effectui duxeritis mancipandas, quantumcunque vobis detulerimus, & de jure deferre vellemus, Nos extunc, non obſtante libertate veſtra, cujus praetextu injurias veſtras aliis illatas, ſine correctione Regiae dignitatis, non debemus nec poſſumus ſuſtinere, praedicta averia deliberari, et damna eidem Priori reſtitui, quae injuriae veſtrae occaſione ſuſtinuit, et de vobis plenam faciamus juſtitiam exhiberi. Teſte meipſo, &c. Patet igitur per praedicta, quod injuriatum eſt enormiter dicto Priori & Conventui ſuo, qui gaudet eiſdem privilegiis & liberatibus quibus & Eccleſia beati Albani, cui collatum eſt, quicquid fas eſt conferri alicui Abbati, in ſpiritualibus à Summo Pontifice, & à piiſſimis fundatore ejus Offa, & aliis Regibus Angliae, in temporalibus, quicquid Regia poteſtas potuit exhiberi, which Liberties he there recites at large.
You have formerly heard the Popes intollerable Extortions exerciſed by his counterfeit* Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 729, 73…. Mat Weſt…. Anno 1248. …ox Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. Gravamina diatim Ang…iae à Curia Romana illata. Nuncioes, Freers, Harpies, Bulls in England and elſewhere, with the Oppoſitions Complaints againſt them, An. 1247. which notwithſtanding he vigorouſly and impudently proſecuted, Anno 1248. (32 H. 3.) as Matthew Paris and others thus relate.
Eodem Anno, multiplicata ſunt cum augmento gravamina multipliciter excogitata, quae a Romana Curia in Regnum diatim Angliae miſerae profluxerunt. Praeter anguſtiam & ſervitutem inſolitam, eo quod ſuſpendebantur Praelati a collatione beneficiorum, donec Romanae avaritiae ſatisfactum eſſet, nec contra hoc reclamavit Reguli puſillanimitas, pullularunt quotidie novarum oppreſsionum germina deteſtanda. Et ſi non omnia gravamina quia difficile eſset, imo impoſsibile, deſcribere, aliqua tamen, ut doleant inſpectores, et dolentes Deo conquerantur, et eo quandoque propitio liberentur, huic opuſculo duximus inſerenda, ut omnibus pateat Angliae miſeranda miſeria, quae bonis rectoribus, et tutoribus proh dolor, viduatur. Abbas Abenduniae a Domino Papa mandatum acceperat, de proviſione cuidam Romano ſine morae diſpendio facienda. Romanus autem ille, non quamcunque volens Eccleſiam accipere, ſed opimam, e…pectavit ſub ſilentio diſſimulans, donec quaedam vacabat Eccleſia nobilis & opulenta, ſcilicet Eccleſia beatae Helenae in Villa Abendunenſi, quae ad Centum Marcas aeſtimatur, omni referta commodo, utpote in Burgo, qui Coenobio ſubjacet memorato. Confeſtim…gitur iſtam exegit ille Romanus, qui diu ſiluerat, & inſtanter poſtulavit ſibi authoritate conferri Apoſtolica. Eadem autem die qua vacaverat Eccleſia, urgentiſsimum accepit Abbas a Domino Rege mandatum, minis, conjunctis precibus contextum, ut et ipſam Eccleſiam conferret fratri ſuo uterino Aethelmaro, licet idem Aethelmarus jam tot abundaret Eccleſiiis et redditibus, quod nec miramur, ſi numerum eorundem ignoret et valorem. Abbas igitur circumplexus, & quaſi inter duas molas …rcumvolventibus molaribus conſtitutus, quaſi contritus, conſuluit ſuper hoc Conventum & amicos fideles & diſcretos, qui reſponderunt; Durum patet utrobique, veruntamen ſi Dominus Rex velit vos ab impetu Papali protegere, tolerabilius arbitramur, illum Eccleſiam conferre ipſi fratri Regis Domini Principis ac Patroni veſtri, quam illi Romano qui vobis ſemper vicinus fieret inſidiator vigil ac perſecutor indefeſſus, & quaſi ſemper ſpina in oculo. Significatum eſt igitur iſtud Domino Regi tempeſtivè, cui Dominus Rex indubitatam promiſit cum omnimoda protectione, & indemnitate protectionem. Hisigitur dictis confidens fallacibus Abbas, dicto Aethelmaro ad Regis contulit ſupplicationem. Romanus igitur iratus valde, confeſtim Papam adiit, et eidem rei ſeriem cum augmento provocationis plenius enarravit, graviter conquerendo. Citavit igitur Dominus Papa ipſum Abba em, ut perſonaliter coram eo apareret, de inobedientiae offenſa reſponſurus. Abbas igitur Domini Regis omni deſtitutus conſolationis auxilio ſuper hoc crebrius requiſito, Romanam ſenex et valetudinarius Curiam adiit, in multa mentis triſtitia, pavore, et amaritudine. Vbi tandem poſt multas anguſtias et expenſas non modicas, dicto Romano ad arbitrium Papae ſatisfecit annuas quinquaginta Marcas de Camera ſua, in magnum ſuae Eccleſiae laeſionem conferendo.
Anno quoque ſub eodem Abbate Sancti Aedmundi ſublato de medio, Rex poſtpoſitoAliud enorme gravamen Papale. Dei & S. Martyris timore & reverentia, quem ſpecialiter teneretur cauſa multiplici venerari, a domo illla vacarite tantam recepit pecuniam, quod videretur viſcera miſericordiae penitus amiſiſſe, nam abſque Ballivorum Regiorum ſtipendio mille et ducentas Marcas inde extorſit truculenter. Cum igitur alium fratres in loco Abbatis ſubſtituendum eligiſſent jam defuncti, quoſdam de fratribus propter confitmationem ejuſdem, ad Curiam Roman…m deſtin…runt. Facta igitur ſuper hoc examinatione cavillatoria, reprobata eſt electio et electus, ut in retiacula immiſericordis miſericordiae ſic incideret reprobatus. Et cum Monachi triſtes receſſiſſent & verecundi, revocavit eos Dominus Papa, dicens, Cum miſeri miſericordia indigeant, ex mera gratia noſtra, vobis ad praeſens, ne confundamini, ipſum Electum concedimus, illi ipſum coenobium beati Aedmundi liberè ac liberaliter conferendo. Veruntamen reſpiciat in Octingentis Marcis, et reſpondeat illi Mercatori quem illi aſsignabimus, cui in tantum obligamur. Et ſic Monachi receſſerunt illaqueati: Qui tot laceſſiti injuriis & gravaminibus inconſolabiliter doluerunt, & unus eorum ante receſſum à Curia apud Lugdunum mortuus eſt, alter apud Doveram rediens à Curia illa non curiali, viam univerſae carnis, non ſine mentis amaritudine eſt ingreſſus. Whereupon he thus concludes this years affairs,
Tranſiit igitur annus ille aere temperatus & ſerenus, &c. Italiae inimicus, Alemanniae* Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 731, 732. lethifer, Angliae adverſdrius, Franciae exitialis. Et ut brevibus concludam, iu omni ferè regione Chriſtianorum, theſaurorum conſumptivus, Mundi finis multiplicibus argumentis indicativus. Ʋt ſunt, ſurget gens contra gentem, & terrae motus erant per loca, (there being two Earthquakes in England, and one in Savoy) & conſimilia. Praecipue autem Romanae Curiae infamis, peſtifer, et pernicioſus, iraeque divinae manifeſte comminatorius.
An. 32 H. 3. An Official held Plea of Layfee in Court Chriſtian, and after the KingsAnno 32 H. 3. Writ of Prohibition and an Attachment for diſobeying it, excommunicated the party, who was therupon impriſoned by a Capias Excommunicatum; the King upon information of this practice and contempt, for the defence of his own Prerogative and his Subjects Liberties, granted a Writ to enlarge the priſoner, till the cauſe ſhould be heard and determined in his Temporal Court, as this Writ doth evidence.
OStenſum eſt Regi ex parte Ceciliae quae fuit uxor Elyae Piſcatoris, quod cum eademClauſ. 32 H. 3 do…ſ. 14. Pro Cecilia quae fuit uxore Elyae Piſcatoris. Cecilia detuliſſet Official. Epiſcopi Winton▪ ſicut Judici, & Drogoni le Tanur, & Haghenild uxori ejus, qui ipſam Ceciliam traxerant in cauſam in Curia Chriſtianitatis, coram eodem Officiali, Literas de Prohibitone, ne implacitaretur de Laico feodo ſuo in Curia Chriſtianitatis, & poſtea cum non ducerent deferendū prohibitioni Regis, detuliſſet Vic. Sutht. breve Regis de ipſis attachiandis, ſicut Legis et conſuetudinis eſt Regni, eandem Ceciliam ante diem ſibi aſſignatum de proſequendo inde verſus ipſos in Curia Regis, tanquam excommunicatam, de praecepto Regis capi procuraret, & in priſona Regis Winton. detineri; & Mandatum eſt Vic. Sutht. quod ſi ita eſt, ipſam Ceciliam à praedicta priſona ſtatim deliberet, …c eam eadem occaſione capi iterato, donec pr…ictum placitum terminetur in Curia Regis. Teſte Rege apud Weſtm. 20 die Jan.
If any perſon attempted to draw the Kings Subjects into Plea in any Court out of the Realm, againſt the Kings Priviledge and Subjects Liberty, the King granted a Superſedeas and Prohibition thereupon, as this Record enſuing atteſts.
REX J. Sarac. Decano Wellen. ſalutem. Mandamus vobis rogantes, quatenus inClauſ. 32 H. 3. memb. 12. dorſ. cognitione cauſae vobis commiſſae à Domino Papa ſuper medietate Eccleſiae de Denecaſtr. ſuperſedeatis ex toto uſque in Quindenam Paſchae▪ Ita quod nullo modo cauſam illam remittatis ad Curiam, veniendo ſic contra *It was the Kings antient prerogative, only ratified by the Popes new grant.privilegium a ſede Apoſtolica nobis indultum, Ne quis de regno noſtro trahatur in cauſam extra Regnum Angliae. Ita vos habentes in hoc facto, quod neque nos ejuſdem privilegii noſtri, neque dilectus Clericus noſter Magiſter R. de Neketon Juris ſui quod habet in medietate praedictae Eccleſiae in aliquo per vos ſentiamus laeſionem. Teſte Rege apud Sanctum Edmundum 9. die Octobris.
The Pope at Archbiſhop *See here, p. 683, 684, 685.Boniface his requeſt. granted him in Ayde of his Church of Canterbury one years fruits of every Church belonging to the Donation of Lay-Patrons when it ſhould fall voyd, which though the Biſhops and Clergy were enforced by the Popes and Archbiſhops cenſure to ſubmit to againſt their wills, yet the Nobles in Parliament would by no means aſſent thereto; wherupon the King iſſued this memorable Prohibition to hinder this illegal Ayde, and the Collection thereof, notwithſtanding the Popes Bull.
REX W. Norwicenſi Epiſcopo ſalutem. Quia Magnates terrae noſtrae Clauſ. 32 H. 3. m. 12. dorſo.noluerunt in ultimo Parliamento noſtro quod fuit London. ut de Eccleſiiis ad donationem Laicorum ſpectantibus darentur unius anni fructus cum eas vacare contingeret, in Eccleſiae Cantuarienſis ſubſidium ab Apoſtolica ſede conceſſum, aliquatenus conſentire. Vobis mandamus prohibentes diſtricte, ne ab hujuſmodi Eccleſiis cum vacaverint, vel quae poſt conceſſam praefatae Eccleſiae indulgentiam vacaverunt, occaſione alicujus mandati fructus exigatis praedictos, vel earum Rectores ad conferendum dictum Subſidium compellatis, donec cum praedictis Magnatibus, ſine quibus ſuper hoc nichil volumus attemptare, colloquium habuerimus iteratum. Teſte, &c.
The Biſhop of Chicheſter having ſequeſtred and locked up the barnes of a Clerk, thereby to extort this Ayde of one years fruits to the Archbiſhops uſe, the King thereupon iſſued this Writ to him to take off his locks, that ſo he might freely diſpoſe of his corn, and barns, elſe he would command the Sheriff of the County to unlock them, and to permit him the free diſpoſition thereof.
REX rogavit R. Cyceſtrenſem Epiſcopum, quod ſeras ſuas quas apponi fecit Cl. 32 H. 3. m. 12. doiſo.*horreis.orreis Wyberti de Kanc. de Gynnington, pro eo quod ſructus unjus Anni Eccleſiae ſuae ad opus Cantuarienſis Archiepiſcopi nititur extorquere, deponat, et eidem Wyberto de Bladis et Orreis ſuis liberam habere faciat adminiſtrationem: quod ſi forte, quod abſit, facere noluerit, Vic. Suſsex ſeras▪ illas deponat, et liberam adminiſtrationem iude ipſum Wybertum habere permittat. Teſte ut ſupra.
The Dean and Chapter of Clon. in Ireland electing Frier Daniel for their Biſhop▪ refuſed to preſent him to the King after his election, to approve, or diſapprove of him, according to uſual cuſtom, and by the Popes concurrence proceeded to his conſecration, without the Kings licenſe, to the prejudice of his royal Dignity; the King hereupon refuſed to reſtore the Temporalties to him, till at laſt upon the mediation of ſome great and religious men, he reſtored them by this Writ, upon condition, that the Biſhop, Dean and Chapter ſhould put in ſecurity by their Letters Patents, from thenceforth not to make any election▪ without firſt obtaining the Kings licenſe, and that after the election made, they ſhould preſent the perſon elected to him and his heirs for their approbation; as this Writ atteſts.
REX Juſti…. Hyberniae ſalutem. Licet Decanus & Capitulum Clonen. poſtClauſ. 32 H. 3. memb. 6. dorſo. electionem de fratre Daniele in ſuum Epiſcopum & Paſtorem …a…tam, eundem Electum, prout moris eſt, nobis, ut ei noſtrum aſſenſum impertiri vel denegare poſſumus, praeſentare renuerint, ad ejus conſecrationem noſtro non optento favore, ex mandato Apoſtolico, in Regiae dignitatis praejudicium procedentes; quia tamen magni & religioſi viri pro eodem Epiſcopo nobis instantiſſimè ſupplicarunt; Vobis mandamus, quatinus accepta ſecuritate per Literas Patentes ſignatas ſigillis eorum Epiſcopi, Decani & Capituli, quod ad electionem hujuſmodi faciendam fine noſtra licentia petita de caetero non procedent, et quod perſonam Electi poſt electionem factam ante ipſius conſecrationem nobis, vel noſtris haeredibus praeſentabunt, praedicto Epiſcopo de terris et tenementis et omnibus aliis ad praedictum Epiſcopatum ſpectantibus ſine motae diſpendio plenam ſeiſinam habere fac. Teſte apud R…ſenb…rgh▪ ſecundo die Julii.
The King being informed, that certain perſons intended forcibly to ſpo…l the Church of Dadington of a Meadow belonging to it, iſſued this Writ to the Sheriff of Northt. to prohibit the force, and to maintain and hold the Clerk in poſſeſſion thereof, ſo far as he could do it with juſtice.
DAtum est Regi intelligi, quod quidam intendunt ſpoliare Eccleſiam Aymari fratrisClauſ. 32 H. 3. memb. 8. doiſo. R. de Dadinton, quodam Prato ad eandem Eccleſiam ſuam pertinente. Et Mandatum est Vicecomiti Northt. quod nullam vim fieri permittat quo mi…s eadem Eccleſia gaudeat poſſeſſione ſua ejuſdem Prati: Imo ipſum fratrem R. & ſuos in eadem poſſeſsione, quantum cum Iuſtitia poterit, manuteneat et defendat. Teste Rege apud Winton. 4. die Julii.
King Henry by his Eccleſiaſtical Prerogative ſent this Mandate to the Sheriffs of Yorke and Nottingham, to permit the Dean and Chapter of St. Peters in Yorke to enjoy all their Liberties granted them by the Charters of his Predeceſſors Kings of England, uſed till that day; yet ſo, as by pretext thereof none of the Rights or Liberties of his Crown whereof he was ſeiſed, ſhould be thereby impaired or medled with.Clauſ. 32 H. 3. m. 12. intus. Pro Decano & Capitulo Sancti Pet… Eborum.
MAndatum eſt Vicecomiti Eborum, quod permittat Decanum & Capitulum Sancti Petri Eborum, ut omnibus libertatibus ſuis conceſſis eis per Chartas praedeceſſorum noſtrorum Regum Angliae, quibus libertatibus uſque in hodiernum diem uſi ſunt; Ita tamen quod de Iure vel Libertatibus Regis quorum Rex extiterit in ſeiſina uſque in diem praeſentem, occaſione Eartarum praedictarum nichil eis dimittat. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſt. 16 die Februarii.
Eodem modo ſcribitur Vic. Notinghamiae, de Libertatibus praedictis. Teſte ut ſupra.
The Kings Juſtices in Eyre proceeding againſt the Archdeacon of Lincolne for proſecuting a ſuit in the Court Chriſtian, contrary to the Kings Prohibition, againſt the Abbot of Tinterne, procured this reſpite, till conference had with the King on a ſet day.
MAndatum eſt H. de Bathonia, & Sociis ſuis Justiciariis Itinerantibus in ComitatuCl. 32 H. 3. m. 12. Pro Ar. chid. Lincoln. Eſſex, quod demandam quam fieri faciunt Magiſtro Willielmo Lupo Archidiacono Linc. de proceſſu Cauſae in Curia Christianitatis inter ipſum Archid. & Abbatem & Conventum de Tinterne, contra prohibitionem Regis, ponant in reſpectum; uſque ad colloquium Regis, quod erit in Quindena Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptiſtae. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſterium 19 die Februarii.
The Canons of Pauls having committed a contempt againſt the King, he thereupon iſſued this Writ to the Sheriffs of London, to ſeiſe all their Beaſts and chattels, and not to deliver them without the Kings ſpecial precept.
MAndatum eſt Vicecomitibus London, quod omnia averia & catalla CanonicorumClauſ. 32 H. 3. memb. 14. dorſo Sancti Pauli London, in Balliva ſua inventa, capi faciant, et ea non deltherent ſine ſpeciali praecepto Regis. Teſte meipſo apud Weſtmonaſterium 4. die Januarii.
Some differences happening between the Sheriff of Cambridge and Biſhop of Ely concerning the Conuſance of Pleas and Liberties in the Iſle of Ely, the King iſſued this Writ to the Sheriff, not to hold any Plea in his County Court, of things uſually held within the Biſhops Liberty, during his own and his Anceſtors Reigns.
MAndatum eſt Vicecomiti Cantabrigiae, quod non teneat aliquod placitum in ComitatuClauſ. 3. H 3. m 14. dorſo. ſuo, quod teneri debet & ſolet in Inſula Elyenſi infra Libertatem H. Elyenſis Epiſcopi, aliter quam teneri conſuevit tempore Regis & temporibus Praedeceſſorum ſuorum Regum Angliae. Teſte ut ſupra.
Pope Innocent ſeemingly (but not really) to gratifie King Henry in ſome trivial things, though he turned the deaf ear to other grievances, ſent him this Bull, that no Ordinary, Delegate or Subdelegate, ſhould denounce any ſentence of Excommunication, or Interdict, or impoſe any Tax upon his Royal Chappels, Oratories, or the Canons or Servants belonging to them, againſt their Priviledges formerly granted, without the ſpecial mandate of the See Apoſtolick.