Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 369 – Document 380

Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3 · Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 2 · Document 369 – Document 380

p. 830Such were the bold encroachments of the Biſhops, Deans, Chapters, and their Officers then, as to draw moſt temporal Officers into their Courts, and there vex and excommunicate them, for executing their Offices upon any Clerk, Prelate, or their Tenants, Tenements; and to hold Plea of Lands and Goods, not belonging to their Juriſdiction, but the Kings Courts; and invade the Rights of the Kings Crown, the Kingdoms and Subjects Liberties in ſundry particulars, in a very high degree; which intollerable grievances, in high affront to the Kings Crown and dignity, obſtructing the execution of publick Juſtice, tending to make Prelates, Clergymen lawleſſe, and all Laymen meer ſlaves to their Lordly wills, and exorbitant Courts, theſe Prohibitions timely prevented, and checked in ſome meaſure; witneſſe this memorable complaint of the Mayor and Citizens of York, againſt the Dean and Chapter of St. Peters of York, and this memorable Prohibition iſſued thereupon, wherein their intollerable Uſurpations in ſundry kinds upon the Kings Rights, Royal Authority, Officers, Courts, and proud preſumption in Excommunicating the Mayor and Citizens, tendring an illegal Oath unto them de parendo jure Eccleſiaſtico, are particularly recited, ſeverely prohibited; and their obſtinate contemptuous perſiſting in theſe their Uſurpations and Extravagancies, notwithſtanding the Kings Prohibitions, fully diſplayed.

REX Decano & Capitulo Sancti Petri Eborum, ſalutem. Ex querelis Majoris &Clauſ. 39 H. 3. m. 17. dorſo. De querela Civium Eborum verſus Archiepiſc. Eborum. Civium noſtrorum Eborum frequenter intelleximus, quod uſurpaſtis vobis placita de Laicis feodis, et de catallis et debitis quae non ſunt de Teſtamento vel Matrimonio, et alia jura et libertates in praedicta Civitate ad Majorem et Ballivos noſtros ejuſdem Civitatis ſpectantes: Nec permittitis cuſtodes menſurarum noſtrarum in eadem Civitate probare menſuras in terris quas dicitis eſſe veſtras, nec eas ſigno noſtro ſignare, ſed ſigno adulterino eas facitis ſignari. Item non permittitis eoſdem Cives capere nomina hominum veſtrorum pro debitis ſuis, ſecundum tenorem Chartae noſtrae quam inde habent, in qua nec homines veſtri, nec alii excipiuntur. Item appropriaſtis vobis homines noſtros, et omnia placita eorum tenetis Nota.in Curia veſtra, vi excommunicationis, ratione terrarum in quibus manent; nec permittitis Ballivos noſtros praedictae Civitatis ingredi terras quas dicitis eſſe veſtras, licet non ſint, ad debita noſtra levanda, nec ad latrones ſeu malefactores capiendos vel arreſtandos, ſed ſi terras veſtras ad hoc ſine licentia veſtra ingrediantur, vel gravaminibus praedictis, pro jure noſtro ſalvando ſe oppoſuerint, ſtatim in eos aſſenſu noſtro irrequiſito, de emendis faciendis ſententiam Excommunicationis promulgari facitis, (the Popes, Prelates, Clergymens grand, intollerably prophaned, abuſed engine, to oppreſſe, vex, ſuppreſſe, enſlave both Emperors, Kings, Kingdoms, Subjects of all ſorts, and wreck their malice or revenge upon them:) nec eam pro aliquo mandato noſtro relaxare curatis, niſi praeſtito Sacramento de parendo jure Eccleſiaſtico, Nota.(an abuſe, uſurpation ſince practiſed by ſuch Courts, perſons, to the Subjects grand oppreſſion) Cum igitur praemiſſa in jurium noſtrorum praejudicium non modicum, et dignitatis Regiae maximam cedant laeſionem, (let all Prelates, perſons guilty of ſuch exorbitances well obſerve it) et per Literas noſtras frequenter requiſiti fueritis, quod ab hujuſmodi exactionibus et uſurpationibus deſiſteritis; Vos iterato monendos duximus, et exortandos mandantes, quatenus Majorem et Ballivos et Cives praedictos, imo nos juribus et libertatibus prius uſitatis p. 831in Civitate praedicta gaudere pacifice permittentes, de caetero nihil attemptetis, quod in jurium noſtrorum cedat praejudicium, ſententiam Excommunicationis ſi quam in Ballivos vel Cives praedictos occaſione praedicta promulgari feceritis, ſine dilatione revocantes: Scituri indubitanter, quod niſi feceritis, diutius ſuſtinere non poterimus, ſicut nec debemus; quin de tantis exceſſibus et injuriis nobis illatis, quae non ſolum in exhaeredationem noſtram, ſed etiam in dedecus noſtrum et opprobrium redundant, (mark it well) graviſſimam vindictam qualem debebimus capiemus: (a juſt, royal, heroick, neceſſary reſolution.) Injunximus etiam Majori et Ballivis praedictis, quod jura et libertates noſtras illaeſas pro poſſe ſuo conſervent, et firmiter ex parte noſtra **Here p. 699, 704, 705▪inhiberi faciant, ne aliqui de Civitate praedicta coram vobis compareant in Curia veſtra, ad reſpondendum de aliquibus pertinentibus ad Coronam et dignitatem noſtram. Teſte Rege apud Weſtm. 19 die Februarii.

Eodem modo mandatum eſt Abbati Sanctae Mariae Eborum, & Priori Sanctae Trinitatis, & Magiſtro Hoſpitalis Sancti Leonardi Eborum, eo excepto, quod in Literis iſtis nulla fit mentio de ſententia Excommunicationis lata in Majorem, Cives & Ballivos ejuſdem Civitatis. Nec quod praedicti Abbas, Prior & Magiſter alias requiſiti fuerint per Literas Regis, quod ab hujuſmodi exactionibus deſiſterent. Teſte ut ſupra.

Thoſe Prohibitions were ſeconded with theſe enſuing of like nature, upon the complaints of particular perſons unjuſtly proſecuted in the Courts Chriſtian at York, for Chattels and Debts, not in caſes of Matrimony or Teſtament, to the prejudice of the Kings Crown and Dignity.

REX Decano & **PraecentoriPraeceptori S. Petri Eborum, & eorum Commiſſariis, ſalutem.Clauſ. 39 H. 3, m. 17. dorſo. De Prohibitione. Prohibemus vobis ne teneatis placitum in Curia Chriſtianitatis de Catallis vel Debitis unde Walterus de Rudham Clericus, ſicut ex relatu quorundam fidelium noſtrorum intelleximus, trahitur in placitum coram vobis in Curia Chriſtianitatis authoritate Literarum Domini Papae, per Abbatem et Conventum de Fontibus, niſi Catalla illa vel Debita ſint de Teſtamento vel Matrimonio, quia placita de Catallis et Debitis quae non ſunt de Teſtamento vel Matrimonio, ſpectant ad Coronam et dignitatem noſtram: inhibuimus etiam praedicto Waltero ne in Curia Chriſtianitatis ſuper hujuſmodi Catallis vel Debitis examen Eccleſiaſticum in juris et dignitatis Regiae praejudicium aliquatenus ſubire praeſumat.

Eodem modo ſcribitur Abbati & Conventui de Fontibus.

By which ſeveral Writs it is moſt apparent, that there was a ſtrong combination and endeavour at this time between the Biſhops, Abbots, Deans, Chapters, and others who had Eccleſiaſtical Courts and Juriſdiction, and the Court of Rome, to uſurpe and engroſſe the cogniſance of moſt Temporal cauſes concerning Lands or Goods (eſpecially of Clergymen and Religious perſons) into their own hands, and to trample the Kings Temporal Courts, Officers, Crown, Dignity, and Lay-Subjects under their feet; which they unanimouſly and ſtrenuouſly oppoſed, and endeavoured to prevent by the precedent, and theſe ſubſequent Prohibitions to them, in the caſe of the Monks of Winton, who ſuing the Biſhop elect of Winton in the Court of Rome, and before the Popes Delegates, touching the propriety of the Mannour of Taunton, and other Lands held immediately of the King, moving from him, and part of the Barony of the Biſhop, to the prejudice of the Kings Crown and dignity, whereof neither the Pope nor any Court Chriſtian had or ought to have any cogniſance or juriſdiction, but only himſelf and his own Courts, the King thereupon iſſued this memorable Prohibition to the Biſhop, not to appear or anſwer p. 832to any ſuch Suit before the Pope, or in any Court Chriſtian, under pain of ſeiſing his Temporalties, being contrary to his Oath of Fealty to the King, and to the prejudice both of his Crown and Realm.

REX A. Winton. electo, ſalutem. Intelleximus ex relatu quorundam fideliumPat. 39 H. 3. m. 4. dorſo. De Prohibitione. noſtrorum, quod Monachi Winton. vos ſuper Manerio de Taunton, & quibuſdam aliis quae de nobis immediatè tenetis, & quae à nobis indubitanter movere noſcuntur, coram Domino Papa vel auditoribus ſuis in Curia Romana trahunt in cauſam, et ſuper proprietate Maneriorum ipſorum ſibi cum inſtantia a vobis poſtulant reſponderi. Quia vero ad nos tanquam ad Dominum principalem cognitio praedictorum, ſicut et aliorum feodalium Regni noſtri, indubitanter noſcitur pertinere, vobis ſub debito fidelitatis in qua nobis tenemini, et ſub poena animadverſionis debitae et condignae, in temporalia et feodalia quae de nobis tenetis, diſtrictius inhibemus, ne de praedictis in foro Eccleſiaſtico, ſeu coram alio quam coram nobis, in noſtrum et Regni noſtri praejudicium et gravamen, aliquatenus reſpondere praeſumatis, praeſertim cum hoc ſine tranſgreſſione Iuramenti quo nobis tenemini facere non poſſitis, ſicut nec debetis: Pro certo tenentes, quod ſi ſecus egeritis, omittere nec volumus nec valemus, quin nos ad temporalia et feodalia veſtra ſecundum legem et conſuetudinem Regni noſtri capiemus. In cujus, &c. Teſte Rege apud Novum Caſtrum ſuper Tynam, 29 die Auguſti.

The King being further informed, that the Monks of Winton in this Suit between the Biſhop and them, had procured a ſequeſtration of the Temporal goods belonging to the Priory, to the Abbots of Stafford and Boxley, towards the ſatisfaction of the debts of the Priory, and expenſes of the Monks in this Suit, which they intended to execute in derogation of the Rights of his Crown, and contrary to the Law and Cuſtom of the Realm, iſſued this Prohibition to them, not to proceed therein under pain of ſeiſing their Temporalties.

REX Abbatibus de Stafford & de Boxlegh Cistercienſis ordinis, ſalutem. IntelleximusPat. 39 H. 3. m. 9. dorſo. De Prioratu Winton. & miramur plurimum et movemur, quod in cauſa quae vertitur inter venerabilem Patrem electum Winton. ex una parte, & Monachos loci ejuſdem ex altera, Dominus Papa, non intelligens nec advertens qualiter et quantum negotium hujuſmodi nos tangebat, in noſtrum praejudicium et gravamen ordinat vel ordinare proponit, Quod facta ſequeſtratione bonorum Temporalium ad Prioratum Eccleſiae Winton. ſpectantium, vobis eorundem bonorum cuſtodia aſſignetur, de quibus ſecundum quod fieri poterit, fiat ſolutio debitorum, et provideatur Monachis hinc inde ſibi adverſantibus in expenſis, ſicque durante ſequeſtratione hujuſmodi, Prior ibi non exiſteret qui poſſeſſionem Temporalium obtineret. Cum autem Prior Winton. in Curia noſtra certis temporibus ſatisfacere, et multa nobis alia conſueta ſervitia exhibere, et coram nobis et Iuſtitiariis noſtris reſpondere omnibus de ſe conquerentibus teneatur, nec ad haec de conſuetudine Regni noſtri inviolabiliter hactenus obſervata, procuratorem vel atoruatum poſſit conſtituere loco ſuo, niſi praeſens in Curia ipſum conſtitueret viva voce, et quociens in aliquo praedictorum defecerit in amerciamentum noſtrum incidat, et nobis debeat propter hoc certam pecuniae quantitatem, per ordinationem et ſequeſtrationem hujuſmodi, cum non eſſet qui praedicta faceret, nos debitis conſuetudinibus et ſervitiis contingeret defraudari. Praeterea cum bona temporalia p. 833Prioratus praedicti, de Baronia noſtra eſſe et a nobis teneri noſcantur, et non exiſtente ibi Priore ad Epiſcopum Winton. vel ſi Epiſcopus ibi non exiſteret, ad nos bonorum cuſtodia pertineat eorundem, Dominus Papa de bonis ipſis quae de Baronia noſtra exiſtunt, nobis Nota.irrequiſitis in noſtrum praejudicium nihil potuit aut debuit ordinare. Nec aliquid ſine dubio, ut credimus, ordinaſſet ſi veritatem ſuper hoc cognoviſſet, cum nullus alius, ubi nos maxime in juſtitiam non deſicimus, judicare vel ordinare habeat de eiſdem. Vnde vobis mandamus prout diſtrictius poſſumus inhibendo, quatenus ſi Literas forte ſuper hoc receperitis, vos de bonis praedictis donec ſaltem Dominum Papam ſuper hoc conſulueritis, nullatenus intromittere praeſumatis: pro certo tenentes, quod ſi ſecus egeritis, in omnibus et ſingulis conſuetudinibus, juribus et ſervitiis a Priore Winton. nobis debitis quibus propter hoc nos defraudari continget, habebimus quantum diſtricte poterimus, ad vos et bona veſtra recurſum, et vobis ſuper hiis in aliquo non parcemus. Teſte Rege apud Woodſt. 18 die Junii.

He likewiſe as ſupreme Ordinary and Patron of the Monaſtery, to preſerve it from ruine, iſſued this Writ to all Merchants, Citizens and others, not to lend the Monks any money upon their Common Seal, in defence of the Prior juſtly removed, or on any other occaſion.

REX Univerſis Mercatoribus, Civibus, & aliis Chriſti fidelibus, ſalutem. Ad univerſitatemPat. 39 H. 3. m. 14. intus. De Monachis Cathedralis Eccleſiae Winton. veſtram volumus pervenire, & omnibus fieri manifeſtum, quod Monachi Cathedralis Eccleſiae Winton. modum expenſis ſuperfluis non ponentes, & fines largitatis excedentes, terminos prodigalitatis appetentes tantis Eccleſiam ſuam debitis obligaverunt diverſis creditoribus, quod vix ſperatur, iſtis temporibus poſſe ab hujuſmodi debitorum onere ſublevari. Nos igitur, licet obſtandum fuiſſet principiis ne ſcintilla tenuis in flammam proſiliret, deſtructivam tamen dum ſcimus rei ſeriem, et poſſumus, quamvis tarde, eidem Eccleſiae compatientes, et merito cum noſtra interſit, cum ejus patroni ſimus, et noſtri anteceſſores fundatores, ne noſtris temporibus gravem ſui jacturam patiatur, et ipſis mobilia et immobilia ad pios uſus a diverſis conceſſa fidelibus ob culpam eorundem Monachorum propter aes alienum neceſſario diſtrahantur, vobis omnibus praedicta publice nunciamus. Contradicentes et inhibentes, ne Monachis ejuſdem Eccleſiae, vel Willielmo de Taunton, qui juſte ab adminiſtratione Prioratus ejuſdem Eccleſiae eſt amotus, ſi pro Priore ſe gerit, aliquid mutuo ſub ſigillo ejuſdem Capituli, vel alio modo concedatis. Si vero contra hanc inhibitionem noſtram feceritis, hoc ipſo noſtram Regiam Majeſtatem offenderitis, et vobis in repetitione pecuniae eiſdem creditae quibuſcunque modis poterimus opponemus, et etiam in aliis ſi locus affuerit, vobis utpote noſtro Edicto et voluntati contrariis, curabimus ut decebit, pro meritis reſpondere. Teſte Rege apud Weſtm. 5 die Februarii.

The King as founder of the new Priory of Ravenſtone preſented thereunto, and conſtituted a Proctor to ſee it effected, by this Patent.

REX H. Lincolnienſi Epiſcopo, ſalutem. Cum ad Prioratum quem nuper incepimusPat. 39 H. 3. m. 4. dorſo. De Procuratore ſubſtiruto. fundare apud Ravenſtone, fratrem Willielmum de Diviſis, virum vita & moribus commendabilem, Vobis praeſentaverimus, nos Magiſtrum Johannem de Chiſehull ad praeſens negotium procurandum & proſequendum Procuratorem noſtrum conſtituimus. Dantes eidem poteſtatem appellandi & proſequendi nomine noſtro p. 834ſi opus fuerit, & omnia alia facienda quae in praeſentis negotii proſecutione ſibi viſum fuerit expedire. Teſte Rege apud Werk, 9 die Septembris.

The King as ſupreme Patron, Ordinary, and by cuſtome of the Realm, claimed the Palfrye and Cup of every Biſhop or Abbot that was tranſlated or deceaſed, as is evident by this memorable Writ iſſued to the Abbot of Oſeney, demanding the Palfrye and Cup of his predeceſſor to be preſently delivered to the King, or to ſhew cauſe to the contrary.

REX Abbati de Oſeneye, ſalutem. Cum ex conſuetudine approbata & obtentaClauſ. 39 H. 3. m. 11. dorſo De Palfr. & Cuppa Abbatis Oſeney. habere conſueverimus Palefridos & Cuppa… Epiſcoporum & Abbatum Regni cedentium & decedentium: Vobis mandamus ſicut alias mandavimus, quod Palefridum & Cuppam Adae Abbatis praedeceſſoris veſtri, nobis ſine dilatione mittatis. Alioquin ſitis coram nobis in inſtanti media quadrageſima, ubicunque fuerimus in Anglia, oſtenſuri, ſi quod Warrantum habeatis, quare Palefridum illum & Cuppam habere non debeamus. Quia conſuetudinem noſtram in hac parte obtentam nullo modo ſine ratione demittemus. Teſte Rege apud Weſtm. 22. die Febr.

You heard before (p. 808, 809.) of the Popes proffer of the Kingdom of Apulia to our King Henry and his ſon Edward, which he commanded the Biſhop of Hereford and other Clergymen to accept of under their Seals, (thereby to engage them to ſupply him with monies to gain it, and carry on the Wars againſt Conrade and Manfred) as appears by this Patent.

REX Johanni Manſell Praepoſito Beverl. ſalutem. Cum Dominus Papa RegnumPat. 39 H. 3. m. 1. dorſo. De facto Apuliae. Apuliae nobis & dilecto filio noſtro Edmundo duxerit concedendum, & conferendum, quod per Venerabilem Patrem Herefordenſem Epiſcopum, duximus admittendum: Vobis mandamus in fide & dilectione quibus nobis tenemini, & ſicut commodum & honorem noſtrum & noſtrorum affectatis, & ſicut indignationem noſtram & noſtrorum in perpetuum vitare volueritis, illud una cum aliis fidelibus noſtris acceptetis, & reſcripto ſuper ipſa acceptatione confecto ſigillum veſtrum, una cum ſigillis quorundam aliorum fidelium noſtrorum, qui dictam admiſſionem ſimiliter acceptarunt, apponatis. In cujus, &c. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſterium, 18 die Octobris.

The King to promote the buſineſſe of the Croyſado, under pretext to raiſe monies to relieve the Holy Land, but in truth to fill the Popes coffers, and gain the Realm of Apulia and Sicily, which he had (without right or title) conferred on him and his Son, iſſued this Patent to the Provincials of the Freers Preachers and Minors, entreating them to further this affair.

REX rogat per Literas ſuas Priorem Provincialem fratrum Praedicatorum, quodPat. 39 H. 3. m. 4. dorſo. De negotio Crucis. in inſtanti Capitulo ſuo Provinciali diſponat de fratribus, ad praedicandum verbum Crucis (inſtead of the Goſpel of Chriſt) in ſingulis Diocaeſibus, cum per Venerabilem Patrem Norwicen. Epiſcopum negotii Crucis exequutorem, ſuper hoc fuerit requiſitus. Teſte Rege apud Novum Caſtrum ſuper Tynam, 28. die Auguſti.

Et eodem modo rogat Miniſtrum generalem ordinis fratrum Minorum. Teſte ut ſupra.

Yet notwithſtanding he reſpited the levying of this Diſme upon the Priors and Rectors of the Hoſpitals of the poor people and religious perſons within the Dioceſs of Winton, till the next Parliament, by this Patent.

REX Norwicen. & Ciceſteren. Epiſcopis, & Abbati Weſtm. executoribus negotiiPat. 39 H. 3. m. 13. intus. Pro pauperibus Hoſpit. & viris religioſis in Winton. Dioc. Crucis in ſubſidium ſibi à ſede Apoſtolica conceſſum, & eorum Commiſſariis, ſalutem. Mandamus vobis, quod Priores & Rectores pauperum Hoſpitalium, alioſque pauperes viros religioſos Winton. Dioc. pacem habere permittatis de omnibus demandis quas eis facitis occaſione praefatae gratiae nobis conceſſae uſque ad Parliamentum p. 835noſtrum quod erit apud Weſtmonaſterium à die Paſch prox. futur. in tres Septiman. In cujus &c. Teſte Rege apud Westm. 19. die Febr.

He likewiſe reſpited the levying of this Diſme, upon a Clerk then Treaſurer to the Queen, by this Mandate.

MAndatum eſt W. Norwic. Epiſcopo collectori gratiae Regi in ſubſidium Terrae Clauſ. 39 H. 3. m. 8. dorſ. Pro Herefordenſi Epiſcopo.Sanctae à ſede Apoſtolica conceſſae, quod exactionem praedictae gratiae quam facit Magiſtro Jacobo d… Egga alba Theſ. Reginae de proventibus Eccleſiae Sancti Michaelis ſuper Wyram. quae eſt in Cuſtodia P. Hereford. Epiſcopi, qui eſt in ſervitio Regis, & in partibus tranſmarims, ponat in reſpectum quouſque Rex cum praedict. Norwic. Epiſcopo ſuper hoc,—vel aliud à Rege receperit mandatum. Teſte ut ſupra.

The King by his Royall Prerogative granted this protection to the Church of St. Martyns the Grand in London, being his free Chapple.

REX Omnibus &c. Quia Eccleſia Sancti Martini Magni London. quae a praedeceſſoribusPatent: 39. H. 3. m. 13. intus. Pro Eccleſia & Capitulo Sancti Martini Lond, noſtris Regibus Angliae fundata eſt, libera Cappella noſtra eſt, et liberior caeteris Capellis noſtris Angliae, ſuſcepimus in protectionem et defenſionem noſtram homines, terras, redditus et omnes poſſeſsiones Decani Capituli ec Canonicorum Eccleſiae praedictae. Et ideo Vobis Mandamus, quod manuteneatis, protegatis, & defendatis homines, terras res, redditus & omnes poſſeſſiones praedictorum Decani & Capituli & Canonicorum, non inferentes eis aut inferri permittentes injuriam, moleſtiam, damnum aut gravamen. Et liquid eis forisfactum fuerit, id eis ſine dilatione faciatis emendari. In cujus &c. Teſte Rege apud Weſtm. 28. die Februarii.

There being many Jewiſh Converts in England, for whom the King by reaſon of his Wars had not provided ſufficient maintenance, he thereupon out of his Chriſtian care to ſupport them, iſſued theſe enſuing Writs to the Abbots, Priors and Covents of moſt religious Houſes through England, to intertain and receive one or more of them for two years, and to allow them a daily penſion or Conrody not exceeding ſuch a ſum; wherein the names of each male and female Jewiſh convert ſent to every houſe are thus recorded in the fine Rolls of this year.