perpetuam Commendam issint il reducoit cest power in actum vsoit practisoit ceo en touts Realmes de Christendome Specialment les Papes queux fueront resident al Auignion en France en le temps Henr. 2. Ed. 1. Ed. 2. E. 3. suerout fort liberall non solement en graunting des Prouisions encounter queux nostre statutes fueront fait en temps Ed. 1. Ed. 3. mes en donant touts sortes d'Ecclestasticall benefices in Commendam perpetuam Et coment que primerment ceo fuit fait pur supporter le dignity des Cardinals come fuit protesse per le Pape Clement 6. en son Epistle al Ed. 3. que est en le history de Walsingham fol. 150. b. Uncor apres ceux Graces fverant purchase per auters Ecclesiasticall persons de touts degrees en touts nations de Christendome Et specialment en Engleterre Ireland Car domesticis exemplis abundamus en ceit point viz. que tiels faculties ou dispensations a tener Ecclesiasticall dignities benefices in Commendam perpetuam fueront graunt obtaine en le Court de Rome En temps Henr. 3. viz. Anno Domini 1253. Matth. Paris histor magn 848. le grand Clerke Rob. Grosthead Evesque de Lincoln que se opposoit fortment encounter les prouisions del Pape complaine la de cest novel provision per voy de Commenda Caeterum dit il quod videre non consueuit concedit Papa vt aliquis Episcopatum obtineat nec tamen Episcopus existat sed electus sempiternus Et per mesine cesty Matth. Paris en mesine l'history 914. est record que Anno Domini 1257. Aegidius de Bridleford Electus Sarisburiensis manifestauit palam quod Romae strenuè impetrauerat vt scilicet liceret ei pristinos redditus retinere ac etiam Decanatum quod nuper nouum habebatur sed iam toties permistum nulli stuporem generauit Apres ceo appiert per le liver 41. Edw. 3. 5. que vn W. aiant vn Prebend en le Cathedrall Esglise de Sarum que le Pape devant son consecration ad done a luy ses benefices queux il avoit devant le Roy recitant cest done del Pape ad graunt a luy ses temporalties sur que fuit adiudge que cest Prebend ne devient void mes que l'Evesque retiendra ceo apres son consecration Il appiert auxi en le dit Case del Evesque de S. Dauids 11. Henr. 4. sovent foits cite devant que en temps del Edw. 3. Edmund le Moigne de Bury que fuit attendant en le Court del Edw. 3. avoit plusors benefices per tiel dispensation come est noate la per Thirning fol. 229. b. Auxi Hankford dit en mesine le Case fol. 191. a. que il ad estre view que vn home ad estre Abbe de Glastonbury Evesque auxi d'un auter Esglise simul semel avoit le possession d'eux les dignities a vn mesine temps Auxi le dit principall Case en 11. Henr. 4. monstre que Henr. Chicheley que fuit apres Archevesque de Canterbury esteant vn prebend en le Cathedrall Esglise de Sarum fuit elect Evesque de Saint Dauids devant son consecration le Pape recitant per son Bull que il fuit elect Evesque de Saint Dauids graunt a luy faculty power de tener enioyer touts ses auters benefices tantque le Pape ad auterment ordaine c. vid. Nou. Decision Rotae 331. mesme cesty point que fuit argue 11. Henr. 4. bien debate Et que ceux faculties ou dispensations a tener benefices in Commendam fueront graunt en le Court dei Rome en temps del Henr. 5. appiert en Linwood libr. 3. de Praebend cap. Audistis verb. Dispensatione Et en temps Henr. 6. Henry Beaufort le graund vncle del Roy esteant fait Cardinall obtaine dispensation del Pape de retainer l'Evesquery de Winchester en Commendam come devant est monstre coment que fuit tenus adonques que cest dispensation veignoit trop tard esteant graunt apres que l'Evesque fuit create Cardinall vncor apres en temps Henr. 8. le Cardinal Wolsey aiant devant que il fuit create Cardinall obtaine Bull del Pape de retainer l'Archevesquery de Yorke come perpetuall administrator l'Abbey de Saint Albons en perpetuam commendam il teignoit ambideux durant son vie per vertue de cest dispensation vid. 27. Henr. 8. 15. b. Per ceux examples auctorities est manifest que devant le fesans de cest statut de faculties tiels dispensations fueront eu obtaine en le Court de Rome a tener in Commendam Ecclesiasticall benefices en Engleterre Et quant a cest Realme de Ireland ceux dispensations de Pape fueront cy frequent icy que en temps Edw. 4. vn speciall act de Parliament fuit fait encounter les Commendams graunt per le Pape al Ecclesiasticall persons de cest Realme vid. l'estatut de 7. Edw. 4. cap. 2. per que est recite That now of late diuers men of holy Church suing to the Court of Rome haue purchased Bulls from the holy father the Pope to haue as well Abbeyes Priories and other dignities as Personages Vicarages in Commendam to the extinguishment of diuine seruice c. per que il est ordaine That whatsoeuer man of holy Church doe purchase any manner of dignity Personage or Vicarage by Bulls of the Pope to hold in Commendam and the said Bulls Personages or Vicarages doe accept he shal be out of the Kings protection c. And that no pardon or licence of the King made or to be made bee avayleable in this behalfe but bee vterly voyd if it bee not by act of Parliament Et cest speciall act encounter les Commendams dei Pape fuit fait en cest Realme pur ceo que les Statutes faites encounter Provisors en temps Edw. 3. parlont tant solement de Reseruations Collations Prouisions del Pape queux parols n'extendont al Commendams come Hankford tient 11. Henr. 4. 213. a. 2 La cause pur que cest faculty ou dispensation fnit graunt nest repugnant ou contrary al Saint Escripture ou ley de Dieu Car plurality de benefices nest prohibit per le Scripture ou ley de Dieu mes é contra est vn expresse Text que dit 1. Timoth. c. 5. Qui bené praesunt presbyteri duplici honore digni habeantur dicit enim Scriptura non alligabis os boui trituranti c. Et est alter Text que require vt Episcopus sit Hospitalis Et le principall cause de graunting cest faculty fuit pur enabler le Evesque a maintener hospitality come touts appropriations vnions fueront fait pur mesme le cause Auxi l'Office que l'Evesque ad en l'Esglise est de grand dignity quel dignity
n'oseront appeller leyes Ne committerent crimen laesae Maiestatis in Principes come Marsil Pat. ad bien observe libr. Defensor Pacis part 2. cap. 23. que dit auxi la que ceux Canons entant que sont fait per le Pape neque sunt humanae leges neque diuinae sed documenta quaedam narrationes Uncor quant il perceavoit que ceux Canons fueront receave allow vse en part per severall nations il compile eux en volumes appell eux Ius Canonicum ordaine que serront lyes expound en publik Schooles Universities come l'Imperiall ley fuit lie expound commaund que serront obey per touts Christians sur paine de excommunication contend sovent foits de metter eux en execution per coactive power assume sur luy de interpreter abrogater dispenser ove ceux leyes en touts les Realmes de Christendome a son pleasure i sint que les Canonists ascribont a luy cest prerogative Papa in omn bus pure positiuis in quibusdam ad ius diuinum pertinentibus dispensare potest quia dicitur omnia iura habere in scrinio pectoris sui quantum ad interpretationem dispensationem libr. 6. de Const cap. licet Pur le temps Anno. 25. Ed. 1. Simon vn Moigne de Walden commenâ—â—oit de lier le Canon ley en le University de Cambridge vid. Stow Walsingham en meime l'Au le Manusc libr. 6. Decretal en le Library Noui Coll. Oxon. ad cest inscription in fronte Anno Domini 1298. que fuit l'An 26. Edw. 1. 19. Nouembr in Ecclesia fratrum Praedicator Oxon. fuit facta publicatio lib. 6. Decretal per que appiert quant le Canon ley fuit introduce en Engleterre Mes le Irisdiction que le Pape per colour de ceo claimoit en Engleterre fuit vn meer vsurpation a quel les Royes D'engleterre de temps en temps fesoent opposition iusques al temps del Henr. 8. Et certes le Idgment del Parliament expresse en le Preamble de cest Statut de faculties est notable a cest purpose Ou est recite que l'Evesque de Rome ad deceave abuse les subiects del Corone D'engleterre Pretending and persuading to them that hee had full power to dispense with all humane lawes vses customes of all Realmes in all causes which bee called Spirituall which matter hath beene vsurped and practised by him and his predecessors for many yeares to the great derogation of the Imperiall Crowne of England For whereas the said Realme of England recognising no superior vnder God but the King hath beene yet is free from subiection to any mans lawes but onely to such as haue beene deuised made and ordained within this Realme for the wealth of the same or to such other as by sufferaÌ„ce of the King his progenitors the people of this Realme haue taken at their free libertie by their owne consent to bee vsed among them haue bound themselues by long vse custome to the obseruance of the same not as to the obseruance of the lawes of any forein Prince Potentate or Prelate but as to the accustomed auncient lawes of this Realme originally established as lawes of the same by the said sufferance consent custome not otherwise it standeth with naturall equity good reason that all such humane lawes made within this Realme or induced into this Realme by the said sufferance consent custome should bee dispensed with abrogated amplified or diminished by the King his Parliament or by such persons as the King Parliament should authorise c. vid. 21. H. 7. 4 a. ou est dit que certeine priests fueront deprive de lour benefices per Act de Parliament en temps R. 2. Per que fuit conclude que le Roy D'engleterre nemi le Pape devant le fesans de cest Statute de faculties puissoit de iure dispenser ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley en cest auters cases Car coment que plusors de nostre Ecclesiasticall leyes ont estre primerment devise en le Court de Rome vncor ceux esteant establish confirme en cest realme per acceptance vsage sont ore devenus English leyes ne serront amplius repute Romish Canons ou Constitutions Come Rebuffus parlant de regula Cancellariae Romanae de verisimili notitia haec regula dit il vbique in regno FraÌ„ciae est recepta est lex Regni effecta obseruatur tanquam lex regni non tanquam Papae regula Papa eam reuocare non potest Et pur ceo l'Ecclesiasticall ley que ordaine que quant home est create en Evesque que touts ses inferior benefices serront void est soventfoits dit en le Case del Evesque de S. Dauids 11. Henr. 4. destre l'auncient ley D'engleterre Et 29. Edw. 3. 44. a. en le Case del Praebend de Oxgate est dit que le constitution que ouste pluralities comenceoit en le Court de Rome vncor vn Esglise fuit adiudge void en Banke le Roy pur cel cause Per que appiert que depuis que cest Constitution fuit receave allow en Engleterre ceo fuit devenus ley D'engleterre vid. statutum de Bigamis cap. 5. ou le Roy son Counsell en Parliament declaroâ—t coment vn Canon fait en le Counsell de Lions serroit interpret expound De Bigamis quos Dominus Papa in Concilio suo Lugdunensi omni priuilegio suo Clericali priuauit per constitutionem inde editam vnde quidam Praelati illos qui effecti fuerunt Bigami ante praedictam constitutionem quando de felonia rectati fuerunt tanquam Clericos elegerunt sibi deliberandos concordatum est declaratum coram Rege Consilio quod constitutio ista intelligenda sit quod siue effecti fuerint Bigami ante praedictam constitutionem siue post de caetero non liberentur Praelatis sed fiat de ijs iustitia sicut de laicis Uncor touts les Ecclesiasticall leyes D'engleterre ne fueront dirive apprompt del Court de Rome Car long temps devant que le Canon ley fuit authorise publiâ—â— que fuit depuis le Norman Conquest come devant est moÌ„stre les auncient Royes D'engleterre viz. Edgar Athelstan Alfred Edw. le Confessor auters ont ove l'advise de lour Clergy deins le Realme fait divers ordinances pur le government del Esglise D'engleterre depuis le Conquest divers Provinciall Synodes ont estre tenus plusors constitutions on t estre fait en ambideux Realmes D'engleterre Ireland touts queux sont part de nostre Ecclesiasticall leyes a cest iour vid. le Chart. de William le Conquerour dat Anno Domini 1066. irrot 2. R. 2. enteries Charters in Archiu Turris London pro Decano
any liuing man yet it is continued preserued in the memory of men liuing doth farre excell our written lawes namely our Statutes or Actes of Parliament which is manifest in this that when our Parliaments haue altered or changed any fundamentall pointes of the Common lawe those alterations haue beene found by experience to bee so inconuenient for the commonwealth as that the common lawe hath in effect beene restored againe in the same points by other Actes of Parliament in suceedîng ages And as our Custumary vnwritten lawe doth excell our Parliament lawes which are written so for the gouernment of the Common-weale of England which is as well instituted established as any Common-weale in Christendome Our natiue Common lawe is farre more apt agreeable then the Ciuill or Canon lawe or any other written lawe in the worlde besides howsoeuer some of our owne Countrimen who are Ciues in aliena Republica hospites in sua may perâ—â—ppes affirme the contrary But certaine it is That the greate and wise-men of England in the Parliament of Merton did not preferre a Forreine lawe before theire owne when motion being made by the Clergie that Children borne before Marriage might be adiudged legitumate They all made aunswere with one voice Nolumus Leges Angliae mutari And againe in II. R. 2. when a newe course of proceeding in Criminall Causes according to the forme of the Ciuill lawe was propounded in that vnruly Parliament Aunswere was made by all the Estates That the Realme of England neither had bin in former times nor hereafter should bee Ruled and gouerned by the Ciuill law Rot Parliam II. R. 2. in Archiv Turris And heere I may obserue for the Honour of our Nation and of our Auncestors who haue founded this Common-weale wherein wee liue and enioy so many felicities That England hauing had a good and happie Genius from the beginning hath bin enhabited alwaies with a vertuous wise people who euer embraced honest and good Customes full of Reason and conveniencie which being confirmed by common vse practise and continued time out of minde became the common lawe of the Land And though this lawe bee the peculiar inuention of this Nation and deliuered ouer from age to age by Tradition for the common lawe of England is a Tradition learned by Tradition as well as by Bookes yet may wee truly say That no humaine lawe written or vnwritten hath more certainty in the Rules and Maximes more coherence in the parts thereof or more harmony of reason in it nay wee may confidently averr that it doth excell all other lawes in vpholding a free Monarchie which is the most excellent forme of gouernment exalting the prerogatiue Royall and being very tender and watchfull to preserue it and yet maintaining withall the ingenuous liberty of the subiect Breefely it is â—o framed and sitted to the nature disposition of this people as wee may properly say it is connaturall to the Nation so as it cannot possibly bee ruled by any other lawe This lawe therefore doth demonstrate the strength of witt and reason and selfe sufficiencie which hath beene alwayes in the people of this land which haue made theire owne lawes out of their wisdome experience like a silke worme that formeth all her webb out of her selfe onely not begging or borrowing a forme of a common-weale either from Rome or from Greece as all other nations of Europe haue done but hauing sufficient prouision of lawe Iustice within the land haue no neede Iustitiam iudicium aâ— alienigenis emendicare as King Iohn wrote most nobly to Pope Innocent the third Matth Parishistor magn pag 215. En populus sapiens intelligens gens magna As it is said of Gods chosen people 4. Deuter. Neither could any one man euer vaunt that like Minos Solon or Lycurgus he was the first Lawegiuer to our Nation for neither did the King make his owne prerogatiue nor the Iudges make the Rules or Maximes of the lawe nor the common subiect prescribe and limitt the liberties which he enioyeth by the lawe but as it is said of euery Art or Science which is brought to perfection Per varios vsus artem experientia fecit so may it properly bee said of our lawe Per varios vsus legem experientia fecit Long experience many trialles of what was best for the common good did make the Common lawe But vppon what reason then doth Polidor Virgill other writers affirme that King William the Conqueror was our Lawegiuer caused all our lawes to bee written in French Assuredly the Norman Conqueror found the auncient lawes of England so honorable profitable both for the Prince people as that he thought it not fitt to make any alteration in the fundamentall pointes or substance thereof the change that was made was but in formulis iuris he altered some legall formes of proceeding to honor his owne language for a marke of Conquest withall he caused the pleading of diuers Actions to be made entred in French sett forth his publique Ordinances Acts of Counsell in the same tongue which forme of pleading in French continued till 36. Edw. 3. when in regard that the French tongue begann to growe out of vse which for many yeares after the Norman Conquest was as common as the English among the Gentry of England it was ordained by Parliament that all pleas should bee pleaded debated Iudged in the English tongue entred enrolled in Latine And as for our statutes or Acts of Parliament the billes were for the most part exhibited in French passed and enrolled in the same language euen till the time of King H. 7. And so are they printed in Rastalles first Abridgment of statutes published in the yeare 1559. But after the begining of King Henry 7. his raigne wee finde all our Acts of Parliament recorded in English Onely our Reports of the Cases resolutions and Iudgments in the lawe whereof our bookes of the lawe do consist haue euer vntill this day beene penned published in that mixt kinde of speech which wee call the lawe French differing indeede not a litle from the French tongue as it is now refined and spoken in Fraunce as well by reason of the words of Art and forme called the Tearmes of the lawe as for that wee doe still retaine many other old wordes Phrases of speech which were vsed foure hundred yeares since are now become obsolete out of vse among them but are growne by long continuall vse so apt so naturall so proper for the matter subiect of these Reports as no other language is significant enough to expresse the same but onely this lawe french wherein they are written And this is the true onely cause why our Reports other books of the lawe for the most part are not sett forth in English Latine or the moderne french for that the proper peculiar phrase of the common
change en cest point per reason quant il est endow a luy ses successors perpetualment Et ceo fuit le substance des arguments ex vtraque parte fait en cest Case Car nul Idgement est vncor 〈◊〉 one en ceo I Atturney generall Bolton Recorder de Dublin Oliuer Eustace â—e Ciuilian suero â—t a Counsell le oâ—e Clark del Roy William Talbot â—ames Briuer Iohn Haly Doctor del Ciuil ley ove les defendants Hill 4. Iacobi The Case of Praemunire or The Conuiction and Attainder of Robert Lalor Priest being endited vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap 5. Of what quality credit Robert Lalor was THis Robert Lalor being a Natiue of this Kingdome receaued his Orders of priesthood aboue 30 years since at the haÌ„ds of one Richard Brady to whome the Pope had giuen the title of Bishop of Kilmore in Vâ—ster for the space of twenty yeares together his authority and credit was not 〈◊〉 within the Prouince of Leinster Hee had also made his name knowen in the Court of Rome held intelligence with the Cardinall who was Protector of this nation by meanes whereof hee obtained the title and iurisdiction of Vicar generall of the Sea Apostolike within the Archbyshopricke of Dublin and the Pyshopricks of Kildare and Fernes This pretended iurisdiction extending welny ouer all the Prouince of â—einster hee exercised boldly and securely many yeares together vntill the proclamation was published whereby all Iesuites and Priests ordained by forreine authority were commaunded to depart out of this kingdome by a certaine time prefixed After which time hee began to lurke to change his name howbeit at last he was apprehended in Dublin and committed to prison in the Castle there His apprehension and first examsnation Vppon his first examination taken by the Lord Deputie himselfe hee acknowledged that hee was a Priest and ordained by a popish Titulari Bishop that hee had accepted the title and Office of the Popes Vicar generall in the. 3. Dioceses before named and had exercised spirituall iurisdiction in foro conscientia and in sundry other points hee maintained and iusti fied the Popes authority onely hee said hee was of opinion that the Pope had no power to excommunicate or depose his Maiestie because the King is not of the Popes Religion His first in â—â—…ment conuiction The next terme after hee was indicted vppon the statute of 2. Eliz. enacted in this Realme against such as should wilfullie and aduisedly maintaine and vphould the iurisdiction of any foreine Prince or Prelat in any Causes Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this Realme By which statute the first offence of that kind is punished with losse of goods and one yeares imprisonment the second offence incurreth the penaltie of the Praemunire And the third offence is made high Treason Vppon this Indictment hee was arrained conuicted and condemned and so rested in prison during the next two Tearmes without any further question His second examination He then made peticion vnto the Lord Deputie to be set at libertie wherevppon his Lordship caused him to be examined by Sir Olliuer Seint Iohn Sir Iames Fullerton Sit Iefferie Fenton the Atturney Solicitor generall At first he made some euasiue and indirect aunsweres but at last voluntarily and freely he made this ensuing acknowledgement or confession which being set downe in writing word for word as hee made it was aduisedly read by him and subscribed with his owne hand and with the hands of those who tooke his examination and afterwards hee confirmed it by his oath before the Lord Deputie and Connsell The confession or acknowledgement of Robert Lalor Priest made the 22. of December 1606. His confession or acknowledgement FIrst hee doth acknowledge that hee is not a lawfull Vicar generall in the Dioceses of Dublin Kildare and Fernes and thinketh in his conscience that hee cannot lawfully take vppon him the said Office Item hee doth acknowledge our Soueraigne Lord King Iames that now is to bee his lawfull cheefe and Supreme gouernour in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and that hee â—is bound in conscience to obey him in all the said causes and that neither the Pope nor any other forreine Prelate Prince or Potentate hath any power to controll the King in any cause Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this kingdome or any of his Maiesties Dominions Item he doth in his conscience beleeue that all Bishops ordained and made by the Kings authority within any of his Dominions are lawfull Bishops and that no Bishop made by the Pope or by any authority deriued from the Pope within the Kings Dominions hath any power or authority to impugne disanull or controll any Act done by any Bishop made by his Maiesties authority as aforesaid Item he professeth himselfe willing and ready to obey the King as a good and obedient Subiect ought to doe in all his lawfull commaundements either concerning his function of priesthood or any other duty belonging to a good subiect After this confession made the State heere had no purpose to proceed against him seuerely either for his contempt of the proclamation or offence against the law So as hee had more liberty then before and many of his friends had accesse vnto him who telling him what thy heard of his confession hee protested vnto them that hee had onely acknowledged the Kings Ciuill and Temporall power without any confession or admittance of his authority in spirituall causes This being reported vnto the Lord Deputie by sundry gentlemen who gaue faith vnto what hee said his Lordship thought sitt that since hee had incurred the paine of Praemunire by exercising Episcopall iurisdiction as Vicar generall to the Pope that hee should bee attainted of that offence as well to make him an example to others of his profession for almost in euerie Dioces of this kingdome there is a Titulary Bishop ordained by the Pope as also that at the time of his triall a iust occasion might bee taken to publish the confession and acknowledgment which hee had voluntarily made signed and confirmed by oath before the Lord Deputie and Counsell who haue likewise subscribed their names as witnesles thereof The inditement of Lalor vpon the statut of 16 Rich. 2. Heerevppon in Hillary Tearme 4 Iacobi an inditement was framed against him in the Kings Bench vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap. 5. containing these seuerall points 1 That he had receaued a Bull or Breefe purchased or procured in the Court of Rome which Bull or Breeue did touch or concerne the Kings Crowne and dignitie Royall conteining a Commission of Authoritie from the Pope of Rome vnto Richard Brady and Dauid Magragh to constitute a Vicar generall for the Sea of Rome by the name of the Sea Apostolike in the seuerall Dioceses of Dublin Kildare and Fernes within this Kingdome of Ireland 2 That by pretext or collour of that Bull or
Breeue hee was constituted Vicar generall of the Sea of Rome and tooke vppon him the stile and title of vicar generall in the said seuerall dioceses 3 That hee did exercise Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as Vicar generall of the Sea of Rome by instituting diuers persons to benefices with cure of soules by graunting dispensations in causes Matrimoniall by pronouncing sentences of diuorce betwene diuers married persons and by doing all other actes and things pertayning to Episcopall iurisdiction within the said seuerall Dioceses against our Souerainge Lord the King his Crowne and dignitie Royall and in contempt of his Maiestie and disherison of his Crowne and contrary to the forme and effect of the statute c. To this inditement Lalor pleaded not guiltie and when the issue was to bee tried the name and reputation of the man and the nature of the cause drewe all the principall gentlemen both of the Pale and Prouinces that were in towne to the hearing of the matter At what time a substantiall lury of the Cittie of Dublin being sworne for the triall and the points of the Inditement being opened and set forth by the Kings Seriant the Atturney generall thought it not impertinent but very necessary before hee descended to the perticular enidence against the prisoner to informe and satisfie the hearers in two points Why Lalor was indited vppon the old statute of 16 R. 2. 1 What reason moued vs to grounde this inditement vppon the olde statute of 16 Richard 2. rather then vppon some other later lawe made since the time of King Henr. 8. 2 What were the true causes of the making of this lawe of 16. Rich. and other former lawes against Prouisors and such as did appeale to the Court of Rome in those times when both the Prince and people of England did for the most part acknowledge the Pope to be the thirteenth Apostle and only oracle in matters of Religion and did followe his doctrine in most of those points wherein wee now dissent from him 1 For the first poynt wee did purposely forbeare to proceede against him vppon any latter law to the end that such as were igâ—onorant might bee enformed that long before King Henr 8. was borne diuers lawes were made against the vsurpatâ—on of the Bishop of Rome vppon the rights of of the Crowne of England welny as sharpe and as seuere as any statutes which haue beene made in later times and that therefore wee made choyse to proceede vppon a lawe made more then 200. yeares past when the King the Lords and Commons which made the lawes and the Iudges which did interpret the lawes did for the most part follow the same opinions in Religion which were taught and held in the Court of Rome the treâ— causeof making the stattute of 〈◊〉 R 2 other statuts against pouisors 2 For the second poynt the causes that moued and almost enforced the English nation to make this and other statutes of the same nature were of the greatest importance that could possible arise in any state For these lawes were made to vphold and maintaine the Soueraingtie of the King the liberty of the people the common lawe and the common-weale which otherwise had beene vndermined and viterly ruined by the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome For albeit the Kings of England were absolute Emperours within their Dominions and had vnder them as learned a Prelacie and Cleargie as valiant and prudent a Nobility as free and wealthy a Commonalty as any was then in Christendome yet if wee looke into the stories and records of these two Imperiall kingdomes wee shall finde that if these lawes of Prouision and Praemunire had not beene made they had lost the name of Imperiall and of Kingdomes too and had beene long since made Tributary Prouinces to the Bishop of Rome or rather part of S. Peters patrimony in demesne Our Kings had had their Scepters wrested out of their hands their Crownes spurned of from their heads their neckstrod vppon they had beene made Laquaies or footmen to the Bishop of Rome as some of the Emperours and French Kings were our Prelats had beene made his chaplaines and Clearks our Nobilitie his vassals and seruants our Commons his slaues and villaines if these Acts of manu-mission had not freed them In a word before the making of these Lawes the flourishing Crowne and Common-wealth of England was in extreame danger to haue beene brought into most miserable seruitude and slauery vnder collour of religion and deuotion to the Sea of Rome And this was not onely seene and felt by the King and much repined at and protested against by the Nobility but the Commons the generall multitude of the Subiects did exclame and crie out vppon it The statuts of praemunire made at praier of the commoÌ„s For the Commons of England may bee an example vnto all other Subiects in the world in this that they haue euer beene tender and sensible of the wrongs and dishonors offred vnto their Kings and haue euer contended to vphold and maintaine their honor and Soueraigntie And their faith and loyaltie hath beene generally such though euery age hath brought forth some particular monsters of disloyaltie as no pretence of zeale or religion cold euer withdrawe the greater part of the Subiects to submitt themselues to a foreine yoke no not when Popery was in her height and exaltation whereof this Act and diuers other of the same kinde are cleare and manifest testimonies For this Act of 16. Richard 2. was made at the prayer of the Commons which prayer they make not for themselues neither shew they their owne selfe loue therein as in other Bills which containe their greeuances but their loue and zeale to the King and his Crowne When after the Norman Conquest they importuned their Kings for the great Charter they sought their owne liberties and in other bills preferred commonly by the Commons against Shiriffs Escheators Purueyors or the like they seeke their owne profit and ease but heere their petition is to the King to make a lawe for the defence and maintenance of his owne honor The effect of the statut of 16. R. 2. cap. 5. They complaine that by Bulls and processes from Rome the King is depriued of that iurisdiction which belongeth of right to his Imperiall Crowne that the King doth loose the seruice and counsell of his Prelats and learned men by translations made by the Bishop of Rome That the Kings lawes are defeated at his will the Treasure of the Realme is exhausted and exported to enrich his Court and that by those meanes the Crowne of England which hath euer beene free and subiect vnto none but immediatly vnto God should be submitted vnto the Bishop of Rome to the vtter destruction of the King and the whole Realme which God defend say they and therevppon out of their exceeding zeale and feruencie they offer to liue and die with the king in defence of the liberties of the Crowne And