Commonwealth and govern'd by its own Laws it was afterwards subdued by the Medici and is now subject to the Great Duke of Tuscany There it was that Theodoric of Nismes who was Secretary to Pope Gregory and was then in his Court at Siena relates that he saw our Ambassadors who were all Men of eminent Note but through the Negligence of Writers their Names are not preserv'd in Memory How well Henry Chichele acquitted himself of this Employment and how much he gain'd the Pope's Favour upon this account Gregory himself did soon after evidently demonstrate For News being brought to the Court of Rome of the Death of Guido Mone Bishop of S. Davids who died this year on the 31 st of August which was after the Departure of the Ambassadors out of England of his own voluntary Motion he created Henry Chichele Bishop of S. Davids and consecrated him with his own hands according to the ancient Form on the 4 th of October and by Letters written to Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury he acquainted him that by the Advice of the Cardinals he had promoted Henry Chichele Chancellor of Salisbury Doctor of Laws and Priest a Man of eminent Wisdom Integrity and other Virtues to the vacant See of S. Davids desiring him upon his Recommendation to make use of his Assistance in the Administration of his Archiepiscopal Function He attended the Pope from Siena to Luca and continued with him till the end of April the next year He then return'd home of an Ambassador being made a Bishop and on the 26 th of August he went to the Cathedral Church of Canterbury according to the usual manner and there took an Oath of Legal and Canonical Obedience and Reverence to the Archbishop and his Successors How fit he was esteemed by all Men for the Exercise of this Function the Bishops and Prelates of the Province of Canterbury assembled in Convocation at London in January following did very amply and fully testify For when it was debated in the Synod about sending Delegates to the General Council at Pisa for the English Nation Robert Hallum Bishop of Salisbury Henry Chichele Bishop of St David's and Thomas Chillirgdon Prior of Canterbury were unanimously chosen and it was also decreed that every beneficed Person should pay Four pence in the Pound out of their yearly Income toward the Charges of their Journey This Council was appointed to be held at Pisa by the College of Cardinals assembled at Leghorn for composing the difference between Gregory the Twelfth and Benedict the Thirteenth who both set up for Pope one at Rome and the other at Avignon But because we shall have occasion sometimes in the following Narration to make mention of this Schism of the Popes it seems agreeable to the design and method of this undertaking to deduce it from its Original and to explain briefly from whence it arose and by what ways it increas'd and was carried on After that Philip the Fair King of France slighting the Excommunications of Pope Boniface the Eighth had by his Letters which are extant in most of the Writers of that Age sharply reprehended his Folly and Madness and at length devested him of the Papacy the Cardinals fearing the King's displeasure elected into his room Clement the Fifth a Frenchman and Native of Gascoigne Who being created by the College of Cardinals at Perusium in his absence summon'd them all to Lyons where in the Church of S. Justus in the Presence of Philip King of France Edward King of England and Alfonsus King of Arragon he receiv'd the Pontifical Crown in the Year 1305 and the same Year having created a great many French Cardinals he fix'd his Residence at Avignon where also after his Death the six succeeding Popes John the Twenty second of Cahors Benedict thē Twelfth of Tholouse Clement the Sixth Innocent the Sixth Vrban the Fifth and Gregory the Eleventh of the Province of Limosin all Frenchmen resided for the space of seventy Years having quite forsaken Rome Dante Aligeri and Francis Petrarch two Italian Poets who liv'd in those Times in the Court of Rome at Avignon do very severely reprehend the Rapine the Debauchery Luxury and Excess of those Popes and particularly of Clement the Fifth and John the Twenty-second which they did either out of their Hatred to the French in general or because being Men of Integrity themselves they could not bear the debauch'd and profligate Lives of the Popes Clement the Fifth is also mention'd often by the Lawyers upon the account of the Book of Clementines which was put out by him in the Council of Vienne and added to the Canon Law But Gregory being concern'd at the Decay of the City of Rome and the Tumults of Italy privately left Avignon and return'd to Rome in the Year 1376 and the 71 st from the Departure of the Popes where being receiv'd with incredible Joy he began to repair the Churches Palaces the Walls and other Edifices of the City which were run to ruin He dying two years after the Cardinals who were almost all Frenchmen fearing the outrage of the People of Rome who demanded an Italian Pope chose Bartholomew Archbishop of Bari who chang'd his Name for that of Vrban the Sixth and with his Name soon chang'd his Nature also for whereas before he was generally look'd upon as a Man of a moderate Temper he now began to treat all the Cardinals with great Rigor and one time when Otho of Brunswick Prince of Tarentum who had married Joan Queen of Sicily presented him the Cup at Dinner upon his Knees he let the Prince continue for some time in that posture till being admonish'd of it by the Cardinals with much ado he took the Cup from him The Cardinals being very uneasy under this unseasonable Pride and Severity of the Pope fled to Fundi a City in the Kingdom of Naples where having first declared the Election of Vrban to be void as being made through fear and by compulsion they proceeded to Elect Rupert Cardinal of Geneva who took the Name of Clement the Sixth and with his Cardinals retir'd to Avignon Thus whilst one assumed the Papacy at Avignon and the other at Rome and both of them made new Promotions of Cardinals the whole Christian World was divided between them For the Germans the English the Poles the Hungarians the Bohemians the Danes the Swedes and most of the Italians acknowledg'd Vrban but the French and the Spaniards submitted to Clement Vrban in the Eleven Years that he held the Pontificate debas'd the Dignities of the Church by promoting the meanest Persons to the Purple and fomented Wars between the Christian Princes for which cause instead of Vrbanus he was generally call'd Turbanus He exceeded all the Popes that ever possess'd the See of Rome in Cruelty for of those Bishops and Cardinals who were accus'd as secret Favourers of Clement some he imprison'd
the King two Tenths By a Decree therein Students of both Universities were provided for Which was opposed and laid aside Pope Martin at pleasure fill'd the Episcopal Sees in England Whose Clergy were quiet during the Council of Constance Martin first claim'd an universal Right of Presentation In two years made thirteen Bishops in the See of Canterbury His Appropriation censur'd The English neglected in the Grants of the Roman Dignities Martin afterwards agreed to some redress In uniting Parishes And for a power to Bishops therein For avoiding the Unions made in time of the Schism For recalling Dispensations for nonresidence For Lessening the Number of Cardinals and for their equal promotion The King required that Pope not to meddle with his Presentations That no French be preferred in Aquitain c. That Irish Livings be given to those that understand English That the Bishops there promote the English Speech only That French be not preser'd to Monasteries in England That the Pope supply the King with some of the English Money The Pope not answering favourably 'T was declared the King would take his course The French and Germans declare against the Pope's Provisions The former revived the Laws to restrain him That if he were refractory they 'd disown him The Pope's Interdict of the Church of Lyons remov'd by the Parliament of Paris An Appeal from the King to the Pope High Treason h Carol. Molinae de Monar Fran. n. 145. The Oppress'd Germans not redress'd i In Epistolis passim The King besieges Roan the Capital City of Normandy Proposal of a Treaty betwixt England and France From our King were sent the Archbishop and Earl of Warwick k Enguerr de Monstrell cap. 200. And Cardinal Ursini as Mediator from the Pope The Commissioners did not conclude Our King demanded a Million of Crowns Normandy Aquitain and Ponthieu Dowry with his Mistress The French straitned refused all Terms Roan holds out obstinately Where 't is said an Apple was sold for 3 s. a Dog for 10 s. The Citizens helpless their King being Lunatick and the Kingdom in a Civil War l Enguerr de Monstrell cap. 202. Upon 〈◊〉 made they surrenderd paying 365000 Crowns Here the King setled his Exchequer and Courts for the Affairs of Normandy Took Meudon and Pontoise by storm And others by surrender Half a Tenth granted the King in a Synod where Walker a Priest convicted of Witchcraft for Which he abjured And some of Wicklyff's Followers recanted Processions for the King's Success with whom Duke of Burgundy made a private League Who then had King Queen and Daughter of France in 's power Our King at Troyes marries the said Daughter Catharine On agreement himself should be Regent and their Children succeed to the Crown of France These Conditions ratified The Archbishop goes to France to congratulate the King Who goes against the Dauphin his only Enemy Took Montereau Melun surrender'd The King returns to England Processions for four days Queen Catharine Crowned The Synod gives a Tenth On condition That it should be Felony to geld a Priest Moved to publish a late Decree with a Clause in favour of Monks and Priests Decreed a Bishop take only 12 s. for Institution and an Archdeacon for Induction Pope Martin denied Money besides the Tenths c. In order to unite the two Churches of France and England The Archbishop recalls the Judges from the Conquests And commanded the French to obey their Ordinaries The King hastens to France on his Brother's death His Son Henry born at Windsor The Queen recovered goes to France m Sess 39. Pavia chosen by Pope Martin for a General Council according to that of Constance A Provincial Synod at London Whence Delegates were designed But through Benedict the Thirteenth's Interest the Pavian Council is dissolved Called to Siena And seven years after to Basil H. Webb for preaching without Orders whipp'd in three principal Cities William Taylor 's honest Principles condemned as impious King Henry the Fifth dies of a Fever at Bois de Vinciennes For which his Father-in law pining away died with grief within twenty days The King's Body buried at Westminster His Brothers were left his Son Henry's Guardians Great loss of a King so vertuous So generally and princely qualified Of singular good fortune and esteem thereupon Duke of Glocester calls a Parliament n Rotul Parlia Ann. 1. H. 6. The hopes the Archbishop conceived of young King Henry Three Reasons for calling the Parliament viz. to assign the King Governors and consult about the Peace and for the defence of the Realm Jethro's Advice The Duke of Glocester confirmed Protector and the Archbishop named First of the Council But he retired to his Function Founded a College at Higham Ferrers And a large Hospital The Considerable Revenues of which were augmented by his Brothers Robert and William A Synod held by him at London The Dauphin crown'd King of France at Poictiers Whereupon preparation was made for War The Regent of France and Duke of Burgundy oppose the Dauphin The former sent for Supplies from England The Bishop of Winchester moves for Money in the Synod Which now wants Henry the Fifth As Henry the Sixth is like to go without their Money The Clergy's Estates being already so much drained And Livings fallen so low Being also alledged that the power of granting Tenths was taken away The Bishop succeeded no better in the Lower House and so The Synod was adjourned At the next Sessions half a Tenth was granted by the Higher House on condition the Proctors consented But refused by the Lower House The Synod dissolved o C. Quoniam v. provinciam de decim At the next Half a Tenth's given with much ado Hoke and Drayton's Heresy and Russell denies personal Tythes to be Jure Divino In his absence proclaimed an Heretick p Liter Academ Oxon. in Archiv ep 20. And prosecuted at Rome Afterwards he abjured his Error in England H Beaufort Bishop of Winchester an open Enemy to the Lord Protector Great Parties on each side Appear in the Streets of London The Archbishop interposed They then laid down their Arms. The Bishop of Winchester accuses the Protector to the Duke of Bedford Who hastens into England Calls a Parliament Finds out the causes of the Quarrel And inclines them to the arbitration of q Rotul Parliam an 4. H. 6. The Archbishop and Duke of Exeter c. Their Reconciliation confirm'd by the Votes of the whole Parliament Which granted Money for Levying Men. And Half a Tenth granted in the Synod Bishop of Winchester made Cardinal The Cap with a Legacy for England had been promised him by John the Twenty third But the Archbishop had shewn that the Pope's Legates derogated from the Royal Dignity c. Which he did in a Letter to the King Wherein there is a Specimen of the English Language at that time No Suit to be made to the Pope after Election till the Pope has wrote to the King and has got an Answer A Pope's Legate in England durante vitâ without Precedent The Doctrine and Discipline of the Church dispensable by the Ordinaries c. not Legates The Archbâ—shop sends a Minute of the Legate's Office or Instructions to the King Such Legacies are extraordinary and not without great and notable cause and no resident above two Months at most The Instructions to be express and limited He deprecates the Oppressions and cormorant Exactions of the Legates Upon this Letter the King forbad the Bishop of Winchester the Cardinal 's Cap. r Polychron in Hen. 5. After the King's death he is created Cardinal Å¿ Antiq. Britan. in Henr. Chich. For whom our pious Henry Archbishop was mistaken A Vigorous Defender of the King's Authority Whence he incurr'd the displeasure of Pope Martin the Fifth t Epist Academ Oxon 36. in Archiv The Archbishop's Character from Oxford u Rotul Parliam an 6 H. 6. Great Intercession mads for him Bishop of Winchester is Legate in England with a Faculty So exercis'd the Power that he was stiled the Rich Cardinal x Joan. Foxius in Martyrolog sub H. 5. The Cardinal opposed by R. Caudray the King's Proctor Promises not to exercise his Office without the King's leave * Eodem jure semper usi sunt Gallire Reges quorum injussu Legatis Pontificum nunquam licuit Galliam ingredi aut mandata promulgare Sicuti clarissimus Advocatus Regius Ludovicus Servinus coram Senatu Parisiensi Turonibus tum sedente demonstrabat cum Ann. MDXC Cardinalis Cajetanus ad Henricum IV. Galliae Regem Legatus mitteretur †L. Servâ—n aux playdoier vol. 4.
upon the death of Thomas Arundel fell to the Exchequer were by a particular favour granted him by a Patent under the Great Seal after he had paid Six hundred Marks He came to Leicester upon the account of the Parliament which the King had call'd there that he might consult with his Prelates Lords and Commons about making new Laws raising Money and the State of the Kingdom in general In this Parliament the Archbishop by his great Wisdom averted a terrible Storm from the Church which was rais'd against it by the envy of the Nobility and Commonalty at the Wealth of the Prelates which had shewed it self at several times during the Reign of Henry the Fourth but now seem'd to threaten them more nearly in this new Government For ten years before this in a Parliament holden at Coventry in the Year 1404. when King Henry the Fourth demanded Money of them for his Wars with the Scots the Welsh the Bretons the Flemings and the French the House of Commons replied that there was no other way of supplying the necessities of the Publick but by diminishing the excessive Wealth of the Clergy and that such was the Condition of the People of England that they not only advanc'd Money continually for the Service of the War but also expos'd their persons to the common Enemy while the Clergy staid at home and neither serv'd their Country with their Persons nor their Estates To this Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury briskly replied That the Clergy granted Tenths oftner than the Laity did Fifteenths and that more of their Tenants and Domesticks serv'd in the Wars than of those of the Nobility beside their Prayers which they pour'd out to God day and night for the prosperity of the Kingdom And presently turning himself to the King he fell upon his Knees and besought him that he would be mindful of his Oath by which he had solemnly promis'd before God and Man to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Church entire and unviolated by which and by engaging those of the Nobility whom he thought to favour his Cause he prevail'd so far that the Demands of the Commons were thrown out by a publick Act. Six years after this in another Parliament holden by Henry the Fourth at Westminster the Commons in an Address presented to the King set forth that the Revenues of the Prelates and Monks which they consumed in Debauchery and Excess were sufficient to supply the Necessities of the King and Kingdom that out of them might be maintain'd Fifteen Earls Fifteen hundred Knights Six thousand two hundred Esquires and One hundred Hospitals and therefore they besought the King that he would seise them into his own hands and out of them would defray the necessary Expences of the Kingdom To which Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury again replied That the Commons did not desire the Lands of the Clergy to enrich the Exchequer but to repair their own Fortunes which were wasted by their Prodigality out of the rich Spoils of the Church as it had formerly happened to the Monasteries in France which in the Wars between the English and the French were brought into the Treasury out of which said he the King has not now so much as a Noble left At that time also the King rejected the Petition of the Commons whether it were that he fear'd an eternal Infamy would attend him if he should rob the Church or because he thought that the Promoters of this Design were secret Favourers of the Doctrine of John Wickliff to which he had always a great aversion From that time during the Reign of Henry the Fourth there was nothing attempted against the Church But in this Parliament at Leicester the House of Commons in an Address petition'd the new King that their demands against the Clergy which were represented four years ago might be taken into consideration again and voted in both Houses The Archbishop was extremely troubled at this for he was very sollicitous that the Church should receive no prejudice under his Government his greatest fear arose from the consideration of the King's Youth which is generally bent upon hasty Designs and Innovations Having therefore communicated this Affair to the Bishops it was determin'd by them that the Clergy should offer the King a great Sum of Money and excite him to make war with the French and to assert his Title to that Crown which falling to Edward the Second by Marriage was by him transmitted to his Successors Most of the Writers of that Age relate that the Archbishop upon this occasion presently call'd a Synod at London yet none of their Decrees are now to be found among the publick Records Now our Kings claim'd the Crown of France by this Title Charles the Fair King of France who was the only surviving Male-Heir of the Line of Philip the Fair his Father dying without Issue Edward the Third King of England Son to Edward the Second by Isabella Daughter of Philip the Fair by his Ambassadors demanded the Crown of France of the Estates of that Kingdom as next of kin to Philip the Fair his Mother's Father and Charles his Unkle On the other side Philip de Valois Son to Charles de Valois who was Brother to Philip the Fair maintained that he was next Heir by right of Succession as Cousin German to the late King Charles the Fair whereas Edward claim'd only in right of his Mother as being Grandson to Philip the Fair by his Daughter and Nephew to Charles the Fair by his Sister which Claim was contrary to the Laws and Constitutions of France by which the Crown is to descend upon the Male-line only alledging the words of the Salick Law that no Woman should inherit in Salick Land which Salick Land he affirm'd to be the Kingdom of France The French therefore rejected King Edward's Claim and acknowledg'd Philip for their King whereupon Edward presently assum'd the Title of King of France which our Kings have us'd ever since and having invaded France successfully he left the Quarrel entail'd upon his Successors together with the Crown of England After him Richard the Second a weak Prince desisted wholly from the War with the French and Henry the Fourth though he were a Valiant Prince yet being taken up partly with the Rebellions of the Welch and partly with the Intestine Divisions of his own Nobility he could not employ the whole Force of the Kingdom against them But in Henry the Fifth all opportunities concurr'd for carrying on the War a vigorous Age a great Courage Riches and Peace at home Beside which the Archbishop was of opinion that the fierce and restless Disposition of the Young King ought to be employ'd in some difficult Enterprize and that the only way to keep him from making any Disturbances at home was to shew him an Enemy abroad as there is no other way to stop the fury of
were engag'd with the French who are in strict conjunction with the Scots by an ancient and even natural Alliance that is between the two Nations and therefore that it would be very hazardous to invade the French before England was secur'd from the Scots at home To this Speech of the Earl's reply'd John Duke of Exeter a Man of great Wisdom and Learning which he had acquir'd in the Universities of Italy whither he was sent by his Father who design'd him for the Church He very eloquently maintained That the French ought first to be invaded upon whose aid the Scots relying infested the English That if they were subdued the Scots would come in of themselves according to this Aphorism of the Physicians That the Remedy must be first applied to the Cause of the Disease and that in order to the healing a Wound effectually the peccant Humour must first of all be purg'd For from whence said he do the Scots draw the first rudiments either of Learning or Arms but from their Education in France How can the Scotch Nobility be maintain'd if those Pensions should fail which they use to receive from France or if that Kingdom should be subdued with what Nation will the Scots maintain any Commerce or from whom will they implore Assistance Not from Denmark that King is allied to you by marriage with your Sister not from Portugal or Castile both those Princes are your Cousin-Germans not from Italy that is too remote not from Germany or Hungary they are both in league with us so that the Scots will submit to you of themselves when the French are conquer'd as the Tree necessarily withers when the Sap fails He also shew'd in the Instances of Malcolm and David Bruce that the Scots never invaded England but when the English were at war with France and therefore he propos'd that the Earl of Westmorland should be sent with some choice Troops to hinder them from attempting any thing in the King's absence He concluded that the Conquest of France would be a rich and plentiful reward of their Victory in comparison of which that of Scotland was but poor and inconsiderable The King and the Nobility were so much inclin'd in favour of this Opinion but especially the Dukes of Clarence Bedford and Glocester the King's Brethren who were enflam'd with the desire of acquiring Honur and Renown in the War with France by the Example of their Ancestors that when it came to be voted after the usual manner they all concurred in their Opinion with the Archbishop and cried out confusedly in the House War War with France By this means the Archbishop obtain'd great commendation of Posterity for his Wisdom who by this Counsel of his promoted a very successful War and averted a very great Calamity from the Church The King having dissolv'd the Parliament with great diligence provided his Army and Navy and made all other necessary preparations for such a War designing to invade France the next Year In the beginning of which that he might proceed according to the Law of Nations he sent Ambassadors into France the Bishops of Durham and Norwich to demand the Kingdom of King Charles who receiv'd them civilly and told them that he would shortly send Ambassadors into England to return an Answer to their Demands The Fleet and Army being ready for this Expedition and the Soldiers being order'd to rendezvouz at Southampton in order to embark on Board the Fleet The King in his Journy thither staid some time at Winchester where the French Ambassadors came to him who were the Earl of Vendosme William Bouratier Archbishop of Bourges Peter Fremell Bishop of Lisieux and Walter Cole Secretary to the King The Archbishop of Bourges made an Eloquent Oration in the name of the rest in which after he had largely and floridly describ'd the Miseries of War and the Advantages of Peace he offer'd the King in marriage the Lady Catharine King Charle's Daughter if he would desist from the War promising for her Dowry a great Sum of Money and some part of those Provinces which the King demanded by right of Inheritance The King only answer'd at that time that he would consider of the Conditions which they propos'd and the next day sitting on his Throne and attended with a great number of the Nobility the Ambassadors being call'd in he told them that the Conditions which they offer'd were such as he could not accept of with honour and calling Henry Archbishop of Canterbury he commanded him to give a fuller Anser to the Archbishop of Bourges Oration which he did to this effect That the King as soon as he came to the Crown thought nothing of greater importance than to maintain peace as well at home amongst his own Subjects as abroad with Foreign Princes For which cause he had call'd a Parliament in which having setled his Affairs at home he had sent Ambassadors into France to claim his right and to demand that part of the Kingdom of France which the Kings of England had held for some Ages by a lawful possession But seeing his Ambassadors had brought back no Answer from King Charles that he had levied an Army and provided all things necessary for the War and that he was now ready to pass over into France and revenge the wrong they had done him when he perceiv'd they made no account of his Right Nevertheless that he might testify to all the World how averse he was from shedding Christian Blood by the mutual Butchery of War that he would remit something of his Right that he would disband his Army and establish a Peace between the two Nations by marriage with Catharine upon condition that they would restore to him the Dutchies of Aquitain and Anjou and the other Dominions which his Ancestors enjoy'd in France neither forcibly nor clandestinely nor precariously That unless these Conditions were accepted the King would immediately enter France with his Army and lay it waste with Fire and Sword nor would he ever desist from slaughter and revenge till he had reduc'd it to his obedience and had recover'd the Dominion transmitted to him by right of Inheritance from his Predecessors And lastly That he call'd God Almighty both for a Witness and Avenger of his Cause whose Majesty he trusted would be propitious to so just a War When the Archbishop had done speaking the King interpos'd and with his Royal Word confirm'd all that he had deliver'd in more copious and Rhetorical Terms To which when the Archbishop of Bourges began to reply with reproachful Language and to reflect upon the King with more freedom than consisted with the Character of an Ambassador the King only reprimanded him for the liberty which he took and commanded the Ambassadors to depart the Kingdom under safe Conduct The King soon after follow'd them setting sail from Southampton with his whole Army on the 13 th of
new Cardinals before the end of the Council The Pope being alarmed at these Decrees by his Edict remov'd the Council from Basil to Bologna which Translation the Fathers by a contrary Edict disanull'd and both of them by their Letters cited the Archbishop of Canterbury one to Basil and the other to Bologna Upon this the Archbishop call'd a Delegates from London Synod to the Council of Basil and others to the Pope Synod at London on the 15 th of September and advis'd with the Bishops and Prelates what course was to be taken in the Dissention between the Council and the Pope who unanimously concluded To send Delegates to the Fathers at Basil and others to Pope Eugenius to compose the Differences on both sides to whom they voted a Penny in the Pound out of all the Profits of the Clergy besides the Two pence granted in the former Synod They also gave the King half a Tenth Half a Tenth given the King which was demanded of them in an Eloquent Speech by John Stafford Bishop of Bath and Lord Chancellor of England with whom came also to the Synod William Lyndewood who was lately made Keeper of the Privy Seal This William Lyndewood was esteemed one of the Wisest and most Learned Men of that Age he was very much belov'd by the Archbishop who remov'd him first from the Chancellorship of Salisbury to that of Canterbury afterwards he made him Official at the Court of Arches and gave him several rich Livings he also recommended him to both the Kings Henry the Fifth and Sixth the first of which sent him Ambassador into Spain and afterwards into Portugal and now under Henry the Sixth he was made Keeper of the Privy William Lyndewood Keeper of the Privy Seal Seal and soon after Bishop of St. David's Amongst b Jo. Balae de scriptor Angl. Cent 7. other of his Works which are now lost he got a great deal of reputation with Posterity by his learned Writ excellent Commentaries â—n the English Constitutions And was stiled the Light of the Law Complaint in the Synod against the Vicars General c. Commentaries upon the English Constitutions which Work he dedicated to the Archbishop whom for his c In Epist Dedic great knowledge in both Laws he stil'd the light of the Law In This Synod the Clergy of the Lower House complain'd to the Bishops that their Vicars General Commissaries and Officials were for the most part ignorant both in the Civil and Canon Law and that they had never taken any degree in the Universities whereupon Decreed that a Judge of a Spiritual Court must have some degree of the Law it was Decreed That no one should be made a Judge in any of the Spiritual Courts unless he had taken some degree in Law After which the Synod broke up In speaking of This Synod we made mention of John Stafford Bishop of Bath who was made Chancellor in the room of John Kempe Archbishop of York who being lately advanc'd to the Purple with the Title of Cardinal of S. Balbina had laid down that Office Between him and the Archbishop of Canterbury there arose a very sharp Dispute about Priority For in the Parliament holden shortly after at Westminster the Archbishop of York in respect of his Cardinal's Archbishop of York as Cardinal claim'd precedence of Canterbury Dignity claim'd precedence of the Archbishop of Canterbury which he on the other side rightly maintain'd to belong to him by the ancient Prerogative of his See The Archbishop of Canterbury on the contrary by ancient Prerogative Referred to the Pope The cognizance of this Affair through their mutual Contentions being referr'd to the Pope the Archbishop of Canterbury pleaded his Cause himself by Letters and appointed Antony de Capharellis his Proctor at the Court of Rome who in his Name maintain'd that the Archbishop of Canterbury was within his The Arguments for Canterbury urgent own Jurisdiction in which it was fit that he should take place of every one and that in the Province of Canterbury no respect ought to be had to the Dignity of Cardinal possess'd by my Lord of York who being remov'd from the Pope's presence was depriv'd of the brightness of those Raies whose splendor he receiv'd by communication from his Holiness and that even a Bishop d Abb. ad c. sane n. 4. de for comp while he is in another Bishop's Diocess is look'd upon but as a private Person and not as a Bishop But the Pope out of his desire to maintain the Honour of the See of Rome and of the Cardinals his Brethren being more enclin'd to favour the Archbishop of York writ back to the Archbishop of Overborn in the Cardinal's favour Canterbury That the first Degree in the Church next to the Papacy belonged to the Cardinals that they were those venerable Priests mention'd by Moses in the Seventeenth Chapter of Deuteronomy that they were afterwards instituted by St. Peter and were to be accounted as Members of the Pope's Body and that the whole Church did turn upon them as upon its Hinges Seeing therefore that it hath obtain'd by the Customs and Constitutions of particular Churches that in the same Province a Priest should take place of a Deacon a Bishop of a Priest and an Archbishop of a Bishop that much more the Laws of the Catholick Church ought to be universally observ'd for as every Archbishop presides in his own Province so the Cardinals are set over the Universal Church by the Pope Lastly He exhorted and intreated the Archbishop to submit to the Customs of the Church of Rome and give place to the Cardinal promising both him and the whole See of Canterbury all the kindnesses that could be expected from a most affectionate Father This Letter is inserted at length by Cardinal Jacobatius in his e Lib. 1. de concil art 12. Book of Councils when he comes to discourse about the degrees of Cardinals and Patriarchs By this it plainly appear'd to Posterity how strenuously the Archbishop desended the Dignity of the Church of England against the Pope whose displeasure he had incurr'd as we said before for maintaining the King's Authority The Differences betwixt Eugenius and the Council of Basil gave occasion to the calling another Synod the next A Synod call'd at London on occasion of the difference between the Pope and Council Year For after that Eugenius had remov'd the Council from Basil to Bologna and had been urg'd in vain by the Fathers at Basil to revoke his Decree they commanded him by their Edict to submit to the Council and repair to Basil The Pope is summoned to Basil within sixty days otherwise they declar'd that they would proceed against him as contumacious and devest him of the Papacy Whereupon in a Synod begun at London the 7 th of November the Archbishop commanded the Proctors for the Clergy and all the Prelates of the Of which London Synod
Votes of the whole Parliament which granted Money for Levying Men Ib. And half a Tenth granted in the Synod 124 Bishop of Winchester made Cardinal Ib. The Cap with a Legacy for England had been promised him by John the Twenty third Ib. But the Archbishop had shewn that the Pope's Legates derogated from the Royal Dignity c. Ib. Which he did in a Letter to the King 125 Wherein there is a Specimen of the English Language at that time Ib. No Suit to be made to the Pope after Election till the Pope has wrote to the King and has got an Answer 126 A Pope's Legate in England durante vitâ without Precedent 128 The Doctrine and Discipline of the Church dispensable by the Ordinaries c. not Legates Ib. The Archbishop sends a Minute of the Legate's Office or Instructions to the King 129 Such Legacies are extraordinary and not without great and notable cause and no resident above two Months at most Ib. The Instructions to be express and limited Ib. He deprecates the Oppressions and cormorant Exactions of the Legates 130 Upon this Letter the King forbad the Bishop of Winchester the Cardinal 's Cap. 131 After the King's death he is created Cardinal 132 For whom our Pious Henry Archbishop is mistaken in Antiquit. Britan. Ib. A vigorous Defender of the King's Authority Ib. Whence he incurr'd the displeasure of Pope Martin the Fifth Ib. The Archbishop's Character from Oxford 133 Great Intercession made for him Ib. Bishop of Winchester is Legate in England with a Faculty Ib. So exercis'd the Power that he was stiled the Rich Cardinal 134 The Cardinal opposed by R. Caudray the King's Proctor Ib. Promises not to exercise his Office without the King's leave Ib. Laid down the Office of Chancellor as obliged But kept his Place in the Council with exception 135 The Pope rais'd him against the Bohemians who had pull'd down the Monasteries c. 136 The Cardinal made General in the Bohemian War c. Ib. He could pardon Rapes on Nuns c. Ib. He was to demand a Tenth of the English Clergy for the War Ib. In the next Synod half a Tenth is given the King 137 And in another a Tenth and an half Ib. Duke of Bedford had besieg'd Orleans Ib. For those Grants the Members of the Synod c. were freed from Arrests 138 The Pope's Nuntio prevail'd not in the Synod Ib. For shewing his Letters for a Tenth he was denied but got 8 d. per Mark from Livings with a Salvâ praerogativâ Regiâ Ib. Heresy in holding the Pope to be Antichrist c. 139 Some recanted others were imprison'd Ib. Joan Dertford by means of her Answer acquitted Ib. The Ordinaries charg'd to persecute the Wicklevists and Lollards Ib. And Process ordered to be form'd against them 140 Pope Martin troubled that he obtain'd not the Tenths Ib. That his Bull was opposed at York Ib. That his Legate was imprisoned Ib. He expostulated with the Duke of Bedford Ib. The Pope is diverted with the prospect of the Council of Basil 141 Wherefore Delegates are chosen in a Synod at London with 2 d. per l. Charges Ib. Their Instructions did run against Pluralities and Non-residence c. Ib. The Synod gave the King a Tenth for the Siege of Orleans 141 142 Many other Towns revolted Ib. And many English slain at Patau Ib. The Synod decreed just Weights Ib. Popes generally afraid of Councils Ib. Martin appoints a President 143 The Pope dies before he took his Place Ib. Eugenius the Fourth succeeds him and continues the President who was his Legate Ib. The Pope adjudged subject to the Council c. 144 By their supreme Authority the Council makes a Legate of Avignon c. Ib. The Pope alarm'd removes the Council to Bologne Ib. Is opposed Ib. Delegates from London Synod to the Council of Basil and others to the Pope Ib. Half a Tenth given the King 145 William Lyndewood Keeper of the Privy Seal writ excellent Commentaries on the English Constitutions 145 146 And was stiled the Light of the Law Ib. Complaint in the Synod against the Vicars General c. Ib. Decreed that a Judge of a Spiritual Court must have some degree of the Law Ib. Archbishop of York as Cardinal claim'd precedence of Canterbury 147 The Archbishop of Canterbury on the contrary by ancient Prerogative Ib. Referred to the Pope Ib. The Arguments for Canterbury urgent Ib. Overborn in the Cardinal's favour 148 A Synod call'd at London on occasion of the difference between the Pope and Council 149 The Pope is summoned to Basil Ib. Of which London Synod consults 150 And what Pope they should obey if another be set up Ib. Alledged 1st that the Pope might dissolve a Council and if another be set up the Synod is to obey Eugenius Ib. By which they resent a Decree made at Basil transferring Votes from the Nations to a few Delegates Which was protested against on the place 150 151 Eight new Delegates nominated Ib. King Charles crown'd at Rhemes Ib. A new Army against France designed 152 Money desired of the Synod Ib. After a denial they gave three quarters of a Tenth Ib. The Grievances of the Church at that time 153 The Archbishop zealous to rescue her from the Oppressions of the Lawyers Ib. By reason of the Plague the Synod dissolved Ib. The Duke of Burgundy revolts to the French and Bedford dies 154 The former occasion'd the ill success of the Treaty at Arras Ib. The English driven out of Paris c. Ib. And generally the French surrender'd to Charles 155 A new English Army set sail for Calais Ib. The Clergy grant a Tenth Ib. The Archbishop built a stately Edifice at Oxford 156 Gave it to the Monks of St. Bernard Ib. Seiz'd in Henry the Eighth's time 157 Purchased by Thomas White Merchant who founded there St. John the Baptist's College Ib. From whence came many Reformers Ib. The Archbishop chose another place for a College Ib. The Edict of the Council of Basil against the Pope backt by the Emperor 158 The Council's Translation revoked Ib. Ambassadors to the Council from Greece and Constantinople where the Emperor and Patriarch designed to be present if the Council would secure them and defray their Charges Ib. Which was agreed Ib. But on Sigismond's death the Pope removes the Council to Ferrara whether he summon'd the Bishops from England 159 This opposed by the Council Ib. King Charles of France puts forth the Pragmatical Sanction against Annates c. 160 Which curb'd the Pope's Power there till the time of Lewis the Twelfth Ib. The English generally sided with the Pope Ib. King Henry sent Ambassadors to Ferrara Ib. But their allowance was disputed Ib. The Pope gives away the Bishoprick of Ely in Commendam 161 The Archbishop in Synod opposes the Affair which was frustrated by the Survivorship of the then Bishop Ib. Propos'd in Synod to renew a Decree that those not in Orders should not be beneficed