THE LIFE OF HENRY CHICHELE Archbishop of Canterbury Who lived in the Times of HENRY the V. and VI. Kings of England Written in Latin by ARTH. DUCK LLD. Now made English And a Table of CONTENTS Annexed LONDON Printed for Ri. Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCXCIX The most Reverend D r. HENRY CHICHELE Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury MBurghers delin et sculp To the most Reverend Father in God THOMAS Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitan My Lord WHILE the World is so fond of Voyages and the Discoveries of Unknown Countries I hope it will not be unacceptable to bring into view one of the best Lives of one of the Greatest Prelates of this Church writ in Latin with great Judgment by a Man very eminent in his Profession If this Prelate had lived in happier Times he would probably have exerted those great Talents which he carried far in so dark an Age in Services of a high nature He had a true Judgment and firm Courage with a generous Temper and was a great Patron and Promoter of Learning He despised Wealth was free from aspiring and asserted the Rights of the Crown and the Liberties of this Church against Papal Usurpations These were great Qualities and so much the greater because the Corruptions of the Clergy from the Papacy down to the Begging Orders were then to an insupportable degree In any other Age the publishing a Life which has so great a Relation to the most Glorious part of our History might have lookt like a reproach of the Time in which it came out But the Present Age may well bear it in which if we have not carried our Conquest into France as was then done yet we see a GREAT PRINCE who has far out-done the Performances of that time Then a Feeble King and divided Court made the Work as easy in it self as it looks great in History But we have seen a Mighty and United Power managed by Wise Counsels flush'd with a long course of Success that gave Law to All about it stopt in its full career by a King born to be a Blessing to the present Age and a Wonder to all Succeeding ones to Whose Reign the most renouned Pieces of our History are but foiles to set it off and make it shine the brighter My Lord I could not be long in suspence for the choice of a proper Patron to my small Interest in this Work which is only the care of the Translation of it into English The See that you do now govern with so Apostolical a Temper and in none of the easiest Times is not the chief reason of my addressing to Your Grace the Life of one of the most Eminent of all Your Predecessors I could give many more Reasons for the choice that relate immediately to Your Self but I will rather leave it to the Reader to find out than offer a thing so ingrateful to Your Lordship I pay Your Grace so profound a Reverence that I will not venture on that which I know will offend You for I am with the truest Zeal and the highest Respect possible My Lord Your Grace's most Humble and most Obedient Servant THE LIFE OF HENRY CHICHELE Archbishop of CANTERBURY HENRY CHICHELE was Born at Higham-Ferrars an ancient Town in Northamptonshire so call'd from the Ferrars who were formerly Lords of it His Father's Name was Thomas Chichele his Mother 's Agnes The Family was but mean and obscure but through his Virtue it became illustrious in after-ages In his Youth he applied himself to the Study of the Civil and Canon Law at Oxford being made Fellow of New-College by William Wyckam then Bishop of Winchester who had lately at a vast Charge founded and endow'd with large Revenues two stately Colleges one at Oxford and the other at Winchester In these Studies of the Law he improv'd his good natural Parts by his great Industry and commenc'd Doctor in that Faculty He left the University at the instance of Robert Medeford Bishop of Salisbury who took him first into his House and Family and afterwards communicated also to him his most private and important Concerns with whom he ever after preserv'd a strict and intimate Friendship He was preferr'd by him to the Archdeaconry of Salisbury which was his first step to Ecclesiastical Promotions But one Walter Fitzpers a Priest commenc'd a Suit against him for this Dignity claiming it by vertue of a Grant from King Henry the Fourth under the Great Seal The Cause being brought by Appeal before Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury the Archdeaconry was adjudg'd to Henry Chichele by the Auditor of the Archbishop's Court who was deputed with full Power to determine this affair This was about the Years 1402 and 1403 in the Reign of King Henry the Fourth He held this Dignity for about two years and with great diligence perform'd the Duty of his Office after which he was made Chancellor of Salisbury For Walter Medeford the Bishop's Brother who enjoy'd that Place made an exchange with him which was allow'd to be lawful according to the Constitutions of the Canon Law and having both quitted their several Dignities Henry was made Chancellor by the Bishop and Walter Archdeacon There was annexed to the Chancellorship the Parsonage of Odyham in the Diocess of Winchester which was then void and was given to him by the Bishop and he was immediately put in possession of it by the Custos Rotulorum of the See of Winchester which was then vacant by the Death of William Wyckam who on the 27 th of September chang'd a Life which he had spent very gloriously in the Service of that Church for Immortality These Preferments he obtain'd by the favour of the Bishop of Salisbury who always highly esteem'd him and when he died which was about three years after made very honourable mention of him in his Will and left him a golden Cup with a Cover and made him the Chief of his Executors which were named in the same Will His eminent Qualifications began now to be generally taken notice of and particularly by King Henry the Fourth who afterwards employ'd him in many Negotiations For besides his extraordinary Learning he had a sharp and piercing Wit which with his Experience and Skill in Civil Affairs rendred him very dextrous in the management of Business The first publick Employment that he had beside those Affairs which he dispatch'd for the King here at home with great Commendation was in an extraordinary Embassy which was sent by the King to Pope Gregory the Twelfth to Congratulate his late Advancement to the Papacy or to reconcile him to Benedict the Thirteenth who assumed the Pontifical Dignity at Avignon The Ambassadors arriving in Italy took their Journey towards Rome but in their way thither they met with the Pope at Siena which is a very pleasant and noble City of Tuscany at that time
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
Fathers and for keeping privately by them several Books of John Wickliff and others concerning matters of Religion written in the Vulgar Tongue All which Opinions Some recanted others were imprison'd some of them recanted before the Synod and the rest were committed to Prison After them one Joan Dertford Joan Dertford by means of her Answer acquitted being question'd about the same Tenets clear'd her self of the Accusation by an uncertain Answer saying That she had learnt only the Creed and Ten Commandments and never durst meddle with the profound Mysteries of Religion upon which she was committed to the Bishop of Winchester's Vicar general to be instructed by him The Ordinaries also The Ordinaries charg'd to persecute the Wicklevists and Lollards of every place were commanded vigorously to prosecute those that dissented from the Church of Rome whom they call'd by the invidious Names of Wiclevists and Lollards and whose number daily increas'd and William Lyndewood Official and Thomas Brown Chancellor of Canterbury with some other Lawyers And Process ordered to be form'd against them both Canonists and Civilians were order'd to draw up a Form of the Process against them Pope Martin troubled that he obtain'd not the Tenths But Pope Martin was very much troubled to see the Power of the Keys decrease daily in England both by the denial of a Tenth for his War with the Bohemians and several other Affronts that he pretended to have lately receiv'd For some years before this having by his Bull of Provision translated Richard Flemming Bishop of Lincoln to the See of York which was then vacant by the That his Bull was opposed at York death of the Archbishop the Dean and Chapter of York oppos'd his entrance into their Church so that the Pope was forc'd by a contrary Bull to transfer him back again to the See of Lincoln The That his Legate was imprisoned Year after John Opizanus the Pope's Legate was imprison'd for presuming by vertue of that Office to gather the Money due to the Pope's Treasury contrary He expostulated with the Duke of Bedford to the King's Command which Matter the Pope by his Letters sharply expostulated with the Duke of Bedford He would certainly have call'd to mind all these things if he had not been diverted by the more important Concerns of the Council of Basil which The Pope is diverted with the prospect of the Council of Basil was now to be call'd For the time prefix'd for the assembling of it was now at hand the seventh Year being almost expir'd since the end of the last Council for which cause the Archbishop of Canterbury call'd another Synod at London in the beginning of the next Year on the 19 th of February in which Delegates Wherefore Delegates are chosen in a Synod at London with 2 d. per l. Charges were chosen to be sent to Basil and Two pence in the Pound was allow'd them out of all the Revenues of the Clergy Their Instructions were To desire in the name of the Church of England Their Instructions did run Against Pluralities And Non residence c. That a stop might be put to that vast number of Dispensations which were daily granted by which some were permitted to hold two Livings beside Dignities others had leave to be absent from their Cures and some who were scarce at Age were admitted to the highest Offices in the Church and that no Vnions of Churches might be made but where there were Convents within the bounds of the Parish The Synod gave the King a Tenth The Synod also granted the King a whole Tenth at the sollicitation of John Kempe Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England who in a long Oration told them That the Siege of For the Siege of Orleans Orleans was rais'd by the death of the Earl of Salisbury a Renown'd Commander Many other Towns revolted that Troyes Beauvais Rhemes and many other Towns had revolted to King Charles that a great number And many English slain at Patau of our Men were lately slain in a Battel at Patau and that all France would soon come under the obedience of Charles unless Supplies of Money were rais'd in England that for this cause he with several others of the Privy Council were sent to them from the King The Synod also made an Order which concerned the general good of the Kingdom The Synod decreed just Weights That Tradesmen should be oblig'd to sell their Goods by a full weight and prohibited any one under pain of Excommunication to make use of a certain deceitful Weight with which they cheated their Customers But Pope Martin though it were Popes generally afraid of Councils with great reluctancy that he had call'd the Council at Basil fearing lest his Life and Actions should be inquir'd into for which cause also the a Fr. Guicciard lib. 9. Paul Jov. lib. 2. succeeding Popes were always very averse from calling a General Council yet because this was the Place and Time appointed both by his own Edicts and the determination of the Fathers assembled first at Constance and then at Pavia that he might not seem to equivocate in the opinion of all Christendom appointed Julianus Caesarinus Cardinal of S. Angelo to preside in his Name at the Council Martin appoints a President who at that time was his Legate in the Bohemian War against the Followers of Hus the Cardinal of Winchester being lately recall'd from that Post But before his journy to Basil in the beginning of the next Year Pope Martin died at Rome and Gabriel Condelmarius who The Pope dies before he took his Place was created Cardinal at Lucca by Gregory the Twelfth as is before related was chosen into his room on the 3 d of March and chang'd his Name for that of Eugenius the Fourth by whom also Eugenius the Fourth succeeds him and continues the President who was his Legate Caesarinus being continued in the Office of Legate he went to Basil and open'd the Council there in the beginning of December In which the matter was hotly debated concerning the Power of the Pope and on the 15 th of February it was Determined That a General Council doth derive its Authority immediately from Sess 2. Christ and that the Pope is subject to it The Pope adjudged subject to the Council c. that he hath no power to remove or prorogue it that if the Pope die in the time of their Session the right of erecting a new one is in the Council and that the supreme Sess 4. Government of the Church is committed to a Council and not to the Pope and by vertue of this supreme Authority they constituted By their susupreme Authority the Council makes a Legate of Avignon c. The Pope alarm'd removes the Council to Bologne Is opposed Alfonsus Cardinal of S. Eustace Legate of Avignon and forbad Eugenius to make any
consults Lower House to consult and determine whether the Pope might dissolve a General Council at his own pleasure and And what Pope they should obey if another be set up in case the Fathers at Basil should depose Eugenius and set up another Pope which of them they ought to obey To which Questions some days after Thomas Bekyngton Official of the Archbishop's Court answer'd in the name of Alledged 1 st that the Pope might dissolve a Council and if another be set up the Synod is to obey Eugenius the rest That the Pope by his sole command might dissolve a Council and that they were not to withdraw their Obedience from Eugenius though another Pope should be created at Basil For the Affections of a great many People in England began some time ago to be alienated from the Fathers at Basil upon the account of By which they resent a Decree made at Basil transferring Votes from the Nations to a few Delegates a Decree made by them which took away the Custom of voting by the Suffrages of every Nation and referr'd all things to the determination of some particular Delegates whereupon the English Representatives then at Basil Thomas Bishop of Worcester William Prior of Norwich Thomas Brown Dean of Salisbury Peter Patrick Chancellor and Robert Borton Precentor of Lincoln John Sarysbury Doctor of Divinity and John Symondisborough Licentiate in the Canon Law protested against it which was also done at the same time here in Which was protested against on the place England by William Lyndewood Proctor for the King who repeated a set form of Appeal in which he protested against the Decree as unjust for that this way of voting might hereafter be prejudicial to the King and the Rights of the Clergy and Parliament After this the Archbishop consulted with the Synod about nominating more Eight new Delegates nominated Delegates because several of those that were sent before were dead at Basil and eight Doctors of Divinity and both Laws were chosen who were to be sent to Basil provided the Fathers would admit them without imposing upon them any new Oath At this time our Affairs in France declin'd daily by the revolt of the chief Cities to King Charles who had been lately crown'd at Rhemes with great solemnity King Charles crown'd at Rhemes for which cause the Duke of Bedford who was lately come into England and his Brother the Duke of Glocester thought it expedient to raise a A new Army against France designed new Army here in England and John Stafford Bishop of Bath Lord Chancellor the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury the Lord Treasurer Cromwell and the Lords Scrope and Tiptoft were sent to the Synod Money desired of the Synod to desire Money of them The Chancellor in an elegant Speech laid before them the miserable state of Affairs in France and the poverty of the Exchequer and brought them to supply the Necessities of the King and Kingdom After a denial At first they absolutely refus'd to grant any Supply alledging that the Wealth of the Clergy was exhausted by their advancing Money continually for the use of the War by the Rapines of the King's Purveyors and by unjust Citations to the King's Courts But some other Lords soon after coming to them as the Earl of Huntington the Lords Hungerford Audly and Cornwallis who urg'd again the same Reasons and reckon'd up the extraordinary Benefits conferr'd on the Church by the Kings of England they They gave three quarters of a Tenth at length obtain'd three quarters of a Tenth For at that time the Clergy complain'd grievously of the unjust proceeding of the King's Judges and the The Grievances of the Church at that time common Lawyers That Priests against all Law and Equity were brought to their Secular Courts that the Power of the Ecclesiastical Judges was restrain'd by their unjust Prohibitions and particularly that by a fraudulent interpretation they wrested a strict Law of Richard the Second against Provisors and turn'd it upon those Persons who were Judges in the Spiritual Courts of those Causes which they pretended to belong to their Jurisdiction For which cause the Archbishop held another Synod at London the next Year on the 7 th of October where in a pathetical Speech he express'd how solicitous he was that the The Archbishop zealous to rescue her from the Oppressions of the Lawyers Church might receive no prejudice under his Government that it might be deliver'd from the illegal Oppressions of the Lawyers and restor'd to its ancient dignity and commanded them all to consider what measures were to be taken to ease the Clergy of the weight of these Oppressions But the Plague breaking out in the City the By reason of the Plague the Synod dissolved Synod was quickly dissolv'd having only appointed a Holiday to be kept in honour of S. Frideswide the Protectress of the Vniversity of Oxford and denounc'd excommunication against any one that should detract from the Privileges and Jurisdiction of the Church After this the Archbishop applied himself industriously to the Government of his Province and call'd never another Synod in three Years till the Necessities of the Exchequer call d upon the Clergy for a Supply to maintain the Charges of the War with France The Duke of Burgundy revolts to the French and Bedford dies The former occasion'd The revolt of the Duke of Burgundy to the French and the death of the Duke of Bedford which hapned the next Year gave a terrible blow to our Affairs in France For about that time by the mediation of Pope Eugenius and the Council of Basil Commissioners from our King from Charles King of France and the The ill success of the Treaty at Arras Duke of Burgundy met at Arras in order to treat of a Peace But the English and French not agreeing by reason of the extravagant Conditions demanded on either side the Burgundians at last went over to the French and soon after the Duke of Bedford fell sick and died whose death soon caus'd a great alteration in the posture of Affairs For the The English driven out of Paris c. next Year the People of Paris conspir'd privately together and drove the English out of the City and many other Towns being stirr'd up by their example and in a manner all the People of France as if they were impell'd by a And generally the French surrender'd to Charles fatal necessity surrender'd themselves to King Charles Wherefore to preserve the remains of our Dominion in France the Duke of Glocester with a great Army and a gallant Fleet sail'd over to Calais which A new English Army set sail for Calais was then besieg'd by the Duke of Burgundy and the King by Letters to the Archbishop of Canterbury press'd him to move the Clergy for a supply of Money for levying more men who having assembled the Bishops and Prelates of his Province at
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
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.
Cowrte wow it so be that many lych at London to pursue to my Lord your brother your Chaunceler and your Counseil for to have leve and letters of passage Werfore Soverain Lord my Lord your brother charged me write to you and in as miche as your letter forseid was direct to me to wite in wat wise we shol governe us herafter for if ye have resteyned our holy faders letters or written to him it is unknowen to us unto this time Like it therfore gracious Lord to write to my Lord your brother in wat maner wise this matier schal be governed hereafter Forthermore gracious Lord of trowth that I am bound to you be my ligeaunse and also to quite me to God the chirch of your lond of the wich God and ye gracious Lord have maked me governor howeth to open to you this matier that suyeth of the wich I have herd pribily but now it is more opend and in such wise that credence shold bee yive to by reson that is to seyne that my brother of Winchester shold be maked a Cardinal if ye wold give your asent therto and that he shold have his Bishoprich in comende for terme of his life and therto have a stat and sent to your rengme of Yngland as a legat a latere to the wich manier of legacie non hath be acustumed to be named but Cardinals and that legacie also to ocupie thorgh all your obeysaunce saunce and all the time of his life Sovereyn Lord and most Christien Prince what instanse schall be maad to your Hignesse for this matier I wot not but blessyd be Almightie God undir your worthie protection your Chirche of Yngland is at this day I dare boldly say the moost Honorable Chirche Christien as wee l as debin servise as honest living therof governed after streit lawes and holy constitutions that be maad of hem withowten any gret erorbitaunses or any thing that migt torne to by shlaundre of your forseid Chirch or of your lond and if any trespases of mannys frelte falleth we may be coretid and punished by the Ordinaries there as the caas falleth But wat that this offis of legacie to be ocupied in the forme aforseid and suich comendis of Bishopriches not used in your holy Aunsetres time here afore wold extend to or gendre ageines the good governanse of your subgets in your by wisdom I trist to God ye will consider And forasmich as ye schal be enformid what the office of suych manier of legacie extendith to and appyly your Clerhys have not in minde for it hath shelde be seyn and have not alle here bookys with hent pleynly to enforme you in this time of your grete labor I send you a scrowe writen with inne this letter conteyning that is expressed in the Popis lawe and fully concludyd be Doctors And over that what he may have in special of the Popis grace no man wot for it stond in his wille to dispose as hym good liheth And be inspection of lawes and cronicles was there never no Legat a latere sent in to no loud and specially in to your rengme of Yngland withowte great and notable cause And thei whan thei came after thei had done her legacie abiden but lytul wyle not over a yer and summe a quarter or two monethes as the nedes requeryd And yit over that he was tretyd with or he cant into the lond whon he schold have exercise of his power and how myche schold be put in erecucion An aventure after he had be reseyved he whold have used it to largely to greet oppression of your peple Wherefore moost Cristien Prince and Sovereyn Lord as your trewe Preest whom it hath lyked you to sette in so hy astaat the wych with owte your gracious Lordship and supportation I know my self insufficient to ocupie beseche you in the moost humble wyse that I can devise or thenke that ye wile this matier take tendirly at herte and see the staat of the Chirche be meyntenid and susteyuid so that everich of the Ministers theroffe hold hem content with her owne part for trewly he that hath leest hath inow to rekene fore And that your poore pepul be not pyled nor oppressyd with diverse eractious and unacustumed thorgh wych thei schold be the more feble to refresche you owre liege Lord in time of nede and when it lyketh you to clepe up on hem and alle plees and sklaundre cese in your Chirche Towchinge oure holy fadir the Popis Ambassiat that late cam in to your lond I wot wel my Lord your brother wryteth to you pleynly and also of odir governance of your lond the wych blessed be God stond in good quiet pees and reste withowte any grete ryotis or debatys and al your trewe peple have her herys opyn to here good tydinges of you and continuely pray for your prosperite and al yowrys the mych Almighty God graunte for his mercy Amen wryten at Lambyth vi day of March. Your Prest H. C. Indorsed Au Roy nostre Souverein S. The King was so mov'd with this Letter of the Archbishop's that he commanded the Bishop of Winchester not to take upon him the Cardinalship and protested several times that he had rather see him wear the Crown than the Cardinal's Cap. During the King's Life the Bishop desisted but now relying upon the Infancy of the King and the Favour of his Nephew the Duke of Bedford he attempted it again and was created Cardinal by the Pope with the Title of Priest of S. Eusebius which easily occasion'd their mistake who instead of Henry Bishop of Winchester relate that Henry Archbishop of Canterbury was made Cardinal of S. Eusebius who was a Man of such Piety and Moderation that he was never known to court a Preferment by which being engag'd in the Interests of the Pope he must necessarily have swerv'd from that Loyalty to his Prince which he had always preserv'd entire and untainted For he was a most vigorous Defender of the King's Authority and the Rights of the Kingdom against the Ambition of the Popes and the Oppressions of the Court of Rome by which at this very time he drew upon himself the heavy displeasure of Martin the Fifth For the University of Oxford by Letters bearing date the 24 th of July this Year interceded for him with Pope Martin in which after they had given him a very extraordinary Character calling him the mirror of Life the light of Manners a Person most dear to the People and Clergy a golden Candlestick set up in the Church of England they besought him that he would not suffer the Credit of so eminent a Prelate to be blasted by the secret Calumnies of Detractors to which purpose also in the Parliament at Westminster the House of Commons petition'd the King to send an Ambassador forthwith to the Court of Rome to intercede with the