Englands Grievances In TIMES of POPERY Drawn out of the Canon Law Decretal Epistles and Histories of those Times WITH REASONS why all Sober PROTESTANTS May Expect no better Dealing from the Roman-Catholicks Should GOD for their Sins suffer them to fall under the Popes Tyranny AGAIN Collected for the Information and Satisfaction of the English Nation at this Time LONDON Printed for Joseph Collyer and Stephen Foster and are to be sold at the Angel on London-Bridge a little below the Gate 1679. To his much Honoured Friends RICHARD DUKE of OTTERTON High-Sheriff of the County of DEVON AND TO CLEMENT HERNE of HAVERINGLAND In the County of NORFOLK ESQUIRES The AUTHOR Dedicateth this Insuing Treatise Intituled England's Grievances in Times of Popery ENGLAND'S Grievances in Times of POPERY SECTION 1. IT appeareth as well by the Pope's Laws delivered in Decretal Epistles which were particularly and upon sundry occasions directed to the Bishops and other Clergy-men of this Realm of England in Popish times as also by the report of our English Histories that at such time as the Bishop of Rome had his full sway in this Realm the Authority of the King was so obscured as there was hardly left any shew of his Sword and Dignity And on the other side the Subjects destitute of succour by their Natural Prince and left to a most miserable spoil and rapine of the Pope and of such as it pleased him to give them in prey whereof these special Grievances here collected may serve for testimony besides a number of others which come not to my memory but may be easily supplied by any indifferent mans careful Reading GRIEVANCES 1. The first Grievance was The Exemption of the Clergy Exemption of the Clergy who being a considerable part of the Realm by reason that great numbers as well looking to Preferments that then were bestowed upon that State as also drawn by Priviledges and Immunities which they infinitely enjoyed above others sought to be of that number were wholly exempt or at least so took themselves to be from all Jurisdiction of the King and his Justices not in Ecclesiastical Causes only as then they were termed but even in Causes Civil and in Matters of Crime though the same touched the Prince and his Danger in the highest degree The Popes Laws to this purpose are to be seen in C. Clerici extr de Judiciis C. seculares de foro competenti in 6o. and a special Constitution Provincial of this Realm made by Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury in the time of King Henry the Third in the Council of Westminster or Lambeth Anno 1270 or 1272. vid. Prynne's Exact History of Pope's Intollerable Usurpations upon the Liberties of the King and Subjects of England and Ireland Vol. 2. lib. 4. c. 3. Johan de Aton Constitut. Guil. Lindwood Touching the Practice it is recorded in the Decretals that Pope Alexander III. in the time of the Reign of King Stephen wrote to the Bishop of London to take Order by his Jurisdiction in a Civil Controversie of Goods left in the Custody of a Clerk c. 1. de Deposito Likewise it doth there appear that in the time of King Henry II. Pope Lucius III. wrote to the Bishops of Ely and Norwich to compel a Clerk to save his Sureties harmless And to like purpose he wrote in another Case to the Archbishop of Canterbury King Henry III. pretending Title by his Prerogative or by the Common Law to certain Lands which the Archbishop of Canterbury claimed to be parcel of the possessions of his Church was compelled to answer the Bishop in that Cause in the Court of Rome Mat. Paris fol. 494. Adam Tarlton or d'Orlton Bishop of Hereford in a Parliament â—olden at London in the year 1324 was accused of Treason against King Edward II. as having aided the Mortimers with Men and Money against that King Being brought before the King and claiming his Priviledge to be judged by the Pope he was forthwith rescued by the rest of the Clergy After a few dayes the King caused him to be brought before him and when he should have been arraigned a thing till that time never heard of that a Bishop should be arraigned the boldness of the three Archbishops of Canterbury York and Dublin was very strange for they with ten other Bishops with their Crosses erected came to the Bar before the Kings Justices and took him from thence into their own Custody In his absence he was attainted with High Treason notwithstanding and his Temporalties were seized into the King's hand until such time as the King much by his device and machination was deposed of his Kingdom But though the King took away his goods yet he was not suffered to meddle with his Body Tho. Walsingham Hist Angl. p. 98 99. SECT 2. Restrainâ— of making Laws â—or Poliâ—y 2. Whatsoever Laws the King in his Parliament made which in any sort impeached the Priviledge or Liberty of the Clergy or touched their Lands or Goods were for that time holden by the Pope and his Clergy void and of no force And it helped not the King how just cause soever he pretended of any right appertaining to his Ancestors For so are the Popes Laws in precise terms save that some of the later sort reserve to the King Laws touching Services and some other rights in Church lands c. qu. Ecclesiarum de Constâ—t c. Eccles Sanct. Alar c. Noverit c. Gravem de Sententia Excommunicationis And some Popes were so jealous over Princes in the Point that they refused to allow Laws by them made to the benefit of the Church As where Basil Lieutenant to Odoacer King of the Lombards provided by Law in favour of the Church that no Prescription should make his Title good who had bought ought of the Church the Pope misliking that a Lay-man should deal in those Causes disannulled the Law c. â—ene quidem Distinct 96. The pract ce of this injury is notable in the dealing of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury with King Henry II. For whereas the King in his Parliament had made very reasonable Laws in maintainance of the Ancient Rights of the Crown against the licentious Liberties claimed by the Clergy Among which one was That Clerks in Causes of Felony and Murthâ—r should be tried by the Laws of the Realm for that it was shewed unto the Parliament that then an hundred Mâ—rthers had been committed by Church-men So Nuburgensis noteth lib. 2. cap. 16. not duly punished whereto the said Archbishop and the rest of the Prelats gave their consents and bound themselves to the observation of them by their Oaths the Archbishop afterwards grudging at these Laws departed the Realm obtained at the Pope's hand Absolution from his Oath and forced the King to answer for those Laws in the Court of Rome where the King finding no favour that Garboil insued which after fell out betwixt the King the Pope and the Archbishop and many Murthers committed upon Clerks by the
that in it the Pope began to authorize Perjury and to dispense from Oaths See the 6th Question of the 15th Cause of the Decree which is full of such Examples But leaving this let us return to the Matter in hand how Thomas Becket was discharged of his Oath it hath been shewn before and the Examples be many of Subjects that have sought and obtained like Liberty at the Popes hands in matter of their Allegiance and Duty promised by Oath King John had taken an Oath to observe the Laws of King Henry the First of Edward the Confessor and the great Charter of Liberties but he violated this Oath and was absolved from it soon after by the Pope And we find that Pope Vrban the Fourth absolved King Henry the Third from his Oath made to his Subjects for the observation of certain Articles Mat. Paris fol. 1322. called The Provisions of Oxford whereâ—o he had condescended after long trouble for the peace and quiet of his People Pope Clement the V also did the like to King Edward the First touching his Oath which he had made to the Barons of this Realm Thomas Waisingham f. 61. SECT 11. 11. Princes Wars examined by the Pope c. Sicut extra in Jurejurando The Pope taketh upon him Authority to Examine Princes Titles and the Causes of their Wars and to compound their Controversies at his pleasure compelling them to abide his Order upon pain of Excommunication Interdiction c. A matter very dangerous considering the Corruption of Just ce in that See whereof there be so many Examples in Histories as would fill a large Treatise and that the Pope can hardly be indifferent his Affairs and State being such as they are for the most part linked with the one part or the other The claim of this Authorlty appeareth in c. Tram. Extra de ordine Cognition David Prince of North Wales having Wars with King Henry III committed himself his People and his Land into the hands of the Pope promising to hold his Right of him and to pay Five hundred Marks by the year Several Charters were made to the King by the Prince and Nobles of North Wales ratified by their Oaths and voluntary Submissions to Ecclesiastical Censures of Excommunication and Interdict by the Bishops therein nominated in case of Violation Matth. Paris p. 606 607. Mat. Westm p. 180 181 182. And the manner of his Oath is set down by Matth. Paris Et ad omnia firmiter tenenda Ego David juravi super crucem sanctam quam coram me feci deportari And firmly to hold all these things I David have sworn upon the Holy Cross which I have caused to be carried before me And the Reverend Father Howel Bishop of St. Asaph at my request saith David hath firmly promised in his Order that he will do all these things aforesaid and procure them to be observed by all the means that he can And Ednevet Wagan at my Command sware the same thing upon the Cross aforesaid But the Pope layeth hold of the Cause the Controversie being committed by him unto two of his Clergy Matth. Paris fol. 880 881. The King was called before them to answer David's complaint which the King seeing how small likelihood there was of Indifferency refused to do King Edward the First having war with Scotland and being far entred into the Land was by Commandement of the Pope enjoyned to leave off his wars against that Realm upon pretence that Scotland and the people thereof were by his special exemption discharged from all Authority of other Princes and appertained to his See Thomas Walsingham addeth That the King refusing thus to be ordered was moved thereto again by the Pope and commanded to receive Order by way of Justice in his Court The King having received Pope Boniface's Letters assembleth a Parliament at Lincoln by whose advice he addresseth Letters Responsal to the Pope And the Lords Temporal in the name of the whole Parliament answered the Pope That the King of England ought by no means to answer in judgement in any Case nor should bring his Rights into doubt nor ought to send any Proctors or Messengers to the Pope c. And that they will not suffer their Lord the King to do or by any means to attempt the premisses being so unaccustomed and not heard of before Dated at Lincoln in the year 1301 in the 28th year of the Reign of King Edward the First Walsingham fol. 41. But the same King in time of war with the French King was required on the behalf of Pope Boniface VIII by his Legat to put their whole quarrel to be by way of Arbitrament decided by the Pope And further he was enjoyned upon pain of Excommunication to take truce with the French King for two years whereto he gave place saith Thomas Walsingham SECT 12. 12. Another Grievance was Subjects departure out of the Realm against the Kings will The departure of Prelats and other of â—he Clergy forth of the Realm and leaving the service thereof against â—he Kings will Of which sort some voluntarily have gone upon coâ—our of devotion as Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury in the time of King William Rufus notwithstanding that he was expresly forbidden by the King and told that if he went he should no more return into his Realm departed from hence pretending that he went Matth. Paris fol. 29. Ad Visitandum Limina Apostolorum To visit the Thresholds of the Apostles It may be he pretended his Oath for at that time Bishops used to bind themselves by Oath that once every year they should visit the See of Rome except they be otherwise dispensed withal which Oath by the Canon Law is now taken by every Popish Bishop Ego N Episcopus N. ab hac hora in antea fidelis obediens ero beato Peâ—ro sanctaeque Apostolicae Romà nae Ecclesiae ac Domino nostro S. P. suisque Successoribus canonice intrantibus Non ero in consilio aut consensu vel facto ut vitam perdant aut membrum seu capiantur mala captione c. Others again have been called forth of the Realm to the Pope's service as Peter Bishop of Winchester in the time of King Henry the Third was called to Rome by the Pope pretending that he would imâ—loy him in compounding certain differences which were betwixt him and the Inhabitants of Rome and betwixt him and the Grecians But truly as Matthew Paris noteth the Pope knew him to be a very rich Bishop and therefore sent for him to Rome to assist him Matth. Paris fol. 549. not only with his Advice in his Military Affairs but also with his Purse against the Romans and Grecians And the Pope having made as much of him as he could for those ends importuned the King for his return into England which the King assenting to wrote thus to the Pope and Bishop Domino Papae Rex Claus 15 H 3. Part. 2. memb 2. intus
Lay-subjects who greatly stomached this Indignity offered to the King The Pope fearing two such Potentates as the Kings of England and France Mat. Paris Hist Angl. fol. 1 4 135. determineth to labour a Reconciliation betwixt the King and the Archbishop and to make the French King a Mediator for the Archbishop This he effected and brought the two Kings together at Paris Thither also came Thomas Becket who being come into the King's presence falling down upon his knees used these words My Lord and Soveraign I do here commit unto your own judgment the Cause and Controversie between us so far forth as I may salvo honore Dei savâ—ng the honour of God The King being much offended with that last Expression Salvo honore Dei turned himself about unto the French King and said See you not how he goeth about to delude me with this Clause Saving the honour of God for whatsoever shall displease him he will by and by alledge to be prejudicial to the honour of God But this I will say to you Godwin's Catalogue of English Bishops whereas there have been Kiâ—gs of England many before me whereof some were peradventure of greater power than I the most far less and again many Archbishops befâ—re this man holy and notable men Look what Duty was ever performed by the greatest Archbishop that ever was to the weakest and simplest of my Predecessors Hereunto the Archbishop answered cunningly and stoutly That the times were altered his Predecessors which could not bring all things to pass at the first dash were content to bear with many things and that as men they fell and omitted their Duty often times that what the Church had gotten was by the diligence of good Prelates whose Example he would follow thus far forth as that if he could not augment the Priviledges of the Church in his time yet ye would never consent they should be diminished This Answer being heard all Men cried shame upon him imputing the cause of these stirs upon him and so they parted at that time without reconciliation Another instance I will give namely that of Cardinal Pool who in the Dispensation granted to the Realm in the time of Queen Mary for determining Church Lands c. Doth therein plainly declare that it was of favour and in regard of the Peace of the Realm that he so dispensed otherwise all Laws made in derogation of the Churches Rights were void SECT 3. The King forbidden to levy Subsidies upon the Clergy So are his Laws in c. adversus Ext. de Immunitate Ecclesiarum c. 1. de Immunit Ecclesiar in sexto c. Clericis eâ—dem 3. The Pope dischargeth the Clergy from all Payments of Money imposed by any Temporal Prince be it by way of Taxe or of Subsidy or for what necessity of his Realm soever except the Pope be first made privy thereto and give his assent And Clerks yielding to such Imposition do thereby fall into the Popes Curse Roger Hovâ—den Annal pars posterior p. â—11 817 Matth Paris p. 146 157 194 Holmshed p. 1â— 163 170 Godwin in hâ—s Life King John demanding of his Subjects as well Spiritual as Temporal a thirteenth part of their Goods and Chattels Geoffery Plantaginet Archbishop of York the Kings base Brother opposed it So saith Mr. Prynne out of divers Authors That he obstructed the levying of Carvage demanded and granted to the King by common consent and paid by all others on the Demesne Lands of his Church or Tenants beating the Sheriff of York's Servants excommunicating the Sheriff himself by Name with all his Aiders and interdicted his whole Province of York for attempting to levy it Wherefore the King incensed for these intollerable Affronts summoned him to answer these high Contempts his not going over with him into Normandy when summoned and also to pay him 3000 Marks due to his Brother King Richard and by his Writs commanded all the Archbishops Servants where-ever they were found to be imprisoned as they were for beating the Sheriffs Officers and denying to give the King any of the Archbishops Wine passing through York summoned Geoffery into his Court to answer all these Contempts and â—ssued Writs to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to seize all his Goods Temporalties and to return them into the Exchequer which was executed accordingly The King and Queen repairing to York the next Mid-Lent the Archbishop upon more sober thoughts made his Peace with the King submitted to pay such a Fine for his Offences as four Bishops and four Barons elected by them should adjudge and absolved William de Stutvil the Sheriff and James de Paterna whom he had excommunicated and recalled his former Interdict King Edward the First was in a like case resisted by means of Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury For when the King in Parliament holden at St. Edmonds-bury demanded there a Subsidy of his Subjects the Temporalty yielded an Eighth part of the Goods of Citizens and Burgesses and of other Lay Persons the twelfth part but the Clergy encouraged by the Archbishop This is repâ—rted by William Thorn a Monk of Canterbury who had procured from Pope Boniface the VIII Immunity from Subsidies which I take to be the same that is before recited Ex. c. 1. de Immunitate Ecclesiarum in Sexto refused to yield any thing whereupon the King called another Parliament at London without the Clergy where the Goods of the whole Clergy were declared to be forfeited to the King so as afterwards most of the Clergy were content with any condition to redeem that forfeiture SECT IV. 4. Subjects Armed against their Soveraign The Kings own Subjects were by the Pope armed with Censures of Excommunication Interdiction c. by them to be denounced against him for redress of such wrongs as it pleaseth them to take themselves injured by Pope Innocent IV. hath decreed that a Prelate having wrong offered him by a Temporal Judge may defend himself with the Spiritual Sword of Excommunication c. Dilecto De sententia Excommunicationis in Sexto In the Fortieth year of King Henry the Third Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury made a large Constitution wherein he setteth forth how the Clergy shall proceed against the King by whose Writ a Clerk is called in his Court to answer for Matters pertaining to the Ecclesiastical Judge and declareth that it shall be lawful to interdict all the Kings Lands and Possessions This Archbishop had summoned a Council of Bishops and Archdeacons that like the Martyr Thomas saith Matthew Paris he might encounter the Enemies and Rebels of the Church and be a Wall of Defence unto it as was pretended The King directed his Prohibitions to him and the Bishops not to meet in this Council which they contemn The Articles and Canons made in that Council were against the Kings Prerogative Ecclesiastical and Temporal his Temporal Judges Courts Laws Prohibitions Writs and Judgments Exempting of themselves their Clerks Officers Lands and Goods from their Secular Jurisdiction
unite appropriate divide such Livings and do many strange things else about them no cause appearing to any man but his own will The Popes Legates also procured of the Kings of England Stipends and Provisions of good value out of Ecclesiastical Benefices and other Dignities Rustand the Popes Legate being in Favour with King Henry the Third procured from him besides the Livings he obtained by the Popes Provisions a Grant of Provisions out of the Ecclesiastical Benefices Dignities and Prependaries which should first happen in his own Gift amounting to 300 Marks by the year to be preferred before all others formerly granted by him one only excepted SECT 16. Souldiers mustered and sent out of the Realm 16. Soulders have been Mustered and sent to Foreign Wars out of the Realm upon the Popes Commandment which Case hapned in the time of King Richard the Second the Pope gathering within this Realm a Band of Souldiers for the Wars of the Holy Land and appointing them for their Captain the Bishop of Norwich The Realm generally misliked that their Souldiers should be committed to the Guidance of an Ecclesiastical Person unacquainted with the Wars and therefore resisted for awhile but at length suddenly yielded upon a superstitious Conceit taken in their Heads The Croisado's for the Relief of the Holy Land was a Papal Cheat for Popes and others to pick simple Christians Purses for Popes Designs to maintain Wars against Christian Emperors and Princes the Greek Church and the Albigenses detesting and opposing Papal Usurpations and Corruptions to inthral depose and murder them So great was Pope Innocent's Animosity against the Emperor Frederick that when Forces of the Croisado came out of France or England or other parts to sail into Syria to defend Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre against the Saracens he stopt them and gave them the same Graces and Indulgences as if they had performed the Journey into the Holy Land upon Condition that they should turn their Armes against Frederick whose Power lay upon him because he stiffly maintained the Rights of the Empire The Pope proceeded so far as to give the Empire to Robert Brother of Lewis IX King of France upon condition that he should conquer it But Robert sent his Present back to the Pope both because he sent him no Money to furnish him for that Conquest and because he found it very strange that the Pope would give that which was none of his Also because he shewed himself an Enemy to a great and vertuous Prince who had done and suffered so much bravely fighting for the Cause of the Christians against the Infidels Then he added That the Popes are lavish of the Blood of others and that their end is to tread all the Princes of the world under their feet and to put on the Horns of Pride Mean-while persecution grew sore against those whom they called Vaudeois and Albigenses against whom the Pope caused the Croâ—sado to be preached and an infinite number of them to be massacred Pope Gregory IX who compiled the Decretals needing Money for his War against the Emperor Frederick sent a Legat into Engâ—and named Stephen who exacted a tenth part of all their moveâ—ble Goods that is of all their Flocks Rents Fruits Wares Offerings and Gifts to the Church And the said Legat had power â—o Excomunicate all that should refuse to pay and to put the Churches in Interdict He injoyned the Prelates upon pain of Exâ—ommunication to make that Collection speedily and without â—elay All that should cross that Holy Work he Excommunicated â—pso facto He would be paid in new Coin and of good Weight He took the Tithe even of the Corn in the first Blade that is of â—he Crop of the year after In these Exactions he was so urgent and griping that the Parishes were forced to engage the Chalices and Church-Plate to satisfie his Covetousness And he had certain Usurers with him who lent Money upon double use to those who had no ready Money This caused a great Clamour and Lamentation over all the Countrey but without effect The Money was imployed by the Pope in inâ—ading many Towns belonging to the Emperor in Italy And the Emperor could not defend them because he was ingaged against â—he Saracens in the Levant where he took Jerusalem and put the Affairs of the Christians in a flourishing Estate And it is probable â—hat he had utterly destroyed the Saracens if the Injuries which he â—eceived from the Pope had not re-called him For the Emperor making a League for ten years with the Saracens and returning â—nexpectedly from the Holy Lâ—nd Mat. Paris p. 351 352. Matth Westm p. 128 129. interrupted the Popes proceedâ—ngs and soon recovered all his Castles so that the Pope was â—orced by meditation of Friends to stoop to the Emperor and make his Peace with him beyond all Expectation Scarce was the Collection ended made by Stephen the Legate when Pope Gregory inventing Extortions grounded upon fair Reaâ—ons sent Nuncios with power of Legats who by Sermons Exâ—ortations and Excommunications brought an infinite number of English Men to Mendicity and turned them out of their Houses This was done under a pretence of contributing to the expence of the Holy War of which himself hindered the success and yet he promised to them that should contribute Money for it the remission of â—ll their sins and to them that should go in Person an Augmentation of Glory yet the Pope never gave any part of the Money raised â—or that expedition to any Prince that paid Armies and sought â—or that Quarrel All was thrown into the Popes Coffers as into 〈◊〉 Gulph and by him imployed to make War against Frederick for he presently broke the Covenant sworn unto him The Treasure of the Realm spent in the Popes Wars Mat. Paris fol. 703 704. Moreover Wars made by the Pope were oftentimes supported at the Charges of Forreign Countreys the Pope bearing them in hand that they were the Wars of the Church and therefore did in common concern every of their States and Interests under which colour large Contributions have been drawn out of this Realm In the year 1240 the Pope forced all Aliens within this Realm to contribute to the Wars against Frederick the fifth part of the Revenues of their Spiritual Livings and in the same year took another fifth part of all Bishopricks to the same use The Pope ceased not thus but immediately commanded new Collections to be made still pretending his Wars with the Emperor against which Commandment the Clergy made divers Exceptions which are at large set down by Matth. Paris fol. 714. and 7â—5 Idem 1219. In the year 1255 Alexander IV. sent a Legate into the Realm who exacted the tenth part of all the Goods and Chatels in England Scotland and Ireland pretending the Church-wars against Manfred who had invaded the Kingdom of Naples which the Pope claimed to appertain to his See SECT 17. Sometimes again great sums were levyed
no other cause being known but the Popes pleasure Levies of Moneys to the Popes use without cause In the year 1245 the Pope demanded of all Clerks that were Non-resident half their Revenues and of those that were resident a third part Matthew Paris writeth that in the year 1257 the Popes Proctors sent with his Bulls into this Realm extorted of Clerks and Religious Persons great sums of Money and if any found themselves Grieved and offered to appeal they were forthwith by one Commission or other Excommunicated Mat. Paris fol. 1002. In the year 1248 he exacted of the Monastery of St. Edmondsbury the place of the Abbot being void 1000 Marks and would not confirm the Election of the new Abbot until the Monks had promised to pay 800 Marks In the Reign of King Edward the Second Pope John XXII reserved to his See the First-fruits of all vacant Benefices for the space of three years At that time also certain Usurers set up in England called Caursins who by Usuries and strange Arts devised in Italy did eat up the poor People and the Clergy The King himself was much indebted to them The Bishop of London would have repressed them but because they were maintained by the Pope he was not able to efâ—ect it The Franciscans and Dominicans preached up the Popes Power â—nd drew all the Confessions to themselves and every day obtained â—riviledges to the prejudice of the Parochial Priests who became â—lmost useless The State of England was deplorable for hungry â—talians of the baser sort with Bulls and Warrants from the Pope came daily to fleece the People and to raise such sums of Money â—s they would demand upon the Clergy If any denied what they demanded he was presently Excommunicated And they that held the great Benefices were Strangers who were but the Popes Farmers This caused Matthew Paris that lived then and beheld these things to lament That the Daughter of Sion was become like a shameless Harlot that could not blush by the just Judgment saith he of hâ—m that made an Hypocrite to reign and a Tyrant to domineer Sometimes the Pope made his advantage by Grants made to other Bishops to spoil the Realm as to the Bishop of Rochester whose Name was Laurentius de Sancto Martino a Chaplain and Counsellour of King Henry the Third This Man got a Dispensation from the Pope to hold all his former Livings in Commendam with this Bishoprick And yet alledging that his Bishoprick was the poorest of England and therefore his Living yet unable to maintain the Port of a Bishop he never ceased till he had extorted from the Clergy of his Diocess a Grant of a fifth part of all their Spiritual Livings for five years and appropriated unto his See for ever the Parsonage of Friends-bury The Pope at the same time granted a Bull to the Archbishop of Canterbury to collect the Fruits of all vacant Benefices within his Province for one year Mat. Paris fol. 1000. SECT 18. The way that yielded to the Pope his greatest Harvest The Popes Legats was by Legats sent into this Realm for they coming hither under a plausible title of care to reform things that were amiss within the Realm and the presence of a Legate having an Authority little inferior to the Pope himself being terrible to the Subject they had opportunity not only to gather to their Masters whatsoever they liked to demand but also prevailed intollerably for themselves and some of them with such insolence as it is strange that any Prince could ever suffer them in his Realm I shall here speak something of the Original of these Legats and shew how by degrees the Legati à latere were brought in Authority amongst the Nations and how they did inlarge the Popes Phylacteries At first because Rome was the chief City of the Empire from thence as from a Seminary were preachers sent to sundry Nations to preach and plant the Gospel or to confute Heresies afterwards to provide vacant Benefices and to supply the absence of the Roman Bishop in Synods in all which they did no other thing but as other Bishops might have done and also did But when the Bishops of Râ—me were made Patriarchs and became ambitious these Legats did the same Offices at some times but therewith they began craftily to injoyn unto Archbishops and Metropolitans to execute some things which they were commanded by the Word of God to do and they would give them power within their own Diocesses as if Bishops had been Vicars of the Roman Patriarchs or his Legat. Petrie's Church History p. 272. These Primats did gladly imbrace the show of Honour that for reverence of the Roman Church they might be the more respected in their own Jurisdiction and sometimes the more easily advance themselves above their Competitors Sometimes the Popes sent Legats into other Diocesses with such modesty that they had Authority to attempt nothing without concurrence of the Bishops or Synod of that Countrey Albeit these Legations were partly good and just and at the worst were tollerable yet they were not potestativae or imperious but charitativae or exhortatory nevertheless the Popes brought the Churches and Bishops into subjection by such means for afterwards they were sent only for ambitious Usurpation Covetousness and Worldly Affairs The ordinary Legats at Pisa Romandiola Bononia Ferrara Avignon and if there be any other such are Provincial Deputies Praetores or Vice-Roys The Nuncio's at the Court of the Emperor or of any King Prince or State are Ambassadors or Spies for Secular Affairs The Affairs of any Church that are gainful if they be of less account are reserved unto the Judgment of the Nuncio yet not definitively but to be determined at Rome And things of greater importance are wholly reserved for the Court of Rome The Ancient Bishops of Rome did severely injoyn their Legats to acknowledge duly the inferior Bishops within their own Jurisdiction but now they pass by the Metropolitans and draw all Actions unto themselves and the Court of Rome Likewise their Ambition and Avarice have so provoked some Nations that they will scarce â—it any Legat as Sicily and France have intrenched their Office â—â—e particultrs are more largely written by Antonius de Dominis â—hbishop of Spalato de Republ. Ecclesiast lib. 4. cap. 12. â—f these some had the Titles and Ensigns others the power of â—ats or more without the Title or Badges Some were sent â—essively into England Wales Ireland France and elsewhere â—ublish Popes Excommunications Interdicts Bulls Croisados â—ms Suspensions Citations Mandats c. to and against Emâ—â—â—ors Kings Princes Bishops Abbots Priors and all sorts of â—sons to exact collect Moneys Pillage Sacred Churches â—â—nasteries Mansions founded by our devout simple Ancestors for â—â—ief of the poor of Strangers and Sustentation of Religious â—â—rsons c. â—t was an Ancient Priviledge of the Kings of England and Scotâ—â—â—d that no Legat à latere should come into any of