change en cest point per reason quant il est endow a luy ses successors perpetualment Et ceo fuit le substance des arguments ex vtraque parte fait en cest Case Car nul Idgement est vncor 〈◊〉 one en ceo I Atturney generall Bolton Recorder de Dublin Oliuer Eustace â—e Ciuilian suero â—t a Counsell le oâ—e Clark del Roy William Talbot â—ames Briuer Iohn Haly Doctor del Ciuil ley ove les defendants Hill 4. Iacobi The Case of Praemunire or The Conuiction and Attainder of Robert Lalor Priest being endited vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap 5. Of what quality credit Robert Lalor was THis Robert Lalor being a Natiue of this Kingdome receaued his Orders of priesthood aboue 30 years since at the haÌ„ds of one Richard Brady to whome the Pope had giuen the title of Bishop of Kilmore in Vâ—ster for the space of twenty yeares together his authority and credit was not 〈◊〉 within the Prouince of Leinster Hee had also made his name knowen in the Court of Rome held intelligence with the Cardinall who was Protector of this nation by meanes whereof hee obtained the title and iurisdiction of Vicar generall of the Sea Apostolike within the Archbyshopricke of Dublin and the Pyshopricks of Kildare and Fernes This pretended iurisdiction extending welny ouer all the Prouince of â—einster hee exercised boldly and securely many yeares together vntill the proclamation was published whereby all Iesuites and Priests ordained by forreine authority were commaunded to depart out of this kingdome by a certaine time prefixed After which time hee began to lurke to change his name howbeit at last he was apprehended in Dublin and committed to prison in the Castle there His apprehension and first examsnation Vppon his first examination taken by the Lord Deputie himselfe hee acknowledged that hee was a Priest and ordained by a popish Titulari Bishop that hee had accepted the title and Office of the Popes Vicar generall in the. 3. Dioceses before named and had exercised spirituall iurisdiction in foro conscientia and in sundry other points hee maintained and iusti fied the Popes authority onely hee said hee was of opinion that the Pope had no power to excommunicate or depose his Maiestie because the King is not of the Popes Religion His first in â—â—…ment conuiction The next terme after hee was indicted vppon the statute of 2. Eliz. enacted in this Realme against such as should wilfullie and aduisedly maintaine and vphould the iurisdiction of any foreine Prince or Prelat in any Causes Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this Realme By which statute the first offence of that kind is punished with losse of goods and one yeares imprisonment the second offence incurreth the penaltie of the Praemunire And the third offence is made high Treason Vppon this Indictment hee was arrained conuicted and condemned and so rested in prison during the next two Tearmes without any further question His second examination He then made peticion vnto the Lord Deputie to be set at libertie wherevppon his Lordship caused him to be examined by Sir Olliuer Seint Iohn Sir Iames Fullerton Sit Iefferie Fenton the Atturney Solicitor generall At first he made some euasiue and indirect aunsweres but at last voluntarily and freely he made this ensuing acknowledgement or confession which being set downe in writing word for word as hee made it was aduisedly read by him and subscribed with his owne hand and with the hands of those who tooke his examination and afterwards hee confirmed it by his oath before the Lord Deputie and Connsell The confession or acknowledgement of Robert Lalor Priest made the 22. of December 1606. His confession or acknowledgement FIrst hee doth acknowledge that hee is not a lawfull Vicar generall in the Dioceses of Dublin Kildare and Fernes and thinketh in his conscience that hee cannot lawfully take vppon him the said Office Item hee doth acknowledge our Soueraigne Lord King Iames that now is to bee his lawfull cheefe and Supreme gouernour in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and that hee â—is bound in conscience to obey him in all the said causes and that neither the Pope nor any other forreine Prelate Prince or Potentate hath any power to controll the King in any cause Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this kingdome or any of his Maiesties Dominions Item he doth in his conscience beleeue that all Bishops ordained and made by the Kings authority within any of his Dominions are lawfull Bishops and that no Bishop made by the Pope or by any authority deriued from the Pope within the Kings Dominions hath any power or authority to impugne disanull or controll any Act done by any Bishop made by his Maiesties authority as aforesaid Item he professeth himselfe willing and ready to obey the King as a good and obedient Subiect ought to doe in all his lawfull commaundements either concerning his function of priesthood or any other duty belonging to a good subiect After this confession made the State heere had no purpose to proceed against him seuerely either for his contempt of the proclamation or offence against the law So as hee had more liberty then before and many of his friends had accesse vnto him who telling him what thy heard of his confession hee protested vnto them that hee had onely acknowledged the Kings Ciuill and Temporall power without any confession or admittance of his authority in spirituall causes This being reported vnto the Lord Deputie by sundry gentlemen who gaue faith vnto what hee said his Lordship thought sitt that since hee had incurred the paine of Praemunire by exercising Episcopall iurisdiction as Vicar generall to the Pope that hee should bee attainted of that offence as well to make him an example to others of his profession for almost in euerie Dioces of this kingdome there is a Titulary Bishop ordained by the Pope as also that at the time of his triall a iust occasion might bee taken to publish the confession and acknowledgment which hee had voluntarily made signed and confirmed by oath before the Lord Deputie and Counsell who haue likewise subscribed their names as witnesles thereof The inditement of Lalor vpon the statut of 16 Rich. 2. Heerevppon in Hillary Tearme 4 Iacobi an inditement was framed against him in the Kings Bench vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap. 5. containing these seuerall points 1 That he had receaued a Bull or Breefe purchased or procured in the Court of Rome which Bull or Breeue did touch or concerne the Kings Crowne and dignitie Royall conteining a Commission of Authoritie from the Pope of Rome vnto Richard Brady and Dauid Magragh to constitute a Vicar generall for the Sea of Rome by the name of the Sea Apostolike in the seuerall Dioceses of Dublin Kildare and Fernes within this Kingdome of Ireland 2 That by pretext or collour of that Bull or
conscience he could not lawfully take vpon him the said office He hath also acknowledged our Souerainge Lord King Iames to be his lawfull Chiefe and Supreame Gouernour in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and that hee is in conscience bound to obey him in all the said causes and so forth as it is conteined in his acknowledgment or confession before set downe which being shewed foorth by the Atturney generall the court caused it to be publikly read and therevppon demanded of Lalor if that were not his free and voluntarie confession signed with his owne hand and confirmed by his oath before the Lord deputie and Counsell He was not a little abashed at the publishing of this acknowledgment confession in the hearing of so many principall gentelmen to whome hee had preached a contrary doctrine therefore said he the shewing foorth of this confession is altogether impertinent and besides the matter Howbeit he could not deny but that he made it and signed it and swore it as it was testified by the Lord deputy and the rest Then was it demanded of him whither since the making of this confession he had not protested to diuers of his friends that he had not acknowledged the Kings supremacie in Ecclesiasticall causes his aunswer was that indeede he had said to some of his frends who visited him iâ— the Castle of Dublin that he had not confessed or acknowledged that the King was his Supreame Gouernour in spirituall causes for that the trueth is in the confession there is no mention made of spirituall causes but of Ecclesiasticall This is a subtile euasion indeede said the Atturney generall I pray you what difference doe you make betweene Ecclesiasticall causes and spirituall causes This question said Lalor is sudden and vnexpected at this time and therfore you shall doe well to take another day to dispute this point Nay said the Atturney generall we can neuer speake of it in a better time or fitter place and therefore though you that beare so reuerend a title and hold the reputation of so great a Clearke require a further time yet shall you heare that wee laymen that serue his Maiestie and by the dutie of our places are to maintaine the iurisdiction of the Crowne are neuer so vnprouided but that we can say somewhat touching the nature and difference of these causes When the distinction of Ecclesiasticall and spirituall causes from Ciuill and temporall causes begaÌ„ in the world First then let vs see when this distinction of Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes from Ciuill and temporall causes did first begin in point of iurisdiction Assuredly for the space of three hundred yeares after Christ this distinction was not knowen or heard of in the Christian world For the causes of Testaments of Matrimony of Bastardy and Adultery and the rest which are called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes were meerely ciuill determined by the rules of the ciuill lawe and subiect onely to the iurisdiction of the Ciuill Magistrate as all Ciuillians will testifie with mee But after that the Emperours had receaued the Christian faith out of a zeale and desire they had to grace and honor the learned and godly Bishops of that time they were pleased to single out certaine speciall causes wherein they graunted iurisdiction vnto the Bishops namely in cases of Tieths because they were paid to men of the Church In causes of Matrimony because mariages were for the most part solemnized in the Church In causes Testamentary because testaments were many times made in extremis when Churchmen were present giuing spirituall comfort to the testator and therefore they were thought the fittest persons to take the probates of such testaments Howbeit these Bishops did not proceed in these causes according to the Canons and decrees of the Church for the Canon lawe was not then hatched or dream't of but according to the rules of the Imperiall law as the Ciuill magistrate did proceed in other causes neither did the Emperours in giuing this iurisdiction vnto them giue away their owne Supreme and absolute power to correct and punish these iudges as well as others if they performed not their seuerall duties This then is most certaine that the primitiue iurisdiction in all these causes was in the Ciuill magistrate and so in right it remaineth at this day and though it be deriued from him it remaineth in him as in a fountaine For euery Christian monarch as well as the godly Kings of Iuda is custos vtriusque tabulâ— coÌ„sequently hath power to punish not onely Treason Murder Theft and all manner of force fraude but incest adultery vsury periury simony sorcery idolatry blasphemy neither are these causes in respect of their owne quality and vature to bee distinguished one from another by the names of Spirituall or Temporall For why is adultery a spirituall cause rather then murther when they are both offences a like against the second table or idolatry rather then periury being both offences likewise against the first table And indeede if wee consider the natures of these causes it will seeme somewhat absurd that they are distinguished by the name of spirituall teÌ„porall for to speake properly that which is opposed to spirituall should be tearmed carnall And that which is opposed to temporall should be called eternall And therefore if things were called by their proper names adultery should not be called a spirituall offence but a carnall But shall I expresse plainely and breefely why these causes were first denominated some spirituall or Ecclesiasticall and others temporall and ciuill Truely they were so called not from the nature of the causes as I said before but from the quality of the persons whome the Prince had made iudges in those causes The Cleargie did study spirituall things and did professe to liue secundum spiritum and were called spirituall men and therefore they called the causes wherein Princes had giuen them iurisdiction spirituall causes after their owne name and qualitie But because the Lay magistrates were said to intend the things of this world which are temporall and transitory the Cleargie called them secular or temporall men and the causes wherein they were iudges temporall causes This distinction began first in the Court of Rome where the Cleargie hauing by this iurisdiction gotten great wealth their wealth begott pride their pride begott ingratitude towards Princes who first gaue them their iurisdiction then according to the nature of all vngratefull persons they went about to extinguish the memory of the benefit for whereas their iurisdiction was first deriued from Caesar in the execution whereof they were Caesars iudges so as both their Courts and causes ought still to haue borne Caesars image and superscription as belonging vnto Caesar They blotted Caesars name out of the style of their Courts and called them Courts Christian as if the Courts holden by other magistrates had beene in comparison but Courts of Ethnickes and the causes which in their nature were meerely Ciuill they called Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall So as if the Emperour should challenge his Courts and causes againe and say Reddite Caesarâ— quaesunt Caesaris they would all cry out on the contrarie part and say date Deo quaesunt Dei our courts beare the name and title of Christ the superscription of Caesar is quite worne out and not to be found vppon them And this point of their policy is worth the obseruing that when they found their iurisdiction in matrimoniall causes to be the most sweete and gainefull of all other for of Matrimony they made matter of money indeede to the end that Caesar might neuer resume so rich a perquisite of their spirituall iurisdiction they reduced Matrimony into the nuÌ„ber of the seuen Sacraments After which time it had beene sacriledge if the ciuill magistrate had intermedled with the least matter that had relation to Matrimony or any dependancy there vppon So then yet appeareth that all causes whereof Eccicsiasticall or spirituall persons haue cognisans or iurisdiction by the graunts or permission of Princes are called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes And as all their courts are called spirituall courts so all causes determinable in those courts are called spirituall causes And therefore where Maister Lalor hath acknowledged the Kings Maiestie to be Supreame gouernour in all Ecclesiasticall causes he hath therein acknowledged the Kings supremacy in all spirituall causes wherein he hath but reÌ„dered to Caesar but that which is Caesars and hath giuen vnto his Maiestie no more then all the Bishops of England haue yeelded to his predecessors not onely in this later age but also in former times both before and since the Conquest as hath beene before at large expressed Heere the daie being farre spent the Court demaunded of the prisoner if hee had any more to say for himselfe his answere was that he did willingly renounce his office of Vicar generall And did humbly craue his Maiesties grace and pardon And to that end he desired the Court to moue the Lord Deputie to bee fauorable vnto him Then the â—ury departed from the Barre and returning within halfe an houre found the prisoner guilty of the contempts whereof he was indicted Where vppon the Sollicitor generall moued the Court to proceed to iudgement And Sir Dominicke Sarsfield knight one of the Iustices of his Maiesties chiefe place gaue iudgement according to the forme of the statute where vppon the indictment was framed Printed at Dublin by Iohn Franckton printer to the Kings most excellent Maiesty for Ireland Anoo 1615.
authoritas ibi non est parendi necessitas ne unposeses leyes al primes peremptoriment sur touts gents fans distinction mes offer eux timide precario Et pur ceo primermeâ—t il causast certeine rules desâ—re collect pur le government del Clergy tantum queux il appell Decreta 〈◊〉 nemi leges vel statuta Ceux Decrees fueront publish en l'an 1150. que fuit durant le Raigne del Roy Stephen pur ceo ou le Seignior Cooke ad noate en le Preface al. 8. part de ses Reports quod Rogorus Bacon frater ille per quam eruditus in libro de impedimentis sapientiae dicit Rex quidem Stephanus allatis legibus Italiae in Angliam publico edicto prohibuit ne ab aliquo detinerentâ—r fuit probablement coniecture que ceo est destre entend de ceux Decrees queux fueront adonques novelmeÌ„t compile publish Uncor ceux Decrees esteant receave observe per le Clergy des Western Esglises tantum car le East Church ne vnques receavoit ascuns de ses rules ou Canons Kellawayes Rep. 7. Henr. 8. fol. 184. l'Evesque de Rome attempt auxi de trahir le Liaty al obedience de ses ordinances per degrees a cest intent primerment il propound certein rules ou ordinances pur abstinence ou iours de fasting destre observe per le Laity cibien que per le Clergy queux fueront sur le primer institution appell per vn gentle parol Rogationes come Marsilius Pat. libr. Defensor pacis part 2. cap. 23. ad observe inde come semble le semaigne de abstinence prochein devant le feast de Penthecost fuit appell le Rogation weeke cest temps de abstinence esteant appoint al comencement per tiel Ordinance que fuit appell Rogatio nemi praeceptum vol statutum Quant les lay homes de lour devotion avoent receave obey ceux ordinances d'abstinence donques l'Euesque de Rome passoit ousteâ— de vna praesumptione ad aliam transiuit Romanus Pontifex come Marsil Pat. la dit fesoit plusors rescripts orders per nomen Decreâ—alium queux fueront publish en l'An 1230. que fuit Anno 14. Henr. 3. aut eo circiter vid. Matth. Paris histor magn 403. ceux fueront faiâ— de lier tout le laytie cybien Soueraigne Princes come lour subiects en tiels choses queux concernont lour civill teÌ„porall estates Come que nul lay home averoit le donation del Ecclesiasticall benefice que nul lay home marrioit deins certein degrees ouster les degrees limitt per la Leuiticall ley que touts enfants nees devant espousels serront adiudge apres les espousels legitimate capable de temporall enheritance que touts Clerks serront exempt de secular power auters de mesine le nature Mes ceux Decretalls esteant publish ne fueront entirement absolutement receave obey en aicun part de Christendome mes solement en le temporall Territory del Pape que est appell per les Canoâ—isis Patria obedientiae Mes del auter part plusors de ceux Canons fueront tout ousterment reiect disobey en France Engleterre auters Christian Realmes queux sont appell patriae consuetudinariae Come le Canon que prohibuit le donation des benefices per manum laicam fuit toutsfoits disobey en France en Engleterre le realme de Naples divers auters Countries Common-weales Et le Canon de fairles enfanâ—s legâ—timate queux sont nees devant espousels fuiâ— specialment reiect en Engleterre quant en le Parliament tenus al Merton omnes Comites Barones vna voco responderuÌ„t nolumus leges Angliae mutari quae huc vsque vsitatae sunt c. Et le Canon que exempt Clerks de secular power ne fuit vnques pleinment observe en ascun part de Christendome Kellaway 7 Henr. 8. 181. b. que est vn infallible argument que ceux ordinances navoent lour force per ascun authority que le Court de Rome ad de imposer leyes sur touts nations sans â—our consent Mes per l'approbation vsage del people que ceux ad receave vse Car per mesine le reason que ils puissoâ—t 〈◊〉 er vn Canon ils puissont reiecter touts les auters vid. Bodin lib. 1. de Rep. cap. 8. on il dit que les Royes de France sur erection de â—onts Universities la â—nt declare en lour Charters que ils voylent receaver le profession del Ciuill Canon leyes pur vser a lour discretion nemi desire oblige per ceux leyes Mes quant a ceux Canons queux fueront receave accept vse en ascun Christian Realme ou common-weale ceux per tiel acceptation vsage ont obtaine le force de leyes en tiel particular Realme ou slate sont deveigne part des Ecclesiasticall leyes de tiel Nation Et issint ceux que fueront embrace allow vse en Engleterre fueront fait per tiel allowance vsage part de les Ecclesiasticall leyes D'engleterre Per que l'interpretation dispensation ou execution de ceux Canons esteant devenus leyes D'engleterre apperteignoit solement al Roy D'engleterre ses Magestrates deins ses Dominions il ses magistrates avoent sole Irisdiction en tiels cases l'Evesque de Rome n'ad â—ien a fair en l'interpretation dispensation oâ— execution de ceux leyes en Engleterre coment que fueront primerment devise en le Court de Rome Nient plus que le cheefe Magesirate del Athens ou Lacedaemon puissoit claimer Irisdiction en l'auncient Citty de Rome pur ceo que les leyes de les 12. Tables fueront apprompt import de ceux Cittyes de Greece Et nient plus que le Maister del New Colledge en Oxford avera commaund ou Irisdiction en le Kings Colledge de Cambridge pur ceo que les private statutes per que le Kings Colledge est govern fueront pur le plus part borrow prise hors del liver de foundation del New Colledge en Oxford Et certes per cest reason l'Emperour puissoit claimer Irisdiction en Maritime causes deins les Dominions del Roy D'engleterre pur ceo que nous avomus de long temps receave admitt l'imperiall ley pur le determination de tiels causes vid. Cawdreys Case en le 5. part des Reports dele Seignior Cooke Kellawayes Reports 184. a. Uncor l'Evesque de Rome perceavant que plusors de ses Canons fueront receave vse per divers nations de Christendome per colour de ceo il claimoit d'aver Etclesiasticall Irisdiction en chescun Realme State ou ses Canons fueront receave misoit ses Legates ove severall commissions en severall realmes de Christendome de over determiner causes solonque ceux Canons queux Canons coment que le Pape ne ses ministers sur le primer venting vtterance
n'oseront appeller leyes Ne committerent crimen laesae Maiestatis in Principes come Marsil Pat. ad bien observe libr. Defensor Pacis part 2. cap. 23. que dit auxi la que ceux Canons entant que sont fait per le Pape neque sunt humanae leges neque diuinae sed documenta quaedam narrationes Uncor quant il perceavoit que ceux Canons fueront receave allow vse en part per severall nations il compile eux en volumes appell eux Ius Canonicum ordaine que serront lyes expound en publik Schooles Universities come l'Imperiall ley fuit lie expound commaund que serront obey per touts Christians sur paine de excommunication contend sovent foits de metter eux en execution per coactive power assume sur luy de interpreter abrogater dispenser ove ceux leyes en touts les Realmes de Christendome a son pleasure i sint que les Canonists ascribont a luy cest prerogative Papa in omn bus pure positiuis in quibusdam ad ius diuinum pertinentibus dispensare potest quia dicitur omnia iura habere in scrinio pectoris sui quantum ad interpretationem dispensationem libr. 6. de Const cap. licet Pur le temps Anno. 25. Ed. 1. Simon vn Moigne de Walden commenâ—â—oit de lier le Canon ley en le University de Cambridge vid. Stow Walsingham en meime l'Au le Manusc libr. 6. Decretal en le Library Noui Coll. Oxon. ad cest inscription in fronte Anno Domini 1298. que fuit l'An 26. Edw. 1. 19. Nouembr in Ecclesia fratrum Praedicator Oxon. fuit facta publicatio lib. 6. Decretal per que appiert quant le Canon ley fuit introduce en Engleterre Mes le Irisdiction que le Pape per colour de ceo claimoit en Engleterre fuit vn meer vsurpation a quel les Royes D'engleterre de temps en temps fesoent opposition iusques al temps del Henr. 8. Et certes le Idgment del Parliament expresse en le Preamble de cest Statut de faculties est notable a cest purpose Ou est recite que l'Evesque de Rome ad deceave abuse les subiects del Corone D'engleterre Pretending and persuading to them that hee had full power to dispense with all humane lawes vses customes of all Realmes in all causes which bee called Spirituall which matter hath beene vsurped and practised by him and his predecessors for many yeares to the great derogation of the Imperiall Crowne of England For whereas the said Realme of England recognising no superior vnder God but the King hath beene yet is free from subiection to any mans lawes but onely to such as haue beene deuised made and ordained within this Realme for the wealth of the same or to such other as by sufferaÌ„ce of the King his progenitors the people of this Realme haue taken at their free libertie by their owne consent to bee vsed among them haue bound themselues by long vse custome to the obseruance of the same not as to the obseruance of the lawes of any forein Prince Potentate or Prelate but as to the accustomed auncient lawes of this Realme originally established as lawes of the same by the said sufferance consent custome not otherwise it standeth with naturall equity good reason that all such humane lawes made within this Realme or induced into this Realme by the said sufferance consent custome should bee dispensed with abrogated amplified or diminished by the King his Parliament or by such persons as the King Parliament should authorise c. vid. 21. H. 7. 4 a. ou est dit que certeine priests fueront deprive de lour benefices per Act de Parliament en temps R. 2. Per que fuit conclude que le Roy D'engleterre nemi le Pape devant le fesans de cest Statute de faculties puissoit de iure dispenser ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley en cest auters cases Car coment que plusors de nostre Ecclesiasticall leyes ont estre primerment devise en le Court de Rome vncor ceux esteant establish confirme en cest realme per acceptance vsage sont ore devenus English leyes ne serront amplius repute Romish Canons ou Constitutions Come Rebuffus parlant de regula Cancellariae Romanae de verisimili notitia haec regula dit il vbique in regno FraÌ„ciae est recepta est lex Regni effecta obseruatur tanquam lex regni non tanquam Papae regula Papa eam reuocare non potest Et pur ceo l'Ecclesiasticall ley que ordaine que quant home est create en Evesque que touts ses inferior benefices serront void est soventfoits dit en le Case del Evesque de S. Dauids 11. Henr. 4. destre l'auncient ley D'engleterre Et 29. Edw. 3. 44. a. en le Case del Praebend de Oxgate est dit que le constitution que ouste pluralities comenceoit en le Court de Rome vncor vn Esglise fuit adiudge void en Banke le Roy pur cel cause Per que appiert que depuis que cest Constitution fuit receave allow en Engleterre ceo fuit devenus ley D'engleterre vid. statutum de Bigamis cap. 5. ou le Roy son Counsell en Parliament declaroâ—t coment vn Canon fait en le Counsell de Lions serroit interpret expound De Bigamis quos Dominus Papa in Concilio suo Lugdunensi omni priuilegio suo Clericali priuauit per constitutionem inde editam vnde quidam Praelati illos qui effecti fuerunt Bigami ante praedictam constitutionem quando de felonia rectati fuerunt tanquam Clericos elegerunt sibi deliberandos concordatum est declaratum coram Rege Consilio quod constitutio ista intelligenda sit quod siue effecti fuerint Bigami ante praedictam constitutionem siue post de caetero non liberentur Praelatis sed fiat de ijs iustitia sicut de laicis Uncor touts les Ecclesiasticall leyes D'engleterre ne fueront dirive apprompt del Court de Rome Car long temps devant que le Canon ley fuit authorise publiâ—â— que fuit depuis le Norman Conquest come devant est moÌ„stre les auncient Royes D'engleterre viz. Edgar Athelstan Alfred Edw. le Confessor auters ont ove l'advise de lour Clergy deins le Realme fait divers ordinances pur le government del Esglise D'engleterre depuis le Conquest divers Provinciall Synodes ont estre tenus plusors constitutions on t estre fait en ambideux Realmes D'engleterre Ireland touts queux sont part de nostre Ecclesiasticall leyes a cest iour vid. le Chart. de William le Conquerour dat Anno Domini 1066. irrot 2. R. 2. enteries Charters in Archiu Turris London pro Decano
Breeue hee was constituted Vicar generall of the Sea of Rome and tooke vppon him the stile and title of vicar generall in the said seuerall dioceses 3 That hee did exercise Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as Vicar generall of the Sea of Rome by instituting diuers persons to benefices with cure of soules by graunting dispensations in causes Matrimoniall by pronouncing sentences of diuorce betwene diuers married persons and by doing all other actes and things pertayning to Episcopall iurisdiction within the said seuerall Dioceses against our Souerainge Lord the King his Crowne and dignitie Royall and in contempt of his Maiestie and disherison of his Crowne and contrary to the forme and effect of the statute c. To this inditement Lalor pleaded not guiltie and when the issue was to bee tried the name and reputation of the man and the nature of the cause drewe all the principall gentlemen both of the Pale and Prouinces that were in towne to the hearing of the matter At what time a substantiall lury of the Cittie of Dublin being sworne for the triall and the points of the Inditement being opened and set forth by the Kings Seriant the Atturney generall thought it not impertinent but very necessary before hee descended to the perticular enidence against the prisoner to informe and satisfie the hearers in two points Why Lalor was indited vppon the old statute of 16 R. 2. 1 What reason moued vs to grounde this inditement vppon the olde statute of 16 Richard 2. rather then vppon some other later lawe made since the time of King Henr. 8. 2 What were the true causes of the making of this lawe of 16. Rich. and other former lawes against Prouisors and such as did appeale to the Court of Rome in those times when both the Prince and people of England did for the most part acknowledge the Pope to be the thirteenth Apostle and only oracle in matters of Religion and did followe his doctrine in most of those points wherein wee now dissent from him 1 For the first poynt wee did purposely forbeare to proceede against him vppon any latter law to the end that such as were igâ—onorant might bee enformed that long before King Henr 8. was borne diuers lawes were made against the vsurpatâ—on of the Bishop of Rome vppon the rights of of the Crowne of England welny as sharpe and as seuere as any statutes which haue beene made in later times and that therefore wee made choyse to proceede vppon a lawe made more then 200. yeares past when the King the Lords and Commons which made the lawes and the Iudges which did interpret the lawes did for the most part follow the same opinions in Religion which were taught and held in the Court of Rome the treâ— causeof making the stattute of 〈◊〉 R 2 other statuts against pouisors 2 For the second poynt the causes that moued and almost enforced the English nation to make this and other statutes of the same nature were of the greatest importance that could possible arise in any state For these lawes were made to vphold and maintaine the Soueraingtie of the King the liberty of the people the common lawe and the common-weale which otherwise had beene vndermined and viterly ruined by the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome For albeit the Kings of England were absolute Emperours within their Dominions and had vnder them as learned a Prelacie and Cleargie as valiant and prudent a Nobility as free and wealthy a Commonalty as any was then in Christendome yet if wee looke into the stories and records of these two Imperiall kingdomes wee shall finde that if these lawes of Prouision and Praemunire had not beene made they had lost the name of Imperiall and of Kingdomes too and had beene long since made Tributary Prouinces to the Bishop of Rome or rather part of S. Peters patrimony in demesne Our Kings had had their Scepters wrested out of their hands their Crownes spurned of from their heads their neckstrod vppon they had beene made Laquaies or footmen to the Bishop of Rome as some of the Emperours and French Kings were our Prelats had beene made his chaplaines and Clearks our Nobilitie his vassals and seruants our Commons his slaues and villaines if these Acts of manu-mission had not freed them In a word before the making of these Lawes the flourishing Crowne and Common-wealth of England was in extreame danger to haue beene brought into most miserable seruitude and slauery vnder collour of religion and deuotion to the Sea of Rome And this was not onely seene and felt by the King and much repined at and protested against by the Nobility but the Commons the generall multitude of the Subiects did exclame and crie out vppon it The statuts of praemunire made at praier of the commoÌ„s For the Commons of England may bee an example vnto all other Subiects in the world in this that they haue euer beene tender and sensible of the wrongs and dishonors offred vnto their Kings and haue euer contended to vphold and maintaine their honor and Soueraigntie And their faith and loyaltie hath beene generally such though euery age hath brought forth some particular monsters of disloyaltie as no pretence of zeale or religion cold euer withdrawe the greater part of the Subiects to submitt themselues to a foreine yoke no not when Popery was in her height and exaltation whereof this Act and diuers other of the same kinde are cleare and manifest testimonies For this Act of 16. Richard 2. was made at the prayer of the Commons which prayer they make not for themselues neither shew they their owne selfe loue therein as in other Bills which containe their greeuances but their loue and zeale to the King and his Crowne When after the Norman Conquest they importuned their Kings for the great Charter they sought their owne liberties and in other bills preferred commonly by the Commons against Shiriffs Escheators Purueyors or the like they seeke their owne profit and ease but heere their petition is to the King to make a lawe for the defence and maintenance of his owne honor The effect of the statut of 16. R. 2. cap. 5. They complaine that by Bulls and processes from Rome the King is depriued of that iurisdiction which belongeth of right to his Imperiall Crowne that the King doth loose the seruice and counsell of his Prelats and learned men by translations made by the Bishop of Rome That the Kings lawes are defeated at his will the Treasure of the Realme is exhausted and exported to enrich his Court and that by those meanes the Crowne of England which hath euer beene free and subiect vnto none but immediatly vnto God should be submitted vnto the Bishop of Rome to the vtter destruction of the King and the whole Realme which God defend say they and therevppon out of their exceeding zeale and feruencie they offer to liue and die with the king in defence of the liberties of the Crowne And
lastly they pray and require the King by way of Iustice to examine all the Lords in Parliament what they thought of these manifest wrongs and vsurpations and whether they would stand with the King in desence of his Royall liberties or no which the King did according to their petition and the Lords Spirituall and Temporall did all answere that these vsurpations of the Bishop of Rome were against the liberties of the Crowne and that they were all bound by their alleageance to stand with the King and to mantaine his honor and prerogatiue And therevppon it was enacted with a full consent of the three Estates that such as should purchase in the Court of Rome or elsewhere any Bulls or Processes or other things which might touch the King in his Crowne and dignitie Royall and such as should bring them into the Realme and such as should receaue them publish them or execute them they their Notaries Proctors Mantainors and Counsellors should bee all out of the Kings protection their lands and goods forfeited to the King their bodies attached if they might bee sound or else processe of Praemunire facias to bee awarded against them Vppon these motiues and with this affection and zeale of the people was the statute of 16. Rich 2 made wherevppon wee haue framed our inditement Now let vs looke higher and see whether the former lawes made by King Edw 3. and King Edw. 1. against the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome were not grounded vppon the like cause and reason The effect of the statut of 38. Edw. 3 cap. 1. The statute of 38. Edw. 3. cap. 1. expressing the mischiefes that did arise by Bâ—â—eues of citation which drewe the bodies of the people and by Bulls of prouision and reseruation of Ecclesiasticall benefices which drewe the wealth of the Realme to the Court of Rome doth declare that by these meanes the auncient lawes customes and franchises of the Realme were consounded the Crowne of our Soueraigne Lord the King deminished and his person falsely defamed the Treasure and riches of the land carried away the Subiects of the Realme molested and impouerished the benefices of holy Church wasted and distroyed Diuine seruice Hospitalitie Almesdeeds and other workes of Charitie neglected The statute of 27. Ed. 3. cap. 1. Againe 27 Edw 3 cap. 1. vppon the greeuous and clamorous complaint for that phrase is there vsed of the great men and Commons touching Citations and Prouisions it is enacted that the offendors shall forfeit their lands goods and Chattels and their bodies bee imprisoned and ransomed at the Kings will The statute of 25 Ed. 3. reciting the statute of 25. Ed. 1 But in the statute of 25. Edw. 3. wherein the first lawe against Prouisors made 25. Edw. 1. is recited there is a larger declaration of these inconueniences then in the two last Actes before mentioned For there all the Commons of the Realme doe greuously complaine that where the holy Church of England was first founded in estate of Prelacio by the Kings and Nobilitie of that Realme and by them endowed with great possessions and reuenewes in lands rents and Aduowsons to the end the people might bee informed in Religion Hospitality might bee kept and other works of Charitie might bee exercised within the Realme And whereas the King and other founders of the said Prelacies were the rightfull Patrons and Adowees thereof and vppon avoydance of such Ecclesiasticall promotions had power to aduance therevnto their kinsemen friends and other learned men of the birth of that Realme which being so aduanced became able and worthy persons to serue the King in Counsell and other places in the Common-weale The Bishop of Rome vsurping the Seigniory of such possessions and benefices did giue and graunt the same to Aliens which did neuer dwell in England and to Cardinals which might not dwell there as if hee were rightfull Patron of those benefices whereas by the lawe of England hee neuer had right to the Patronage thereof whereby in short time all the spirituall promotions in the Realme would bee ingrossed into the hands of Strangers Canonicall Elections of Prelats would be abolished workes of Charity would cease the founders true PatroÌ„s of Churches would be disenherited the Kings Counsell would bee weak'ned the whole kingdome impouerished the lawes rights of the Realme destroyed Vppon this complaint it was resolued in Parliament that these oppressions greeuances should not be suffted in any manner thereore it was enacted that the King his Subiects should thenceforth enioy thei rights of Patronage that free elections of Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates electiue should bee made according to the auncient graunts of the Kings progenitors other founders that no Bulls of Prouision should be put in execution but that the Prouisors should be attached fined ransomed at the Kings will withall imprisoned till they had renounced the benefits of their Bulls satisfied the partie greeued and giuen suerties not to committ the like offence againe These lawes made by such as did professe the Romish Religion Nowe Maister Lalor what thinke you of these things did you beleeue that such lawes as these had beene made against the Pope 200. 250. 300. yeares since was King Henr. 8. the first Prince that opposed the Popes vsurped authority were our Protestants the first Subiects that euer complained of the Court of Rome of what Religion thinke you were the propoundors and enactors of these lawes were they good Catholikes or good Subiects or what were they You will not say they were Protestants for you will not admitt the reformed Religion to bee so auncient as those times neither can you say they were vndutiefull for they stroue to vpohold their liege Lords Soueraignety Doubtelesse the people in those daies did generally embrace the vulgar errours and superstitions of the Romish Church and in that respect were Papists as well as you but they had not learned the newe doctrine of the Popes Supremacie and transcendent authority ouer Kings They did not beleeue hee had power to depose Princes and discharge Subiects of their alleageance to abrogate the fundamentall lawes of kingdomes and to impose his Canons as binding lawes vppon all nations without their consents they thought it a good point of Religion to bee good Subiects to honor their King to loue their country and to mantaine the lawes and liberties thereof howsoeuer in other points they did eâ—re and were mislead with the Church of Rome So as now Maister Lalor you haue no excuse no euasion but your conscience must condemne you as well as the lawe since the lawemakers in all ages and all religious Papists and Protestants doe condemne you vnlesse you thinke your selfe wifer then all the Bishops that were then in England or all the Iudges who in those daies were learned in the Ciuill and Canon lawes as well as in the Common lawes of England Lawes against Proâ—isors made in Ireland But you being
and reestablished in the Sea of Canterbury the Bishoprickes of Salisbury and Hereford fell voyd which the King bestowed vppon two of his Chapleins But Anselme their Metropolitane did refuse to consecrate them so as the Archbishop of Yorke was faine to performe that Office who with the Chiefe of the English Cleargie stoode with the King and withstoode Anselme Herevppon the King requires him to doe his homage the Bishop denies it the King demaunds of him whether the patronage and inuestiture of all Bishoprickes were not his rightfull enheritance the Bishop said it was not his right bycause Pope Vrban had lately made a decree that no lay person should giue any Ecclesiasticall benefice This was the first question that euer was made touching the King of Englands right of patronage and donation of Bishoprickes within his dominions This new question caused many messages and ambassages to Rome Histor. Ioranalensis M. S in Archiu Rob. Cotton Eq. Aur. At last the King writes plainely to the Pope Notum habeat sanctitas vestra quod me viuente Deo auxiliante dignitates vsus regni nostri non minuentur si ego quod absit in tanta me deiâ—ctione ponerem magnates mei imo totius Anglia populus id nullo modo pateretur Besides William de Warrenast the Kings procurator in the Court of Rome told the Pope that the King would rather loose his kingdome then hee would loose the donation of Bishoprickes The Pope answered knowe you precisely Sir I speake it before God that for the redemption of my head I would nor suffer him to enjoy it After this Anselme being receaued into the Kings fauour in a Synod of the English Cleargie holden at London in the yeare 1107. a decree was made Cui annuit Rex Henricus saith Matth. Paris that from thenceforth nunquam per donationem Baculi Pastoralis vel annuli quisquam de Episcopatu vel Abbathia per Regem vel quanlibet laicam manum inuestiretur in Anglia In recompence whereof the Pope yeelded this fauour to the King that thenceforth no Legate should bee sent from the Popes side into England vnlesse the King required it and that the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being should bee for euer Legatus natus and Anselme for the honor of his Sea obtained that the Archbishop of Canterbury should in all generall Councells sit at the Popes foote tanquam alterius orbis Papa Notwithstanding as the succeding Popes kept not their promise touching the sending of Legates so this selfe same King after the death of Anselme broke the decree touching the inuestiture of the Bishops For hee gaue the Archbishopricke of Canterbury to Rodolph Bishop of London saieth Matth. Paris Et illum per annulum Pastoralem baculum inuestiuit as before hee had inuested Willielmum Gifford in the Bishopricke of Winchester contra noui Concilij statuta as the same author reporteth In the time of King Stephen the Pope gained appeales to the Court of Rome The times of the next succeeding King Stephen were full of Ciuill dissentions which made the land welny waste so as Saint Peters successor could not take any fish in such troubled waters Yet during this Kings raigne they wonne that point of iurisdiction which they attempted to gett but failed thereof in the time of King William Ruffus namely that appeales might bee made to the Court of Rome For in a Synod at London summoned by Henr. Bishop of Winchester the Popes Legate it was decreed that appeales should bee made from Prouinciall Councells to the Pope before that time appellationes in vsu non erant saieth a Moncke of that time Donec Henricus Winton Episcopus malo suo dum Legatus esset crudeliter intrusit Thus did the Pope vsurp three maine points of iurisdiction vppon three seuerall Kings after the Conquest for of William Ruffus hee could winne nothing namely vppon the Conquerour the sending of Legates or Commissioners to heare and determine Ecclesiasticall causes vppon Henr. 1. the donation and inuestitures of Bishoprickes and other benefices vppon King Stephan the appeales to the Court of Rome In the time of King HeÌ„ry 2. the Pope claymed exemption of Clarkes from the secular power Now are wee come to king Henr. 2. in whose time they made a further encroachment vppon the Crowne whereby they endeauored to make him but halfe a king and to take away halfe his Subiects by exempting all Clarkes from secular power A breefe of â—h Beckets troubles or rather treasons Here vppon rose that long and great contention betweene King Henr. 2. and Thomas Becket which on Beckets behalfe may bee rightly termed rebellion and treason the iust cause and ground whereof was the same that made the late difference betweene the Pope and the Venetians For a priest had committed a fowle murder and being thereof indicted and conuicted prayed the benefit of his Cleargie which being allowed vnto him hee was deliuered to the Bishop of Salisbury being his ordinary to make his purgation which the murderer failing to doe should by the lawe haue beene degraded and deliuered backe to the secular power But the Bishop contemning the lawe of the land to enlarge the liberties of the Church sent his prisoner to Thomas Becket then Archbishop of Canterbury who shifted him into an Abbey and so rescued him for the capitall punishment hee had iustly deserued This gapp of impunitie being once opened the Cleargie grew so outragious as the King was enformed of a hundred murders committed by Clarkes and yet not one of them executed for the same for that the Archbishop had protected them all after the same manner For this the King was iustly incensed against the Archbishop who iustified his doing herein The constitutions of Claringdon Wherevppon a common counsell as well of the Bishops as of the Nobilitie was called wherein they did reuiue and reestablish the auncient lawes and customes of the kingdome for the gouernment of the Cleargie and ordering of causes Ecclesiasticall whereof these were the principall heads or articles 1 That no Bishop nor Clarke should depart the Realme without the Kings licence and that such as obtained licence should giue suerties that they should procure no hurt or domage to the King or Realme during their absence in forein parts 2 That all Bishoprickes and Abbeyes being voyd should remaine in the Kings hands as his owne demesnes vntill hee had chosen and appointed a Prelate therevnto and that euerie such Prelate should doe his homage to the King before hee were admitted vnto the place 3 That appeales should bee made in causes Ecclesiasticall in this manner from the Archedeacon to the Ordinary from the Ordinary to the Metropolitane from the Metropolitane to the King and no further 4 That Peter pence should bee paid no more to the Pope but to the King 5 That if any Clarke should committ felony hee should bee hanged if treason hee should bee drawne and quatered 6 That it should bee
adiudged high treason to bring in Bulls of Excommunication whereby the Realme should bee cursed 7 That no decree should bee brought from the Pope to bee executed in England vppon paine of imprisonment and confiscation of goods To these and other Constitutions of the like nature made at Claringdon all the rest of the Bishops and great men did subscribe and bound themselues by oath to obserue the same absolutly onely the Archbishop would not subscribe and sweare but with a Sauing saluosuo ordine bonore sancte Ecclesiâ— yet at last hee was content to make the like absolute subscription and oath as the rest had done but presently hee repented and to shewe his repentance suspended himselfe from celebrating Masse till he had receaued absolution from the Pope Then he began to maintaine and iustifie the exemption of Clarkes againe whereat the Kings displeasure was kindled a new and then the Archbishop once againe promised absolute obedience to the Kings lawes See the ficklenes mutability of your constant Martyr The King to bind fast this slippery Proteus called a Parliament of the Bishops and Barons and sending for the Roll of those lawes required all the Bishops to set their seales therevnto They all assented but the Archbishop who protested he would not set his seale nor giue allowance to those lawes The King being highly offended with his rebellious demeanor required the Barons in Parliament to giue Iudgement of him who being his subiect would not be ruled by his lawes Cito facite mihi iustitiam de illo qui homo meus ligeus est stare Iuri in Curia mearecusat Wherevppon the Barons proceeding against him being ready to condemne him I prohibit you quoth the Archbishop in the name of Almighty God to proceed against mee for I haue appealed to the Pope and so departed in contempt of that high Court Omnibus clamantibus saith Houenden quo progrederis proditor expecta audi iudicium tuum After this he lurked secretly neere the Sea shore and changing his apparell and name like a Iesuit of these times he tooke shipping with a purpose to flie to Rome but his passage being hindred by contrary windes hee was summoned to a Parliament at Northampton where he made default wilfully for which contempt his temporalties were seised and his body being attacht he was charged with so great an account to the King as that he was found in arreare thirty thousand markes and committed to prison whence hee found meanes to escape shortly after and to passe out of the Realme to Rome Hee was no sooner gone but the King sends writts to all the Shiriffs in England to attach the bodies of all such as made any appeales to the Court of Rome herevppon many messages and letters passing to froe all the suffragans of Canterbury ioyne in a letter to the Pope wherein they condemne the fugitiue Archbishop and iustifie the Kings proceedings Vppon this the Pope sends two Legates to the King being then in Normandy to mediate for the Archbishop They with the mediation of the French King preuailed so farre with King Henry as that he was pleased to accept his submission once againe and promised the King of France that if he would be obedient to his lawes he should enioy as ample liberties as any Archbishop of Canterbury euer had and so sent him into England with recommendation vnto the young King his Sonne then lately Crowned who hearing of his comming commaunded him to forbeare to come to his presence vntill he had absolued the Archbishop of Yorke others whome he had excommunicated for performing their duties at his Coronation The Archbishop returned answere that they had done him wrong in vsurping his office yet if they would take a solmne oath to become obedient to the Popes commaundement in all things concerning the Church he would absolute them The Bishops vnderstanding this protested they would neuer take that oath vnlesse the King willed them so to doe King Henry the father being hereof aduertised into France did rise into great passion and choler and in the hearing of some of his seruants vttered words to this effect Will no man reueng mee of mine enemies Wherevppon the foure Gentlemen named in the storyes of that time passed into England and first mouing the Archbishop to absolue the Bishops whome he had excommunicated for performing their duties at the young Kings Coronation and receauing a peremptory answere of deniall from the Archbishop they laid violent hands vppon him and slew him for which the King was faine not onely to suffer corporall pennance but in token of his humiliation to kisse the knee of the Popes Legate And this is the abridgement of Beckets troubles or rather treasons for which he was celebrated for so famous a Martyr Foure points of iurisdiction vsurped vppon the crowne of England by the Pope before the raigne of K. Iohn And thus you see by what degrees the Court of Rome did within the space of one hundred and odd yeares vsurpe vppon the Crowne of England foure points of Iurisdiction viz. First sending of Legats into England SecoÌ„dly drawing of appeales to the Court of Rome Thirdly donation of bishopricks and other Ecclesiasticall benefices and fourthly exemption of Clarkes from the secular power And you see withall how our Kings and Parliaments haue from time to time opposed and withstood this vniust vsurpation Now then the Bishop of Rome hauing claimed and welny recouered full and sole iurisdiction in all causes Ecclesiasticall and ouer all persons Ecclesiasticall with power to dispose of all Ecclesiasticall benefices in England whereby he had vppon the matter made an absolute conquest of more then halfe the kingdome for euerie one that could read the Psalme of Miserere was a Clarke the Cleargie possessed the moytie of all temporall possessions There remained now nothing to make him owner and proprietor of all but to geâ—â— a surrender of the Crowne and to make the King his Farmer and the people his Villaines which he fully accomplisht and brought to passe in the times of King Iohn and of Henr. 3. The cause of the quarrell betweene K. Iohn the Pope The quarrell betweene the Pope and King Iohn which wrested the Sceptor out of his hand and in the end brake his heart began about the election of the Archbishop of Canterbury I call it election and not donation or inuestiture for the manner of inuesting of Bishops by the Staffe and Ring after the time of King Henr. 1. was not any more vsed but by the Kings licence they were Canonically elected and being elected the King gaue his Roiall assent to their election and by restitution of their temporalties did fully inuest them And though this course of election began to be in vse in the time of Rich. 1. and Henr. 2. Yet I finde it not confirmed by any Constitution or Charter before the time of King Iohn who by his Charter dated the fifteenth of Ianuary in the