not that be graunted vnto all woemen infirmed by the fault of nature which is commended in one person done in her infirmitie Therefore to receaue the misterie of the holy communion it is not forbidden them Albeit if she dare not so farre presume in her great infirmitie she is to be praysed but if she do receaue she is not to be iudged For it is a point of a good minde in some maner to knowledge hys sinnes there where is no sinne because manye times that is done without fault which commeth of fault As when we be hungry we care without fault notwithstanding it commeth by the fault of our first father to vs that wee are hungrye c. Where ye aske if a man after the company with hys wyfe may resort to the Church or to the holy Communion before he be purged with water The law giuen to the old people commaunded that a man after the companye wyth his wife both shoulde be purified with water and also should tary the Sunnes set before he came to the congregation Which seemeth to be vnderstand spiritually for then most true it is that the man companieth with the woman when his minde through delectation is ioyned to vnlawfull concupiscence in his hart and cogitation At what time before the said fire of concupiscence shall be remooued let the person thinke himselfe vnworthye the entraunce to the congregation through the viciousnes of his filthy will But of this matter sondry nations haue euery one their sondry customes some on way some an other The auncient maner of the Romanes frō our forefathers hath beene that in such case first they purged themselues with water then for a little they abstaine reuerently and so resort to the Church c. After many other words debated of this matter thus he inferreth but if any person not for voluptuousnes of the flesh but for procreation of children do company with his wife that man concerning either the comming to the Church or the receauing the misteries of the Lords body bloud is to be left to his owne iudgement for he ought not to be forbid of vs to come which when he lieth in the fire will not burne c. There is an other question also to these adioyned with his aunswere likewise to the same concerning pollutions in the night but I thought these at this present to our english eares sufficient To returne now to the story againe Gregory after he had sent these resolutions to the questions of Austen sendeth moreouer to the Church of Englande moe coadiutors and helpers as Mellitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffianus with bookes and such other implemēts as he thought necessary for the English Church He sendeth moreouer to the foresaide Austen a palle with letters wherein he setteth an order betweene the twoo Metropolitane seates the one to be at London the other to be at Yorke Notwithstanding he graunteth to the sayde Austen during his lyfe to be the onely chyefe Archbyshop of al the lande and after hys tyme then to returne to the two foresaide seats of London and Yorke as is in the same letter conteined the tenour whereof here followeth in hys owne wordes as ensueth The copie of the Epistle of Gregory sent to Augustinus into Englande REuerendissimo sanctis fratri Augustino coepiscopo Gregorius seruus seruorum Dei. Cum certum sit pro omnipotente Deo laborātibus ineffabilia aeterni Regis praemia reseruari nobis tamen eis necesse est bonorum beneficia tribuere vt in spiritualis operis studio ex remuneratione valeant multiplicius insudare and so forth as followeth here in English TO the reuerende and vertuous brother Augustine his felow Byshop Gregorius the seruaunt of the seruaunts of God Although it be most certaine that vnspeakeable rewardes of the heauenly king be laide vp for all such as labour in the wordes of almighty God yet it shall be requisite for vs to reward the same also with our benefites to the ende they may be more encouraged to go forward in the study of their spirituall worke And for asmuch now as the new church of Englishmen is brought to the grace of almightie God through his mightie helpe and your trauayle therefore we haue graunted to you the vse of the palle only to be vsed at the solemnitie of your Masse so that it shall bee lawfull for you to ordaine twelue Bishops such as shal be subiect to your prouince or dition So that hereafter alwaies the Byshop of the Citie of London shall be ordeyned and consecrate by his owne proper Synode and so to receaue the palle of honour frō the holy and Apostolike seate wherein I here by the permission of God doe serue And as touching the Citie of Yorke we wyll sende also a Bysh. thether whō you may thinke meet to ordayne So that if that Citie with other places bordering thereby shall receiue the word of God he shall haue power likewise to ordayne twelue byshops and haue the honour of a Metropolitane to whō also if God spare me life I entend by the fauour of God to sende a palle this prouided that notwithstanding he shal be subiect to your brotherly appointment But after your decease the same Metropolitane so to be ouer the Byshops whom he ordereth that he be in no wise subiect to the Metropolitane of Londō after you And here after betwixt these two Metropolitanes of London Yorke let there be had such distinction of honour that hee shall haue the prioritie which shall in time first bee ordeyned Wyth common counsell and affection of hart let them go both together disposing with one accord such things as be to be done for the zeale of Christ. Let them forethinke and deliberate together prudently and what they deliberate wisely let them accomplish concordly not gerryng nor swaruing one from the other But as for your part you shall be indued with authoritie not onelye ouer those Byshops that you constitute and ouer the other constituted by the byshop of Yorke But also you to haue all other Priestes of whole Brytaine subiect to our Lord Iesus Christ to the ende that through your preaching and holines of life they may learne both to beleeue rightly and to liue purely and so in directing their life both by the rule of true faith and vertuous maners they may attaine when God shall call them the fruition and kingdome of heauen God preserue you in health reuerend brother the x before the Kalend. of Iuly in the raygne of our soueraigne Lord Mauritius most vertuous Emperour Besides this the said Gregory sendeth also an other letter to Mellitus concerning his iudgement what is to bee done with the idolatrous temples and Phanes of the Englishmen newly cōuerted which Phanes he thinketh not best to plucke downe but to conuert the vse thereof and so let them stand And likewise of their sacrifices and killyng of Oxen how the same ought to be ordered and howe to bee altered disputing
speedely gathered into the â—arne whiche onely remayneth behinde to come Now if we ascribe such reputation to Godly preachers and worthely which diligently preache the Gospell of Christ when they liue notwithstanding by the benefite of tyme without all feare of persecution howe muche more reasonable cause haue we to prayse and extoll such men as stoutly spend theyr lyues for the defence of the same All these premisses duely of our partes considered and marked seeing we haue found so famous Martyrs in this our age let vs not fayle then in publishing and setting forth their doings lest in that poynt we seeme more vnkinde to them then the writers of the primitiue Church were vnto theirs And though we repute not theyr ashes chaynes and swerdes in the stede of reliques yet let vs yeld thus much vnto theyr commemoration to glory the Lord in hys Saintes and imitate theyr death as much as we may with like constancy or theyr liues at the least with like innocency They offered theyr bodies willing to the rough handling of the tormentors And is it so great a matter then for our part to mortifie our flesh with all the members thereof They neglected not onely the riches and glory of the world for the loue of Christ but also their liues and shal we then keepe so great a styrre one agaynst an other for the transitory trifles of this world They continued in patient suffering when they had most wrong done vnto them and when theyr very heartes bloud gushed out of theyr bodyes and yet will not wee forgeue our poore brother be the iniury neuer so small but are ready for euery trifling offence to seeke hys destruction and cut his throat They wishing well to all men did of theyr own accord forgeue theyr persecutors therefore ought we which are now the posteritie and Children of Martyrs not to degenerate from theyr former steps but being admonished by their examples if we cannot expresse theyr charitie toward all men yet at lest to imitate the same to our power and strength Let vs geue no cause of offence to any And if any be geuen to vs let vs ouercome it with patience forgeuing and not reuenging the same And let vs not onely keepe our handes from shedding of bloud but our tongues also from hurting the same of others Besides let vs not shrinke if case so require martyrdome or losse of lyfe according to their example to yeld vp the same in the defence of the Lordes flocke Whiche thing if men would do much lesse contention and busines woulde be in the world â—hen now is And thus much touching the vtilitie and fruit to be taken of this history To all the professed frendes and followers of the Popes proceedinges foure Questions propounded TO you all and singuler which professe the doctrine and Relâ—gion of the Pope your holy Father and of your mother Church of Rome pretending the name of Catholickes commoÌ„ly termed Papistes wheresoeuer abiding in the Realme of England these foure Questions or Problemes hereunder folowing I would moue desiring you all either to muse vpon theÌ„ or to answere theÌ„ at your leisure * The first Question FIrst forsomuch as Mount Sion which God calleth by the Prophet Iesai the hill of his holines beareth in the scripture an vndoubted type of the spiritual church of Christ for so much as the sayd Iesai. ca. 11. 65. prophesying of the sayd Mount Sion sayth in these wordes Non nocebunt neque affligent in omni monte sancto meo dicit Dominus c. 1. They shal not kill nor hurt in all my holy hill sayth the Lord. c. And agayne in the same chap. thus we read Habitabit Lupus cum agno Pardus cuÌ„ haedo accubabit Vitulus Leo ouis vna commorabuntur puellus paruulus ducet eos c. i. The wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe the Leopard with the Kid the Calfe the Lion the sheepe shall feed together a yong child shall rule theÌ„ The Cow also the Beare shall abide together with theyr yong ones the Lion shall eat chaffe fodder like the Oxe c. Upon these premises now foloweth my question how the church of Rome can be answerable to this hill of SioÌ„ seing in the sayd church of Rome is and hath bene now so many yeares such killing and slaying such cruelty and tyranny shewed such burning spoyling of christen bloud such malice mischiefe wrought as in reading these historyes may to all the world appeare To this if they aunswere expound these wordes of the Prophet as perteining to the church triumphant therevnto I reply agayne that by the wordes in the same place in the same sentence expressed that sence cannot stand for as much as the Prophet in the very same place where he prophesieth of this peaceable dwelling in Gods holy mountayne without hurting or killing meaneth plainly of the earth sheweth also the cause of that godly peace Because sayth he the earth is replenished with knowledge science of the Lord. c. ibid. And furthermore the Prophet speaking of the same day when this shal be addeth saying In that day the root of Iesse shall stand for a signe to the people for the Gentils to be conuerted and to seeke vnto him c. Which day in no wise can be applyed to the church in heauen triumphant but only here militant in earth Touching which place of Iesai further here is to be noted by the way that by this peaceable MouÌ„t Sion which comprehendeth both the states as well ecclesiasticall as teÌ„porall is not restrayned the publicke penalty of good lawes needfull to be executed vpon publicke malefactors but here is restrayned the fiercenes reuenge cruelty violence of mens affections To which affectioÌ„s men being commonly subiect by nature through grace working of the gospel are altered reformed chauÌ„ged to another disposition froÌ„ stoutnes to softnes froÌ„ violence to sufferance from fiercenes to forbearing froÌ„ pride to humility froÌ„ cruelty to compassion from wilynes to simplicity froÌ„ solemne singularity to humanity and meekenes Which vertues if they had bene in the church of Rome according to the rule of S. Paul which willeth men that be stronger to beare with the infirmities of the weaker and that in the spirit of meeknes c. Rom. 15. Gal. 6. I should not haue needed now at this time to write such a long history as this of the suffering of so many Martyrs ¶ The second Question MY second question is this to demauÌ„d of you catholicke professors of the popes sect which so deadly maligne and persecute the protestants professing the gospell of Christ what iust or reasonable cause haue you to allege for this your extreme hatred ye bear vnto the yâ— neither you your selues can abide to liue with them nor yet will suffer the other to liue amongest you If they were Iewes
permanere deberent Francorum reges solo regio nomine contenti A quo responsum est illos decet vocare reges qui vigilanter defendunt regunt Ecclesiam Dei populum eius c. In English thus The king because he is the vicar of the hiest king is appointed for this purpose to rule the earthly kingdom and the lords people and aboue al things to reuerence his holy church to gouerne it and to defende it from iniuries to plucke away wicked doers and vtterly to destroye them Which vnlesse he doe the name of a king agreeth not vnto him but he loseth the name of a King as witnesseth Pope Iohn to the which Pope Pipinus Carolus his sonne being not yet kings but princes vnder the French King being not very wise did write demanding this question whither the kings of France ought so to continue hauing but onely the name of a king Unto whome Pope Iohn answereth againe that it was conuenient to cal thē kings which vigilāly do defend and gouerne the church of God and his people following the saying of King Dauid the Psalmograph He shal not dwel in my house which worketh pride c. Moreouer the king by right by his office ought to defend conserue fully wholly in all amplenesse wtout diminution all the lands honors dignities rights and liberties of the crowne of his kingdome And further to reduce into their pristine state all suche thinges as haue bene dispersed wasted and lost which appertaine to hys kingdome Also the whole and vniuersall lande wyth all Ilelands about the same vnto Norwey and Denmarke be appertaining to the crowne of his kingdome and be of the appurtenances and dignitie of the King making one monarchie and one kingdome which somtime was called the kingdom of Britains and now the kingdom of England such bonds and limites as is abouesaid be appointed and limited to the name of this kingdome Moreouer in the foresaid lawes of this king Edward it followeth in the same booke where the foresaid Edward describing the office of a King addeth in these wordes A king sayth he ought aboue al things to feare God to loue and to obserue his commaundements and cause them to be obserued through his whole kingdome He ought also to kepe chearish maintaine gouerne the holy church wtin his kingdome with al integritie and liberty according to the constitutions of his auncetors and predecessors and to defend the same against all enemies so that God aboue all things be honored euer be before his eies He ought also to set vp good lawes and customes such as be wholesome and approued such as be otherwise to repeale them and thrust them out of his kingdom Item he ought to do iudgement and iustice in his kingdome by the counsell of the nobles of his realme All these things ought a King in his own person to do taking his othe vpon the Euangelist and the blessed reliques of saintes swearing in the presence of the whole state of his realme as well of the temporaltie as of the spiritualtie before he be crowned of the Archbyshops Bishops Three seruants the king ought to haue vnder him as vassals fleshly lust auarice and greedie desire Whom if he kepe vnder as his seruants and slaues he shal reigne wel and honorably in his kingdom Al things are to be done with good aduisement and premeditation and that properly belongeth to a king For hastie rashnes bringeth all things to ruine according to the saying of the Gospell Euery kingdome deuided in it selfe shall be desolate c. After the duetie and office of Princes thus described consequently followeth the institution of subiects declared in many good necessary ordinaunces very requisite and cōuenient for publique gouernment Of the which lawes William Conquerour was cōpelled thorough the clamor of the people to take some but the most parte he omitted contrary to his owne oth at his coronation inserting and placing the moste of his owne lawes in his language to serue hys purpose and whych as yet to this present day in the same Normande language do remaine Nowe the Lorde willing let vs proceede in the storie as in order followeth * King Harold HArolde the seconde sonne of Earle Godwine and laste king of the Saxons notwithstanding that diuers of the nobles went with Edgar Adeling the next heire after Edmund Ironside yet he through force and might contemning the young age of Edgar and forgetting also his promise made to duke William toke vpon him to be king of England An. 1066. When Harolde Harefager sonne of Canutus king of Norway Dēmark heard of the death of king Edward he came into England with 300. shippes or mo who then ioyning with Tostius brother to the sayde Harold king of England entred into the North partes claimed the land after the death of Edwarde But the Lords of the countrey arose and gaue them battail notwithstanding the Danes had the victory And therfore Harold king of Englād prepared toward them in all hast gaue them an other strōg battel and there had the victory where also Harold the Dane was slaine by the hand of Harold king of Englande And Tostius was also slaine in the battell After this victorie Harold waxed proude couetous and would not deuide the praies to his Knightes that had deserued it but kept it to himselfe whereby he lost the fauour of many of his knights and people In this meane time William Duke of Normādy sent Ambassades to Harolde king of Englande admonishing him of the couenauntes that were agreed betweene them which was to haue kept the land to his vse after the death of Edwarde But because that the daughter of Duke William that was promised to Harolde was dead Harolde thought him thereby discharged and sayd that such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden concerning an others land without the consent of the Lordes of the same and especially for that hee was thereunto for neede or for dread compelled Upon these answeres receaued Duke William in the while that the messengers went and came gathered his knightes and prepared his name and had the assent of the Lordes of his lande to aide and assist him in his iourney And ouer that sending vnto Rome to pope Alexander cōcerning his title viage into england the pope cōfirmeth him in the same and sent vnto him a banner willing him to heare it in the ship wherein himselfe should saile Thus Duke William being purueied of al things cōcerning his iourney sped him to the sea side and tooke shipping at the hauen off Ualery where he taried a lōg time or he might haue a conuenient winde For the which his souldiours murmured saying it was a woodnesse a thing displeasing God to desire to haue an others mans kingdome by strength and namely whē God was against it in sending contrary wind c. At
Robert Earle of Leycester to declare to him what was his iudgement To whom the Archbyshop answereth heare my sonne good Earl what I say vnto you how much more precious the soule is more then the body so much more ought you to obey me in the lord rather then your terrene king Neither doth any law or reason permit the children to iudge or cōdemne their father Wherfore to auoid both the iudgement of the king of you and all other I put my selfe only to the arbitrement of the Pope vnder God alone to be iudged of him and of no other To whose presence heere before you all I doe appeale committing the ordering of the Church of Cant. my dignitie with all other things appertaining to the same vnder the protection of God and him And as for you my brethren fellow Byshops which rather obey man then god you also I call and cite to the audience and iudgement of the pope and depart hence foorth from you as from the ennemies of the Catholike Church and of the authoritie of Apostolike see While the Barons returned with this aunswere to the king the Archbishop passing through the throng taketh to him his Palfrey holding his Crosse in one hande and his bridle in the other the courtiers following after and crying traytor traytor tary heare thy iudgement But he passed on till he came to the vttermost gate of the Courte which being fast locked there had ben staid had not one of his seruants called Peter surnamed Demunctorio finding ther a bunche of keyes hanging by first prooued one key then an other till at last finding the true key had opened the gate and let him out The archbishop went straight to the house of Chanons where hee did lie calling vnto hym the poore where they could be found When supper was done making as though he would go to bed which he caused to be made betwixt two altares priuely while the king was at supper prepareth his iorny secretly to escape away and chaunging his garment and his name being called Derman first went to Lincolne from thence to Sandwiche where he tooke ship and sailed into Flaunders and from thence iourneyed to Fraunce as Houedenus sayth All be it Alanus differing something in the order of his flight sayth that he departed not that night but at supper time came to him the bishop of London Chichester declaring to him that if he would surrender vp to the king his two maners of Oxforde wyngecham there were hope to recouer the kings fauour to haue all remitted But when the Archbishop would not agree therunto forasmuch as those maners were belonging to the Churche of Canterburie the king hearing thereof great displeasure was taken In so much that the next day Becket was faine to sende to the king two bishops and his chaplein for leaue to depart the realme To the which message the king answered that he would take a pause therof til the next day then he should haue an answere But Becket not tarying his answere the same day conueied himselfe away secretely as is aforesayde to Ludouicus the French king But before he came to the king Gilbert the bishop of London William the earle of Arundel sent frō the king of England to Fraunce preuented him requiring of the said French king in the behalf of the king of England that he would not receiue nor retaine in his dominion the archb of Canterbury Moreouer that at his instance he wold be a meanes to the pope not to shewe any familiaritie vnto him But the King of England in this point semed to haue more confidence in the French king then knowledge of his disposition For thinking that the French king would haue bene a good neighbour to him in trusting him to much he was deceiued Neither considered he w e himselfe inough the maner nature of the Frenchmen at that tyme agaynst the realme of England who then were glad to seeke and take all maner of occasions to doe some act agaynst England And therefore Ludouicke the French king vnderstanding the matter thinking percase therby to haue some vauntage against the king and realme of England by the occasion hereof contrary to the kings letters and request not onely harboreth and cherisheth this Derman but also writing to the pope by his Almener and brother entreateth him vpon al loues as euer he would haue his fauor to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket Thus the kinges Ambassadours repulsed of the French king returned at what tyme he sent an other ambassage vpō the like cause to Alexander the pope thē being at Sene in France The Ambassadours sēt in this message were Roger archbishop of Yorke Gilbert bishop of London Henry Bish. of Winchester Hilary Bish. of Chichester Bartholomew byshop of Exceter with other doctors clerkes also william Earle of Arundell with certayne moe Lordes Barons Who comming to the popes court were friendly accepted of certayne of the Cardinals amongst the which cardinals rose also dissention about the same cause some iudgyng the Bishop of Canterbury in the defence of the liberties of the Church as in a good cause to be mayntayned Some thinking agayn that he being a perturber of peace and vnitie was rather to be bridled for hys presumption then to be fostered incouraged therein But the P. partly bearing with his cause which onely tended to his exaltation and magnificence partly again incensed with the letters of the French king did wholy incline to Becket as no maruell was Wherfore the next day following the pope sitting in consistory with his Cardinals the ambassadours were called for to the hearing of Beckets matter and first beginneth the bishop of London next the Archbishop of Yorke then Exceter and the other Bishops euery one in their order to speake Whose orations being not well accepted of the Pope and some of them also disdayned the Earle of Arundel perceauing that and somewhat to qualifie and temper the matter to the Popes eares began after this maner ALthough to me it is vnknowen sayth he which am both vnlettered and ignorant what is that these Byshops heere haue sayde neither am I in that toung so able to expresse my minde as they haue done yet being sent and charged thereunto of my Prince neither can nor ought I but to declare as well as I may what the cause is of our sending hether Not truely to contende or striue with any person nor to offer any iniurie or harme vnto any man especially in this place and in the presence here of such a one vnto whose becke and authoritie all the world doth stoupe and yeelde But for this intent is our legacie hether directed to present here before you and in the presence of the whole church of Rome the deuotion and loue of our king and maister which euer he hath had and yet hath still toward you And that the same might the better
resisting their king in like sort if hys cause were maintained so contrariwise if it quailed it shoulde be an example to all other heereafter none to resist his Prince in the like case And so might it redounde not onely to the weakening of the state of the Catholike Churche but also to the derogation of the Popes authoritie Briefly this sentence at length preuailed and so Becket receaueth hys pastorall office of the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour But for somuch as he coulde not be well placed in England in the meane while the Pope sendeth him with a monkes habite into the abbay Pontiniak in Fraunce where he remained 2. yeres from thence he remoued to Senon where he abode 5. yeares So the time of his exile continued a 7. yeares in all c. Uppon this the King being certified by his Ambassadours of the Popes aunswere howe his fauoure enclined more to Becket then to him was mooued and woorthely with wrathful displeasure Who vpon the same sailing frō England vnto Normandy directed ouer certain Inunctions against the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterburie as were recited aboue Fol. 207. The contents wherof were declared to be these If any person shal be found to bring from the Pope or from the Archbishop of Canterburie c. Of these and suche other iniunctions Becket specifieth partly in a certaine letter writing to a frend of his in this maner THomas Archbishop of Canterburie to his welbeloued frend c. Be it knowen to your brotherly goodnes that we with al ours heere by Gods grace are safe and in good health Hauing a good hope and trust to your faithfull amitie I charge you and require you that either by the bringer heereof or by some other whome ye know faithfull and trusty to our church of Canterburie and to vs you write with al spede what is done As touching the kings decrees here set out these they be that all hauens and portes shoulde be diligently kept that no letters of the Popes interdict or curse be brought in And if religious men bring them in they shall haue their feete cut off if he be a priest or clearke he shall lose his priuie members If he be a lay man let him be hanged If he be a leper let him be burned And if any bishoppe for feare of the Popes interdict will depart besides his staffe onely in his hand let him haue nothing els Also the kings will is that all scholers and students beyonde the seas shall repaire home or else lose their benefices And if they yet shall remaine still they shall lose the libertie of all returning Further if any such Priests shal be found that for the Popes suspense or interdict wil refuse to sing they shall lose their priuie members In summe all such Priests as shew themselues rebels to the king let them be depriued of their benefices c. Besides these and such like iniunctions it was also set forth by the Kings proclamation An. 1166. that all maner of persons both men and wemen who soeuer were foūd of the kindred of Thomas Becket should be exiled wythout taking any part of their goodes with them and sent to him where he was which was no litle vexatiō to Becket to behold them Moreouer for so much as he then was lying with Gwarine Abbot of Pontiniacke to whome the pope as is aforesaid had cōmended him therefore the king wryting to the same Abbote required him not to retaine the Archbishop of Canterbury in his house for if he did he would driue out of his realme all the monks of his order Whereupon Becket was enforced to remoue from thence and went to Lewes the French King by whome he was placed at Senon and there founde of him the space of fiue yeares as is aboue mentioned In the meane time messengers went daily with letters betwene the king and the pope betwene the Pope againe and him and so betwene the Archbishop and other whereof if the Reader peraduenture shal be desirous to see the copies I thought here to expresse certaine of them to satisfie his desire first beginning w e the Epistle of Becket complaining of his prince to the Pope in maner and forme as foloweth The copie of an Epistle sent of Thomas Becket to Pope Alexander TO your presence and audience I flee moste holy father that you who hath bought the libertie of the Churche with your so great daunger might the rather attend to the same either being the onely or chiefest cause of my persecution vsing and following therein the example of you It grieueth me that the state of the Church should fall to any decay and that the liberties therof should be infringed thorough the auarice of princes For the which cause I thought to resist betime that inconueniencie beginning so to grow And the more I thought my selfe obliged to the same my Prince vnto whome next vnder God I am moste chiefly bound the more boldnesse I tooke to me to withstand his vnrightfull attempts till such that were on the contrary part my aduersaries preuailed working my disquietnesse and incensing him against me Whereupon as the maner is amongst Princes they raised vp against me citations and slaunders to the occasion of my persecution but I had rather to be proscribed then to subscribe Besides this I was also called to iudgement and cited before the king to make answere there as a lay person to secular accomptes where as they whome I most trusted did most forsake me For I saw my fellow brethren the Bishops through the instigation of some ready to my condemnation Wherupon all being set against me I thus oppressed on euery side tooke my refuge to appeale to your goodnesse which casteth off none in their extremities being ready to make my declaration before you that I ought neither to be iudged there in that place nor yet of them For what were that father but to vsurpe to thēselues your right and to bring the spiritualtie vnder the temporaltie Which thing once begon may breede an example to many And therefore so much the more stouter I thought to be in withstanding this matter how much more prone and procliue I saw the way to hurt if they once might see vs to be faint and weake in the same But they will say to me here againe geue to Cesar that which belongeth to Cesar. c. But to answere againe therunto albeit we are boūd to obey our king in most things yet not in such maner of things whereby he is made to be no king neither were they then things belonging to Cesar but to a tyrāt Concerning the which points these Bishops should not for me onely but for themselues haue resisted the king For if the extreme iudgemēt be reserued to him which is able to iudge both body and soul is it not then extreme pride for men there to iudge which iudge but by themselues If the cause of
by s. Peter thou shalt not so soone at my hande obteine the benefite of absolution for why thou hast not only done harme to the K. of Englād but also thou hast in a great many of thinges iniured the church of Rome here therfore thou shalt tary my leyser The archb was also at that time suspended out of the Church and commanded to say no masse at all neither yet to exercise any other ecclesiasticall office because he would not at time cōuenient execute the popes curse vpon the rebellious Barons With them the said pope had ben so depely offended angred a litle before that the great charter of the liberties of England with great indignation countenance most terrible he rent and destroyed by sentence definitiue condemning it for euer And by and by therupon cursed all the other rebels with booke bel and candle The greater captaines of them with the citizens of London for that assay were pronounced excōmunicate by name remained still interdicted They appealed then to the councel general In the same yere 1215. were those great men also summoned to appear at Rome in that general Sinode which would not consent to their kings expulsion nor yet tirannical deposing Though they were called they sayd therunto by the Archb. of Cant. and others and required by othe to subscribe to the same yet coulde they not of conscience do it because he had humbled himselfe and also granted to keepe peace with all men Thus was the whole realme miserably then deuided into two factions through malice of the clergie so strifes encreased in the lande euery where Yet were there of the Lordes gentlemen a great number at that time that followed the king and alowed his doings But they which were on the otherside not a little suspecting the state that they were in fled speedely to the French K. Phillip desiring him that he would graunt to them his eldest sonne Ludowike and they would elect him to be their K. and that without much tariance They besought him moreouer that he would sende with him a strong and mighty power as were able to subdue him vtterly that they might they said be deliuered of such a wicked tyrant Such was the reporte that those most wicked papists gaue their christian gouernor appoynted to them of God whome they ought to haue obeyed though he had bene euill euen for very conscience sake Rom. 13. And as certaine of the Lords and Barons were busie to chuse the sayde Ludowike for their king the Pope sent thether one Gualo the Cardinal of S. Martin to those rash and cruel attempts charging the French king vpon his allegeance that he with all power possible should fauour maintaine and defend king Iohn of England his feudary or tenant The French king therto made answer as one not cōtented with that arrogant precept The realme of Englande sayd he was neuer yet any part of S. Peters patrimony neither is it now nor yet any time shal be hereafter Thys spake he for that he was in hope to obtain it for his sonne by treason of the Barons No prince of potentate said Phillip the French king may pledge or geue away his kingdome which is beside the realme the gouernment of his whole cōmon wealth wtout the lawful consent of his Barons which are bound to defend the same If the pope shal introduce or set vp such a president in christianitie he shall at his pleasure bring all christian kings and their kingdoms to naught I like not this example in these daies begon I cānot therfore allow this fact of king Iohn of England though he be my vtter aduersarie yet I much lament that he hath so endamaged his realme hath brought that noble ground and Duene of prouinces vnder miserable tribute The chiefe Lordes and men of his nobilitie stāding by when he vttred these wordes being as it were in a fury cried with one voyce By the blud of God in whom we trust to be saued we wil sticke in this article to the loosing of our heads Let the K. of England do therein what him liketh no king may put his land vnder tribute so make his nobility captiue seruants with that came in Ludowike the kings eldest sonne and so sayd vnto them all there present I beseeche you let not my purposed iourney The Barons of England haue elected me for theyr Lorde and king and I will not surely lose my right but I wil fight for it euen to the very death yea so long as hart shall stir within my brest and I doubt not but I shall well obtaine it for I haue frendes among them Hys father the king stoode still as he had bene in a dompe answered neuer a word but fared as though he had dissembled the matter Be like he mistrusted some thing therein as he might well inough for all was procured by the priestes that they might liue licentiously in all wealth and fredome from the kings yoke About the same time were such treasons and conspiracies wrought by the Bishops Priestes and Monkes throughout all the realme that the king knew not where to become or finde trusty frendes he was then compelled by the vncertaintie of his subiectes to trauaile from place to place but not without a great armie of men looking euery day when his Barons their confederates would cruelly set vpon him At last he came to Douer and there looked for aide from other quarters which loued him better then did hys owne people And thether to him resorted from Flaunders Brabant Holland on the one side and from Guiane Gascoine Poitiers on the other side and from other countries more a wonderfull number of men The report then went that the pope had wrytten to those countreis mightely to assist him for diuers cōsiderations one was for that he had both submitted himselfe and hys dominion to his protection An other was because he had taken on him a little before the liuery of the crosse to win againe Hierusalem The third was for that he had gotten by him the dominion of England and Ireland and feared to lose both if he should chance to decay For the space of 3. moneths he remained in the Isle of Wight abroade in the aire to quiet himself for a time from al manar of tumults and led there a solitary life among riuers and watermen where as hee rather counted to die then to liue being so traiterously handled of his Bishops and Barons and not knowing howe to be iustly aduenged of them Uppon the Purification day of our Lady therfore he tooke vpon him the crosse or viage against the Turks for recouery of Hierusalem mooued therunto rather for the doubts which he had of his people then for any other deuotion else And thus he said to his familiar seruāts since I submitted my selfe and my lands England and Ireland to the church of Rome sorow come to it neuer thing
not rule al things as the other Pope did thâ—nking therby that he would haue done all thyngs to their commoditie but they founde it otherwise For he made al them which were excommunicate to pay double and treble ere they could be restored againe to their former liuings And in the selfe same yeare as king Ihon was come to Swinestead Abbey not farre from Lincolne hee rested there two dayes where as most writers testifie he was most traiterously poisoned by a monke of that Abby of the secte of the Listercians or S. Bernardes brethren called Simon of Swinsted As concerning the noble personage of this Prince this witnes geueth Roger Houeden therein Princeps quidem magnus erat sed minus foelix atque vt Marius vtramque fortunam expertus Doubtles sayth he king Iohn was a mighty prince but not so fortunate as many were Not altogether vnlike to Marius the noble Romaine he rasted of Fortune both wayes bountifull in mercie in warres sometime he wanne sometime againe he lost Munisicus ac liberalis in exteros fuit sed proditionis causa suorum depraedator plus aduenis quam suis confidens Hee was also very bounteous liberal vnto strangers but of his owne people for their daily treasons sake hee was a great oppressor so that he trusted more to foreiners then to them Among other diuers and sundry coÌ„ditions belonging to this king one there was which is not in him to be reprehended but commended rather for that being far from the superstition which kings at that time were commonly subiect vnto regarded not the popish Masse as in certaine Chronicles wryting of him may be collected for so I finde testified of him by Mat Parisiensis that the king vpon a time in his hunting comming where a very fat stag was cut vp and opened or howe the Hunters terme it I cannot tell the king beholding the fatnesse and the lyking of the stagge See saith he how easily and happily he hath liued and yet for all that he neuer heard any Masse It is recorded and founde in the Chronicle of William Caxton called fructus temporum and in the 7. Booke The foresayde monke Simon being much offended with certaine talke that the king had at his table concernyng Ludouicke the Frenche kings sonne which then had entred and vsurped vpon him did cast in hys wicked heart howe he most speedely might bring him to his ende And first of all he counselled with his Abbot shewing hym the whole matter and what hee was minded to doe Hee alledged for himselfe the Prophecie of Cayphas Iohn 11. saying It is better that one man die then all the people should perish I am well contented sayeth he to loose my life and so become a Martyr that I may vtterly destroy this tyraunt With that the Abbot did weepe for gladnes and much commended hys feruent zeale as hee tooke it The Monke then being absolued of his Abbot for doyng this acte aforehand went secretely into a garden vppon the backe side and finding there a most venemous Toad he so pricked hym and pressed him with his penknife that he made him vomit all the poyson that was wythin hym This done he conueyed it into a cuppe of wine and with a smiling and flattering countenance he sayde thus to the King If it shall like your Princely maiestie here is inch a cuppe of wine as yee neuer dronke a better before in all your life time I trust this Wassail shal make al England glad And with that he dranke a great draught thereof the king pledging him The Monke anone after went to the farmerye and there died his guts gushing out of his belly and had continually from thence fooâ—th three Monkes to sing Masse for his soule confirmed by theyr generall chapter What became after that of king Iohn yee shall knowe right well in the processe following I woulde ye did marke well the wholesome proceedings of these holy votaries howe vertuously they obey their kings whome God hath appoynted and howe religiously they bestow their confessions absolutions and masses The king within a short space after feeling great griefe in his body asked for Symon the monke and aunswere was made that he was departed this life Then god haue mercy vpon me sayd he I suspected as much after he had sayd that al England should therof be glad he ment now I perceiue then of his owne generation With that he commanded his chariot to be prepared for he was not able to ride So went he from thence to Slaford Castel and from thence to Newerke vpon Trent and there wtin lesse then 3. daies he died Upon his death bed he much repented his former life and forgaue all them with a pitifull heart that had done him iniury desiring that his elder sonne Beurie might be admonished by his example and to learne by his misfortunes to be natural fauourable gentle and louing to his natiue people When his body was enbaumed and spiced as the maner is of kings his bowels or intrailes were buried at Cropton Abbey which was of the secte of Premonstratenses or Chanons of S. Norbert His hired souldiours both Englishmen and straungers were still about him and folowed his corpes triumphantly in their armour till they came to the Cathedrall Church of Worcester and there honourably was he buried by Siluester the bishop betwixt S. Oswalde and S. Wolstane 2. Byshoppes of that Church He died in the yeare of our Lord 1216. the 19. day of October after he had raigned in suche calamitie by the subtile conueyaunce of his Cleargie 18. yeares 6. monethes and odde dayes So soone as Kyng Iohn was dead and buryed as is said afore the Princes Lordes and Barons so many as were of his part as wel of straungers as of them that were borne heere by counsaile of the Legate Gualo gathered themselues together and all with one consent proclaimed Henrie his sonne for their king Of whome more shall followe the Lorde willing hereafter Many opinions are among the Chroniclers of the death of king Iohn Some of them doe wryte that he died of sorrowe and heauinesse of heart as Polydorus some of surfetting in the night as Radulphus Niger some of a bloudy flixe as Roger Houeden some of a burning agewe some of a cold sweat some of eating apples some of eating peares some plummes c. * The Description of the poysoning of King Iohn by a Monke of Swinestead Abbeye in Lincolneshire In Gisburn I finde otherwise who dissenting from other sayeth that he was poysoned with a dish of Peares which the Monke had prepared for the king therewith to poison him Who asking the king whether he would taste of his fruite being bid to bring them in according to the kings bidding so did At the bringing in whereof saith the said story the pretious stones about the K. began to swete In somuch that the king misdoubting some poyson demanded of
you the Church the king and the kingdome from that miserable yoke of seruitude that you doe not intermedle or take any part concerning such exactions or rentes to be required or geuen to the sayd Romaynes Letting you to vnderstand for trueth that in case you shall which God forbid be found culpable herein not onely your goodes and possessions shall be in daunger of burning but also in your persons shall incurre the same perill and punishmēt as shall the sayd Romish oppressors themselues Thus fare ye well ¶ Thus much I thought here to insert and notifie cōcerning this matter for that not onely the greedy and auaritious gredines of the Romish church might the more euidently vnto al Englishmen appeare but that they may learne by this example how worthy they be so to be serued plagued with their owne rod which before would take no part with their naturall king agaynst forreine power of whom now they are scourged To make the story more playne In the raygne of thys Henry the third who succeding as is said after king Iohn his father raygned sixe and fifty yeares came diuers Legates from Rome to Englande First Cardinall Otho sent from the Pope with letters to the king lyke as other letters also were sent to other places for exactions of money The king opening the letters and perceiuing the contentes aunswered that he alone coulde say nothing in the matter which concerned all the clergye and commons of the whole Realme Not long after a Councell was called at Westminster where the letters beyng opened the forme was this Petimus imprimis ab omnibus Ecclesijs Cathedralibus duas nobis praebendas exhiberi vnam de portione Episcopi alteram de capitulo Et similiter de Coenobijs vbi diuersae sunt portiones Abbatis conuentus a conuentibus quantum pertinet ad vnum Monachum aequali facta distributione honorum suorum ab Abbate tantundem That is We require to be geuen vnto vs first of all Cathedrall Churches two Prebendes one for the Byshops part one other for the Chapter And likewise of Monasteryes where be diuers portions one for the Abbot an other for the Couent Of y◠Couent so much as appertayneth to one Monke y◠portion of the goods beyng proportionly deuided Of the Abbot likewise as muche The cause why he required these prehendes was this It hath bene sayth he an old slaunder and a great complaynt agaynst the Church of Rome to be noted of insatiable couetousnes which as ye knowe is the roote of all mischiefe and al by reason that causes be wont commonly not to be handeled nor to proceed in the Church of Rome without great giftes and expense of mony Wherof seyng the pouerty of the Churche is the cause and why it is so slaundered and ill spoken of it is therefore conuenient that you as naturall children should succour your mother For vnlesse we should receaue of you and of other good men as you are we shoulde then lacke necessaryes for our lyfe whiche were a great dishonour to our dignitie c. When those petitions and causes of the Legate were propounded in the foresayde assembly at Westminster on the Popes behalfe the Bishops Prelates of the realme beyng present aunswere was made by the mouth of maister Iohn Bedford on this wise that the matter there proponed by the Lord Legate in especiall concerning the kyng of England but in generall it touched all the archbishops with their Suffraganes the Byshops and al the prelates of the realm Wherfore seing both the king by reason of his sickenes is absent and the Archbishop of Caunterbury with diuers other Bishops also were not there therefore in the absence of them they had nothing to say in the matter neyther could they so doe without preiudice of thē which were lacking And so the assembly for that tyme brake vp Not long after the sayd Otho Cardinall De carcere Tulliano comming agayne from Rome cum autentico plenariae potestatis indicted an other Councell at London caused all Prelates Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors and other of the clergy to be warned vnto the same Councell to be had in the Church of S. Paules at London about the feast of S. Martin the pretence of whiche Councell was for redresse of matters concerning benefices and religion but the chiefe principal was to hunt for money For putting them in feare and in hope some to lose some to obtein spirituall promotiōs at hys hand he thought gayn would rise thereby and so it did For in the meane time as Parisiensis in vita Henrici 3. writeth diuers pretious rewardes were offered him in Palfreis in rich plate and iewels in costly and sumptuous garments richly furred in coyne in vitals c. In so much that onely the bishop of Wintchester as the story reporteth hearing that he woulde winter at London sent him L. fat Oxen an C. come of pure wheat 8. tunne of chosen wine toward hys house keeping Likewise other byshops also for their part offred vnto the Cardinals boxe after their habilitie The time of the Councell drawing nye the Cardinall commanded at the West end of Paules Churche an high solēne throne to be prepared rising vp with a glorious scaffold vpon mighty and substantiall stages strongly builded and of a great height Thus agaynst y◠day assigned came the sayd archbishops Bishops Abbotes and other of the prelacy both farre and neare throughout al England weried and vexed with the winters iorny bringing their letters procuratory Who being together assembled the Cardinall beginneth his sermon But before we come to y◠sermon there happened a great discord betweene the 2. archbishops of Caunterbury and of Yorke for sitting at the right hand and left hand of the glorious Cardinal for the which the one appealed agaynst the other The Cardinall to pacifie the strife betwene thē both so that he would not derogate from eyther of them brought forth a certayne Bull of the Pope in the middest of which Bull was pictured the figure of the crosse On the right side of the crosse stoode the image of S. Paule and on the left side S. Peter Loe saith the Cardinall holding open the Bull with the crosse here you see S. Peter on the left hand of the crosse and S. Paul on the right side and yet is there betwene these two no cōtention For both are of equall glory And yet S. Peter for the prerogatiue of his keyes for the preheminence of his Apostleship and Cathedral dignitie seemeth most worthy to be placed on the right side But yet because S. Paul beleued on Christ when he saw him not therfore hath he the right hand of the Crosse for blessed be they sayth Christ which beleue and see not c. And from that tyme forth the Archbishop of Canterbury inioyed the right hand the archbishop of Yorke the left Wherein yet this Cardinall is more to be
kings hart was confirmed and he receiued Ex Mat. Parisiens fol. 164. 240. After the death of Stephen Langhton Archb. of Canterbury ye heard before how the monks had elected walter a Monke of Launterbury But the king to stop that election sent vp his Proctors M. Alexander stanes and M. Henry Sandford bishop of Rochester to the Pope to euacuate that election and to place Richard Chauncellor of Lincolne Which Proctors perceiuing at first the Pope and Cardinals how hard vnwillingly they were therunto considering how all thinges might be bought for mony rather then the king shoulde fayle of his purpose they promised on the kinges behalfe to the pope for mainteining his warres agaynst Fredericke the Emperour a disme or tenth part of all the moueables in the Realme of England and of Ireland At the contemplation of which mony the Pope estsoones thinking to passe with the king began to pick quarrels with the foresayd Gualter for not answering rightly to his questions about Christes descēding to hell making of Christes body on the aulter the weeping of Rachell for her children she being dead before about the sentence of excommunication and certain causes of Matrimony His aunsweres wherunto when they were not to the Popes mind he was therefore put backe and the kings man preferred which cost the whole realm of England and Ireland the tenth part of their moueable goods By reason whereof what money was raysed to the Popes Gazophylacium I leaue to the estimation of the Reader an 1229. Ex Mat. Paris fol. 71. And yet for all this the sayd Richard the costly Archbishop of Caunterbury within lesse then two yeres after falling out with the king about the castle and Lordshippe of Tunbridge went and complayned of him to the Pope In the trauers whereof it cost the king a great piece of mony besides and yet mist he his purpose In the which iourney the sayd Archbishop in his returne homeward by the way departed an 1231. Of the like dissentiō ye heard before betwene the king and the couent of Durham for not choosing M. Lucas the kinges Chaplaine About the sute whereof when much money was bestowed on both sides welfauoredly the pope defeiting thē both admitted neither M. William nor M. Lucas but or deined the Byshop of Sarum to be theyr byshop an 1228 Ex Paris Betwene the Monks of Couentry and the canons of Liechfield rose another like quarell which of them should haue the superior voyce in chusing their bishop In which sute after much mony bestowed in the court of Rome the pope to requallify agayn ech part with some retribution for their mony receiued tooke this order indifferētly betwene them that each part by course should haue the choosing of their bishop an 1228. Ex. Paris fol. 68. What busines fell likewise betweene Edmund Archb. of Caunterbury and the Monkes of Rochester about the electiō of Richard Wēdour to be theyr bishop And what was the end first the Archbishop was sayne to trauel◠himselfe to the Pope and so did the Couent also send their Proctors Who be like being better moued weyed downe the cause so that the good Archbishoppe in that cause agaynst the Monkes and partly in an other cause agaynst the Earle of Arundell was condemned of the Pope in a thousand Markes Whereof the greatest part no doubly redounded to the Popes coffers an 1238. Math Parisiensis fol. 114. After the returning of the sayd Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury agayne from Rome it chaunced that the Monkes of Canterbury had elected theyr Prior without his assent for the which he did excommunicate the monks and euacuate theyr election Not long after this the popes exactours went about to extort from the churchmen the fift part of theyr goods to the Popes vse fighting then agaynst the Emperour This cruell exaction being a great while resisted by the Prelates and Clergy at length the foresayd Archb. thinking therby to get the victory agaynst the monks was contented to graunt to the sayd exaction adding moreouer of his own for an ouerplus 800. marks whereupon the rest of the Clergy was fayne to follow after and contribute to the popes exactors an 1240. Ex Mat. Paris fol. 132. b. In the church of Lincolne whose sea before the conquest was in Dorkester and afterward by williā Rufus translated from thence to Lincolne rose a greuous contētiō beweene Rob. Grosted then bishop and the canons of the cathedrall church about theyr visitation whether the bishop should visire them or the Deane which matter being put to arbiters could not so be composed before the B. and the chapter after theyr appeale made to the Pope went both to Rome and there after they had well wasted theyr purses they receiued at length their aunswere but payd full sweetly for it an 1239. Paris fol. 119. At what time the Canons of chichester had elected Robert Passelew to their bishop at the kings request the Archb. with certein other bishops taking part against the kings chaplaine repelled him and set vp Richard Wirch Upon this what sending and going there was to Rome and what mony bestowed about the matter as wel of the kings part as bishops read the story thereof in Mat. Paris fol. 182. 184. 186. Robert Grosted bishop of Lincolne of whom relation was made before hauing a great care howe to bring the priuiledged orders of religious houses within his precinct vnder his subiectiō and discipline went to Rome there with great labor much effusion of mony as the story sayth procured of the pope a mandate wereby all such religious orders were commaunded to be vnder his power and obedience Not long after the Monkes not abyding that who could soone wey downe the Bishop with mony sent theyr factors to the Pope who with their golden eloquence so perswaded him and stirred affections in such sort that soone they purchased themselues freedome from their ordinary Bishop wherof Robert Grosted hauing intelligence made vp to Rome and there complayning to the pope declared how he was disappoynted and confounded in his purpose contrary to promises and assurance made to him before Unto whom Pope Innocent looking with a sterne countenaunce made this aunswere agayne Brother sayd he what is that to thee Thou hast deliuered and discharged thine owne soule It hath pleased vs to shew fauor vnto them Is thine eie euill that I am good And thus was the Bishop sent away with a flea in his care murmuring with himself yet not so softly but that the Pope heard him say these words O mony mony what canst not thou do in the court of Rome Wherwith the Pope being somewhat pinched gaue this aunswere agayne D ye Englishmen Englishmen of all men most wretched For all your seeking is how ye may consume deuour one an other c. anno 1250. Ex. Math. Parisiensi fol. 230. It happened moreouer the same yeare that the sayd Robert Grosted
the state and shewe of a Legate yet hee hath doubled the doings of a Legate charging vs. euery day with newe Mandates and so most extreemely hath â—â—pressed vs First in bestowing and geuing away our benefices if any were aboue 30 Markes as soone as they were vacant to Italian persons Secondly after the decease of the sayd Italians vnknowing to the patrons he hath intruded other Italians therein whereby the true patrons haue bene spoiled and defrauded of their right Thirdly the saide M. Martinus yet also ceaseth not to assigne and conferre such benefices still to the like persones And some he reserueth to the donation of the Apostolike fee And extorteth moreouer from religious houses immoderate pensions excommunicating and interdicting who so euer dare gainstand him Wherefore forasmuch as the sayde M. Martin hath so farre extended his iurisdiction to the great perturbation of the whole Realme no lesse derogation to our kings priuiledge to whome it hath bene fully graunted by the see Apostolike that no Legate should haue to do in his land but such as he by speciall letters did send for we with most huÌ„ble deuotioÌ„ beseech you that as a good father will alwaies be ready to support his childs so your fatherhode wil reach forth your hand of compassion to releaue vs your humble children from these greuous oppressions And although our Lord and king being a Catholicke Prince and wholy giuen to his deuotions and seruice of Christ Iesu our Lorde so that he respecteth not the health of his owne body will feare and reuerence the see Apostolicke and as a deuout sonne of the Church of Rome desireth nothing more then to aduance the estate and honor of the same yet we which trauaile in his affaires bearing the heate and burden of the day and whose duetie together with him is to tender the preseruation of the publike wealth neither can paciently suffer such oppressioÌ„s so detestable to God and man and greuances intollerable neither by Gods grace will suffer them through the meanes of your godly remediey which we well hope and trust of you speedily to obteine And thus may it please your fatherhode we beseche you to accept this our supplication who in so doing shall worthely deserue of all the Lords and Nobles with the whole comminaltie of the Realme of England oâ—â—digne and speciall thankes accordingly Anno 〈◊〉 Ex Mat Parisient fol. 188. This supplication being sent by the handes of Sir R. Bygot Knight and W. de Powike Squier Henrie de la Mare with other knightes and Gentlemen after it was there opened and red pope Innocent first keping silence deferred to make answer therunto making hast to procede in hys detestable excommunication and curie against the good Emperour Fredericke The whith curle being done and the English ambassadours waiting still for their aunswer the Pope then told them flatte they should not haue their request fulfilled Wherat the English men departing iu great anger away sware with terrible othes that they would neuer more suffer any tribute or fruites of any benefices namely whereof the noble men were patrones to be paid to that insatiable and greedy court or Rome worthy to be detested in all worlds Ex Math. Paris fol 193. The Pope hearing these wordes all be it making then no aunswere thought to watch his time and did First incontinent vpon the same during the said Counsel he caused euery Bishop of England to put his hande and seale to the obligation made by king Iohn for the Popes tribute as is aboue specified Threatning moreouer saying that if he had once brought downe the Emperor Fredericke he would bridle the insolent pride of England wel enough After this Councell ended in the beginning of the next yere following An. 1246. Pope Innocent came to Cluniake where was then appoynted a secret meeting or colloquie betwene the Pope and Lewes the French king who was then preparing his voyage to Ierusalem in which colloquie the pope sought al meanes to perswade the French king in reuengement of his miurie to warre contra Regulum as he termed him that is against the weake and scule king of England either to driue him vtterly froÌ„ his kingdom or els so damnitie him wherby he should be constraâ—ned whether he would or no to stoupe to the Popes will and obedience Wherein he also would assist him with al the authoritie he could doe Neuerthelesse the French king to this would not agree first for the consanguinitie that was betwene them for there 2. Quenes were sisters And also for the truce that they had taken Thirdly for feare of the Emperour least he shoulde take his part Item for that it could not be without the spilling of much Christen bloud And lastly because he was preparing his voyage to the holy land where his comming was already looked for And thus the French king denying the Popes bloudy request refused not onely to enter warre against the king and the realme of England but also shortly after concluded wyth him longer truce An. 1246. Ex. Math. Paris sol b. Straight vpon the necke of this followed then the exaction of Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury that he had bought of the Pope which was to haue the first yeares fruites of all benefices and spirituall linings in Englande for the space of 7. yeares together vntill the sumine should come of â—en thousand Markes Whereat the king first was greatly agreeued But 〈◊〉 eonclusion hee was faine at last to agreâ— with the Archbyshop and so the nibney was gathered Paris fol. 197. Ouer and besides all other exactions wherewyth the pope miserably oppressed the church of England this also is not to be â—â—â—lenced how the Pope sending down his letters 〈◊〉 the seâ— Apostolike charged and commanded the prelates to find him some 10. Tome 5. and some 15. able men wel furnished with horse and harneis for one whole yere to fight in the popes warres And lest the king shuld haue knowledge thereof it was enioyned them vnder paine of excommunication that they shoulde reuease it to none but to kepe it secrete only to themselues Paris fol. 200. The pope yet notwtstanding partly beyng laboured by siâ—ers partly of hys owne mynde thinking good somewhat to geue to the king people of England as fathers are woâ—â— to geue solsterhing to theyr babes to play with all to keeâ—â— them still sent downe this releasment to the king yâ— hereafter whensoeuer any of the popes nephewes or of hys Cardinals were to be beneficed many church of England eyther he or the Cardinals shuld first make the king priuy theeof and instantly craâ—â—e hys good-will in obteining the proÌ„tutation or els the same to stand in no effect c. Parisiensis sol 202. howbeit al this seemed to be don 〈◊〉 of a pollicy to get the kings â—auour wherby he might be suffered more freely to passe with greater exactions as afterward
not be found geuyng certificate thereof aud excommunicatyng c. 7. Item that the sayd prouinciall or his Friers should haue full power to absolue those that were excommunicated which wittyngly had done any fraude touchyng the collection aforesayd so that the sayd persons did make due satisfaction to the deputies aforesayd Ex Math. Pariens fol. 205. What man hauing eyes is so blinde which seeth not these execrable dealings of the Pope to be such as woulde cause any nation in the world to do as the wise Grecians did and perpetually to abrenounce the Pope and well to consider the vsurped authority of that sea not to be of God But such was the rude dulnesse then of miserable England for lacke of learning godly knowledge that they feeling what burdens were laide vpon them yet would play still the asse of Balaam or els the horse of Esope whych receiuing the bridle once in his mouth could afterward neither abide his owne miserie nor yet recouer libertie And so it faâ—ed with England vnder the popes thraldome as partly by these stories aboue hath ben declared partly by other in like case following is to be seene For so it followeth in the history of the sayd Matth. Paris howe the Pope taking more courage by hys former abused boldnesse perceiuing what a tame asse he had to ride vpon ceased not thus but directed a new precept the same yeare 1246. to the Prelates of England commaunding by the authoritie Apostolike yâ— all beneficed men in the realme of England which were Resident vppon their benefices should yeld to the Pope the third part of their goodes and they which were not resident should geue the one halfe of their goods and that for the space of 3. yeres together with terrible comminations to all them that did resist and euer with this clause wyth all Non obstante whych was like a key that opened all locks Which summe cast together was found to amount to lx M. pounds which summe of mony could scarce be found in all England to paie for King Richardes raunsome Paris fol. 207. The execution of this precept was committed to the bishop of London who coÌ„ferring about the matter with hys brethren in the Church of Paules as they were busily consulting together and bewailing the importable burthen of this contribution which was impossible for them to sustaine sodainely commeth in certaine Messengers from the Kyng Sir Iohn Lexintune Knight and M. Laurence Martine the kings chaplain straightly in the kings name forbidding them in any case to consent to this contribution which shuld be greatly to the preiudice and desolation of the whole Realme Parisiens fol. 207. Thys being done about the first day of December in the yeare abouesayde shortly after in the beginning of the next yeare 1247. about Februarie the kyng called a Parliament where by commoÌ„n aduise it was agreed that certaine Embassadors should be sent to Rome to make manifest to the Court of Rome the exceding greuances of the Realme deliuering moreouer these letters to the Pope in the name both of the Temporaltie and also of the Clergie as here followeth * An other letter sent to Pope Innocent 4. in the names of the whole Clergie and comminaltie of England An. 1247. SAnctis Patri in Christo ac Do. Innocent Dei prouidentia summo pontifici vniuersitas cleri populi per prouinciam Cant. constituti deuota pedum oscula beatorum Cum Anglicana Ecclesia c. To the most holy father in Christ and Lord Innocent by Gods prouidence chiefe bishop The whole comminaltie both of the Clergie and laitie within the prouince of Canterbury sendeth deuout kissings of his blessed feete Like as the Churche of Englande since it first receiued the Catholicke faith hath alwayes shewed her selfe faithfull and deuout in adhering to God and to our holy mother the Church of Rome studying with all kinde of seruice to please and serue the same and thinketh neuer otherwise to do but rather to continue and increase as she hath begon euen so nowe the same Church most humbly prostrate before the feete of your holinesse intirely beseecheth your clemencie to accept her petition in sparing this imposition of money which so manifold waies for the subuention of other nations by the commaundement of your holines is laid vpon vs considering that not only it is importable but also impossible which is enioyed vs. For although our countrey sometimes yeldeth foorth fruite for the necessary sustentation of the inhabitants yet it bringeth foorth neither gold nor siluer neither were able to bring forth of long time so muche as nowe a daies is required Which also being burdened and ouercharged of late daies with an other such like imposition but not so great as this is not able any whit to aunswere to that which is exacted Furthermore besides this commaundement of your holines there is required of the Clergie a subsidie for our temporall king whose necessities neither possibly we can nor honestly ought to forsake whereby he may both withstande the inuasion of the enemie and mainteine the right of his patrimonie and also recouer againe that hath bene lost In consideration whereof we haue directed the bearers heereof to the presence of your holinesse with our humble supplication to explane to you the dangers and inconueniences which are like to ensue vpon the premisses Which by no meanes we are able to susteine although notwithstanding we know our selues by all bonds of charitie to be obliged to your deuotion and obedience And because our generall communitie hath no seale proper we haue signed therefore these presents with the publike seale of the Citie of London c. Ex Paris fol. 209. The like letters were sent also vnto the Cardinals to the same effect The Pope vnderstanding these things and perceiuing that there was no striuing against such a generall consent and yet loth to forgoe his sweete haruest which he was wont to reape in Englande craftely deuised to sende this aunswere againe to the King much like to the same which hee sent before which was that although the Pope in time past vpon his owne will and pleasure to the importable greeuance of the Realme of Englande hath euery where aud without respecte through the whole lande made his prouisions in geuing their benefices vnto his Italians yet nowe the Lorde be praised that tempest sayd he is ouerblowen so that heereafter if the Pope shall graunt his prouision for any of hys nephewes or of his Cardinals they shall come first and make their instant sute vnto the king without all inforcement so that it shall stand wholy in the kings free arbitrement to doe herein what hee thinketh good c. Paris fol. 209. b. This aunswere of the Pope all be it it was but a subtile shift for the time yet neither did hee long stande to that hee had thus promised to the King For shortly after and within fewe dayes
your letters or by any other indulgences to what persoÌ„ or persoÌ„s soeuer of what estate dignity or place soeuer vnder any maner or forme of words grauÌ„ted hereafter by the sea Apostolicke by the which indulgences the effect of the said prouision may be by any maner of waies hindered or deferred yet of our certayne knowledge we will that they shall want theyr strength in the prouision made or to be made for the sayd Frederick in the Church of Lincoln And if any vpon the premisses or any of them shall alleadge agaynst the foresayd Fredericke or his procurator That you will cause them to be cited on our behalfe so that they being cited peremtorily shal within the space of two monethes of your citation personally appere before vs there according to the law to make aunswere to the sayd Fredericke vpon the premisses Any priuiledges or indulgeÌ„ces what soeuer geuen and graunted either generally to the king dome of England or peculiarly to any other person of what state degree and place soeuer graunted by the foresaid sea vnder what soeuer maner forme of words for them not to be called vp beyond the sea or out of their owne City or Dioces by letters Apostolicall vnder whatsoeuer forme of wordes obtayned to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding All which priuiledges and indulgences we will in no case shall stand in any force or effect to the sayd partes Moreouer the day and forme of the citation we will that ye faythfully do intimate vnto vs by your letters containing the tenor therof And if both of you can not be present at the execution hereof yet we will notwithstaÌ„ding that one of you do execute the same without fayle Dated the 7. Kal. Febr. the 10. yeare of our Popedome As theâ—e is no maÌ„ which hath any eies to see but may â—asely vnderstand in reading this letter of the Pope how vnreasonable his request is how impudently he commauÌ„deth how proudly he threatneth how wickedly he oppresseth and racketh the Church of God in placing boyes and straungers in the ministery cure of soules also in making them his prouisors to rauen vp the Church goodes So is it no great maruell if this godly Bishoppe Robert Grosted was offended therwith who in my mind deserueth herein a double commendation not onely that he so wisely did discerne error from sincerity and truth but also that he was so hardy and constant to stand to the defence therof agaynst the Pope according as in this his answere to the Pope agayne may appeare as foloweth The aunswere of Robert Grosted SAlutem Pleaseth it your wisedome to vnderstand that I am not disobedient to any the Apostolicke precepts but both deuoutly reuerently with the natural affectioÌ„ of a sonne obey the same And also am an vtter enemy to al those that resist such Apostolick precepts as a childe zelous of his fathers honor And truly I am no lesse then bound therunto by the precept and coÌ„mauÌ„dement of God For the Apostolick preceptes are none other nor can be then consonant and vniforme to the doctrine of the Apostles and of our Sauiour Christ being the maister and Lorde of all the Apostles whose type and person specially in the consonant and vniforme hierarchie of the Church the Lord Pope semeth to beare the same our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe saying whosoeuer is not with me the same iâ— agaynst me Therefore agaynst him neither is nor can be the most diuine sanctitye of the sea Apostolicall The tenour then of â—our foresayd Apostolicall letter is not consonant to true sanctity but vtterly dissonaÌ„t and disagreeing to the same First for that vpon the clause of this your letter many such other letters like which clause alwayes ye so much do vrge Non obstante induced and brought in vpon no necessity of any naturall law to be obserued doth swarme and floweth with all inconstancy boldnes pertinacy impudency lying deceiuing and is also a sea of mistrust in geuing credit to no man Which as it swarmeth with these so in like maner with innumerable other vices which hang and depend vpon the same mouing and disturbing the purity of Christian religion and lyfe agreable to the same as also the publique tranquility of men Moreouer next after the sinne of Lucifer which shal be in the latter time to wit of Antichrist the childe of perdition whome the Lord shall destroy with the breath of his mouth there is not nor can be any kinde of sinne so repugnant and contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles â—nd holy scripture to our sauiour Christ himselfe more hatefull detestable and abhominable then to destroy and kill mens soules by defrauding them of the mistery of the pastorall office which by the ministery of the postorall cure ought to saue and quicken the same Which sinne by most euident places of the Scripture such men are discerned knowne to commit which being in the authority of the Pastorall dignity do serue their owne carnall desires and necessaries with the benefit of the milke and wooll of the sheep and flocke of Christ and do not minister the same Pastorall office and charge to the benefite and saluation of those theyr sheep The same therefore by the testimony of the Scripture is not the administration of the Pastorall ministery but the killing and destruction of the sheep And that these two kinde of vices be most vile and wicked although after a differryng sorte and farre exceeding all other kinde of wickednesse hereby it is manifest For that the same are directly contrary to two vertues most chiefely good although differring in themselues and vnlike together For that is called most wicked which is contrary to a thing most best So much then as lyeth in the offenders the one of their offences is directly agaynst the deity which of himselfe is alwayes essentially and supernaturally good The other is agaynst the deification and the Image of God in man which is not alwayes but by the participation of Gods lightsome grace essentially and naturally God And forasmuch as in thinges being good the cause of good is better then the effect like as againe in euill things the cause of euill is worse then the effect of euil proceeding therof hereby it is manifest That the inducers of such wicked destroyers of Gods Image and deification in the sheep of Christ that is the church of God are worse theÌ„ those chief destroiers to wit Lucifer Antichrist And as in these degrees of wickednes how much more excellent such be who hauing a great charge committed to them of God to edifâ—ication and not to destruction are more bound to keep away and exclude such wicked destroyers from the church of God So much is it also of that that this holy seat Apostolicall to whom the Lord Iesus Christ hath geuen all maner of power to edification as the Apostle sayth and not to destruction can commaund or will to goe about
force ruled the rost that al the rest of the nobles barons cast with theÌ„selues how best they might redresse remedy the great inconueniences that vnto the realme by meanes of theÌ„ grew and happened Wherupon the king Queene and sir Roger Mortimer caused an other Parliament to be called at Salisbury where the said syr Roger Mortimer was made Earle of March agaynst all the barons wils to preuent disapoynt the foresayd purpose of them but the Erle Henry of Lancaster with others woulde not be at the same wherefore it was sayd vnto theyr charges that they went about to conspire the kinges death And further for that the king was as well vnder the gouernment of the Erle of Kent his vncle as the Queene hys mother and the Earle of March for that they could not doe in all thinges as they lifted for the sayd Earle the kâ—nges vncle who loued the king and the Realme Enuie began to rise betweene the Earle Mortimâ—r and him and by Isabell the Queenes practise he founde the meanes to perswade the king that the Earle of Kent to enioy the Crowne as next heyre vnto the king went about to poyson him Wherupon the king geuing light credite caused his said vncle to be apprehended wtout answere making to his accusation accusers to be beheaded at Winchester the third of October and 3. yeare of hys raigne But the iust iudgement of God not permitting suche odious crimes in him to be vnpunished nor vndetected so in fiue fell forthe that Isabell the old Queene the kings mother was found and vnderstood to be with childe by the sayd Mortimer Complaynt hereof was made to the K. as also the killing of king Edward hys father and of the conspiracy of hym against the Earle of Kent the kinges vncle before put to death Whereupon diuers other articles layd agaynst hym and manifestly read in the court he was araigned and indighted and by verdit found gilty hauing his iudgement as in cases of high treason and suffered death accordingly at London where vpon London bridge next vnto Spensers his head obtayned a place The Queene hys mother also by good aduise of hys counsell was restrayned of her libertie and within a certaine castell not permitted once to come abroad Unto whoÌ„ the king her sonne once or twise a yeare would resort and visite This yeare Prince Edward was borne at Woodstock who in processe of tyme and yeares grew to be a most valiaunt prince and was before he dyed accompted throughout the world the follower of chiualry After this the king prepared an other army into Scotland in the yeare prefixed But first he suÌ„moned king Dauid of Scotland who had in the last truce 4. yeares to coÌ„tinue as you heard his father then liuing maryed the Lady Iane sister to the king termed Iane make peace to doe his homage to the king but that he refused Wherupon not forgetting there withall the scoffing tymes whiche dayly from that tyme of truce the Scots had in theyr mouthes he did somuch that with an army well furnished he entred Scotland by the riuer of Twede for the Scottes had then the possession of that town of Barwick the Scottish Gigges runes were these Long beards hartles Paynted hoodes witles Gay coates graceles Makes England thristles To be short the king wasted the land burnt destroyed took townes and castels with small resistance or none and the space of 6. monthes together did in that land what hym listed without any battaile offered to him For the kyng of Scots was but a child not aboue they age of 15. yeares and wanted good captaines that should haue defended the realme in so muche that they were all fayne sauing those that kept in holdes for theyr defence to take the forrest of Godworth there kept to themselues so long as the king remained in Scotland Who at length when he had sufficieÌ„tly wasted and spoyled brent the same returned toward Barwicke about the which he bent his siege vowing not to remoue the same till he had gotten the towne The Scots that kept the same after a certayne tyme and many assaultes made were contented vpon certayne conditions to haue deliuered vp the towne But that the king refused vnles that all conditions set apart they woulde with bag and bagage depart Whereupon they condescended to the king that if by a certayne tyme they were not by the king of Scottes rescued they would render vp the towne and with bag and bagage depart and so the time expired frustrate of all hope rescue at the day appointed they did The king then entred the towne and taried there the space of 12. dayes who after he had appointed sir Edward Baillew Captayn ouer the towne and leauing also behind him other knightes Squires and Souldiors as well to keep the same as other holdes the king had conquered in Scotland and fronters therof He returned with his people towardes London permitting euery man to depart and go what way them liked Then sir Robert de Artoys a Noble man of Fraunce and which descended of the bloud royall being in EnglaÌ„d with the king ceased not oftentimes to aduertise the kyng and put him in memory of his good right title to the inheritaunce of the crowne of Fraunce This sir Robert for a certayne displeasure that Phillip the French king tooke agaynst hym for a certayn plea which by hym was moued before the king was fayne for the safegard of hys life to flee the Realme of Fraunce and so came to the kinges Court King Edward was not vnwilling at all to heare thereof but took delight oftentimes to reason and debate that matter with him concerning his right title and inheritance to the crowne of France But yet notwtstanding he thought it not good to make any attempt therunto without aduised and circuÌ„spect counsaile for that it contayned matter of no small but most difficult importaunce neyther yet he tooke it to deserue the fame eyther of wisedome or prowes to let so good a title dye or so fit oportunitie to passe Wherefore he calling together certayne of his counsayle vsed their deliberate aduises touching the seriousnes of this matter In fine it was by them thought good yâ— the king should send certayne Embassadours ouer to the Earle of Reynault whose daughter he had maryed as wel to heare hys aduise and counsell herein as also of what friendes and ayde by him his meanes in this so great an expeditioÌ„ to be begon in the Empire to him might be procured The king hereunto coÌ„descendeth appointeth for this Embassage yâ— byshop of Lincolne with 2. other Barenets and 2. Doctors who in such speedy wise made theyr voyage that in shorte space they returned agayne to the king with this answere That not onely the Earle hys counsaile aduise should be herein prest to the king of England theyr
maister but also the whole couÌ„try of Heynault And further for that to such an expedition as appertained he sayd the prouince of Reynault was but a small matter to make accoÌ„pt of he woulde procure for the king greater ayde friendship in the Empire as the Duke of Brabant his cousin Germaine and a puissant Prince the Duke of Guerles the Archbishop of Colayne the Marques of Iuliers c. which are all good men of warre and able to make 10. thousand fighting men sayth he Which aunswere well liked the king and made him ioyous therof But this counsaile of the king as secret as it was came to Phillip the French kinges cares wherupon he stayd the voiage of the Crosie whiche then he had in hand sending forth countermaundes to stay the same til he knew farther the purpose of the king of England The king hereupon himselfe taketh shipping accompanyed as to a king appertained and when he had consulted with all the foresayd Lords of the Empire in this matter and vnderstood theyr fidelitie he made hys repayre to the Emperour at whose handes he was well intertayned honorable receaued whoÌ„ the Emp. appointed to be his Lieâ—etenant generall hauing thereby more authoritie both to will commaund such as for this his expedition he trusted vnto and had made conuention with This hearing Phillip prepared his army and rigged hys nauy that so soone as the K should enter into the dominioÌ„ of Fraunce they also might enter into EnglaÌ„d requiting like for like The king of England after the feast of S. Iohn Baptist according to his purpose prepared all thinges ready to such an expeditioÌ„ coÌ„ducting his army gathering a greater strength in the Empire as before to him was promised vsing the Emperours authoritie therein as his lieftenant general howbeit at the charge altogether of the K. of England The French king as soone as king Edward had landed his army at Mackline in Flaunders and hearing of the defiance which the king and other Noble men of the Empire had sent vnto him Sent certaine ships lying ready therunto and wayting for such oportunitie vppon the cost of England did so much that vpon a Sonday whilest the townes men were at the Church little looking for any such matter entred the hauen of Southampton tooke the towne and spoyled the same defloured maydens enforced wiues brent kild tooke captiues and caryed away riche Ipoyles and great booties to theyr ships and so agayn departed into Fraunce Further as the king of EnglaÌ„d had allied himselfe with the noble men of the Empire and had the friendly fauour of the Emperour also therunto so the French king made the like league and aliance with Dauid the king of Scots whom the king had so hardly delt with all in Scotland as partly before you had and kept the most part of Scotland vnder hys subiection Binding the sayd Dauid is well by writing as oth pledge that without his consent he should make no peace nor conclude any truce with the king of England who agayne assured hym of ayd and rescue and helpe and to recouer his kingdome dominioÌ„ to his vse and forth with sent certain garisons bands into Scotland to keepe play with the Englishmen and there to fortifie diuers places till further oportunitie serued Hee also fortified with men money vitayle and munitioÌ„ the town of Cambrey which he suspected would be besieged lying so neare vpoÌ„ that Empire as in deed it came to passe For King Edward departing from Macheline set forward his host towardes Heynault and by the way asseÌ„bled such power as in the Empirie he looked for marching forward still till that they came to Cambrey it besieged with 40000. men while that with an other company the Fleminges Brabanters and Holenders went to S. Quentin But in effect neyther there nor at Cambrey nor els where any thing notorious was achieued but the summer being well spent and little preuailing in the siege of Cambrey being of situation strong wel defenced therwall with men munition brake vp the siege marched further into the hart of Fraunce towardes Mutterell Which thing the French king hauing vnderstanding of prepared himselfe to geue battaile to the king of England who with an other great army came to UiroÌ„fosse where daies were appoynted to meet in battaile but in the end nothing was done nor attempted betweene the princes And the king of EnglaÌ„d without any battaile either geuing or taking returned with his army from thence to Gaunt Concerning the cause of the sodaine remouing of the K. out of Fraunce seemeth most specially to rise of the pope which at the same time sent downe his Legates for the order of a peace to be taken betweene the kings At Gaunt was gathered by the kings appointment all the nobles as well of England as of the Empire in counsaile together what was best to be done Where playn answere was made to the king of England that vnlesse he would take vpon him the claime and title of Fraunce as his lawfull inheritaunce and as King thereof prosecute his warres It might not be lawfull for them any further to ayde the king of England or to fight with him agaynst the French king for that the Pope had bound them in two millions of Florences of gold and vnder payne of excommunication that they should not fight against the lawfull king of Fraunce Whereupon the king thought good therfore presently to make open challenge to the Realme and Crowne of Fraunce and further to quarter intermingle the armes of Fraunce with the armes of England in one Scootchen Wherupon eftsoones K. Edward made answere vnto the Pope agayne directing vnto him his letters wherein he declareth at large his right title vnto the Crowne of Fraunce purging thereby hymselfe and hys cause vnto the Byshop The copy and tenour of which letter because it is to long to expresse it is to be found in the story of Thom. Walsingham remaining in the Library of I. Stephenson Citizen of LondoÌ„ who so hath lift or leisure to peruse the same Besides this letter to the pope he directed an other to the Pieres and Prelates of France he remayning yet at Gaunt in tenure as followeth * The letter of king Edward to the Nobles and commons of Fraunce EDward by the grace of God king of Fraunce and of England Lord of Ireland Vnto all Prelates and the Ecclesiasticall persons to the Pieres Dukes Earles Barons and to the commons of Fraunce greeting The high Lord and king aboue to whome although his will be in his owne power yet woulde that power should be subiect vnto law commaunding euery thing to be geueÌ„ vnto him which is his declaring thereby that iustice and iudgement ought to be the preparation of the kinges seate Wherefore seing the kingdome of Fraunce through the prouidence of God by the death of Charles last king of Fraunce of famous
which thing euery good Christian ought to eschue especially Princes and others which haue the gouernment of the same auoyding by as short an end as may be the mortality of christen men according as the quarrell is apparaunt betweene you and me For the which causes here touched let the challenge if you thinke meete betweene our own persons and bodyes discussed that the great Nobillitie and prowesse of each other may of euery one be seene And if you refuse this way then let there to finish this challenge be an hundreth of the best souldiours you can chuse out of your part matched with so many of our liege subiects to try the same And if of these two wayes you refuse both the one the other then that you will assigne vnto vs a certain day before the town of Turnay to fight with vs power agaynst power which may be within ten dayes next insuing after the date of these our letters offering the sayd conditions vnto you aboue specified as we would all the world to know and vnderstand not vppon anye orgoile presumption or pride we take therein but for the causes before alledged and to the end that the will of our sauiour Iesus Christ betwixt vs two herein declared and shewed rest and peace might grow amongst Christen men The power and force of gods enemies abated and in fine the limites of Christianitie enlarged and enfranchised And therefore hereupon consider with your selfe what way you will take concerning our foresayd offers and by the bearers of these our letters send vnto vs herein quicke and speedy aunswere Geuen vnder our great seale at Chyn in the playne of Leece the xxvii day of this present month of July * The aunswere of the Lord Phillip de Valois vnto the letter aforesayd PHillip by the grace of God king of Fraunce to Edward king of England We haue seene the letters whiche you haue sent vnto our Court to Phillip de Valois wherein are contayned certayne requestes which you make to the sayd Phillip de Valois But for that the sayd letters come not as directed vnto vs neyther yet the sayd requestes seeme to be made vnto vs which thing clearely by the tenour of the sayd letters appeareth we therefore write vnto you no aunswere touching the same Notwithstanding this suffiseth that we vnderstand by the said letters of yours as also otherwaies that you are entred into our Realm of Fraunce to the great damage both vnto vs our realme and people more proceeding of wil then reason not regarding that which a liege man ought to do vnto his Lord. For you are entred into our homage by you lieged vnto vs acknowleging your self as reasoÌ„ is a liege maÌ„ vnto the king of France and haue promised vnto vs such obeisance as men are wont to do vnto their liege Lordes as more plainly by your letters pateÌ„ts appeareth ensealed with your great seale the which we haue with vs for the which thing we will you to vnderstande that our purpose is when it shal seme good vnto vs to driue you out of our realme to the honor both of vs and our kingdome and to the profité and commodity of our people And this thing to do we haue firme and assured hope in Iesus Christ from whome we haue all our power and strength For by your vnreasonable demaund more wilful then reasonable hath bene hindred and staide the holy voyage to those partes of beyonde the seas where a great number of Christen men haue bene slaine the deuine seruice diminished and the seruice of the churche lesse reuerenced And as touching that where you say ye intende to haue the obeysance of the Flemmings we thinke and beleeue that the good people and commons of that country will behaue themselues in such sort toward our Cosin the Countes of Flaunders their Ladie as it be not their reproche and to vs their soueraigne Lorde they will respect their honour and loialty And that thing wherein they haue done otherwise then well hitherto hath beene by the euill counsaile of such people as neither regarde the weale publike nor honour of their countrey but their owne onely gaine and commoditie Geuen in the fielde neere adioyning to the Priorie of S. Andrew vnder our priuie Seale in absence of our great Seale the 30. day of Iuly An. 1340. Mention was made a little before of Dauid King of Scots whome the French king had supported and stirred vp against the king and realme of England which Dauid with the aide of the Scots and Frenchmen did so muche preuaile that they recouered almost againe al ScotlaÌ„d which before he had lost and was coÌ„strained to liue in the forrest of Gedworth many yeres before Then inuaded they Enland came with their armie wasting and burning the countrey before them till they came as farre as Durham then returned againe into Scotland where they recouered all their holdes againe sauing the towne of Barwike Edenborough they tooke by a stratageme or subtile deuise practised by Douglas certaine other who apparaising themselues in poore mens habites as vitailers with corne and prouender other things demanded the porter early in the morning what neede they had thereof who nothing mistrusting opened the outward gate where they shoulde tary til the Captaine rose and perceiuing the Porter to haue the kaies of the inward gate threw downe their sackes in the outward gate that it might not be shut againe slewe the Porter taking from him the kaies of the towne Then they blew their horne as a warning to the bandes which priuily they had laid not farre off who in hastie wise comming finding the gates ready opened entred vpon the sodaine and killed as many as them resisted and so obtained againe the citie of Edenborough The Scots thus being busie in England the Frenche king in the meane season gathered together a puissaunt power purposing to remoue the siege froÌ„ Turnay and among other sent for the king of Scots who came to hym with great force besides diuers other noble men of France in so much that the French king had a great army thought himselfe able inough to raise the siege and thither bent his host But the French K. for al this his foresaid huge power force durst not yet so neare approch the king as either to geue him battaile or els remoue his siege but kept him self with his army aloofe in a sure place for his better defence And notwithstanding the king of England wasted burnt spoiled and destroyed the couÌ„try 20. miles in maner compasse about Turnay and tooke diuers and sundry stronge townes and holds at Ortois Urles Greney Archis Odint S. Amand and the towne of Lisâ—e where he slewe aboue 300. men of armes and about S. Omers he slue and kild of noble men the Lorde of Duskune of Maurisâ—elou of Rely of Chastillion of Melly of Fenis of Hamelar of Mounfaucon and other Barons to the number of 14. and
Phillip of Fraunce a truce is taken For seeing that you without our consent tooke truce with hym wee by the aduice of our Princes which know the bonds dedes and couenants betwixt vs who also thought no lesse but that sauing your honour we might do the same haue also made a league with the said Phillip king of Fraunce and for certaine causes doe reuoke and call backe the Liefetenantship which we assigned vnto you by our letters Neuerthelesse geuing you for a certaine to vnderstande that in our saide treaties and peace concluded wee haue so brotherly considered you that if you wil agree condescend vnto our counsel your cause by our meane and help shal be brought to good passe and effect About which things farther to conferre with your brotherhode herein we haue sent a deuout religious man Eliarhardus reader and brother of the Heremites of S. Augustine and Chaplaine of our Courte whome about the premisses we desire with speedy expedition to be sent to vs again Dated at Franckforde the 14 day of Iune in the 24. yeare of oure raigne and 14. of our Empire The answere of the King of England to the Emperour TO the high and mighty Prince Lorde Ludouicke by the grace of God Emperor of the Romanes alwaies Augustus Edward by the same grace king of Fraunce and England and Lord of Ireland salutation and prosperous successe We haue reuerently receined your highnes letters amongst other thinges containing that the noble Phillip de Valois to the intent a peace and concorde betweene vs and him might be concluded hath geuen vnto you by his letters ful power and authoritie thereunto at your highnesse request And that if the same might content vs to doe in like sort your highnesse woulde trauaile to bring the concorde to passe And that it would not moue vs any whit at all that your highnesse and the sayde Phillip are in league together For in so much as wee without your astent and consent you say tooke truce with the sayd Phillip you haue also done the like with him which thing you might well do sauing your honoure by the counsaile of all your Nobles and Princes and for certaine causes reuoke againe the Lieftenauntship which you committed vnto vs. Doubtlesse the zeale and good will you haue to make this concorde and agreement we much commend letting you to vnderstand that we alwayes haue bene desirous still are to haue a reasonable peace with the sayde Phillip which peace as much as to vs our honour saued appertained we haue in iustice and by law prosecuted and in very deede it should be to vs acceptable and as wee woulde wish if by such a Mediatour as your Celsitude is it might be brought to passe But forasmuch as we vnderstande the same our right and title to the kingdome of France to be manifest and cleare inough we purpose not to commit the same by any of our letters to doutfull arbitrement But while wee well consider and reuolue with our selues howe your highnesse vpon circumspect consideration manifestly beholding our iust and rightful doing and the straight dealing and obstinate purpose and iniurie of the sayd Philip with vs and in our behalfe against the said Philip your graces highnes made a special league adopting vs of your great and bountifull loue towardes our person to be one of your sonnes Wherefore thus againe to alter and breake the same wee cannot sufficiently maruell Seeing your inuincible highnes being instituted of God to the laude and commendation of good men and reuenge of euill and wicked doers hath made a league against vs with the saide Philip de Valoys our notorious and iniurious enemy And as touching that which you say without your assignement and consent wee tooke a truce or dayes of respite with the said Phillip which we ought not to haue done If your grace well consider the circumstance of the matter we haue done but as we might therein For when we laide oure siege to Tourney it was requisite we followed their aduise whose aide and societie therein we had Besides the soden and imminent necessity which we there stood in the distance of the place betwixt your highnesse and vs furthermore was suche as by that no meanes wee might attaine the same nor vse your assent therein Yea further if your grace wel remember your self your graunt vnto vs was such that whensoeuer oportunitie thereunto should serue we might entreate of any peace and graunt what time wee thought mete thereunto without your consent therin So that to conclude any finall peace with the saide Philip de Valois without either your consent or otherwise making your highnesse priuie thereunto it might not be lawfull for vs Which thing wythout your said counsaile consent and aduise we neuer minded or purposed to do But haue in all our doings done that which vs beseemed so farre as by any meanes our power would stretch hoping likewise that your brotherly beneuolence for a time would haue more louingly supported vs. It is thought also by some that the reuoking backe againe or restraint of your foresayd Liefetenantship was prematurate or done all out of time when as according to your promise made to vs herein by your letters imperiall you ought not so to haue done before the Realme and kingdome of Fraunce or at the least the greatest part thereof were of vs obtained and quietly in peaceable wise enioyed These premised therefore we desire you according to our nobilitie duely to consider and heereafter to doe that which shall be thought both meete and conuenient because that God willing we meaâ—e to recoÌ„pence and gratifie both you yours according to the measure of your beneuolence bestowed vpon vs. The almighty graunt vnto your Celfitude so much felicitie as your hart desireth Dated at London the 18. day of Iuly in the 2. yeare of the raign of our kingdom of Fraunce and of England 15. In this meane time died Pope Benedict the 12. mentioned a little before after whome succeeded in that roume Pope Clement the 6. Of whome it is reported in storyes that he was very liberall and bountiful to hys Cardinals of Rome in riching and heaping them with goods possessions not of his owne but with the Ecclesiasticall dignities and preferments of the Churches of England For so recordeth the author that he bestowed vpon his Cardinals the liuyngs and promotions suche as were or should be vacant in churches of England and weÌ„t about to set vp new titles for his Cardinals here within this realm But the kyng beyng offeÌ„ded therwith made voyd and frustrate all those foresayd prouisions of the pope chargyng moreouer and commaunding no person whatsoeuer to busy himself with any such prouisions vnder paine of prisonment lâ—syng his lyfe Which law was made the next yere folowing which was an 1344. It followed then that the said Pope Clement agayne began to make new pronisioÌ„s for two of his Cardinals of benefices and
with victuals Thus fare you well Written at the siege before the towne of Calis the 14 day of September After the siege and winning of Poisie the third day of September an 1346. the king through the midst of Fraūce directed his passage vnto Calis as by the tenor of this letter you heare besieged the same which siege he continued from the third of September aforesayd til the third day of August the yeare next ensuing vpon the which day it was rendered vp vnto the sayd king Edward the third and subdued vnto the crowne of England as after the Lord willing shall more appeare In the mean time during the siege of Calis Dauid the Scottish king at the request of the French king with a great army brast into the North parts of England and first besieging the towne of Lidell within sixe daies obteined the greatest part of the towne there taking all that he could find with Sir Walter Salby a valiant knight which was the keper of the hold caused him vncurteously to be put to the sword and so from thence proceeded further into England till at length being met with all by William Surthe Archbish. of Yorke and the L. Percy and the L. Neuell with other nobles of those parties calling gathering their men together in the plain nere to Durham the 17. day of October in the yere abouesayd through the gracious hand of Christ there were subdued conquered In the which conflict the Earles of Murrise and Stratheron with the flower of all the chiualry and principall warriors of Scotland were slaine Also the foresayd king Dauid with the Earles of Mentiffe Fiffes and other Lords and Williā Douglas Mas klime fleming and William Douglas other many moe men of armes were taken prisoners so the mischiefe which they intended to other fell vpon theyr owne heads During moreouer the sayd siege of Calis the foresayd Pope Clemēt the 6. writing to the king of England wēt about vnder the pretence of peace to stop hys proceedings whose letters here follow nuder written The letter of the Pope to the king of England in the behalfe of the Frenchmen CLement the Bishop seruaunt of Gods seruaunts To his welbeloued sonne in Christ Edward the puissaunt king of England Salutation and Apostolical blessing If you diligētly consider deare sonne as ought a catholicke Prince to do the slaughter of such an innumerable sort bought with the precious bloud of Christ our redemer the losse of their substaunce soules and the lamētable perils which the dissentions and warres stirred vp betwene you and our welbeloued sonne Philippe the noble king of Fraūce haue brought vpō vs and yet dayly do without intermissiō And also the bewayling of so many poore people crying out of Orphans and pupils lamentation of widowes and other miserable people which be robbed and spoyled and almost famished what exclamation they make with teares running downe theyr cheeks yelling and crying vnto God for helpe as also the destruction of churches monasteries holy places holy vessels and other ornamēts vnto gods seruice dedicated the sacrilegious robberies takings imprisonings the spoyling of holy churches religious persons with many other such innumerable detestable execrable mischiefes offending the eies of the diuine maiesty All which if your princely hart woulde consider and well remember with this also that Catholicke sayth especially in the East partes and the Christians there abiding by meanes of the same dissentions and warres destitute of the helpes of such catholicke men as are in the West parties are so afflicted of the Infidels seyng the other partes of Christendome so troubled with cruell persecutions yea and more crueller then euer it hath bene although in these times to amplify this our sayth in the sayd East parts is cruell persecution shewed more then hath bene of many yeares past doubtles we beleue it would pity your hart And to the end that such and so great euils should no further proceed nor yet that so great good as might be done by delating of our foresayd fayth in these times should be let hindered we desire you that ye would applye your minde to make some agreement and peace with the foresaid king For if my welbeloued sonne God hath geuen vnto you-prosperous successe and fortune ye ought rather to humble thē to extoll your selfe and so much the more readier to encline to his peace and to indeuour your selfe to please God which loueth peace and delighteth in peaceable men and to eschew the foresayd euils which without doubt doe grieuously offend him Furthermore we maruell greatly that vnto our reuerend brother Anibaldus Byshop of Tusculane and our beloued sonne Stephen of the title of S Iohn and Paule priest and Cardinall of the apostolicall sea being sent as Legats by vs and the same see Apostolical to intreat a peace who diligently and faythfully laboring for the same as louers of verity iustice and equity and therwithall regarders of your honour could not be suffered touching the intreatye of the same peace to come vnto your Graces presence Wherefore we desire your kingly highnesse more earnestly for the mercy of God with more vehemence require the same that you taking vp the foresaid horrible euils and preuenting the sweetnes of piety and compassion may escape the vengeance of Gods indignation which were to be feared if you should perseuer in your former euils as God forbid And as touching the intreaty for peace for which our foresayd Cardinals were sent vnto you howbeit secretly least it should be any derogation to your honor we desire you to condescend therunto with all your affection you will incline your minde to the same so pleasaunt vnto God so desired of the world as also to you the foresayd king vnto the catholicke sayth profitable And that the same peace by Gods help grace established made perfect you might assay your puissant strength about gods busines in the foresaid east partes so good occasion seruing as before is sayd in these our times being so apt aduasicements of your honor happy increasing of your princely name for seruētly we haue heard of you reported to behaue your selfe in all your attemptes Thus we doubt not but that you wil write vnto vs again touching the premisses and the purpose of your intention touching the same Dated at Auinion the 18 of February and 5 yeare of our Papacy The aunswere of the king of England to the foresayst letter of the Pope MOst holy father we vnderstand by the letters of the reuerēd fathers in God the Byshop of Tusculan and Stephen of the title of S. Iohn Priest Cardinals Legats of the Court of Rome as also by the letters of your holynesse sent vnto vs that ye maruell greatly for that your sayd Legates were of purpose sent vnto vs and commaunded to intreat of a peace betwene our aduersary of Fraunce and vs that we would not
particularly whether any frier were bounde to get his liuing wyth his manuall labour so that it might not be lawfull for them to liue by begging They would make no aunswere at all After that the foresaid Lord Archb. of Cant. demaunded of all the foresaid Doctors what their iudgement was touching the answeres that were made vpon all singuler such conclusions All which doctors and euery of them seuerally sayd the there all the answeres geuen vnto the first second third and sixt coÌ„clusions as is before recited were insufficient hereticall and subtill and that all the answeres made specially to the tenth ninth and last conclusions as is aboue mentioned were insufficieÌ„t erroneous and peruerse Whereupon the Lord sayd Archbishop of Caunterbury considering the sayd aunsweres to be hereticall subtill erroneous and peruerse accordingly as the said Doctors as is aforesayd had wayed and considered admonished the said Nicholas and Phillip sufficiently vnder these forme of wordes The name of Christ being called vpon we William by Gods permission Archbishop of Canterbury Metropopolitane of al England and Legate of the Apostolique see and through all our prouince of Caunterbury Inquisitor of all heretical prauitie do sufficiently and lawfully admonish and cite you Nicholas Herford and Phillip Repingdon professors of Diuinitie hauing this day and place assigned you by your own consent and our prefictioÌ„ peremptorily to answere and to say fully and playnely your opinions touching these conclusions wherunto we do referre you all subtill sophisticall and Logicall wordes set apart being therunto sworne cited commanded Which thyng to do without cause reasonable or any licence geuen thereunto you neither haue bene willing nor are willing nay rather ye contemptuously refused to aunswere to some of those conclusions before vs iudicially according to the effect of our monition citation and commaundement before sayd But for that ye haue aunswered vnto some of them heretically and to other some erroneously although not fully we admonish and cite you once twice and thrice and that peremtorily that plainely and fully all subtile sophisticall and logicall wordes set apart you and euery of you answer vnto the same conclusions and vnto that sense and meaning by vs limitted vnder the payne that otherwise such conclusions deserue by you confessed and that for the same conclusions you ought to haue Which admonition being made and done for that the foresayd Nicholas and Phillip woulde make none other answere The said Lord archbish of Caunterbury concluded that busines prefixing and assigning vnto the foresayd Nichalas and Phillip 8. dayes space that is to say vntill the 27. day of the same month And that then they shoulde appeare before the sayd Lord Archbishop of Canterbury whersoeuer within the same his prouince of Caunterbury hee shoulde fortune to be to heare his decree that shoulde be made in that behalfe This done the foresayd Archbish. of Caunterbury monished and cited lawfully and sufficiently Iohn Aishton vnder the the tenour of these wordes following In the name of God we William by Gods permissioÌ„ Archb. of Cant. Primate of all England Legate of the see Apostolicall and through all our prouince of Cant. of all heretical prauitie chiefe Inquisitour do monish cite thee Iohn Asheton maister of arte and student in diuinitie appearing before vs iudicially to say and speake the playne veritie touching these conclusions to the which we doe referre thee and to the which we haue caused thee to sweare laying thy hand vpon a booke as being also otherwise by vs admonished and commaunded to keepe this daye and place by vs appointed for the third time peremptorily to propone such reasonable cause if thou hast any wherefore thou oughtest not to be pronounced an hereticke And sufficiently and lawfully we monish and cite thee the first second and third time and that peremptorily that thou fully and playnely all subtill sophisticall and logicall wordes for apart doe aunswere vnto the same conclusions vnder the payne that vnto such conclusions belong on thy part confessed and that thou for suche conclusions oughtest to suffer whiche monition being thus premised The sayde Archbishop read the first conclusion and of the sayd Iohn inquired what was his opinion and meaning therein and hereupon he said his minde conceâ—ning the foresayd monition Then the foresaid Iohn Asheton being often required by the archbishop that he woulde aunswere in the â—aâ—me tongue to 〈◊〉 questions whiâ—h were demaunded of him because 〈◊〉 lay people that stood about him he crying out into the Englishe tongue vttered friuolous and approbrious 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 and excite the people against the saâ—â— Archbishop as it should seem Neyther did he vnto the fiâ—st conâ—lusion nor vnto any of these other conclusions effectually and pertinently seeme to them to aunswere but rather by the subtilties shiftes saying oftentimes and as expresly as Luke said it was sufficieÌ„t for him to beleue as the holy Church beleued Then the said Archbishop examined him vpon the first conclusion touching the Sacrament of the anâ—â—r whether that after the wordes of consecration there remayneth materiall bread particular bread or vniuersall bread He sayde the matter passed his vnderstanding and therefore said the woulde in that forme and maner aunswere and otherwise not But amongest other things he spake in deriding wise vnto the said Archb. against this worde Materiall saying you may put that in your purse if you haue any Whereupon the said Archbishop calling that an vnwise and foolishe aunswere as the rest of the doctors did of whome mention was made before rather for that he was a graduat in the schooles farther proceeded against the said Iohn Asheton in this wise And thou Iohn Asheton monished and commaunded by vs as is aforesayd after thine oth taken without anye reasonable cause or any other other licence neither wouldest thou nor yet will but refused and yet doest contemptuously to aunswere vnto such conclusions before vs iudicially according to our monition commandement aforesad doe hold all such conclusions by thee confessed thee the foresaid Iohn with all thy said conclusions conuicted And therfore we do pronounce and declare by sentence geuing that thou Iohn Ashton coÌ„cerning those coÌ„clusions which by vs with good deliberation of diuers prelates our suffraganes and also diuers and sondry professours of diuinitie and other wise men and learned in the lawe according to the Canonicall sanctions being condemned and declared for an hereticke and hereticall to haue bene and still is an hereticke and thy conclusions heretical And as touching thy other conclusions by vs hertofore counted erroneous and for erroneous condemned we doe pronounce and declare sententially by these our writinges that both thou hast erred and doest erre Upon the same 20. day of Iune in the yeare and place aboue recited the foresaid Lord of Caunterbury being desirous as he pretended to be informed by Thomas HilmaÌ„ bacheler of diuinitie there being present and somewhat fauouring the said M.
golde and rich coueringes as Eneas Siluius writeth were aboue the number of two hundreth Ioannes Cocleus in his booke De historia Hussitarū speaking of the bookes of Wickliffe testifyeth that he wrot very many bookes sermons and tractations Moreouer the said Cocleus speaking of himselfe recordeth also that there was a certaine Bishop in England which wrot vnto him declaring that he had yet remayning in his custodye two huge and mighty volumes of Iohn Wickliffes workes which for the quantity therof might seme to be equal with the workes of S. Augustine Haec Cocleus Amongest other of his Treatises I my selfe also haue found out certayne as de censu veritate scripturae Item De Ecclesia Item De Eucharistia confessio Wickleui whiche I entend hereafter the Lord so graunting to publish abroad As concerning certayne aunsweres of Iohn Wickliffe which he wrote to king Richard the 2. touching the right and title of the king and of the Pope because they are but short I thought here to annexe them The effect whereof here foloweth ¶ Iohn Wickliffes aunswere vnto K. Richard the second as touching the right and title of the king and the Pope IT was demaunded whether the kingdom of England may lawfully in case of necessity for his own defence deteyne and kepe backe the treasure of the kingdome that it be not caried away to forreine straunge nations the pope himselfe demaunding and requiring the same vnder pain of censure and by vertue of obedience Wickliffe setting a part the minds of learned mē what might be sayd in the matter either by the canon law or by the law of England or the ciuil law it resteth saith he now onely to perswade and proue the affirmatiue part of this doubt by the principles of Christes law And first I proue it thus Euery natural body hath power geuen of God to resist agaynst his contrary and to preserue it selfe in due estate as the Philosophers knew very well In somuch that bodyes without life are indued with such kinde of power as it is euidēt vnto whom hardnes is geuen to resist those thinges that woulde breake it and coldnes to withstād the heat that dissolueth it Forsomuch then as the kingdome of England after the maner and phrase of the Scriptures ought to be one body the clergy with the communalty the members thereof it seemeth that the same kingdome hath such power geuē him of god and so much the more apparaunt by how much the same body is more precious vnto God adorned with vertue knowledge For somuch thē as there is no power geuē of god vnto any creature for any end or purpose but that he may lawfully vse the same to that end and purpose It followeth that our kingdome may lawfully keep backe and deteyn theyr treasure for the defence of it selfe in what case soeuer necessity do require the same Secondarily the same is proued by the law of y◠gospell For the Pope cannot challenge y◠treasure of this kingdom but vnder the title of almes consequētly vnder the pretence of the works of mercy according to the rule of charity But in case aforesayd the title of almes ought vtterly to cease Ergo the right and title of chalenging the treasure of our Realme shall cease also in the presupposed necessitie For so much as all charitie hath his beginning of himselfe it were no worke of charitie but of meere madnes to send away the treasures of the realme vnto forreine natiōs wherby the Realme it selfe may fall into ruine vnder y◠pretence of such charitie It appeareth also by this that Christ the head of the Church whom all Christen Priests ought to follow liued by the almes of deuoute women Luke 7.8 He hungred and thyrsted he was a straunger and many other miseries he sustained not onely in his mēbers but also in his owne body as the Apostle witnesseth Cor. viii He was made poore for your sakes that through his pouertie you might be rich wherby in the first endowīg of the Church what soeuer he were of the Clergy that had any temporall possessiōs he had the same by forme of a perpetuall almes as both writinges and Chronicles do witnesse Whereupon S. Barnard declaring in his 2. booke to Eugenius that he could not chalenge any secular dominion by right of succession as being the vicar of S. Peter writeth thus that if S. Iohn should speake vnto the pope himselfe as Barnard doth vnto Eugenius were it to be thought that he would take it patiently But let it be so that you do challenge it vnto you by some other wayes or meanes but truely by any right or title Apostolicall you can not so doe For how could he geue vnto you that which he had not himselfe That which he had he gaue you that is to say care ouer the Church but did he geue you any Lordships or rule Harke what he sayth Not bearing rule sayth he as Lordes in the Clergy but behauing your selues as examples to the flocke And because thou shalt not thinke it to be spoken only in humility and not in verity marke the word of the Lord him selfe in the Cospell The kinges of the people do rule ouer them but you shall not do so Here Lordship and dominion is plainely forbidden to the Apostles and darest thou then vsurpe the same If thou will be a Lord thou shalt lose thine Apostleship or if thou wilt be an Apostle thou shalt lose thy Lordship For truely thou shalt depart from the one of them If thou wilt haue both thou shalt lose both or els thinke thy selfe to be of that number of whom God doth so greatly complayne saying They haue raigned but not through me They are become Princes and I haue not knowne it Now if it do suffice thee to rule with the Lord thou hast thy glory but not with God But if we will keepe that which is forbidden vs let vs heare what is sayd he that is the greatest amongest you sayth Christ shal be made as the least and he which is the highest shal be as the minister and for example set a childe in the middest of thē So this then is the true forme and institution of the Apostles trade Lordship and rule is forbidden ministration and seruice commaunded By these wordes of this blessed man whom the whole Church doth reuerence and worship it doth appeare that the Pope hath not power to occupy the Church goodes as Lord therof but as minister and seruaunt and proctor for the poore And would to God that the same proud greedy desire of rule Lordship which this seat doth chalenge vnto it be not a preamble to prepare a way vnto Antechrist For it is euident by the Gospell that Christ through his pouerty humility suffering of iniury got vnto him the children of his kingdome And moreouer so farre as I remember the same blessed mā Barnard in his 3. booke writeth also
the 13. chap. of the Apoc. expounding the mistery of the second beast rising out of the earth hauing the hornes of a lambe c. doo apply the same to Mahumet and the Turkes with a solemne declaration made vpon the same Which interpretatioÌ„ of theirs although in some pointes it may seeme to haue some appearance of probabilitie neither can it be denied but that Mahumet the Turke be pestilent and wicked enemies of Christ our Lord most bitter persecutors of his Church yet as touching the proper naturall meaning of the Apostle in that place speaking of the false lambe c. if we consider well all the circumstances of that beast and marke the consequence of the text both of that which goeth before and followeth after we must needs graunt that Nicol. de Lyra with hys fellowes with al such like of the Popes schoole that folow that schoole be deceaued and that the description and interpretation of that falshorned lambe must necessarily be applyed only to the Bishop of Rome and none other which is to be proued by sixe principall causes or arguments The first is for that this beast is described to beare the hornes of a lambe By the which lambe no doubt is ment Christ. By yâ— hornes of the lambe is signified the outward shew or resemblance of Christ our sauiour which shew or resemblance can haue no relation to Mahumet for that he taketh himselfe to be aboue Christ Christ as an excellent Prophet of God sitting at his feete Wherfore seeing Mahumet commeth neither as equall to Christ nor as vicar vnder Christ this prophesy can not agree in him but only in him which openly in plaine words protesteth that all Christes lambes and sheepe not singularly but vniuersally through the whole world are committed to him as Uicar of Christ and successor of Peter and that all men must confesse the same of necessitie or else they are noue of Christes sheepe c. wherein it is easy to see where the pretensed hornes of the lambe do growe The second argument And he spake like the Dragon c. A Lambes hornes and the mouth of a Dragon do not agree together And as they do not agree together in nature so neither can they be found in any one person either Turke or other if we will iudge truely so liuely as in the Bishop of Rome When thou hearest him call himselfe the Apostolicall Bishop the Uicar of Christ the successor of Peter the seruant of Gods seruants c. thou seest in him the two hornes of a lambe and would thinke him to be a lambe in deede and such a one as would wash your feete for humilitie but heare him speake and you shall find him a dragon See and reade the Epistle of Pope Martine the fift aboue mentioned pag. 649. charging commaunding and threatning Emperoures Kinges Dukes Princes Marquesses Earles Barons Knightes Rectors Consuls Proconsuls with their Shires Counties and Uniuersities of their kingdoms Prouinces Cities Townes Castles Uillages and other places See the answere of Pope Urban 2. and his message to King William Rufus pag. 192. Behold the workes and doings of Pope Innocent against King Iohn Note also the answere of another Pope to the King of England which for the price of the kings head would not graunt vnto him the inuesting of his Bishops Marke well the wordes and doings of Pope Hildebrande against the Emperor Henry the fourth pag. 175. Also of Pope AlexaÌ„der the 2. treading vpon the neck of Fredericus Barbarossa not like a lambe treading vpoÌ„ a dragon but like a dragoâ— treading vpon a lambe so that his owne verse might â—ac turned vpon himselfe tanquam aspis basiliscus super ouiculam ambulans tanquam Leo draco conculcans agnum CoÌ„sider moreouer the behauior maner coÌ„dition and property almost of all the Popes which haue bene these 600. yeares and what Dragon or Serpent could be more viperous then their owne doings and words can speake and giue testimony against themselues It followeth moreouer in the same prophecy of the Apocalipse for the third argument And he doth all the power of the first beast presently before his face and causeth the earth and all the inhabitants therein to honour the first beast the stripe of whose deadly wound was cured c. In this prophesy ij things are to be noted first what the first beast is whose power the second beast doth execute Secondly what this second beast is which so doth exercise his power in his sight The first of these beastes here in the Apoc. described hauing 7. heads 10. hornes must needes signifie the city of Rome which may easely be proued by two demonstrations First by the exposition of the 17. chap. of the same Apocalips where is declared and described the sayd beast to staÌ„d of 7. hils to containe 10. kings hauing the whole power of the dragon geuen and also the same citie to be named the whore of Babylon drunkeÌ„ wyth the bloud of saints All which properties ioined together can agree in no wise but only to the heatheÌ„ Empire of Rome which Citie at the time of writing these prophesies had the gouernment of the whole world The second demonstration or euidence may be deduced out of the number of the monethes assigned to this beast Apoc. 13. For so it is written that this beast had power to make that is to worke his malice against Christes people 42. monethes which monethes counted by sabbates of yeares that is euery moneth for seuen yeares maketh vp the iust number of those yeares in which the primitiue Church was vnder the terrible persecutions of the heathen Emperors of Rome as is afore specified pag. 397. Which thing thus standing proued and confessed that the first beast must needes signifie the Empire and City of Rome then must it necessarely follow that the second beast with the lambs hornes must signifie the Bishop Pope of the same City of Rome The reason whereof is euident and apparant by that which followeth in the prophecye where it is declared that the seconde beast hauing two hornes of a lambe receaued and exercised all the power of the first beast before or in the sight of the said beast which can not be verefied neither in the Turke nor in any other but only in the Pope of Rome who as you see receiueth vsurpeth and deriueth to himselfe all the power of that Citie and Monarchy of Rome In so much that he saith that when Constantine or Ludouicus yeelded vnto him the rule kingdome of that Citie he gaue him but his owne and that which of right and duty belonged to him before And this authority or power ouer all the Empire of Rome he worketh not in Asia or in Constantinople as the Turke doth but in the sight of the beast which gaue him the power that is in the City of Rome it selfe which is the
feruent desire of Constantinus to peace and vnitie The letter of Constantine to Crestus Byshop of Syracusa The edicte of Constantinus to the rulers of the prouince of Palestina The letter of Constantine to Eusebius The councell of Nice The effect of the letter of Constantine to Alexander and Arrius ex Euseb de vita Constan Lib. 2. Constantine set forth a spectacle to all Princes to follow A briefe recapitulation of such benefites as wâ—re wrought by Constantine vpon Christes Church Where wickednesse is punished there goodnes followeth The liberalitie of Constantine in geuing to Churches Euseb. lib 4. de vita Constantini The forme of prayer appoynted of Constantine for hys souldiours The souldiours prayer The sonday appoynted to be kept holy Liberties and priuiledges graunted to the clergy The prouision and liberalitie of Constantine in mayntayning scholes The priuiledge granted by Constant. to vniuersities and scholes The prouident care of Constant. to haue the scripture in Churches Ex Euseb. lib. 4. de vitae Constant. A wish of the author admonitory to Princes The liberalitie of Constant. towardes the poore and needy Constant. remitteth the fourth part of hys rentes and reuenewes Deuotion of Constantine Reasons and argumentes prouing the donation of Constantine to be falsefied Commendation of Constantine the Emperour Constantine kissed the woundes of them that suffered for Christ. Constantine burneth the bils of complayntes and breaketh strife among the Byshops Note that the oration ad conuentum sanctorum is wrongly ascribed to Eusebius which in deede is the oration of Constantine Looke aboue pag. 68. Col. â— line 52. Satan bound vp for a M. yeares A petition to the reader diligently to read ouer the former booke of the x. persecutions The first planting of ChristeÌ„ fayth in England Question Whether Christian Religion in this Realme came first from Rome Aunswere 1 Gildas 2 Ex Tertul. contra Iudaeos 3 Ex Origen hom 4. in Ezechâ— 4 Ex Bedâ— 5 Ex Niceph. Lib. 2. cap. 40. 6 Ex Pet. Cluniacensi ad Bernardum 7 Ex Epist. Eleutherij ad Lucâ—â—â— What difference betweene the late church of Rome from the old Church of Rome and in what matters De consecrat Dist. 2. â—abianus cap. 119. 120. Eleutherius Byshop of Rome Austen 2. The fayth of Christ brought into this Realme Lucius first christened king of the Brittaines Ex Monumetensi alijs Paganus Damianus 28. Byshops within this Realme 3. Archb. Ex vetusto codice regum antiquorum The Epistle of Eleutherius to king Lucius The king Gods vicare within hys owne kingdome Esay 42. H. Huntendon Lib. 1 What incommoditie commeth by lacke of succession The decease of King Lucius Ex Florilego Ex Beda Polyero monumetensi An. D. 390. Secund fab Bed An. 433. fab An. 443. An. 448. An. 464. The Brittaynes neuer touched with any persecution before the time of Dioclesian Constant. the great borne and bred in Brittayne The cause how this Realme of Brittaine was first weakened Brittayne spoyled of souldiors Vrsula with a xi thousand virgins Gueteliâ—â—â— Archb. of London Ex Chronico Monâ—metensi Constantinus Constant. Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon The Saxons sent for to Brittayne Kyng Constans slayne by Vortigerne Hengist and Horsuâ— Captaynes of the Saxons A wicked murther of the Saxons Aurelius and Vter sonnes to Constantinus Ex Gaufrido Ex Alfrido in suo Britannico Ex Policron lib. 5. cap. 4. Seuen kings ruling in England This Dunwich lyeth vpon the sea side in Suffolke Example what it is to let in straunge nations Maryage with Infidels what destruction it worketh The second returne of Engist into Brittayne The dissembling words of the Saxons to deceaue the Brittaynes Neme your sexes the watcheword All the Nobilitie of the Brittaynes destroyed in one day The king raunsomed The Saxons enter possession of the land The Christian Brittaynes persecuted of the Infidel Saxons An. 462. Aurelius Ambrosius returneth into Brittayne Aurelius crowned king of Brittayne Vortigerus burned in hys tower Horsus slayne Engist taken in the field The counsel of Eldadus Byshop of Glocester Engist beheaded Anno. 490. Ex Henr. Huntingtonensi Galfrido Ex Chronico quodaÌ„ Cariensi The vncertainty of our old Brittayne storyes Ex historia Cariana Aurelius Ambrosius Brit. kyng Anno. 497. Vter PendragoÌ„ Brit. Kyng Remember the wordes of Gildas 633. hist. Caria The Christian Brittaynes persecuted by the Heathen SaxoÌ„s Anno. 516. King Arthur The tales of King Arthur Constantinus 3. Aurelius Conanus Vortiporâ—uâ— Malgo. Carecius Kings of Brittayne The Archb. of London and the Archbishop of Yorke flee into Wales Ex historia quadam Cariensi The causes of the destruction of the Brit. declared In English thus This 〈◊〉 beyng a Christiâ—â— was 〈◊〉 vnto Ethelbert vpon the conditiâ—â— that she should be suffered 〈◊〉 enjoy her religion Ethelbeâ—â— kyng of Kent Oswaldus king of Northumberland Edwinus king of Northumberland Sigebertus of Eastangles Sebert or Sexbrieth of Essex The first building 〈◊〉 the Châ—â—câ— of Paulâ—â— London Ethelbert king of the Eastangles Peter pence 〈◊〉 they first came vpon be payd to Rome Kenelmuâ— king of the Mercians S. Edmund king of Eastangles The message of Inguar to Kyng Edmund The martirdome of K. Edmund in Northfolke A QuestioÌ„ Whether kings which made themselues Monkes did well in so doing or not Aunswere Where vocation byndeth to tary there not to flye but to resist the occasions of euill it is a good mans part Foure persecutions in Brittany before the comming of Austen into England The persecution of Dioclesian about the yeare of our Lord. 210. The persecution of Gnauius and Melga The persecution of Hengist in Brittayne The fourth destruction of Christen fayth in Brittayne by GurmuÌ„dus an 595. This Gurmundus as some stories record leauing hys kingdome at home to hys brother sayd he would possesse no kingdome but which he should win with his sword King Lucius dyed 428. before the comming of Austen The computation of times concerning the continuaunce and decay of Christes Gospell betweene the Brittaynes and the Saxons Anno. 598. Beda Polychronicoâ— li. 5. ca. 8.6 Malesburiensis de regib Henr. Huntington lib 3. Fabianus part 5. cap. 119. Liber bibliothecae tornalensis Deyrham in Northumberland Episcopus Arelalensis Ex Henr. Huntingtonensi li 3. The Epistle of Gregory to them whiche went to preach in England The Bishop of Rome calleth the Emperour hys Lord. Austen and hys company commeth to England Ethelbert King of Kent What goodnes commeth to haue a good and godly wife The kinges answere to Austen The king staieth vpon olde custome The Letany of Austen Miracles wrought by God for the conuersion of the land Austen made Archbishop Ex decreâ— Gregorij primiâ—â— concil tom 2. 1. Interrogation The aunswere Distribution of Churche goodes 2. Interrogation The aunswere The glose vppon the 12. q. 1. 〈◊〉 rag Si. 〈◊〉 sayth that this nowe holdeth not and alledgeth 〈◊〉 extran Decler comming ca. Iob. Whereby note how the Popes decrees be repugnant
woman out of her Monastery came fiue Byshops Dosa Eatha Oâ—â—ford Ioannes Wilfride Hacanos Abington Ioanno at Lincolne Ely Abbey Chertsey Berkyng Peterborough Bardney Glastonbery Camesey Winburne Sealesey Wincombe S. Albones Eusham Ripon Echelinghey S. Shaftesbury Two thinges to be wished in them that first builded Monkishe Monasteries The article of free iustification not knowne Ex Crouiciâ— Gulâ—el Malmesb Lib. â— A bâ—iefe Cataloge of Queenes and Kinges daughters which leauing their estate were made Nunnes Hilda Erchengodâ— Ermenilda â—delberga Etheldreda Werburga Kynreda Kineswida Sexburga Elfrida Mildreda Milburga Milguida Kineburga Elfleda Alfritha Wulfritha Editha Kinges made Monkes Egbert king of the Westsaxons afterward Monarke and king of the whole Realme In this tyme came in the Danes Fill into the North partâ— and were driuen out agaynes Anno. 807. Example what it is to despise other Example of patience Anno. 826. Of this victory went a prouerb Riuuscruore rubuit ruina restitit foetorâ— tabuit This land first called Anglia Anno. 833. Danes now the second tyme entred in this land Anno. 834. Fabian cap. 158. Rog. Houed Lab. 5. cap. 1. England fiue tymâ—s plagued by other natioÌ„s Ex Rog. Houed Lib. 5. Anno. 837. A place in Fabian to be amended Guliel Lib de gestis pont Anglor sayth this Pope was Leo iiij Anno. 844. Priuiledges and temporalties graunted to the Church by king Ethelwulfe Ex Flor. Hist. Pro remis Note the blinde ignoraunce and erroneous teaching in those dayes Peter 〈◊〉 through the whole Realme graunted 〈◊〉 Rome Money bestowed to burne day light Note here the holy and holesome counsailers and doynges of the spiritual Lordes Ludouicus Pius Emperour king of Fraunce Fredericke Byshop of Vtricke Byshop Fridericke openly admonisheâ—h the Emperour at the table Note that were ii Iudithes one the mother of Carolus Caluus the other his daughter whom king Ethelwulfe did marry Fridericke Byshop of Vtricke iudged of some a Martyr Example of the women more ready to reuenge then the man Swithinus Bishop of Winchester Example of a kind scholer to hys scholemayster Monkishe miracles fayned of Swithinus Pope Leo iij. Stephen iiij Pascalis i. Eugenius .ij. Valentinus .j. Gregory iiij A generall Synode at Aquil graue Euerye Church to haue sufficient to finde hys owne Priestes Pretious garmentes of scarlet or other riche colour forbidden men of the Clergy Great families not lawfull for men of the Clergy Ringeâ— and gold in their shoes forbidden The feast of all Sainctes first ordayned Pope Sergius .ij. When the Popes names began the first to be altered Agnus thrise song at the Masse The hoste deuided in three partes Pope Leo the 4. No Byshop by the Popes law to be condemned vnder 72. witnesses The golden crosse first borne before the pope A woman Pope called Ioan. viij The Church of Rome after their Masse of the holy Ghost may erre Pope Benedictus iij. Dirge for the dead Pope Nicolas the first The mariage of priestes begon to be forbiddeÌ„ * Anno. 867. A letter written to Pope Nicolas concerning Priestes not to refrayne from Mariage Priestes Mariage in the olde law permitted in the new law not forbidden The inconuenience of single life The saying of the Apostle let euery one haue hys own wife This Decree is contrary to the Bishops and Prelates in Queene Maryes tyme. More then 6000 heads of infantes found in the Popes more thorough the wicked decree of the single lyfe of priestes Let Priestes note well the saying of Gregory August ad Donatum Note well the saying of Austen August What it is to marry in the Lord. What a virgine is by the diffinition of the Apostle August ad BonifacioÌ„ The absurde saying and contrary during of papistes Gregorius 2. Tim. 3. Inuenitur bee Epistola in vetustis meÌ„branaceis libris testaÌ„et Illyrico in Catologo Memiuit eiusdem Epistola deutas Syluius in sua peregrinatione Germania descriptione Pope Hadrian the second Iohn â— Martine ij Hadrian iij. Steuen v. Ex vetusto exemplo historia Catianâ— W.C. â— The cause of Gods wrath wherâ—by the Realme of England was scouâ—ged by the Danes An other cause rendred why England was scourged of the Danes The first entring of the Dane Ex historia Iornalensi Example what mischiefe commeth by adultery Codrinus king of Denmarke Inguar and Hubba captaynes of the Danes An other cause of the comming of the Danes Lothbroke father to Inguar and Hubba What miserable enuy worketh Murther will out K. Ethelwulphe deceaseth An. 857. King Ethelbald K. Ethelbright An. 867. King Etheâ—dred Yorke buâ—ned by the Danes What discord doth in a commoâ—â—wealth An. 870. S. Edmund king of Eastangles The message of the Danes to K. Edmund The aunswere of K. Edmund The persecution and death of S. Edmund king of the Eastangles K. Edmund Martyr Redyng taken of the Danes Inguar and Hubba slayne Duke Ethelwold slayne Osrike king of Denmark landeth in England Ex Guliel Malmesboriensi Ex historia lornalensi Ex Fabiano alijs Inuocation and prayer profitable in tyme of battayle The Danes ouerthrown at Ashdon Another battayle fought with the Danes Another battayle fought with Danes at Merton What discord and rebellion doth in a realme The death of Etheldred The Abbey of Exceter founded An. 872. Alured K. of England Ex Rog. Houedeno H. Hunting Polychronicon Fabiano Burhered being expulsed hys kingdome went to Rome and there dyed in the Englishe house Rollo a Dane first Duke of Normandy Anno. 879. King Alfrede flyeth into a desert wood Etheling which is to say the I le of Nobles A swineheard made Byshop of Winchester Henr. Hunting lib. 5. de Histor. Angl. Inguar and Hubby slayne A bold aduenture or attempt of king Alfrede ventring himself into the tentes of the Danes Ex Fabiano Gutrum the Prince of the Danes was Christened King Gutrum named Athelstane Norfoâ—â—â— Suffolke geuen to king Gutrum The Nunâ—â— of Shaftesbury builded The Monastery of Etheling The new minster at Winchester besieged 〈◊〉 the Danes An. 892. The Danes driuen from Norfolke The Danes returne agayne to Norfolkeâ— The Danes driuen out of Chester The Danes driuen from Lewes The riuer of Luye deuided in three 3. plagues in England An. 897. The Danes ships taken An. 899. The vertues and godly lyfe of kyng Alfrede described The inclination of nature corrected in K. Alfrede The godly petition of king Alfrede Modwenna King Alured how he deuided hys goodes in two partes Polycron Lib. 5. ca. 1. Guliel lib. de regibus The liberall hart of king Alfrede How well and godly this king spent his tyme The godly lawes of King Alfrede A notable example of thiâ—â—ery and felony banished thys Realme Ex historiâ— lornalensi King Alfrede commended for learning When learning first began to be set vp in England Chester a place of learning The Vniuersitie of Graunchester by Cambridge The vniuersitie of Paris 〈◊〉 began by iiij Rabanus Alcuinus Claudius Ioan. Scotus Sigebert king of Eastangleâ— a scepter of Schooles Two aâ—ncient schooles in
crafty conspiracy of the Cardinals agaynst the Emperour The verse The glose vpon the verse of Hildebrand The Pope proued a double lyer The Pope traytor to the Emperour Great 〈◊〉 stirred vp by the pope O pestiferous hipocrite The Pope prayeth S. Peter to dishonor hys king And S. Peter byndeth the Pope to honour hys king Crocodili lachryma Scripture well applyed A figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cuius contrarium verum est Vim faciunt scripturis vt plenitudinem accipiant potestatis Let all Papâ—â—â— marke here well the holines of their holy father As though he were not set vp by you rather then by them The more to blame Emperours to suffer you to be so saucie with them Nego argumentum Confer this clause with the history of the story hereafter following O double hipocrite Guibertus Archbishop depriued The 4. battell betwixt Henry and Rodulph Henricus rectors Rodulphus at hys death repenting The Pope geueth war but God geueth victory Conciliam Brixonse Anno. 1083. No Bishop of Rome to be chosen without the assent of the Emperour Abbas Vrspergensis Henricus Mutius Note here the Pope iudged and deposed of the councell The Pope seeketh succour of hys paramour The first example to fight for remission of sinnes began in Hildebrand Platina Nauclerus Sabellicus Crantzius Benno c. Hildebrand the first author and patrone of all misrule that followed in Popes The death of William Conquerour Pestilence in England and 〈◊〉 of beastes London with the Church of Paules brent Wolstane Byshop of Worcester England peaceable froÌ„ theeâ—â—â— The Abbey of battayle The Abbey of Barmoâ—desay The first byshop of Salisbury Osmund Bishop of Sarum Ordinale ecclesiastici officy SecunduÌ„â—sum Sarum Ex Eulogio historico Lib. 3. The vse and ordinary of Sarum how and when it was deuised Example of Gods iust iudgment vpon a Byshop who being unmercifull to the poore was eaten with rattes and myse Anno. 1088. William Rufus Wolstane Byshop of Worcester Anno. â— 1091. The death of Lanfras cus Archb. of Canterâ— Remigios Byshop of Lincolne Lincolne minster builded Stow Abbey builded Anno. 1092. Wynchecombe steeple brent with lightning Vi. hundreth houses blowne down with wynde The roofe of Bowe Church ouerthrown Robert Bleuet paydv thousand markes for hys Bishoppricke Herbert Losinga Byshop of Norwiche Losinga 1. adulator Norwiche mynster builded by Herbert Pope victor the 3. Pope victor poysoned in his chalice A comparisoÌ„ betwene Hildebrand Pope of Rome and Ieroboam king of Israell The order of Charter monkes began Pope Vrbanus 2. Two Popes in Rome The order of Cistercian or whyte monkes beganne Synodus Romana vel Placentina Synodus Claromantana The viage vnto the holy land The number that went The captaynes of thé whiche went to the holy land Anno. 1096. The actes of the Christians in their viage to win Hierusalem Antioch taken of the Christians Anno. 1098. The slaughter of the Persian infidels Hierusalem conquered by the Christians Ex Henrie li. 7. The king of Englands iudgment agaynst the Pope Ex Math. paris Decrees of pops Vibanus Ioan Stella Nauclerus Dist. 31. Eos qui 15. 9.6 Iuratos 30. q. 8. quod autem Example of Gods rightfull iudgement in punishing cruel murther Anselmus made Archbishop of Cant. The saying of Anselme pondered The vice of singularitie Anselme ill willing to take the Archbishop prick Canterbury first geuen to the Archbishop wholy Strife and contention betweene the king and Anselmus Anselme stopped from hys consecration Anselme consecrated Anselme doth homage to K. William Vrbanus and Clemens striuing for the papacie England fauoured Clemens Anselmus holdeth with Vrbanus Anselme denied leaue to goe to Rome Anselme appealeth from the K. to the Pope Anselme charged for a traytour The kinges argument agaynst Anselme The custome of England from William Conquerours time not to Appeale to the Pope Anselmus reply against the king The reasons of Anselme to proue the popes authority aboue other kings Anselme here ignorauntly calleth the Pope the vicare of S. Peter where the CaÌ„non lawe calleth him but the successour of Peter and vicare of Christ. All the Bishops of the Realme stoode of the kinges side agaynst Anselmus William Byshop of Duresine Gualterâ—â— the Popes legate cummeth to England Anselme could not be remoued by the king The pope taketh this no fault for a subiect to repugne agaynst hys king The stoatnes of Anselme standing agayâ— hys king The maneâ— of bringing in Anselme palle into Cant. An other quarrell of the king against Anselme Anselme agayne appealeth to Rome The king â—â— aunswere to Anselme for hys appealing to Rome The custome of England no prelate or noble man to goe to Rome with out the kinges sending The answer of Anselme to the king Note the bye reasons of Anselm The Byshops left Anselme alone Anselme flying out of England Anselme searched by the kinges officer for letten A fragment or portion of a letter of Anselme to Pope Paschalts Et ex legenda Ans. aut Edmero Ex Epistol Anselm 36. The king would not haue the pope receaued nor appealed vnto in England Anselme complayneth of the K. of hys suffragane Byshops The king contemneth the Popes warning Concilium BaroneÌ„se Anselme and hys successours of Cant. placed at the right foot of the pope in generall councels De processione spiritus sancti The difference betweene the greeke Church and the latine Ex Registro eccles Herefordensis The articles and opinions of the greeke Church differing from the Latine church of Rome My copy here seemed to want somewhat This article seemeth not to be rightly collected out of the Grecians Anselme stout champion agaâ—â—â— the Grecians A letter of Anselme sent to ValtraÌ„ Bishop of Nurenburgh Ex Epiâ— Adsel â—â—â— Bread in the communion to be vnleauened is not necessary Ex Epist. Anselme 327. An other letter Diuersitie of vsages is the Church to be borne with peace rather than to be condemned with offeÌ„ce Diuers customes in the Church hurt nothing Excommunication denounced agaynst the Grecians Excommunication bent agaynst K. William First breake hys head and then geue him a playster Message betweene the K. and the Pope A loude cracke of thunder but without a thunderbolt A bribing mistery handled at Rome Concilium Romanum â—ptimus â—ansidicus â—ummus Actes of the councel of Rome The hardnes or rather rashnes of K. Wil. The saying of K. Wil. how he neuer knew any K. drowned The death of William Rufus Walter Tirrell The new forres+ Example of the iust hand of God reuenging the faultes of Kinges in their posteritie Couetousnes noted in king William A famous example of bribes refused Two bribing monkes both disapoynted Vrbane excommunicated Henry the 4. Emperour Henry the 4. Emperour by 4â— Popes excommunicated Ludouicus erle conspiring and rebellious agaynst the Emperour Anno. 1090. Ex appendica Mariani Scâ—ts Concorde and iust obedience necessary in a common wealth Disobedience punished of God Gal. Iohn Rom. A rayling aunswere to the former
letter of Byshop Waltram Well said when ye are not able to withstand hys wisedome call him a foole Note howe the earle here calleth light darcknes and darcknes light He hath vttered more 〈◊〉 then you are able euer â— aunswereth Whether euery poweâ— is to be obeyed or noâ— Osee. â— If euery power which offendeth on subiectes is to be call out then hath this Earle 〈◊〉 a fayre argument How 〈◊〉 these Papistes describe themselues in their owne colours But Paule iudged the Emperour to be an ordinary power when he appealed to him This is â—â— ly that the Emperour would 〈◊〉 his owne wife a common 〈◊〉 Euill will neuer sayd well A zeale but faâ—â—e from knowledge And when they shall slay you they shall thinke they doe God great seruice Iohn 16. Yea true if he had cópelled you to forsake the name of Christ which hee neuer did Oh how craftely doth Sathan here shape himselfe to an Angell of light Exvetusto chronico Kinges ceased in Wales Anno. 1100. Henry Beuclerk the first king of England What learning doth in a prince Lawes of King Edward reduced The measure of England made after the length of King Henries arme Wanton persons remoued out of the court Ex Math. Paris Flor. Hist Example what it is to leaue of the Lordes busines Duke Robert taken prisoner The hospitall of Bartholomew founded Rayer and Richard Whittington founders of S. Bartholomewes in London Ex Henr. lib. 7. Anselmus The king ordayned and inuested Byshops without the Pope Herbert bishop of Norwich dinorsing hys priestes from their wiues had much a doe Anselmus cruell and fierce agaynst maryed Priestes Ex epist. Ansel. 176. Versus malò feriati ex biblio Ramsey Anno. 1103. A strife betwene K. Henry and Anselme the Archbish. of Cant. Gifford Bishop of Wint. refuseth to be consectrate by the Archbishop of Yorke A strife betwene King Henry and Anselmus Archb. of Cant. Ex Guli lib. 1. de Gestis A. 〈◊〉 Romanes Councel agaynst 〈◊〉 men 〈◊〉 any 〈…〉 Nospirâ—â— person to it vnderloâ—â—ction to 〈◊〉 lay personage Ex lorâ—â—lensis 〈◊〉 others â—ihistoria Anselme resuseth to do homage to his King Messengeâ— sent to Rome Ex Mathâ— Paris Ex Gulâ—â— lib. 1. de gestis 〈◊〉 Ang. The king hath nothing to do with the Pope hys letters Messenger sent agayn to Rome The letter of K. Henry the first vnto the Pope Spoken like a king The â—ing is a point to 〈◊〉 the â—opes obeâ—ince Another â—tter of K. Henry the 〈◊〉 sent to â—he Pope A place of Polydorus Virg. found â—aultie Ex Guliel lib. 1. de â—ont Anglo The pope othe to go agaynst hys owne proâ—it He meaneth beside the two bishops Giâ—ardus whiche made the third Anselme a deuout chaplaine to the Church of Rome Anselme iournieth agâ—yne to Rome The effect of the oration of W. Warlwast at the popes court Ex Galial De gestis pont of â— lib. 1â— Ex Math. Paris lib. 3. A proud aunswere of the pope Excommunication abused Anselme restrayned from comming to England Ex Redulph Londimensi A letter of Anselme to kyng Henry The proude stoutnes of a prelate in a wrong cause Anselme about to excommunicate the king Reconcile â—ent made betweene the king and Anselmus Ambassage to Rome Guliel Malmes lib. 1. de gestis pontisi Priestes receaued their wiues agayne by the Absence of Anselme The faultes of ecclesiasticall ministers long to none but to byshops to correct quod Anselme The K. brought vnder the Archbishop Conditions graunted by the king to Anselm Lawfull matrimony punished Anselme returneth into England Priestes driuen agayne from their wiues Anno. 1106. Exlib 〈◊〉 liel de 〈…〉 lib. 1. c◠〈…〉 Priests 〈◊〉 parres Archbâ— concie 〈◊〉 to be â—â—med Marriaged Priestes forbidâ— Vowe of chastiâ—â— brought in Benefice not to 〈◊〉 hesitate How he was 〈◊〉 Gates â— Lord Châ—â— celerâ— Queen Mariesâ—â— Priestes crownes Tythes Bying of prebendes Building of Chappels Euery Churches finde hys own Priest Abbot to mayntayne no want Monkes admitted in geuing penaunce Monkeâ—â— Godfather nor nunce godmothers Abbey landes Improperptions restreyned Priuy concontractes Rounding Mariage within the 7. degree restrayned Buryinges No holines to be geuen to shrines and places Selling and buying of men Sodometry A flap with a soxe tayle for sodomitry Ranulph Cestrensis lib. 7. Note the preposterous proceding of Anselme in ceasing the vice of Sodomitry Penalties and forfaits agaynst priestes that kept their wiues In the latter dayes shall come false teachers forbidding mariage and eating of meates c. PurificatioÌ„ of priestes that had bene maried K. Henry permitted priestes to haue both churches and wiues Ex Epist Ansel. 77. 377. Pope Paschal hath so decreed it at Rome Ergo prieste must haue no wiues Ex Epist. Ansel. 33. If profite of the Church may come by priestes children what hurt then were it to the church for priestes to haue wiues K. Henry and hys nobles ready to forsake the romishâ— Church A letter of Anselme agaynst priestes receauing agayne their wiues Ex Epist. 37. Priestes excommunicated for receauing agayn their wiues A letter of Anselmus Ex Epist. 255. Whether is more merite for a monke to cause himselfe in the chapter to be whipped or to suffer obediently the whippingeâ— of his Abbot The iudgement or conclusion of Anselme vpon the case False opinion of merite Anno. 1105. Iudges corrupted A terrible example for corrupt iudges to beware Pope Paschalis the 2. The pope tyremâ—â—â— The seuenfold power of the pope Of Antichrist borne and manifest The bishop of Fluenceâ— martyr Sabellicus A councell at Trecas A tragicall history of the Pope Paschalis setting the sonne agaynst the father Ex historia Helmoldâ— The prelates set the sonne agaynst the father A gratefull example of a good and thankefull Duke A naughty sonne of a good father Ex Helmolds â—â— Gorâ—rido Viterbiensi The vnkindnes of a proud prelate Anno. 1106. The Emperour v. yeares with out buriall Anno. 1107. Henricus Emperour Ex Chronico Casionis lib. 3. The pope taken prisoner We raysed vp by the Pope and his papistes Peace concluded betweene the Emperour and the P. Bernardus the Abbot Bernardine monkes came in The Citty of Worcester almost all consumed with fire Mathildis Example of the Lordes iust retribution and iudgement Two popes striuing together Pope Calixtus the 2. The Pope excommunicate 〈◊〉 the Emperour Gregorius brought into Rome 〈…〉 broughten and whea Dist. 76. cap. Ieiunium The order of Monkes PraemonstrateÌ„ses Scripture clerkly applyed of the pope Priestes and ministers compelled to leaue their wiues Anno. 1109. The Bishoprick of Ely first planted Henry first Bishop of Ely Anno. 1110. Trent dyed vp An earthquake Morayne and pestilence Ex Gualthero Gisburnensi Anno. 1113. Wirceter consumed with fire Anno. 1114. Rodulphus Archbishop of Cant. Thurstinus Archbishop of Yorke Dissention betweene Thurstinus of Yorke and Rodolph Archb of Cant. for subiection The letter of Paschalis to K. Henry Ex Gualthero Gisburnensi Ex Gulie De
1000 marks The fift part of all the goods of the clergy granted to the Pope Great expence of money in the court of Rome betweene the B. of Lincoln and the Cathedrall Church Money wast fully bestow ed. Mony comming to the Pope betweene the b. of Lincoln the monks within his Dioces How pretely the Pope can take with both handes Money may doe much at Rome The popes answere to Rob Grosted Iustice peruented by the popes authoritie for money Money comyng to the Pope by the election of Boniface archb of Cant. and of Ethelmare B. of Wint. both straÌ„gers and French men Mariage with Alinore the kings sister a Nunne dispensed by the Pope for money What inconuenience commeth by the Popes dispensations Wilfull periurie mainteined by the Popes dispensations Enormities which spring out of the popes dispensations The miserable impouerishing of the Realme by the popes prouisions and contributions Cardinall Otho Legate in England The receiuing of Otho the popes Legate into the Realm Anno. 1237. Otho the Legate seeketh to come into Scotlande The king of Scottes his answere to Cardinall Otho The 〈◊〉 of Seaâ—â—â— hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 within 〈◊〉 popes Legate Cardinal Otho 〈◊〉 ped 〈◊〉 ing into Sâ—â— land Oppression of the 〈◊〉 of Englâ—â— by Cardiâ—â—â— Otho the popes Legaâ—â— Anno. 1238. The nobles of England writ to Pope Gregory 〈◊〉 collationâ—â— benefices wrasled or of their 〈◊〉 Petrus Rubeus the popes 〈◊〉 All beneâ—â— ced men in England â—â— pelled to geue theâ—â— part of the reuenewes to the pope anno â—â—â—â— Anno. 1240. Excuses of the Clergy why they would not contribute â— the Pope â—oc childreÌ„ of Rome â—laced in benefices in England Edmund Archb. of Cant. deparâ—eth the â—ealme and dyeth in exile Three thousand pounds to the popes â—se Romaynes 23. brought to Englande to be benefited The P. for money releaseth christias of their â—owâ— Mumelius 20 other messenger of the pope An exectable exaction of the pope vpon the house of Peterborough Abbot of Pe terborough thrust out of the popes court The obligation of kyng Iohns tribute to the pope burned The bishops of England put their handes and seales to the popes bill Petrus Rubeus Petrus de Supino the Popes collectors in England A thousand and fiue hundreth markes broughâ— out of Ireland for the Pope M. Martinus aâ— other messenger for the Popes money an 1244. Extortion of the Popes Legate vpon the clergie of Englando Contribution of x. M. markes for the Pope The pope craftely holdeth with the kyng that the king might holde with him Intimation geuen to the king touching the importable oppression of the realme by the Pope K. Henries letter to the Pope The kyng offereth to kisse the Popes feet Damage receiued by the pope in the realme of England The pope prouisions The kinges too much in subiection to the pope Ex Mat. Paris sol 172. The pope setteth Welch men against the king of England Contribution required of the clergie of England for the pope with their excuses and reasons against the same The portes of England layd to stop the popes letters yet all would not serue Siâ—â—e 〈◊〉 land 〈◊〉 yerely 〈◊〉 out of 〈◊〉 landâ—â—â— Pope 〈◊〉 Italia 〈◊〉 M. Martinâ—â— the Popes legate serâ— out of Enâ— land in the deuils 〈◊〉 The pope in displeasure with the king of England * 〈◊〉 lot The 〈◊〉 wordes of the pope against the French 〈◊〉 and king of England Anno. 1245. The supplication of 〈◊〉 Lords and commons of England 〈◊〉 the Pope The superstitious 〈◊〉 ding of neonasterics in England Iniuries receiued in England by the Pope Benefices in â—uglande wickedly giuen a way to Italians Three score thousande markes yerely giuen to Italians out of the church of England Italians receiued more in this land of meer reÌ„ts then did the kings crown Detestable dealings of the popes legate in England Complaint of M. Martin â—he Popes Legate K. HeÌ„ry the â—hird vsed euery day to â—eare 3. masâ—es by note The stout wordes of the Lordes â—o the Pope The suppliâ—ation of the English naâ—ion tooke no place with the Pope The Englishe Ambassadours agreeued with the Pope The Pope in an anger with England The Bishops of England set their seales to the popes tribute Anno. 1246. The pope stirreth Lewes the French king to warre against the K. of Englande Lewes the freÌ„ch kyng refuseth to warre against Englande The first yeares fruites for seuen yeares gathered of all benefices for the Archb. of Cant. The prelates of England charged to find horse and harnes for Popes warres A subtile practise of the pope The popes baite layde for more money A new lawe of the pope to season vpon all the goods of clergie men that die intestate A note of certaine ecclesiasticall persons dying in England worth great substance Sixe thousand marks to be gathered of the clergie of Englande for the Pope The king beginneth to withstand the Pope but durst not holde out The Pope in a chafe The wordes of Ioannes Anglicuâ— Cardinall to the Pope The miserable troubles of christendome Of Spaine he meaneth because the king of Aragone a litle before had cut off the tongue of a certaine B. that did reprehend him Paris fol. 207. Power giuen to the Bish. of Worcester to interdict the land The K. fayne to relent to the Pope 238. Of this diuision read before pag. 282. The Grecians vsed to washe their altar if any latin masse had bene saide vpon them Ex Actâ—s concilâ—â— Lateranâ—â—sis cap. 4. Goods gotten by vsury attached for the Pope Excommunication abused False â—â—â—lutiâ—â— oâ— sinnes Vsurarie prauâ—las Goods 〈◊〉 in dead â— wils for restitution eâ—uâ—ted to the Pope Goods â—â—bequetheâ— in deâ—d 〈◊〉 willes coâ— uerted to war agaiâ—â—â— the Gâ—â—eâ—â— Goods â—â—gotten coâ—uerted 〈◊〉 Pope Abseloâ— for 〈◊〉 An vâ—â—â—â—nable eâ—â— on of the Pope Non 〈◊〉 Three â—â—n thousande poundes â—â—acted of â—â— clergie to â— payde to â—â— Pope A Parliament Letter sent the Pope the name all the eâ—tes com â—altie of â—e realme â—ote fooles â—uâ—ingiuing the â—hurch so â—uch â—he Pope â—â—â—king beâ—â—e EnglaÌ„d â— swimme â—th golde â—â—d siluer The popes â—â—swere aâ—aine to the â—â—ng of England The Pope â—alfe in his promise Note the subtle practise of the pope to get money The Bishop of Lincolnes answere to the Friers the Popes messengers The Abbot of S. Albons maketh great sute to the Pope for the 400. markes that he should pay This Iohannes Anglicus was the more fierce against the Abbot because hee receiued him not with such reuerence as hee thought meete for the popes legate Example howe this Realme of England was oppressed miserably by the Pope The Abbot of AbbingdoÌ„ cited to appeare before the Pope The Abbot of Abingdon condemned in 50. markes for denying of an english benefice to an Italian the Popes nephew A detestable extortion of the pope vsâ—d against the priorie of Binham The Grecians excused purged in parting froÌ„ the Church of Rome The miseries that haue risen in
Richard king of Almaine dyeth A great variaÌ„ce betweene the Monkes and citizens of Norwich Excution done at Norwich by the commaundement of kyng Henry the 3. Adam Prior of Cant. refuseth to be Archb. of Cant. Rob. Kilwerby Archb. of Cant. The death of K. Henry the 3. K. Edward 1. Pâ—â—ti◠〈◊〉 PareÌ„ts rewarded of God Ex Chron. Tho. Walsinghami A miracle of God in preseruing king Edward False was â— ip reprehended God geueâ—s the beâ—â—â—te a dumâ—â—e stocke hath the thaâ—â—â— Example of princeâ—â— â—â—mency 〈◊〉 learned 〈◊〉 kinges and princes Ex Chron. Nic. 〈◊〉 c Tho. Wales sub dued The Kings sonne first prince of Wales Vayne prophesies not to be sought to Punishment for Baker S Milners The statute for Mortmaine first enacted Anno. 1279. Blacke Fryers by Ludgate builded Bosten blemished with fire The great Conduit in Cheape Westminster Church finished The Iewes banished the Realme A place in Fabian corrected Ex Thoma â—alsingâ—aâ— â—ualtero inburnensi Lack of successioÌ„ what disturbance it worketh in a Realme The klag of Englande proued by old records chiefe head foueraign Ann. 1291. Sir Iohn Bayloll male king of Scotland by King Edward K. of Scots doth homage to the King of Englande The falsenes of the Scottish king The towne and castle of Barwicke wonne of Englishmen Falsenes iustly punished The Scots rebell again The second â—iage of king Edward into Scotland Anno. 1298. Ex Fabiano A notable victory against the Scoâ—e Anno. 1299. The Scottes sworne to the kings alleageaÌ„ce Ex Chron. Tho Walsinghami Auesburiensis The Popes message vnto the kyng The Kinges aunswere to the Pope The Pope chalengeth the Realme of Scotland to be free from the dominion of England Anno. 1301. The K. replyech to the Pope Scotland alone with England Brutus Lokrinus Albanactus Camber Alias 907. A letter of the Lordes temporall to the Pope Anno. 1303. The P. letteth â—log against king Ex R. Auesb. Another Scottish rebellion supprest The P. dispenseth with due true obedience of subiects toward their prince The Popes inhibition neglected in England Another rebellion of the Scots repressed The Scots againe subdued A greeuous variance betwene Philip the frech king pope Boniface Pope Nicolas 4. Popedome vacant two yeares Pope Celestinus 5. Crastie ingling among Popes and Cardinals Ex Massao The eight Nero. P. Boniface 8. The mischiefe of Pope Boniface described Guelphes and Gibelines 2. factions in Rome Iubilei first be gonne in Rome The P. claimeth and practiseith power of both swordes Pope Boniface 8. Author of the booke of decretals Romish pardoÌ„s first begunne by P. Boniface 8. Ex hist. Nie Triuet Philip the French king excommunicated Ex lib. Stephant Ausrery A letter of king Philip of FrauÌ„ce to pope Boniface A Parliament summoned by K. Philip at Paris The appeale of Nagareta made against pope Boniface the 8. Ex Registre An inuectib against the placing of Boniface 8. in the papall sea The pope well compared to Balaam which was wont curse Gods people for reward of money Articles propounded against pope Boniface The nature of this pope and al popes by his image painted out The pope thinkes himselfe equall with Christ. Abhominatio desolationis Papa The appellation of the French king and Nobles against pope Boniface 8. Pope Boniface had rather be a dogge then a French man Pope Boniface eneâ—y to the FreÌ„ch men Pope Boniface an enemy to peace Pope Boniface a murderer of his predecessour The proteâ—â—ation of W. Plesiano Pope Boniâ—â—ce proued iâ— heretick The Kinges answere The appeale of Philip the French king from the Pope The protestation of Prelates The bishops of Fraunce appeale from P. Boniface to a generall councell The letter of the French prelates to Pope Boniface Anno. 1304. Pope Boniface besieged Pope Boniface brought to a straight Three conditions put to the Pope Here may all kinges by the French kyng learne how to handle the pope Boniface chuseth rather to die then to giue ouer his popedome Ex R. Aaesb The excessiue treasures of the Popes house noted A pretie handling of the pope The Pope deliuered oâ—t of prison What pouertie and affliction can do in plucking downe the pride of man Pope Benedictus 11. The kinges election in his owne realme frustrated Iohn Peckham Archb. of Cant. A point of practise in the court of Rome Ecclesiasticall persons exempted by the pope for not paying tribute to the kyng The Pope proceedeth against the manifest word in setting the Clergie free from the kinges tributes Ex Chron. Rob. Gisburnensis * Apostolica autoritaâ— frustra obtenditâ—â—â— bi Aposâ—â—â— ca scriptura contemâ—â—â— * Quiaâ—â—â— quisquss barbarismus Apostolicuâ— * Flores Attics eâ— ipso helicone desumpts * 〈◊〉 rhetorica * Taurscernu Ware the bulles home The Clergy denyeth to geue tribute to the king The Clergy secluded froÌ„ the kinges protection The Archb. of Cant. for his stubbernes had his goods confiscate to the kyng The variance betweene K. Edward and his Barons commons Petitions of the Barons and commoÌ„s to the king Magna Charta Charta de foresta Custome for Wolle The kynges answere to the petitioÌ„s of the BaroÌ„s the commons Humfrey Bonne Roger Bigot The articles conteined in Magna Charta Agreement concluded and sealed betwene the K. and his Barons The moderate and good nature of K. Edward noted Rob. Winchelsey Archb. of Cant. K. Edward was troubled with two Archb. of Cant. The church of Rome and Romish prelates set against kings and rulers Kings of England commonly troubled with Archb. of Cant. Priestes to haue but one benefice Varlaunâ—e betweene the Archb. of Yorke and the clergie of Duresme InquisitioÌ„ made against yl rulers and false officers Traibastoun Ex Chron. Tho. Walsinghams A false miracle well spied out of the kyng Ex codem ChroÌ„ A true miracle Victorie against the Saracens MertoÌ„ colledge builded in Oxforde I. Scotâ—â— duns Pope ClemeÌ„t 5 The Popes court translated to Fraunce A slaughter of nobles at the pompe of the popes coronation A CarbuÌ„cle in the popes myter valued at 6000. Florence Emperour no Emperour except he were coÌ„firmed by the pope The Templaries put downe The feast of Corpus Christi Septimus decretalium called the ClemeÌ„tines Henricus â— Emperour poysoned in the host Paleologeâ— Emp. of CoÌ„stantinople excommunicated with all his adherents by pope ClemeÌ„t for not suffering the Grecians to appeale to Rome Anno. 1327. Note the practise of the Romish prelates Platina in vit Innocentâ—â— When and how loÌ„g the Greeke church was subiect to Rome Ex Baptist. Egnat Rom. prime li. 7. The Greeke church demeth subiection to the Church of Rome Ex Chron. Nic. Triâ—â—l The popes exactioÌ„s coÌ„plained of in the parliament Ex hist. qus incipis aâ— Henrico seâ—â—â—â— The Popes getting in one yeare W. Testa the popes Legat sent into England First fruites first brought in by the Pope King Edw. with staÌ„deth the Pope his Legate First fruites of Abbeyes denyed to the Pope First
did the Popes Legate and Cardinall Nicolaus Tusculanus much fauor his doings allow his procedings Wherfore they reported of him that he was exceding parcial regarded not their matters ecclesiastical as he shuld haue done for leauing the accompt of their restitioÌ„s He went with the kings officers as the kings pleasure was to the Cathedral minsters abbeys priories deanries and great Churches vacant And there for the next incumbent alwaies he appointed two one for that king an other for the parties But vpon him only whome the king nominated he compelled most commonly the election to passe whych vexed them wonderfully Upon this therefore they raised a new coÌ„spiracy against the kings person by helpe of their bishops seditious prelates such noble men as they had drawen to their parties We beheld sayth Houeden about the same time many noble houses and assemblies deuided in many places the fathers and the aged men stoode vpon that kings part but the yonger sort contrary And some there were that for loue of their kindred and in other sondry respects forsoke the king again yea and the same went that time sayth he that they were coÌ„federated with Alexander the Scottish king and Ieoline the Prince of Wales to woorke him an vtter mischiefe A councell at Oxforde the Archb. called where at some would not tary considering the confusion therof the other sort hauing very obstinate hearts reuiled the king most spitefully behind his backe and sayd that from thenceforth he ought to be taken for no gouernour of theirs Their outragious and franticke clamours so much preuailed in those daies that it grewe to a grieuous tumult and a most perillous commotion In the yeare of our Lorde 1215. as wytnesseth Paulus Aemilius other hystories Pope Innocent the third helde a general Synode at Rome called the councell Laterane The chiefe causes of that councell were these In the daies of this Innocent heresie as he calleth the truth of God or the doctrine that rebuketh sinne began to rise vp very high and to spread forth his braunches abroad By reason wherof many Princes were excommunicate as Otho the Emperour Iohn the king of England Peter king of Aragon Raimund the Earle of Tholouse Aquitania Sataloni and such other like as is said afore So that it could be no otherwise sayth Doueden but with the sharp axe of the gospel so called the pope his excommunications they ought of necessitie to haue bene cut off from the Churche Therfore was this couÌ„cell prouided proclaimed and prelates from al nations therunto called And to colour those mischiefes which he then went about hee caused it by hys Legates and Cardinals very craftie marchauntes to be noised abroad that his entent was therin only to haue the Church vniuersally reformed and the holy land from the Turkes handes recouered But all this was craft falsehode as that sequele therof hath manifestly declared For hys purpose thereby was to subdue all Princes and to make himselfe rich and wealthy for there he made this antichristian act and established it by publicke decree that that pope should haue from thenceforth the correction of all christian Princes and that no Emperor should be admitted except he were sworne before and were also crowned of him He ordained moreouer that whatsoeuer he were that should speake euil of the pope he shuld be punished in hel with eternall damnation Conradus Vrspergensis Hieronimus Marius He prouided confession to helpe these matters he alowed theyr bread a pixe to couer him and a bell when hee goeth abroad and made the masse equal with Christes Gospell In this Councell was first inuented and brought in TransubstantiatioÌ„ of which Ioannes Scotus whoÌ„ we call Dims maketh mention in his 4. Booke wryting in these wordes The words of the scripture might be expounded more easily more plainly without transubstantiatioÌ„ But the church did chuse this sense which is more hard being mooued thereto as it seemeth chiefly because that of the Sacraments men ought to holde as the holy Churche of Rome holdeth c. And in the same place maketh mention of Innocentius the third Moreouer in the said Councel was stablished and ratified the wretched and impious act compelling Priestes to abiure lawful Matrimonie Whereupon these meeters or verses were made the same time against hym whych here folow vnder wrytten Non est Innocentius imo nocens verè Qui quod facto docuit verbo vult delere Et quodolim inuenis voluit habere Modò vetus pontifex studet prohibâ—re Zacharias habuit prolem vzorem Per viruâ—n quem genuit adeptus honorem Baptizauit etenim mundi saluatorem Pereat qui teneat nouum hunc errorem Paulus coelos rapitur ad superiores Vbi multas didicit res secretiores Adnos tandem rediens instruensque mores Suas inquit habeant quilibet vxores Propter haec alia dogmata doctorum Reor esse melius magis decorum Quisque suam habeat non proximorum Ne incurrat odium vel iram eorum Proximorum foeminas filias neptes Violare nefas est quare nil doceptes Verè tuam habeas in hac delectes Diem vt sic vltimum tutiùs expectes Nocent not innocent he is that seeketh to deface By word the thing that he by deed hath taught men to embrace Which being now a Bishop old doth study to destroy The thing which he a young man once did couet to enioy Priest Zachary both had a wife and had a childe also By mean of whoÌ„ there did to him great praise and honour grow For he did baptise him which was the sauer of mankinde Ill him befall that holdeth this new error in his minde Into the higher heauens good Paul was lifted from below And many secrete hidden things he learned there to know Returnde at length from thence to vs and teaching rules of life He said let eche man haue his owne and onely wedded wife For this and other documents of them that learned be Much better and more comely eke it seemeth vnto me That eche should haue hys own alone not his neighbors wife Least with his neighbour he do fall in hate and wrathfull strife Thy neighbours daughters or their wiues or nieces to defile Vnlawfull is therefore beware do not thy selfe beguile Haue thou thine owne true wedded wife delite in her alway With safer minde that thou maiest looke to see the latter day Now let vs returne to K Iohn againe marke how the priests their adherents were plagued for their humble handlings of his maiesties wil. In yâ— forsaid councel of Laterane and the same yeare was Steuen Langton the Archb. of Cant. excommunicated of pope Innocent with all those bishops prelates priests barons coÌ„mons which had bene of counsail with him in the former rebellion And when the sayde Archb. had made instant sute of him to be absolued anone he made him this answer with great indignation Brother mine I sweare