that hee should rule and defend the Kingdome and the people of the Lorde and aboue all things the holy Church And when the Popes eyes were fixed vpon the Bishopricks of England to bring them all spirituall promotions to his owne donation his Holinesse receiued admonition from the same Conqueror that hee should goe against the most auncient Lawes of his kingdome if he did admit or acknowledge the power of any forreiner as the Pope was A.D. 1088 So William Rufus sonne to the Conqueror did strictly forbid Anselm Archbishop of Canterburie and charged all other Bishops to haue no respect to Rome or to the Pope saying J cannot endure any equall in my kingdome so long as J liue A.D. 1114 Henry the first by his Atturney did forbid Anselm returning from Rome to enter his land vnlesse he would faithfully promise to keep all the customs both of William the Conqueror his Father and of William Rufus his brother A.D. 1164 Henrie the second made all the Bishops c. sweare in a generall assembly at Cloredon that these liberties of the Crown amongst which one was That no Archbishop Bishop or any other person should goe out of the Realme without the King his leaue Another did direct Appeales That if any were made they should come from the Archdeacon to the Bishop from the Bishop to the Archbishop and if the Archbishop fayled in doing Justice it shall bee lawfull at the last to come vnto the King that by his commaundement the matter may bee ended in the Archbishop his Court So that no person shall presume to appeale further without the King his consent And hee writ letters to all his Shiriffes Lieutenants in England in this manner I commaund you that if any Cleargie man or Lay man in your Countie appeale to the Court of Rome you attach him hold him fast-ward till Our pleasure bee known Henrie the third when it was propounded in Parliament whether one borne before Matrimonie may inherit in like maner as they that are born after And the Bishops intreating the temporall Lords to consent to the affirmatiue because the Canons Decrees of the Church of Rome are so all the Earles and Barons answered with one voyce That they would not haue the Lawes of England changed and so the statute passed with the Lords temporall against the orders of Rome The same King writeth in this wise to the Bishops seuerally to euerie one in his Diocesse Henry the third by the Grace of God to the Reuerend in Christ B. of N. Whereas Wee haue heretofore written vnto you once twise thrise as well by Our priuie Seales as also by Our Letters Patents that you should not exact or collect for the Popes behalfe anie tallage or other helpe of Our Subiectes either of the Cleargie or of the Layetie for that no such tallage or helpe either can or is vsed to bee exacted in Our Realme without the great preiudice of Our Princely dignitie which Wee neither can nor will suffer or sustaine Yet you contemning and vilipending Our Commaundement and contrarie to the Prouision made in Our last Councell at London graunted agreed vpon by Our Prelates Earles and Barons haue that notwithstanding proceeded in collecting the same your taxes and tallages Whereupon Wee doe greatly maruaile are moued especially seeing you are not ashamed to doe contrarie to your owne Decrees whereas you and other Prelates in the said Councell in this did all agree and graunt that no such exactions should bee heereafter vntill the returne of Our and your ambassadors frō the Court of Rome sent thither purposely of Vs and in the name of the whole Realme for the same to prouide for redresse against these oppressions Wherefore Wee straightly will and commaund you that from henceforth you doe not proceede any more in collecting exacting such tallages or helpes as you will enioy Our fauour and such possessions of yours as within this Our kingdome you haue and hold And if you haue alreadie procured or gathered any such thing yet that you suffer it not to bee transported out of Our Realme but cause it to bee kept in safe custody till the return of the said Ambassadors vnder the paine of Our displeasure in doing of the contrarie and also of prouoking Vs to extend Our hand vpon your possessions further thē you will thinke or beleeue Moreouer willing charging you that you participate make knowen this Our Inhibition with your Archdeacōs Officials which We here haue set forth for the liberties of the Cleargie and of the people as knoweth God c. A.D. 1212 When King John had refused the disordered election of Stephen Langton to the Archbishopricke and See of Canterburie Jnnocent the third forced the King to resigne his kingdome and to take it of him againe the said Pope at the yearely rent of 1000. Markes But the Barons the Bishops were so much displeased therewith that in plaine contempt of the Popes keyes curses they did choose them another King and chased King Iohn the Popes fermor in dispite of all his new Landlord could doe A.D. 1291 King Edward the first made a Statute at Carlile that the Pope should exercise no Iurisdiction in England and in his time one bringing an excommunication from Rome against a Subiect of England and the same being brought by complaint before the King and his Councell the fact was adiudged high Treason the offendor had suffred death but by the mediation of the Chauncellor Treasurer the King was content with his banishment Edward the second would not suffer the Peter-penie to bee collected otherwise then had been accustomed A.D. 1360 Edward the third reuiued the Statute of Premunire made by Edward the first Pope Gregorie the eleuenth writ to him that this Law might bee abrogated but preuailed not Shortly after this time Richard fitz Ralfe liued was made Archbishop of Armagh a holy learned man as appeareth by his labours and disputations against the begging Friers A.D. 1413 Henry the fourth made a Law that no Popes Collector thenceforth should leuie any money within the Realme for first fruites of any Ecclesiasticall liuing vnder pain of incurring the Statute of Prouisions or Premunire An. 5. Henr. 5. Act. 17. It was enacted in a Parliament That the Church all estates should enioy all their liberties which were not repealed or repealeable by the common Law meaning the excluding of the Popes forreine power which hath alwayes beene excluded by the common Law A.D. 1428 As King Henry the sixt with Duke Humfrey Lord Protector the rest of the Councell were in the Dukes house in the Parish of S. Bennets by Pauls Wharfe one Richard Candray Procurator in the Kings name behalfe did protest denounce by this publike instrument That whereas the king and all his Progenitors Kings before him of this Realme of England haue beene heretofore possessed time out of minde with speciall priuiledge custom vsed and
Peter I wil not build my selfe vpon thee but I will build thee vpon mee Asia and Affrica professing Christ as well as wee did not consent to the Bishop of Rome his Supremacie I confesse that the Eastern churches and Bishops for debates of matters of faith amongst themselues made suites to the Bishops of Rome but that was not for the superioritie of Iurisdiction that the See of Rome had ouer them but for the diuision that was within themselues by reason that the whole Easterne countries as well Bishops as others were much infected with the heresies of Arrius whereof the West was in a manner cleere So as amongst the Orients none were counted indifferent to decide those debates but all were suspect of affection for one cause or other wherefore they desired the opinions of the Bishops of the west as indifferēt not intangled with affections of anie of those parts vncorrupted of the Arrians Which appeareth by the Epistles of S. Basile written in all their names for that purpose wherein it is especially to be noted that their suit was not to the Bishop of Rome singularly by name but as the titles doe shew to the whole congregation of the BB. of Italy and France or of the whole West sometimes preferring the French BB. Gallis and Italis and neuer nameth the Romanes About the yeare of our Lord 610. Boniface 3 obtained of Phocas the wicked Emperor that slew his Mr. Mauricius his wife and children That hee the saide Pope might bee called the Prince of all Bishops Then the peoples deuotion to Religion and the beleefe which was setled in their minds of the power of the Keyes which were said to open and shut paradise to binde loose sinnes laid the foundatiō of the Popes greatnesse and authoritie Agatho B. of Rome writ to Constantine the 4. Most gratious Lord your sacred Letters encouraging vs to shew forth effectually our prompt diligent seruice for performing that which your Edict cōmanded for discharge of our duty c. And in a second Epistle All the Bishops of the North and West partes seruants of your Christiā Empire giue thākes to God for this your religious intēt in calling of a Councell A.D. 850 Leo the fourth Bish of Rome writ likewise to the Emperor As touching the chapters imperiall precepts of your Highnesse and the Princes your predecessors irrefragably to be kept and obeyed as much as in vs did or doth lie Wee by all meanes professe that wee will by Christs helpe now and for euer obserue the same Certainely the vaine Titles of the Pope as Vniuersall Bishop Prince of Priests supreame head of the vniuersall Church and Vicar of Christ here vpon earth likewise his vast pretended Iurisdiction came not into the Church altogether but with long working continuance of time by little little as occasions were giuen Partly by Boniface the third about the yere 610. partly by Pope Gregorie the seuenth called Hildebrād about the yere 1170. partly by Innocentius the third about the yeare of our Lord 1215. and finally by Pope Boniface the eight about the yere of our Lo 1300. Of which foure popes the first brought in a Title the second brought Iurisdiction the third pope Innocent with his Monkes and his Friers corrupted obscured the sinceritie of Christs doctrine and lastly pope Boniface the eight Clement the fift after him ouer and besides the Iurisdiction sufficiently aduanced before by pope Hildebrand added moreouer the tēporall Sword to be carried before him and that no Emperor were he neuer so well elected should be sufficiēt or lawfull without the popes admission A confident and high challenge differing so much from the obedience and humilitie of Christ of the Apostles of Christ of the good and holy Bishops of Rome which did speake write to the Emperors in a milder language full of acknowledgements and respects that men vnpartially affected neede not doubt it proceeded frō another spirit But whē pope Boniface came to make experiment of the possession of this challenge and how Christian princes would giue way vnto his claim Philip the Faire King of France returneth to the popes insolent demaund an answere swere full of royall magnanimitie as appeareth by their Letters ensuing Boniface B. seruant of the seruants of God to Philip King of Frenchmen feare God and obserue his cōmandements Wee will thee to vnderstand that thou art subiect to Vs both in spirituall and temporall things and that it belongs not to thee to giue any Prebend or Benefice If thou hast the keeping of any of them being vacant thou must reserue the profits of them to the successors if thou hast giuen anie Wee iudge thy gift to be void and doe reuoke all that hath beene done and whosoeuer beleeueth otherwise We iudge them heretickes Giuen at Latran the 4. of the Nones of Decemb the sixth yere of Our Popedome The King answereth him thus Philip by the grace of God King of France to Boniface calling himselfe Soueraigne B. little health or none at all Let thy great Fool-ship be aduertised that in temporall things Wee acknowledge no Superior but God that the gift of Prebendes being voide belongs to Vs by Our Royall Prerogatiue and the fruites that growe thereby the which Wee will defend by the Sword against all them that shall seeke to hinder Our possession esteeming them fooles and without iudgement that shall thinke otherwise The Realme of England certainely was neuer by Lawes or long submission subiect to the Popes authority For when the Bishops of Affrica prayed Innocentius either to send for Pelagius the Britaine or to deale with him by Letters to shew the meaning of his lewd speeches tending to the derogation of Gods grace the B. of Rome made answer When will he commit himselfe to our iudgemēt write what letters I will when as he knoweth he shall bee condemned And if hee were to bee sent for they may better doe it that are neerer to him and not so farre distant from him as I am Jnnocentius 400. yeres after Christ confesseth that hee had no sufficient authoritie to call one poore Britaine out of this realme And 200. yeres after that the Bishops of Britaine would yeelde no subiection to Austine the Moncke neither did they accept him for their Archbishop Indeede their maner of Baptizing obseruing Easter and other Ecclesiasticall constitutions contrary to the rites and customes of the Church of Rome as Augustin then obiected vnto them make manifest proofe that they were neuer vnder the Iurisdiction of the B. of Rome Take a view of the Kings of England you shall finde that from the Conqueror vnto this day most of them haue either resisted or abated the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction which the Pope claimed in this land by right of the Crowne A.D. 1067 William the Conqueror said in a Parliament For asmuch as the King is the Vicar of the High King hee is therefore appointed to that purpose
obserued in this Realme from time to time that no Legate from the Apostolike See should enter into this Land or any of the K. dominions without the calling petitioÌ„ request inuitement or desire of the King And forasmuch as Henry B. of WintoÌ„ Cardinall of Eusebius hath presumed so to enter as Legate from the Pope being neither called sent for required or desired by the King therefore the said Richard Candray in the Kings name doth protest by this JnstrumeÌ„t that it standeth not with the Kings minde or intent by the aduice of his Councell to admit approue or ratifie the comming of the said Legate in anywise in derogation of the right customs Lawes of this his Realme or to recognise or assent to any exercise of this his authoritie Legantine or to any actes attempts or hereafter by him to be attempted in this respect contrarie to the foresaid Lawes rights customes liberties of this Realme by these presents c. In the same K. Henry the fixts time there is a Record in the 17. yeare of his raigne in Easter tearme 28. April That all the temporalties of the Archbishoprick of Armagh within the realm of Ireland were taken seised into the hands of the King by his Barons of the Exchecquer by reason of a resignation an admission therof by the Pope which resignation was made by Iohn Bote Archbishop of the Archbishopricke aforesaid In England there be verie auncient Lawes That no Legate from the Bishop of Rome or other religious person should enter the bounds of the kingdome vnlesse first hee did promise by solemne oath that he will bring in nothing to derogate from the King or Lawes and customes of the kingdome The practise hereof was seene in the late raigne of Q. Mary notwithstanding all her deuotion to the Pope For when she did vnderstand that his holinesse was not well minded to Cardinall Poole Archbish of Canterbury but to abate his power in England was readie to make Frier Peto a Cardinall also had a Nuncio with the Hat purposely to giue opposition to Cardinall Poole Q. Mary by the aduise of the Peers Councellors Iudges disparched a messenger to Calis with coÌ„mandement to the Popes Nuncio That he should not come neere her Coasts nor stirre one foote from Calis towards England I could tell you of Charles the fift that was Emperor and grandfather to the K. of Spaine that now is who besieged Rome it selfe did take it maugre all the Popes Bulls curses yea imprisoned ClemeÌ„t then Pope 33. Cardinals with him seuen moneths space in Adrians tower neither would hee dismisse them till Clement made agreement of 400000. Duckets for his own ransome a greater summe was imposed vpon the Cardinals In like sort I might relate how Philip the second Clarles his sonne inuaded Italy with an armie vnder the coÌ„duct of duke D'alva wasted the countrey spoiled the people cast a trench about Rome it selfe but for breuitie sake I rest onely vpon the acts and rights that our own kings Princes haue euer challenged and vsed All these examples whether they be forrein or domesticall tend to this one point That howsoeuer Princes be coÌ„tent somtimes for their own behoofe to giue way to the B. of Rome for the exercises of his superstitions in their kingdomes and dominions yet all of them out of their magnanimities and heroicall spirits do scorne that the Pope should vsurpe or intrude any Iurisdiction ouer their people and subiects further then they themselues like of and thinke to stand with the safetie and good of their countries So it appeareth that the Pope was neuer anie long time in full quiet possessioÌ„ of his preteÌ„ded power in the realm of Engl. and that his Iurisdiction was neuer made a matter of coÌ„science withall this deduction sheweth that it was not Hen. 8. Edw. 6. Elizabeth his sister all Princes of happy memorie or his Matie that now reigneth most gratiously ouer vs that disclaimd the popes authoritie power first but all their most noble progenitors haue done it coÌ„staÌ„tly in a perpetual discent froÌ„ the CoÌ„queror And for the K. that now is besids his right his piety his iustice his Clemencie his learning and other Princely indowments which are able to gain him honor respect amongst meere strangers hee hath a particular aduantage for which hee may worthily challenge more honor obedience froÌ„ you then any of his famous predecessors could expect at the subiects of this kingdome in their seueral times first he is extracted out of your owne bloud descending lineally from Fergus Yee are his brethren his bones his flesh are yee why then are yee the last that giue the King his right Secondly he hath added much more honor dignity to your bloud theÌ„ he receiued by it for wheras formerly the Seas had bouÌ„ded it within this IslaÌ„d so as it had no additioÌ„ or accesse of glory elswhere his Matie hath now giueÌ„ lustre brightnes vnto it with the best highest blouds of Engl. Scotl. FraÌ„ce DeÌ„mark Germany out of al the greatest houses of christeÌ„dom will you theÌ„ diminish his honor that hath aduaÌ„ced made yours to shine will you take away his right that is of your owne kindred transfer it to a meer stranger that seeketh for yours and not for you will you strip a iust King of his birth-right or due bestow it vpon an Italian Priest vnsent of God vncalled by man vnfit for place that hath no maner of claime or warrant for it from Scriptures holy Councels or learned auncient Fathers Let no such ingratitude be found in your generous minds Know ye not that your obedience to the K. begetteth bringeth forth his protection defence of you and can you desire or in equitie expect absolute general protection froÌ„ the K. wheÌ„ you giue him but partiall obedience in teÌ„poral things only not in busines Ecclesiasticall There is no reason no iustice no proportion in that reciprocatioÌ„ ProtectioÌ„ obedience are of like equall extent therfore by the rules of nature which wills you to do as you would be done to if you will haue the K. to protect you your wiues childreÌ„ lands goods houses whilst you are in the exercises of your religioÌ„ euen there also you must acknowledge the king his power and yeeld your obedience to his lawes for they are strengthened by the lawes of God or if you will apply your selues 〈…〉 acie to the popes pleasure in those affaires the K. by way of retaliatioÌ„ might withdraw his protection leaue you for those times to spoile or to his defence whom ye obey Therefore I beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ eueÌ„ I that must giue accouÌ„t for your miscarriage to the chiefe Bish of your soules with sobs teares intreat you again again to take this matter into serious coÌ„sideratioÌ„ to aduise with the word of truth vncorrupted antiquitie euen with the godly writers that liued gouerned the Churches wheÌ„ your holy B. St. Patrick coÌ„uerted this couÌ„trie to the faith of Christ that you may honor the K. with that Soueraignetie which is due vnto him illustrat your own noble families make mee happie in the winding vp of my dayes who will neuer cease to pray for you all whilst I am ARMAGH Marc. 10.25 Matt. 20.20 Matth. 18.1 Esay 28.16 1. Cor. 3.11 Psal 18.31 Galat. 2.8 Aeneas Syluius Epist 280. Mat. 20.28 2. Part. Esay 42.2 Matt. 12.20 Psalm 103.14 Rom. 15.1 Mark 12.17 Reuel 19.16 Numb 16.7 Rom. 13.1 Chrysostom in Epist ad Rom. Homil. 28. Act. 15.29 1. Cor. 10.25 1. Tim. 2.2 Gent. 49.10 August in Io. tract 6. Aug. contra Crescon 1. Sam. 25.28 Ester 3.1 Act. 25.10 2. Sam. 14.2 1. Ring 12.26 1. Pet. 2.13 Dan. 4.18 Deut. 17.15 Act. 13.21 1. Sam. 10.20 21. 1. Sam. 10.24 Psalm 82.6 Ioh. 10.34 Rom. 13.7 Prou. 24.21 Rom. 13.4 Psalm 122.7.8 9. Ioh. 21.16 Matt. 16.19 Act. 20.28 Mat. 10.24 Orig. in Mat. 16. tract 1. Di Consider ad Eugen. Reuelat. 3.7 Ioh. 20.21 Mat. 28.18 Matt. 28.19.20 Reuel 13.1 1. Chron. 24.5 Galat. 2.9 1. Cor. 3.10 Act. 20.17 c. Reuelat. 2.1 1. Tim. 1.3 Genes 13.8 Psal 133.1 Genes 13.7 1. Cor. 14.31 Matth. 5.9 Hebr. 20.21 Exodchan 4. vers 15. 16. Exod. 32. 2. Chron. c. 8 vers 14.15 2. Chron. 19. vers 8. 2. Chro. 35.2 Luc. c. 2. v. 7. Ioh. 18.36 Act. 25.11 About the yeare of our Lord. 150. Ad Scapul About the yeare of our Lord. 220. Cyprian libr. 1. Epist 3. Lib. 5. in proâ—â—mio In vita Constant orat 1. Lib. 1. cap. 9. De vita Constant orat 3. De vita Constant libr. 3. cap. 10. African Concil c. 92. About the yeare 534. Epist 24. Concil Calce Act. 1. It appeares by the storie of those times and by his own Epistles that hee was willing enough to haue to doe with other Churches Gregor Epist 32. 30. About the yeare 233. In Matth. tract 1. 250. Ad Quiriâ— De Trinit l. 2. De Trinit in dialog 〈◊〉 4 Serm. 66. 16. Ser. fest Pontecost 1. Cor. 3.11 De verb. Domini sed Matth. Serm. 13. About the yeare 680. Boniface Pope when Edward the first was king of England Math. Paris