much upon the Clergy afterward though the King and Temporal Lords oftentimes prov'd sturdy Matt. Paris fo 361 362. For Pope Gregory the ninth An. D. 1229. demanded a Tenth of the moveables both of the Lay and of the Clergy to which the Lords would not consent Nolentes Baronias vel Laicas possessiones Rom. Ecclesiae obligare but the Clergy with some grumbling pay'd it And eleven years after he demanded a fifth part of the goods of the Clergy upon which great debate was taken Matt. Paris An. 1240. fo 536. the Clergy appealing to the King that they held their Baronies of the King and could not charge them without his consent that having before given a Tenth this again of a Fifth might create a custom with divers other weighty reasons But all would not do for the King was not against it and the Archbishop for his private ends beginning to deposite all were drawn in at last to pay which occasion'd that complaint the year following Id. fo 549. That there remain'd not so much treasure in the Kingdom as had in three years bin extorted from it the vessels and ornaments of the Church excepted But notwithstanding that reluctancy Matt. Paris fo 549. 666. 701. notwithstanding that notable Remonstrance preferred in the Council of Lions An. D. 1245. from the body of the Kingdom of the heavy burdens the Nation lay under by the exactions of Rome and likewise to the Pope himself the year following Pope Innocent the fourth invented a new way to charge every Religious House to find a number of Souldiers yearly for his service and to fight for the Church militant and about the same time attempted also ut si Clericus extunc decederet intestatus ejusdem bonas in usus D. Papae converterentur that is the Pope would make himself heir or Executor to every Clark that should dye intestate and not long after it was that he received from the Clergy eleven thousand Marks as an addition to six thousand he had receiv'd the year before And then and from that time the Pope made no spare to drain and exhaust the English Clergy at his pleasure to the shameful scandal of the Holy See at that time and to the notorious ignominy poverty and contempt of this Church and the Clergy thereof Matt. Westm Flor. Hist in An. 1301. And of these times it was that Matthew Westminster makes this complaint Porro illis diebus sal terrae caput vulgi in magnum Hydropem ceciderunt quanto enim plus pecuniam humorem hauriebant tanto amplius eam sitiebant Sedit ergo in tristitia fidelium Ecclesia deducta per vocales tutores suos miserabiliter sub tributo In those dayes the Head of the people was fallen into a dropsie which the more money it suck'd in the more it thirsted after more therefore the Church of the faithful sat disconsolate being by her Governours brought under a most miserable tribute and servitude An. D. 1302. Annal. of Ireâ— in Camb. Brit. fo 163. At this time also it was that these grievous exactions reached into Ireland recorded in the Annals thereof That the Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Ireland were exacted by Pope Boniface the eight for three years as a Subsidy to the Church of Rome against the King of Arragon Neither did our Hyperborean neighbours escape Scot-free in this deluge of exaction Tho. Walsing Hist fo 48. Ypodig Neust fo 89. Flor. Hist in Ed. 1. fo 417. H. Knighton Coll. c. Pol. Vergil Fabian Speed c. Nay no less there would satisfie the Pope but the whole Kingdom for it was that Boniface the eight that then claimed the whole Realm of Scotland as part of St. Peters Patrimony against our K. Edward the first and sent his Bull of demand to the King for that purpose between whom there passed several Answers and Replies in the point and the conclusion was That the incroaching Pope was glad to sit down worsted in the cause the transactions of all which stand registred amongst the Tower Records exemplified at large to posterity by Walsingham Matthew Westminster Knighton and more briefly by others But all this while the poor Clergy languished being continually pill'd poll'd and squeezed by the unlimited avarice of this Pope and his successors emptying the Kingdom of its money and filling it with complaints the product of its poverty CHAP. IV. King John 's Pension THe troublesom raign of our King John is sufficiently related by all our Historians in whose straits the Pope appeared sometimes for him and sometimes against him but once taking him in a great exigence Jo. Serres Hist in Phil. August Matt. Paris in An 1213. fo 236. the King was wrought upon to surrender his Crown to Pandulfus the Pope's Legate and substitute laying the same with his Scepter Robe Sword and Ring the Royal Ensigns at his feet subscribing also as is said to a Charter whereby he surrendred his Kingdom to the Pope and professing that thence forward he would hold his Crown as a Feudatary to the Pope and paying an annual Pension or Tribute of 1000 marks for both his Kingdoms of England and Ireland the insolent behaviour of the Legate at this the Historians fully describe which I list not now to insist on but cannot but remember that Matt. Paris says that with this Charter and 10000 l. sterl in hand Id. fo 237. Pandulfus goes triumphing away to Rome But then when or how long after this yearly rent or tribute of 1000 marks was paid our Writers seem not to agree though all concur in the invalidity of the surrender Vid. Speed Chron. in vita Johan Rot. Parl. An. 40 Ed. 3. And at a Parliament held at Westm An. 40 Ed. 3. the Chancellour then Bishop of Ely declared to the Lords and Commons How the King understood that the Pope for the Homage that K. John did to the See of Rome for the Realms of England and Ireland and for the Tribute by him granted meant by Process to cite the King to Rome to Answer thereunto wherein the King required their advice The Bishops for themselves desired respite of Answer till the next day as also did the Peers and Commons at which time the whole Estate came together and by common consent Enacted and Declared That forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King could bring this Realm and Kingdom in such thraldom and subjection but by common assent of Parliament the which was not done And therefore that which he did was against his Oath at his Coronation besides many others causes If therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by process or other matters in deed that the King with all his Subjects should with all their force and power resist the same Then for the Tribute or Pension of 1000 marks it appears to have been sometimes paid with intermissions for Pope Honorius having gratified K. Hen.
3. Cap. 1 2. Stat. 38 Ed. 3. Cap. 3. Stat. Statutes of Pâ—ovâ—sors and Preminire 16 Ric. 2. Cap. 5. Stat. 2 Hen. 4. Cap. 3. Stat. 6 Hen. 4. Cap. 1. Stat. 7 Hen. 7. Cap. 6. Stat. 3 Hen. 5. Cap. 4. Stat. 1 Hen. 7. Cap. 4. Stat. 24 Hen. 8. Cap. 12. Stat. 25 Hen. 8. Cap. 21. Stat. 1 Eliz. Cap. 1. c. By all which with the foregoing Resolutions and Presidents to which a multitude more to the same purpose might be added it doth appear clearly that long before the time of King Hen. 8. divers Statutes and Laws were made and declared against forrain incroachments upon the Rights of the Crown in this matter and those as sharp and severe as any Statutes for that purpose have been made in later times though then both King Lords and Commons that made those Laws and the Judges that did interpret them did for the most part follow the same Opinions in Religion which were held and taught in the Church of Rome And therefore those that will lay upon this Nation the imputation of Schism for denying the Pope's Supremacy here Vid. Case de Premunire in St. John Davys Rep. must charge it many Ages before the time of King Henry the eighth For the Kings Lords and Commons of this Realm have ever been most eminent for asserting their just Rights and Liberties disdaining to become a Tributary Province as it were to the See of Rome or part of St. Peter's earthly Patrimony in Demesn And the Faith and Loyalty of the English race hath bin generally such though true it is that every Age hath brought forth some singular monsters of disloyalty as no pretence of zeal or Religion could ever draw the greater part of the Subjects for to submit themselves to a forrain Yoke no not when Popery was in greatest height and exaltation of all which the aforesaid Statutes are manifest Evidences being generally made at the Prayer of the Commons as by their Preambles may appear most worthy to be read Particularly in the Preamble to the Statute of 16 Ric. 2. They complain Sta. 16 Ric. 2. cap. 5. That by Bulls and Processes from Rome the King is deprived of that Jurisdiction which belongs of right to his Imperial Crown That the King doth lose the service and Counsel of his Prelates and learned men by translations made by the Bishop of Rome That the King's Laws are defeated at his will the Treasure of the Realm is exhausted and exported to inrich his Court And that by those means the Crown of England which hath ever bin free and subject unto none but immediately unto God should be submitted unto the Bishop of Rome to the utter destruction of the King and the whole Realm which God defend say they and thereupon out of their zeal and loyalty they offer to live and dye with the King in defence of the liberties of the Crown And then they pray the King to examine all the Lords in Parliament what they thought of these wrongs and usurpations and whether they would stand with the King in defence of his Royal liberties which being done the Lords Spiritual and Temporal did all answer that these usurpations of the Bishop of Rome were against the liberties of the Crown and that they were all bound by their Allegiance to stand with the King and to maintain his Honour and Prerogative Upon producing and averrement of all this it is requisite some satisfaction be given about the conclusion that hapned so different to these premises For if the Kings and People of England have in all times been so sensible of and zealous for their just Rights how could the Roman Power in derogation of those Rights arrive to such a consistence and height as here it was for many years To this as to the means and manner of that acquist to keep within our Historical compass First let it be premised as undoubtedly true That before the time of the Norman Conquest the Bishops of Rome had very little or nothing to do here as well in matter of Fact as of Right For before that time the Pope's Writ did not run in England His Bulls of Excommunication and Provision came not hither no Citations or Appeals were made from hence to the Court of Rome Our Archbishops did not purchase their Palls there Neither had the Pope the Investiture of any of our Bishopricks And Ingulphus who lived in the Conquerours time a Favourite and one preferred by him thus informs Ingulph Hist fo 901. A multis namque annis retroactis nulla Electio Praelatorum erat libera mere Canonica sed omnes dignitates tam Episcoporum quam Abbatum per annulum baculum regis curia pro sua Complacentia conferebat For as it is observable that under the Temporal Empire of Rome Brittain was one of the last Provinces that was won and one of the first that was lost again So under the Spiritual Empire of the Pope England was one of the last Countrys of Christendom that received the Yoke and one of the first that cast it off But for our purpose that the Bishops of Rome had any Jurisdiction or Hierarchical Authority in the times of the Brittains Saxons or Danes there is an altum silentium in all our Histories and Records For the times of the Brittains Eleuth Epist Eleutherius Pope about 180 years after Christ writes to Lucius the Brittish King and stiles him God's Vicar within his own Kingdom and sure he would not have given that Title to the King if himself under pretence of being God's Vicar-General on Earth had claimed Jurisdiction over all Christian Kingdoms After that Beda Eccl. Hist Matt. Westm Polychron Fab. Huntingd. c. about the year 600. Austin the Monk was sent by Pope Gregory into England to convert the Saxons to the Christian Faith But the Brittish Bishops then residing in Wales gave no regard either to his Commission or his Doctrines as not owing any duty to or dependence upon Rome but still retained their Ceremonies and Traditions which they received from the East Church upon the first plantation of Christianity being both divers and contrary to those of the Church of Rome which Austin did indeavour to impose upon them Usser de Prim. Eccl. Brit. Then about the year 660 there is a famous disputation celebrated between one Colman and one Wilfrid touching the Observation of Easter wherein the Brittains differed from the practice of the Roman Church from which is plainly inferrable that the Authority of the Bishop of Rome was at that time of no estimation in this Island And that the Primitive Churches of Brittain were instituted according to the form of the East and not of the West Church Nay upon the first coming of Austin and his retinue into Brittain there was such a strangness and averseness to him that one Daganus a British Beda Eccl. Hist lib. 2. cap. 4 Spelm. Concil Tom. 1. fo 129.
Sureties shall pay only a Fourth part of the First Fruits If he live out the year and dye or be outed within six moneths after the year then only half the First Fruits shall be paid If he live out the year and half and dye or be outed within two years then only three quarters thereof shall be paid But if he live out two whole years then the whole First Fruits are to be paid these Bonds being of like force as a Statute Staple And thus the First Fruits and Tenths stand at this day Concerning which it may be further noted that the Bishop of Norwich antiently had Fitzherbert Tit. Jurisdiction 22. 19 Ed 3. and enjoyed by Prescription the First Fruits within his Diocess of all Churches after every avoidance as also had the Archdeacon of Richmond within his Archdeaconry but these also were given to the Crown by the said Statute of 26 Hen. 8. cap. 3. What great summs were antiently paid to the Popes upon these accounts by the rule of proportion may be guessed at but no other certainty known but that they were very great as by the complaints about them and the impoverishing of the Realm by that means of which you shall hear more may be observed And what every Bishop paid to the See of Rome at his entrance for First Fruits I find thus particularized viz. Canterbury is rated in the Kings Books at the summ of 2816 l. 17 s. 9 d. and used to pay to the Pope Gâ—d wâ— de Praes Angâ— Note that every Floren contained 4 s. 6 d. of our money Dâ—â—a 8 s. for First Fruits 10000 Florens besides 5000. for his Pall. London is valued at 1119 l. 8 s. 4 d. and used to pay to the Pope for First Fruits 3000 Florens Winchester is valued at 2491 l. 9 s. 8 d. ob and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 12000 Ducats Ely is valued at 2134 l. 18 s. 5 d. ob q. and paid to the Pope 7000 Ducats Lincoln is valued in the Kings Books 894 l. 18 s. 1 d. ob and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 5000 Ducats Coventry and Lichfield rated in the Exchequer at 559 l. 17 s. 7 d. ob q. and paid to the Pope some say 1733 Ducats others but 300. Salisbury is valued at 1385 l. 5 s. ob and paid to the Pope upon every vacancy 4500 Ducats Bath and Wells is valued at 533 l. 15 d. and paid to the Pope at the ingress of every new Bishop only 430 Florens Quod miror saith Bishop Godwin in regard it was esteem'd one of the richest Sees in England Exeter by a late valuation set in the time of King Ed. 6. is valued at 500 l. and yet paid heretofore to the Pope for First Fruits 6000 Ducats Norwich valued at 899 l. 8 s. 7 d. q. and used to pay to the Pope upon every vacancy 5000 Ducats Worcester valued at 1049 l. 17 s. 3 d. ob q. and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 2000 Florens Hereford valued at 768 â— 10 s. 10 d. ob q. and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 1800 Florens Chichester valued at 677 l. 15 d. and used to pay to the Pope 333 Ducats as an Income Rochester valued at 385 l. 3 s. 6 d. and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 1300 Florens St. David's valued in the Kings Books at 426 l. 22 d. ob and paid to the Pope 1500 Florens Landaff valued at 154 l. 14 s. 1 d. and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 700 Florens Bangor valued in the Exchequer at 132 l. 16 s. 4 d. ob and paid to the Pope for First Fruits 126 Florens St. Asaph valued at 131 l. 16 s. 4. d. ob and paid for First Fruits to the Pope 126 Florens York Archbishoprick payes to the King for First Fruits 1609 l. 19 s. 7 d. and paid to the Pope 10000 Ducats besides 5000 for the Pall. Durham valued at 1821 l. 17 d. and used to pay to the Pope for First Fruits 9000 Florens Carlisle valued at 531 l. 4 s. 11 d. ob and used to pay to the Pope on every avoidance 1000 Florens What was paid to the Pope for Spiritual Livings other than Bishopricks we must conclude it uncertain though certainly very great part whereof as also from the Bishopricks was annual and certain as the Tenths and part casual and uncertain as the First Fruits depending on the uncertain deaths of Incumbents and such as did succeed them But besides these ordinary and known rates and summs payable as Fines or Incomes at first entrance and the annual summs proportioned from them as aforesaid it commonly and generally hapned that some other vast summs extraordinary went to Rome before any Bishop could be absolutely setled in his See and that upon Appeals and several other accounts of which we will here give a few instances By the death of Geffrey Plantagenet the Arch-bishoprick of York becoming void Godw. in vita Walteri Gray Eborac Simon Langton Brother of Stephen Langton was chosen Archbishop by Capitular Election but because Stephen was fallen into the Pope's displeasure and suspended the Pope refused to confirm Simon and sent order they should choose another whereupon Walter Gray was pitch'd upon and recommended to the Pope's approbation with this commendation that he had never known woman in all his life At which the Pope swore by St. Peter Virginity was in those dayes a great vertue and he should be the man But the private agreement was that Walter should give the Pope ten thousand pound Sterling for payment whereof he became bound in the Court of Rome which cast him into such a debt that he was necessitated to be continually scraping to discharge his bond and for that reason as my Author sayes the Bishop is by all Historians charactered to have bin a most niggardly and penurious man At another time Matt. Paris in An 1243. Hâ—n 3. the Bishoprick of Winchester being void the Monks made choice of one William de Raley alià s Radley but altogether against the mind of the King who intended another and therefore the King sent his Messengers Theobald a Monk of Westminster and Mr. Alexander a Lawyer with a great summ of money to Rome to get the election vacated and commanded the Magistrates to shut the Gates of Winchester against him whereby Raley finding himself repulsed he curses and interdicts the whole City of Winchester and posts away to Rome where in despite of the King he gets his election confirmed upon the tender of eight hundred marks of which the Pope as the Historian sayes would not abate him one penny whereby he was constrained also to live a miser and in debt all his dayes The Bishoprick of Durham being once vacant Acts and Mâ—n Tâ—m 1. fo 259. and several putting in for the place King Henry the third laboured what he could that Mr. Lucas his Chaplain should be elected but the Monks slighting the King made choice of one William
him that King John wrote to the Pope the next year Matr. Paris in An. 1206. fo 214. Quod uberiores sibi fructus proveniant de regno Angliae quam de omnibus regionibus citra Alpes c. That the Pope had greater profits out of England than all other Countreys on this side the Alpes c. Nay and these Levys were continued sometimes for six years together as Thorn notes Thorn ut supr wherein the Kings themselves were wont to promote the business by being indulged by the Popes to go snips in the gains After the death of Pope Clement the 4th the See of Rome continued void two years and ten months Matt. Westm fo 352. Contin Matt. Paris fo 976. Tho. Walsingh by reason of the great discord and potent factions amongst the Cardinals And at last Theobald the Arch-deacon of Liege who had been comrade and fellow-souldier with our King Edw. 1. in the Holy Land was elected and took the name of Gregory the 10th whereupon was made these verses Papatum munus tenet Archidiaconus unus An. D. 1272. Quem Patrem Patrum fecit discordia fratrum The Papal Office one Archdeacon takes Whom Father of Fathers Brethren's discord makes King Edward the First coming out of the H. Land into England after the death of his Father King Henry the Third touch'd at Rome where he was nobly entertained and caressed by his old friend this then Pope Gregory the 10th and between them it was contrived to raise some great summs in England under pretence of aid and succour for the Holy Land and in pursuance thereof a special Nuntio was sent from the Pope Reimundus to compell all Ecclesiastical persons to pay Two years Dismes but so it happened that as the moneys came in the King and the Pope's Collectors scrambled for it but the Pope as was believed got the greatest share and the King wanting for his occasions of state was forced to borrow several summs of the Collectors on sufficient security given for repayment Pat. 20 Ed. 1. m. 10. as by the Bonds Securities Counter-bonds and Acquittances upon that occasion still extant amongst the Tower Records may be seen and by this token that at one time the King received of the Pope's Collectors 100000 marks but not one penny as I can learn employed for the use pretended And from this practice of the King and Popesgoing sharers in these and other summs gotten from the People when discovered grew that infamous Proverb Matt. Paris in An. 1255. fo 917. That the King and the Pope were the Lion and the Wolf as on the like distasted occasion these Satyrical Rhimes had also been made Ecclesiae navis titubat regni quia clavis Errat Flor. Hist An. 1306. Rex Papa facti sunt unica capa Hoc faciunt Do Des Pilatus hic alter Herodes The Church's ship in safety cannot home pass When the chief Pilot once mistakes his Compass When King and Pope are given both to plundring One Pilate proves the other Herod thundring Which trick of sharing with the Popes Arnold Ferron de reb Gall. was learned by the French Kings of ours but some of them grew so cunning at last as to put all that was raised that way into their own Pockets and so out-shot the Pope in his own Bow CHAP. XIV Croisado's CRoisado's and vowed expeditions to the Holy Land and against Turks and Infidels dispenced withall or commuted was another trick of the like nature and oftentimes brought great summs into the Pope's Exchequer For it being observed that the Turks ever warred against the Christians with great alacrity S. Hen. Blunts voiage into the Levanâ— upon a belief that if they were killed ipso facto they went into Mahomet's Paradise The Pope to beat the Turk at his own Weapon would oftentimes publish a Croisado that is invite persons to undertake expeditions against the Infidels upon promise of pardon of all their sins Gapitula apud Gaitintun Chron Gervas fo 1522. Temp. Hen. 2. Speln Concil Tom. 2. fo 117. Rad. de Diceto Coll. 707. Quicunque Clericus vel Laicus crucem acceperit ab omnibus peccatis suis auctoritate Dei beatorum Apost Petri Pauli summi Pontificis liberatus est absolutus as was declar'd in one of our Councils Upon which multitudes of all sorts as Kings Nobles and Common people according to the zeal and perswasion of those times would vow to go and list themselves for the Holy War and in token thereof continually afterwards wore upon their Backs Crouchbacks the sign or badge of a Red Cross as being to fight against the enemies of Christ's Cross Now the Pope being God's Lieutenant over these Troops for mony would absolve these of their vows or such of them as upon second thoughts desired to stay at home Will. Malmâ—â— lib. 4. cap. 2. Frequently would he also divert and turn their Arms to other uses as to subdue the Albigenses Waldenses and many others of the Popes private enemies Matt. Paris in An. 1250. fo 803. And Matt. Paris tells a story how once the Pope sold these crossed Pilgrims to others even for ready money as the Jews did their Sheep and their Doves in the Temple Besides when some great expedition was in hand and great contributions made to carry on the War the Pope must be made the Treasurer but never gave any account of his disbursements keeping or converting all or most of the money to his own use Also in absence of Princes upon those expeditions the Popes and their Officers took their full swings to the inriching themselves besides many other considerable advantages and acquists as by the Histories and Complaints of Christendom in that matter most fully and at large it doth appear CHAP. XV. Ambassadors Agents AMbassadors Leiger and Extraordinary Proctors and Agents constantly residing at Rome with their retinues and servants maintained there by our Kings drew as constantly great summs of money out of the Kingdom For Rome being the seat of Policy and the Popes making themselves concern'd and busie in the affairs of all Princes these took it as it was indeed their interest to have continually their respective Agents and Ambassadors there to sollicite for their Master's interest to oppose contrary Factions and to gain intelligences And for these and the like purposes our Kings always had two three or more at a time there from and to whom multitudes of Internuntio's Carryers and Messengers were continually posting and running with Letters Instructions and Dispatches all occasioning a vast expence And by these it was â— Ninotismo dâ— Roma that the Popes were courted and caressed their Nephews Cardinal Patrons and Favourites bribed and presented For the Popes are never without their Creatures and Privado's a Caesar Borgia a Donna Olympia or some such like who must be effectually dealt withall and by them way made to the Pope's ear and savour besides
the tenth and afterwards Pope himself by the name of Clement the seventh Hieronymus de Nugutiis upon the resignation of Jul. Medices injoyed it many years And such prevalence had the Popes and Cardinals in this matter that once King Edw. 1. having promised the Cardinal-Bishop of Sabine at his instance to present one Nivianus an Italian his Chamberlain to a Benefice in Licolnshire then in his gift by the death of another Italian the Popes Chaplain and forgetting his promise presented his own Clark thereunto but being reminded thereof to make good his promse Pâ—t 5 E. 1. m. 16. De praesemation pro M Aptonio de Niviano he revoked his first Presentation and Presented Nivianus to it as appears by his Patent for that purpose still preserved amongst our Records At such time as Rubeus Mar. Paris in An. 1240. fo 540 and Ruffinus two of the Pope's Factors were very busie here in England in Collecting money for the Pope one Mumelinus comes from Rome with Four and twenty Italians with orders that they should be admitted to so many of the best Benefices that should next fall void Mâ—â—t Pâ—jâ—â— codem anno And in the same year it was that the Pope made agreement with the People of Rome that if they would effectually aid him against Frederick the Emperour their Children should be put into all the vacant Benefices in England And thereupon order was sent to Edmund Arch-bishop of Cant. the Bishops of Lincoln and Salisbury that Provision should be made for Three hundred Romans Children to be served of the next Benefices that should fall unde stupor magnus corda haec audientium occupavit timebaturque quod in abyssum desperationis talia audiens mergeretur as the Historian hath it But this made such an impression upon the Archbishop being a tender man to see the Church in that manner wounded and so much evil in his days that he disposed of his affairs and retired into France where for a little while he lived Godw. in vita ejus bewailing the deplorable state of his Country and of grief dyed at Pontiniac CHAP. XVII Priories-Alien PRiories-Alien were another cause or means of carrying great summs for a long time out of the Kingdom And these were of this Original viz. according to the devotion of the times many forraign Monasteries and Religious Houses were endowed with possessions here in England and then the Monks beyond Sea partly to propagate more of their own Rule and Order and partly to place Stewards as it were to transmit a good proportion of the Rents and profits of these their new acquir'd possessions at so great a distance would either by themselves or the assistance of others build a Cell or competent and convenient reception for some small Covent to which they sent over from time to time such numbers as they thought fit and constituted Priors over them successively as occasion required and thereupon they were called Priories-Aliens because they were Cells to some Monasteries beyond the Seas And these Foundations became frequent after the Conquest So as in the raign of King Edward the third they were increased to the number of one hundred and ten in England With some proportion or allowance out of the revenues of these the Prior and Monks sent over were maintained and the residue transmitted to the Houses to which they were allyed to the great damage of the Kingdom and inriching of strangers In time the Foundations of these Priories-Alien became very numerous being spread all over the Kingdom Lamb. Peram of Kent Weav Fun. Mon. One John Norbury erected two the one at Greenwich the other at Lewsham in Kent both belonging to the Abby of Gaunt in Flanders At Wolston in Warwick-shire a Cell W. Dugd. Warw. in Wolston or Religious House was founded subordinate to the Abby of St. Peter Super Dinam in France Another at Monks-Kirby in the same County Id. fo 50. founded by Geffry Wirce of Little Brittain in France appropriated to the Monastery of Angiers the principal City of Anjou And another at Wotton Wawen in the same County Id. fo 604. a Cell of Benedictin Monks belonging to Conchis in Normandy of all which Mr. Dugdale hath several remarks of Antiquity At Hinckley in Leicester-shire Burton Descrip of Leic. fo 134. a Priory of Canons Aliens was founded by Robert Blanchmains Earl of Leicester or as some say by Hugh Grandmeisnell Baron of Hinckley belonging to the Abby of Lira in Normandy and this of a very good value Roger de Poictiers founded a cell for Monks-Aliens at Lancaster Cambd. Brit. in Lancast Edward the Confessor Id. in Glocest fo 362. by his Testament assign'd the religious place at Deochirst in the County of Gloucester and the Government thereof to the Monastery of St. Denis near Paris in France in this remarkable that it will be hard to given another instance of such an assignation before the Norman Conquest King Henry the third once gave licence to the Jews Stow Survey in Broadst Ward Lindwood Constit lib. 3. Tit. 20. at their great charge to build a Synagogue in London which when they had finished he order'd should be dedicated to the Virgin Mary and then made it a Cell to St. Anthony's in Vienna And near unto Charing-Cross there was another Stow Survey in Westm fo 495. annexed to the Lady of Runciavall in Navarre in the Diocess of Pampelone founded in the fifteenth year of King Edward 4. At Sion Cambd. in Midd. fo 420. in Middlesex there was antiently a Monastery for Monks-Aliens Mr. Cambden tells us when they were expuls'd and how it was converted into a Nunnery for Virgins to the honour of our Saviour the Virgin Mary and St. Briget of Syon But Lindwood tells us Lindwoed l. 3. Tit. 20. that the Superior House to which at first it belonged not mentioned by Mr. Cambden was at Wastena in the Kingdom of Sweden of the Rule of St. Austin But the richest of all for annual revenue Harpsfield Catalog Ae l. Rel. fo 762. was that which Yvo Talbois built at Spalding in Lincoln-shire giving it to the Monks of Angiers in France the yearly revenue whereof was valued at 878 l. 18 s. 3 d. per annum Instances might be made of a multitude more of the like Foundations all tending to carry money out of the Kingdom and most commonly to the King's Enemies beyond the Seas Which mischief being apprehended Rot. Parl. 50 E 3. nu 128. and great complaints thereof frequently made in Parliament these Priories-Alien became oftentimes seised into the King's hands and the revenues thereof sequestred to the King's use and then restitutions made and seisures again as occasion required untill the fourth year of King Henry the fourth Claus 4 Hâ—n 4. nu 30. when a new consideration was had in Parliament about these Priories-Alien and resolved that all should again be seised into the King's hands
Priests the lewdest are made Cardinals and of the Cardinals the worst are chosen Popes But the most famous that sprung up there of the English growth of both sorts take as follows Pope Joan shall lead the dance Pope Joan. Plaâ—ina in vita J. han 8. Jo. Bale in vita ejus Et Godw. Alex. Cook of Pope Jour of whom much might be said but let it suffice here to be known That all writers agree her to be English by Parentage though some say she was born at Mentz in Germany others that she was born in England When she came to ripe age she ran away in man's apparel with a Monk of Fulda and studied in many famous Academies both of the Greeks and Latins especially Athens where her Paramour dyed and then she came to Rome where in Disputations and Scholastick exercises An. Dom. 855. she got such a fame that after the death of Leo the fourth she was elected Pope which office she exercised two years Contulit sacros ordines promovit Episcopos ministravit sacramenta caeteraque Rom. Pont. exercuit munera Cor. Agrip. de Van. scient cap. 62. de fact monast O Lucina fer opem five months and three days celebrating Mass giving Orders and acting in all things her part as a compleat Pope only wanting the Masculine Gender But so it proved that in the time of her Papacy she was gotten with Child and going to the Lateran between Colosses and St. Clements she fell in â—â—bour but wanting a Mid-wife and other accommodations requisite in that case she there dyed and for the scandal thereof her successors in all their Processional pomps have ever since avoided that way and to prevent the like to come the Porphyry Chair was devised Sabellic lib. 1. Aenead 9. thus described by Sabellicus Spectatur adhuc in Pontificia domo marmorea sella circa medium inanis qua novus Pontifex residat ut sedentis genitalia ab ultimo Diacono attrectentur A marble Chair with a hole in the seat wherein the new Pope fitting the junior Deacon may handle his Genitals This story of Pope Joan the modern Pontificians do not like though related by all these Writers and who were all Romanists Marianus Scotus Sigebertus Gemblacencis Martinus Polonus Sabellicus Mantuanus Johan Parisiensis Antoninus Nauclerus Fascic Temp. Author Fulgosus Theodoric à Nyem Ravisius Textor Laonicas Chalcondylas Fran. Petrarcha Johannes Boccacius Ranulph Cestrensis Johan Lunidus Alph. de Cartagena Jo. Tritemius Palmerius Valatteranus Canstantin Phrygio Christ Masseus Anselm Rid. Supplem Chron. Author Chronic. Chronicorum Gotefridus Viterbiensis And for them all Platina the famous writer of the Popeâ—s lives who tells all the story at large concluding thus Platina in vita Johan 8. Quae ideo ponere breviter nude institui ne obstinate nimium pertinaciter videar omisisse quod fere omnes affirmant that is He would not omit the relation because almost all men then believ'd it to be true Nicholas Breakspear Adrian 4. An. D. 1154. born at Langley near to St. Alban's in the County of Hartford acquir'd the Popedom by the name of Adrian the fourth This man suffered Frederick the Emperour to hold his stirrop as he alighted from his Horse and then checkt him for not shewing himself an expert Groom and after excommunicates him for standing upon his right and writing his name before the Popes but not therewithal sufficiently revenged and with his Cardinals conspiring to ruine the Emperour sending a Counterfeit to stab him and an Arabian to poyson him he was choak'd with a Fly that got into his Throat verifying what he used often to say That none can be more unfortunate than to be made Pope William Grisant Urban 5. An. D. 1362. Tho. Walsingh Hist fo 172. an Englishman obtain'd the Papacy by the name of Vrban the fifth Of this man Thomas Walsingham tells this story That he waiting long in the Court of Rome for preferment and none coming he complain'd to his friend that he verily thought in his heart if all the Churches in the world should fall yet none would fall upon his head but when he was Crowned Pope his friend remembred him of what he had said and told him he had now gotten on his Head all the Churches in the world But the vertue of them all could not preserve him from poyson Balaeus in vita ejus of which he dyed at Marseils in his return as is said into Italy Geffry of Monmouth Geffry of Monmouth Pontic Virun Ciacon Magdeburgens the famous Historian is affirmed by some to have been a Cardinal But the very learned Bishop Godwin in the Lives of the Bishops of St. Asaph of which this Geffry was one much doubts it I think it not worth the while now to examine the business or seasonable to animadvert upon the fabulosity of his History only there comes to mind a story that Roger Hoveden tells of him Rog. Hovedâ—n pars posterior Hen. 2. fo 544. how once he was slurr'd both of his Bishoprick of St. Asaph and the Abbacy of Abingdon when he cunningly designed to have held both The story is thus In a Council then held the Clergy of St. Asaph beseeched the Archbishop of Canterbury that out of the plenitude of his power he would command Geffry their Bishop to return to his Cure and charge or send them another in his stead for that he had withdrawn himself from them and being come into England King Henry had given him the Abbacy of Abingdon then voidâ—â— whereupon the Archb. convented Geffry before the Council and injoined him either presently to return to his charge or to resign it and stand to favour in hope whereof he resigns into the hands of the Archbishop by delivering up his Ring and Pastoral staff But the consequence was that thereby he became strip'd of both for the King presently gave the Bishoprick to one Adam a Welchman and the Abbacy to a certain Monk Boso Boso An. D. 1155. Balaeus an Englishman was made a Cardinal of whom nothing is left memorable but that by his vehement stickling he prov'd mainly instrumental in the Election of Alexander the third to the Popedom against the strong factions of Victor Innocentius Paschalis and Calixtus who all stood for the place and thereupon came to participate of the alternate fortunes of his Master in his bickerings with the Emperour at that time Stephen Langton was created Cardinal of St. Steph. Largton An. D. 1206. Matr. Paris Antiquit Britt in Steph. Langt Godw. in vita Chrysogon and the Archbishoprick of Canterbury falling void by the death of Hubert the Monks chose Reginald the Sub-Prior with great secrecy and injoined him silence till he could get his confirmation at Rome But he being big of his Honour could not forbear tattling insomuch as King John then raigning dealt with the Monks to elect John Gray Bishop of Norwich upon which the two Elects appeal to
would not touch one of such a Character made him a Cardinal but the policy fail'd and it rather hastned his death for by that time his Hat was come to Callis his Head was struck off at Tower-Hill Reginald Pool Regin Pool An. D. 1536. Sleidan Câ—m Charls 5. Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinal being beyond the Seas about the beginning of the Reformation wrote a Book for the Pope's Supremacy against the King and therein incited the Emperour preparing against the Turk to bend his forces against his natural Soveraign and native Country-men as being worse than Turks This Book writ by a natural born subject of the King of England was then adjudged a sufficient overt act within the Stat. 25. Edward the third De proditionibus and therefore High Treason Cook Pl. Coron fo 14. Brook Treason Tit. 24. Antiq. Brit. in vita Poli. and Pool attainted thereupon But he keeping out of the reach of Justice after the death of P. Paul the third was just upon point of being elected Pope but his own stupidity Act. Mon. fo 1774. with the imputation of incontinency slurr'd him of the dignity In the raign of Queen Mary over he comes and what he did both to the Living and Dead our Historians abundantly testifie and that the next day after the Queen dyed Cardinal Pool Et sic exit Papismus in Anglia Peter Petow Peter Petow Cambd. Britt in Warw. made Cardinal and Legaâ— Ã Latere by P. Paul the third in time of Queen Mary was coming over in pursuance of his Legatine power But the wary Queen suspecting he might act something derogatory to her regality forbad his entrance which the Cardinal took so to heart that he dyed presently after Allen Will. Allen. the last Cardinal Englishman in the raign of Queen Elizabeth appears a Herald before the Spanish Armado in 88. and by a Book dispersed over England stirs up the Nobles Sp. fo 1177. B. Carlton Remembr 141. and People to joyn with the Spaniard in execution of the Pope's sentence of deposition of the Queen But all coming to nothing our Cardinal dyed an exile at Rome An. D. 1594. Godw. in vita Bishop Godwin takes farewel of him with this character He was last of our England Cardinals in time and worst in wickedness deserving not to be reckon'd amongst Englishmen as like another Herostratus to get himself a name endeavoring to fire the English Church without envy be it spoke the noblest in the world so that his memory deserves oblivion Et sic exit Cardinalismus Several others are reckon'd in the Cataeogues of England Cardinals but because it is doubtful whether some of them were English and others whether ever Cardinals and little memorable left of most of them these already mentioned shall suffice to testifie that the Italian promotions were generally more fatal than fortunate to our Countrymen and that the pains and cost was not recompensed by the acquist And so we pass from these highest dignities on Earth to such coelestial Honour as was and is to be purchased in the Church of Rome CHAP. XX. Canonizations c. CAnonization and Sainting of Men Women and Boyes was another way whereby great summs were often brought unto the Popes And that was when any person lived more austerely or devoutly than ordinary or being fam'd for any miracles pretended to have been done by him in his life time or by his Reliques or at his Tomb after his death or that he dyed for or in defence of the truth or the Church's cause Then if his Surviving friends or relations made application to the Pope upon payment of good summs according to the abilities and qualities of the persons solliciting for sentences fees Orders references and others things requisite in such case the party by a kind of Apotheosis was made a Saint and a place assign'd him in the Calender Of this extraction were the famous St. Cuthbert St. Guthlac St. Dunstan St. William St. Swithun St. Tibba St. Thomas of Canterbury St. Thomas of Lancaster St. Winisniâ—d St. Hugh and infinite more who for money had their names put into the rolls of Glory and their fames and merit celebrated and supplicated here on Earth I find that great endeavours were used to have Robert Grosthead the renowned Bishop of Lincoln sainted and particularly King Edward the first laboured it by an express unto the Pope for that purpose Rot. Rom. An. 34 Ed. 1. but nothing could prevail in regard he had so signalized himself against the corruptions of the Church and times then when as Becket Anselme Hugh of Lincoln and multitudes more were Canonized for money or something they had done signally and meritorious for the Papacy But this King had better success in his sollicitation to the Pope for the Cononization of Thomas de Cantelupe Bishop of Hereford then deceased famed for a multitude of miracles as was suggested Tho. Walsing in Ed. 1. fo 11. Thomas Walsingham abounds in the celebration of him and his miracles Mart. Westm in Ed. 1. but more modestly than the Monk of Westminster who ascribes to him no less then 163 miracles and others many more too many in all conscience to be believed or here remembred in particular But of such esteem it seems he was Godw. in vita ejus that this King Edward the first to obtain the benefit of his Prayers and intercession in Heaven for himself and his Realm according to the perswasion prevailing in those ignorant times sent his Letter of request to Pope John 22. to have him a Canonized Saint to which the Pope after some dealing withal for that purpose was at last wrought But for the King's Letter being still preserv'd amongst our Records and which we conceive may be acceptable to some to peruse we will take the liberty to transcribe Sanctissimo in Christo Patri Domino Divina Providentia Sacrosanctae Romanae ac universalis Ecclesâ—ae Summo Pontifici Claus 33 Ed. 1. m. 3. dorso De translatione S. Thomae de Hereford Edwardus eadem gratia Rex Angliae c. devota pedum oscula beatorum Pium justum esse censetur ut sicut gloriosus Deus in Sanctis suis in Majestate mirabilis Ministros fideles suos magnificat altis decorat honoribus coelestis efficit beatitudinis possessores in coelis Sic Sacrosancta Romana Ecelesia vestigia ipsius prosequens eos ad quorum memorias ipse Deus suae virtutis potentiam manifestat signa ac prodigia faciens pro eisdem digno venerationis offlcio laudari glorificari studiis sollicitis honorari efficiat in terris ut per hot fides catholica roboretur idem altissimus qui laudabilis est in saecula glorificetuâ— amplius laudetur ac ex hoc salutis nostre causam miserecordius miseribilius operari dignetur Cum itaque Thomas dictus de Cantilupo Ecclesiae Herefordensis Antistes qui nobili
flood of Mischiefs whereby the purity of the Church was desiled and the Common-wealth perturbed That by his Reservations Commenda's and Provisions of Benefices for such persons as sought to fleece and not to feed the flock of God he committed a sin than which none was at any time more hateful to God or destructive unto man except that of Lucifer nor ever will be but the sin of Antichrist He signified further that no man could with a good Conscience obey the mandates he had sent though they came from the highest order of Angels for they tended not to the edification but the utter ruine of the Church With much more to the like purpose At all which the Pope was so gall'd that he exclaim'd against him thus What means this old dotard this surd absurd man thus to arraign our actions By Peter and Paul I could find in my heart to make him a dreadful example to all the World Is not the King of England our Vassal and both he and his at our pleasure But some of the more temperate Cardinals endeavour'd to allay the Pope's heat telling him the Bishop had said nothing Ut enim vera fateamur vera sunt quae dicit Mat. Parisupr but what they all knew to be true and that it would not be discretion to meddle with a person of his piety worth and fame whereupon all was smother'd and no more words made on 't But for that notable Epistle it self I have been credibly told that it is inrolled in perpetuam rei memoriam in the Red Book in the King's Exchequer at Westminster with this Marginal Note Papa Antichristus And there is a very memorable Epistle of Petrus Cassiodorus a noble Italian Knight Jo. Bal. de Rom. Pont. Act. lib. 6. Acts Mon. vol. 1. fo 46◠written to the English Church about the twenty ninth year of K. Edw. 1. exhorting them to cast off the Romish yoak of Tyranny oppression and exaction formerly preserved in Manuscript in St. Albans Monastery but since made publick too large to be here inserted but most worthy to be perused The Poets also according to the scantling of the wit of those times spared not to satyrize upon these intolerable exactions of the Popes one whereof made this Distich Roma capit marcas bursas exhaurit Antiquit. Britt An. 1337. arcas Vt tibi tu parcas fuge Papas Patriarchas Rome drains all Bags all Chests and Burses Of all their Pounds and Marks If therefore you would save your Purses Fly Popes and Patriarchs Observable also is it upon these incroachments and extorsions how sometimes our Kings would despond and tamely suffer the Popes and their Legates to grow upon them and at other times rouze up themselves and give some check to their insolencies As K. Hen. 3. though a facile man yet was once so inrag'd against Rubeus that he bad him be gone out of his Kingdom in the Devil's name And as these exactions were at the height in that King's time yet his Successors did not always suffer them so to continue being forced to set some bounds to those avaricious torrents Pol. Vergil Hist in Ric 2. lib. 20. by the Statutes of Provisors and Premunire and oftentimes to give stout denials to unreasonable demands as the English Clergy themselves at last Lo. Herb. Hen. 8. fo 57 59. adventured to do in the years 1515. and 1518. And observable also is it that Q. Mary though most zealous for the Doctrines of the Church of Rome yet in restoring the Pope's Supremacy she and the State were very cautious like those whom others harms had made to beware and some prudent provisions were made in that behalf Stat. 1 2 Phil. mar cap. 8. Coke 3. Instit cap. 4. fo 127. neither were the Statutes of Premunire repeal'd in all her raign but the Pope's Supremacy was restor'd not simpliciter but secundum quid as bounded within some legal limitations But her raign was short and not pleasant and the Pope wanted time to work her for his purpose for having got his head in he did not doubt but by degrees to thrust in his whole body for it is ever observable that in the Papal concerns there is no moderation for they must have all or nothing let their pretences and promises at first admission be what ever they will And whatever Prince or State shall once admit of any Papal authority within their Dominions their destiny may easily be read that they and their people must for ever after be slaves or if they once begin to boggle or kick the Casuists have legitimated many ways to rid them out of the World for the advancement of the Catholick cause and the propagation of the Roman Faith Now after this imperfect Account given of the Rents and Revenues of the Popes heretofore issuing out of this Kingdom if any one shall desire to have some estimate made of the summs I must profess it beyond the reach of my Arithmetick and when I see any Accountant do it Erit mihi magnus Apollo Yet this is certain that they were very vast Otherwise there was no ground for that Complaint which was made by the Kingdom 's Representative in the raign of K. Edw. 3. Rot. Parl. 50 Ed. 3. nu 105. Mat. Paris 224. That the Pope's Collector held a receipt or audit equal to a Prince Or for that which King John wrote to the Pope in his time That this Kingdom yielded him more profits than all the other Countreys on this side the Alpes Id. 224. Or for that boast of the Pope Vere inquit Papa hortus noster deliciarum est Anglia vere puteus est inexhaustus Et ubi multa abundant de multis multa sumere licet Antiq Britt fo 178. Or for the computation made in the time of King Hen. 3. Repertus est annuus redditus Papae talis quem ne regius quidem attigit That the Pope's rents exceeded the Crown revenues Or the Remonstrance to the same purpose from the whole Kingdom to Pope Innocent the fourth in the year 1245. Matt. Paris fo 666. 698. Act. Mon. Tom. 1. exhibited by Mat. Paris Fox and others too long to be here inferred but most worthy to be read and the import thereof throughly understood Nay we may well judge the Pope's incomes to exceed all account when it appears that notwithstanding some notable provisions of State to the contrary the Pope's intradó should yet carry so huge a proportion That in the Parliament held in the twenty third year of King Hen. Io. Herb. Hist Hen. 8. fo 330. 8. it was computed that the Papacy had received out of England for the Investitures of Bishops only since the second year of King Hen. 7. not much above 40 years 160000 l. sterling an incredible sum considering the scarcity and value of silver at that time and the laws against such exportations And the sums going to Rome
injoined such penances as made to the prejudice of the sinners purse but their own profit Of the Exorbitances of these cloister'd Monks and Fryers many examples might be produced as of their Ribauldry Lechery Quarelling Fighting Idleness Cheating Thieving Debauchery Gluttony c. all maintain'd by the People's money but we will here content our selves with one instance only Cook 4 Insti c. 11. fo 112. King Edward the first about the latter end of his raign having collected a vast summ of money to carry on his warr against the Scots and layd it up in his Treasury at Westminster his Treasury was broken up in the night and one hundred thousand pounds in money besides Plate and Jewels stol'n out of it by the Abbot and Monks of Westminster and their confederates whereof eight and forty Monks with the Abbot were apprehended and sent Prisoners to the Tower and by Inquisition and examination of witnesses it appeared that divers of the Monks and other persons in the night time were seen often passing to and fro the Kings treasury Pat. 31 Ed. 1. m. 23. dors De inquirend de thesaurar Regis fracto and the Abby carrying bundles in their arms and laps and that they conveyed away by water great hampers that were very heavy and some part of the King's Plate and Jewels were found and seised in London and other places upon which the Monks were long detained in prison till afterwards released by the King 's special command when he repaired to Westminster to give thanks to God for his Victories over the Scots Matthew Westminster Matt. Westm An. 1303. a Monk of that Abby minceth this story of the Robbery of the Kings Treasury in favour of the Monks and sayes that only Ten of them were imprisoned when it appears by the Record that 48 of them Cook ut Supra with the Abbot were imprisoned and Indited for it And upon this occasion it was that the Court of Exchequer sometimes called the Novel Exchequer was new built Chanterys Free-Chappels and Colledges as they were instituted and employed spent and exhausted huge summs of money and revenues the purposes of which expence will appear in the brief description of the nature of those Foundations A Chantery so called à Cantando was a Chappel commonly annexed to some Parochial Chantery Collegiate or Chathedral Church endowed with Lands or some other yearly revenues for the maintenance of one or more Priests daily to sing Masse Vid. Stat. 37 H. 8. ca. 4. 1 Ed. 6. ca. 14. for the souls of the Donors or Founders and such others as they did appoint Now the exact number of all these in England cannot be known for they were very numerous but if at Mathematician measured Hercules by his foot a probable conjecture may be made of them from those which were founded in the Chathedral of St. Paul in London for in the second year of King Ed. the sixth a certificate was returned by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's to the King's Commissioners affirming that they had seven and forty Chanterys in that Church according to which proportion there was certainly a vast revenue swallowed up by them throughout the whole Kingdom For there was not a Cathedral or Collegiate Church in England but some number of Chanterys were founded in them and in many Parochial Churches also And if the modell of the Country Churches be observed very often some additional building or excrescence appears differing from the old or first Fabrick erected and used for these Chanterys And that the nature and use of these may be the better apprehended we will here specifie the Foundation and Ordination of one of them viz. Thomas de Pakinton in the year 1348. W. Duadale Amiq. Warw. in Chelmscote An. 22. Edward the third founded a Chantery at Chelmescote in Warwickshire and setled Lands and Tenements of a good value to maintain four Priests to sing Mass for his Lord the Earl of Warwick his Countess Children and Ancestors as also for himself his Parents Kinsfolks and their posterity and for the Souls of all faithful people deceased in manner following viz. Two of them which were to inhabite near the Chappel at Chelmscote every day to sing the Mattens of the day and of the blessed Lady with all Canonical hours distinctly and openly and to sing Mass daily viz. one of them every Sonday and on the great Festivals and on Monday the Mass of the holy Trinity Tuesday of St. Thomas the Martyr on Wednesday of St. Katherine and St. Margaret Thursday of Corpus Christi Friday of the holy Cross and Saturday of the Annunciation of our Lady The other Priest to celebrate every day the Mass of Requiem for the Souls of all faithful departed this life and in every Mass to say 7 Collects one of the celebration of the Mass the second for him the said Thomas de Pukinton viz. Deus qui Caritatis c. the third also for him after his death Deus cujus misericordiae c. the fourth of St. Thomas the Martyr the fifth of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin the sixth for the Souls of the deceased beginning with Inclina the seventh the general Collect which beginneth Sanctissima Dei genetrix Maria especially naming therein the said Earl his Countess and Children and him the said Thomas de Pakinton and all his kindred and upon all Holy dayes to say a Placebo and Dirige with special commendation of the Souls of the Persons before spoken of and the souls of all the faithful deceased Likewise he ordained that the other two Priests should live together near the Church and be daily present therein at Mattens and all other Canonical hours to joyn with the other Priests except just cause and hinderance happened and daily sing Mass at the Altar near his Fathers grave And that all these Priests before their admission to these Chanterys should take their corporal Oaths to observe all the Orders to their utmost power And this Ordination containing several other particulars was confirm'd by the Canons of Kenilworth Rectors of the Church by John de Chelmescote Vicar the Earl of Warwick and Bishop of Worcester Free-Chappels were such as were founded Free-Chappels and endowed and had no relation unto or dependance on a Mother-Church saving only the right of Sepulture and these were greater than Chanterys having greater Revenues and more room for Priests and more Priests for that room to fing Mass and pray for the souls of the Founders and others according to the institution Colledges were Foundations of like nature Colledges and though fewer in number yet were richer than both the former amongst which the Colledge of Fotheringhay Speed Catal. in Northampt. in Northamptonshire was yearly valued at four hundred nineteen pounds eleven shillings ten pence half-penny For the Offices and imployments of the Priests in these and the Free-Chappels maintained they were much of the nature of Chanterys of
and unacquainted and half forgotten Suppliants poor Prisoners of God the silly Souls in Purgatory here abiding and induring the grievous pains and hote clensing fire c. But yet not trusting to the uncertain Charity of others most persons strained to the utmost and many most excessively their fortunes considered to leave some provision behind them for that purpose and most commonly by their last Wills and Testaments which were accounted sacred and carrying an Obligation more than ordinary for all persons concern'd to see them performed and thereby or by Acts executed in their life-time it was not rare for many men though they had many Children to provide for or many debts to pay to post-pone all relations and considerations to this concern of the Soul and to appoint and take Order for Masses Satisfactory Anniversaries Obits Requiems Dirges Placebo's Trentalls Lamps Lights and other offices to be performed daily weekly monethly or yearly as far as the summs destin'd would afford for the ease and help of the Testator's Soul Masses satisfactory Masses were the Romish service appointed to be said or sung at a certain time or times and at an appointed place at such an Altar or in such a Chappel with special reference to or remembrance of such a Soul or Souls tormented in Purgatory An Anniversary Anniversaâ—y was the appointment and performance of Prayers at such or such a time once a year for the souls of deceased persons Commonly upon the day of the death of the party who appointed it and this in imitation of the old Anniversary dayes whereon the Martyrdom or deaths of Saints were celebrated An Obit Obit was a funeral Office performed for the dead and for his Soul's health at certain times and place appointed A Requiem Requiem was on Office or Mass commonly sung for the dead so called from those words in it Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine A Dirge Dirge quasi dirige was an office of the same nature for Souls in Purgatory so called from the first word of the first Antiphone in the Office Dirige c. A Placebo Placebo was another such like Office or Service performed for the health and good Estate of some Soul or Souls so called from the word Placebo being the first word of the Office A Trental from the French Trente Trental was a service of thirty Masses said or sung for the dead or a service performed thirty dayes after their death Lamps and Lights Lamps Lights were by many ordered to be continually burning before some certain Altan Image or place or over some Sepulcher so hallowed as conceived to afford some ease or benefit to Souls in Purgatory The revenues that were given and setled for the maintenance of these and such like devices which were very considerable throughout the Kingdom were by the Stat. 1 Edward the sixth Cap. 14. Stat. 1 Ed. 6. Cap. 14. given to the King and they as vain and Superstitious inventions quite nulled What an esteem was formerly had of the vertue and efficacy of these Masses c. may partly appear by a memorable Record still extant viz. Alianor Consort of King Edward the first dying Pat. 19 E. 1. m. 11. Litera supplicatoria de orando pro regina defuncta the King sent out a writ to all the religious Houses and Monks of Cluny in England to sing Masses and make Prayers for her Soul and to câ—rtifie him the number of the Masses they should perform on that behalf that proportionably he might shew his gratitude to them So in the year 1290. Chron. W. Thorn Coll. 1958. Dominus Thomas Prior of Christs Church in Canterbury concessit Domino Regi in festa translationis beati Edvarâ—i Quinquaginta Psalteria Duo Millia CCCL Missas pro animabus Progenitorum suorum Reginarum Angliae as an Extraordinary liberality and spiritual Alms. As is related by W. Thorn And about the same time also it was Bundel Brev An. 19 Ed. 1. in Turt Lond. that Arnald Otho Abbot of Condam sent a certificate to the King to inform him what Prayers Masses and Anniversarys he and his Monastery had ordered for the speedy translation of his deceased Queen to the heavenly joys From all this now may easily be apprehended the force of vitiated and depraved Imaginations when men's Intellectua's are first blinded with ignorance and then led by Superstition being affrighted with uncouth relations of Apparitions Miracles and the horrours of an imaginary Purgatory what will they not do or undertake to alleviate and mitigate in tanto if not in toto those approaching torments and for that purpose suffer themselves to be haled and pulled sometimes one way by guides as blind as themselves and sometimes another by treacherous and dangerous designers Yet in the darkest of these times there wanted not some that could discern that all was not right and that they were gotten into a very uncertain and dangerous road and in as much danger from their guides as the enemy which they would avoid Some of these in a more serious way protesting and advising both against the Errour and the danger of it had their mouths soon stopp'd when others more jocular between jest and earnest as it were made bold with the corruptions and abuses of the times witness the wits and Satyrists of their respective times Rob. of Glocester John Harding Jeffrey Chancer John Gower Rob. Longland alià s Piers Plowman Lydgate and many more whose dull rimes carryed a cutting sence with them Indeed though the Lashes of a Satyrist seldom or never produce amendment of Epidemical vices and Errors yet in this they have their fruit that thereby posterity is oftentimes more truly informed of the manners and genius of times than by the professed Historian who rarely touches that string And by these the abuses and cheats of Priests Monks and Fryers in their Masses Confessions Shrifts Penances Pardons Indulgences Miracles Reliques c. all serving to fill the people's brains with vain and terrible apprehensions and to empty their purses were according to the wit of their respective Ages to the warning of this notably and smartly detected arraigned and condemned A multitude more of instances might be given of the Chargeableness and expensiveness of Popery whereby the People were daily abused and improverished to the inriching of others with their spoils whose natural office and duty was to feed and not to fleece the flock Hence hath bin noted the ready tendency of degenerate Religion when it throws off its spiritual temper at the same time to grasp at Temporal Power and Temporal Riches How that Power was usurp'd we have in part seen in the first Tract and how the Riches were ingross'd we have endeavoured to make some discovery in this and amongst all the Arts used for that purpose none proved more effectual than this device of Purgatory this was the fire that alwayes kept the Pope's Kitchin warm and gave life
matters into his care and cognisans He call'd Synods and Councils and ratified their Canons into Laws He routed the Conventicles of the Donatists made Edicts concerning Festivals the Rites of Sepulture the immunities of Churches the Authority of Bishops the Priviledges of the Clergy with divers other things relating to the outward Politie of the Church In which affair he was carefully followed by his Successors as evidently may appear to all conversant in the Civil Law And the aforesaid Stephen Gardiner in that his notable Oration of true Obedience makes instance in the Roman Emperour Justinian who with the approbation of all the world at that time set forth those Laws of the most Blessed Trinity the Catholique Faith Justiniani factum qui leges edidit de Trinitate de fide Catholica c. Steph. Wint. Orat. fo 19. of Bishops and Clergy-men and the like The like also appears by the most famous Partidas set forth by Ferdinando the Saint and his Son Alphonso for the antient Kingdoms of Castile Toledo Leon and others of Spain celebrated in the Spanish Histories Correspondent to which also hath bin the practice of the Kingdom of France Lew. Turquet Hist of Spain whose Kings have ever been esteemed in some sence the Heads of their Church and this is the reason that the opening their most ancient Councils under the first and second the Merovingian and Caroline line was ever by the power and authority and sometimes the presidency of their Kings and Princes It being a noted saying in one of their Councils Câ—ncil Parisienâ— 6. lib. 2. cap. 2. Cognoscant Principes Seculi se Deo debere rationem propter Ecclesiam quam à Deo tuendam accipiunt And according to this Doctrine C d. Lâ—g Antiq Gall. fâ— 827. Lâ—ndenbrog for matters of Church or State of Charls the Great Ludovicus Pius Lewis le Gros Pepin and others collected by the French Antiquaries And at this day generally amongst the Lawyers and most learned of the French Nation it is held and declared Vid. le Reâ—â—w de le Council de Trent Boreâ— lib. 4. de Decret Eccl. Gall. That the Bishop of Rome was anciently the First and chiefest Bishop according to the dignity of of Precedency and order not by any Divine institution but because Rome was the chief City of the Empire That he obtained this Primacy over the Western Church by the grace and gift of Pepin Charls the Great and other Kings of France And that he hath no power to dispose of temporal things That it belongs to Christian Kings and Princes to call Ecclesiastical Synods to establish their Decrees to make wholesome Laws for the government of the Church and to punish and reform abuses therein That the Laws whereby their Church is to be governed are only the Canons of the more ancient Councils and their own National Constitutions and not the Extravagants and Decretals of the Bishop or Court of Rome That the Council of Constance assembled by Sigismund the Emperour with a concurrent consent of other Christian Princes Decreeing a General Synod or Council to be Superior to the Pope and correcting many abuses in the Roman Church which yet remain in practice was a true Oecumenical Council as also was the Council of Basil That the Assembly of Trent was no lawful Council and the Canons thereof rather to be esteemed the Decrees of the Popes who call'd and continued it than the Decrees of the Council it self and that in regard the number of Bishops there met was but small bearing no proportion to the import of a General Council as also the greatest part of those present were Italian and Vassals to the Pope and nothing there resolved on but what was before determined at Rome which then occasion'd this infamous by-word That the Holy Ghost was carryed in Cloak-bags every Post from Rome to Trent That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ought to be administred under both kinds and that at the least a great part of Divine Service ought to be performed in the vulgar Tongue Thus far the French and Many the like instances might here be added to the same purpose but yet under favour all Crowns Imperial must give place in regard of this one Flower or Jewel of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to the Crown of England For as the first Christian King that ever the world saw is recorded to have been of this Island the renowned Lucius so is he intimated to be the first that ever exercised Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction being directed thereunto by Pope Eleutherius Vâ—d Eleuth Epist to fetch his Laws by the advice of his Council out of the Old and New Testament and by the same to Govern his Kingdom wherein he was God's Vicar According to which advice the Brittish Saxon Danish and first Kings of the Normans have governed their Churches and Church-men as may appear by the Laws by them for that purpose made Archaionem Analect Angl. Brit. li. 1 2. Hist Cambr. fo 59. Jo. Brompton c. and lately exhibited to the publick by Mr. Lambard Mr. Selden Dr. Powell and others Neither can any Ecclesiastical Canons for Government of the English Church be produced till long after the conquest which were not either originally promulged or afterwards allowed either by the Monarch or some King of the Heptarchy sitting or directing in the National or Provincial Synod Nay in the after usurping times there is to be seen the Transcript of a Record An. Manus Chronic Abb. de Bello Vide the like Charter of exemption to the Abbot of Abbindon by Kâ—nulphus in Stanf. pl. Cor. l. 2. fo 111. b. 1 Hen. 7. fo 23 25. 3 Hen. 2. wherein when the Bishop of Chichester opposed some Canons against the Kings exemption of the Abby of Battel from Episcopal Jurisdiction the King in anger replyed Tu pro Papae authoritate ab hominibus concessa contra dignitatum Regalium authoritates mihi à Deo concessas calliditate arguta niti praecogitas Dost thou go about by subtilty of Wit to oppose the Pope's authority granted by the connivence of men against the authority of my Regal Dignity given by God himself And thereupon requires reason and justice against the Bishop for his insolence And thus it is most easily demonstrable that the Kings of England have had these Flowers of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction planted in the Imperial Crown of this Realm even from the very beginning of the Christian Monarchy in this Island where we hope they have now taken such root that neither any Fanatick whispers at home nor the roaring of any Romish Bulls from abroad will ever be able to shake or blast the same And from hence was the Resolution of our Judges mentioned before in the Case of Cawary Cook 5. Rep. De Jure Reg. Eccl. that the said Statute made in the first year of the Queen concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction was not introductory of a new Law but Declaratory of the old which appears
Romanum Episcopum majorem aliquam Jurisdictionem non habere sibi à Deo collatam in Sacra Scriptura in hoc regno Angliae quam alium quemvis Externum Episcopum Conformable to which was also the Resolution of all the English Clergy Upon which and presently after King Hen. 8. was by Parliament agnized Supream Head of the Church in these his Dominions Stat 26 Hen. 8 cap. 1. whereby it was also Enacted and Declared That the King his Heirs and Successors Kings of England should have and enjoy united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this his Realm as well the Title and Stile thereof as all Honours Dignities Jurisdictions c. to the said Dignity of Supream Head of the Church of England belonging or appertaining with full power and authority to visit redress reform order correct restrain and amend all errours heresies abuses c. which Act Io. Hâ—rb Hist of Hen. 8 fo 380. though much to the support of the Regal Authority seem'd not suddenly to be approv'd by the King nor before he had consulted with his Council who shewed him many precedents of Kings of England that had used this power and with his Bishops who having fully discussed the point in their Convocations Declared That the Pope had no Jurisdiction in this Kingdom warranted by Gods word suitable to what was Declared by the Universities Colledges and Religious Houses with learned men of all sorts maintaining it necessary that such a power should be extant in the Realm for the Peace good Order and Government of the same the Reasons and Arguments of all which were couched in a Book of the King 's about that time published De vera differentiae Regiae Ecclesiasticae potestatis whence also the Learned Bishop Andrews in his Tortura Torti seems to have drawn diver assertions of the Regal Authority to which the Reader is referred A practice this I mean of consulting the Clergy and the Learned in a case of so great an import agreeable to former Presidents Tho. Walsing in An 1408. fo 420. as I find in Tho. Walsingham In concilio cleri celebrato Londoniis assistentibus Doctoribus Vniversitatum Cantabrigiae Oxoniae tractatum est de censu obedientia Papae subtrahendis vel non subtrahendis And as King Hen. 2. Rog. Hoveden in Hen. 2. pa. prior professed he would proceed in the great cause depending between him and his Archbishop Becket Now when King Hen. 8. was by Parliament agnized Supream Head of the Church within his own Dominions and by him for the reasons aforesaid owned and accepted what they meant by this may well enough be collected from the premises and from that notable Oration of Stephen Gardiner of True Obedience before mentioned which Title he neither took nor the Parliament gave in other sence than the French have always attributed it to their Princes and what the Royal Ancestors of King Hen. 8. Spelm. Conc. 437. Seld. ad Eadm 1â—5 â—â—g Edvard c. himself assumed under the Homonymous names of Tutors Protectors Governours Domini Christi Vicarii Agricolae c. and the like And this is the Supremacy which the Kings of England have always claimed and exercised within their own Dominions with the temporary obstructions above mentioned that is in Soveraign way to Rule and Govern all their Subjects of what degree and quality soever to call their own Clergy and Church-men together and with their advice to see the Church reformed and by Act of Parliament to have all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction restored and united to the Crown as in the First year of Q. Eliz. was done inlarged on before And here it will not be unnecessary to observe and know how that Restitution was resented by the Queen's Subjects at that time And for that observe and observable it was the general complyance and complacence of the People in it as also that from the First until the Eleventh year of that Queen's raign Cokâ— 5 Rep. de ure Reg. Eâ—câ—esiastico fo 35. no person of what perswasion of Christian Religion soever at any time refused to come to the Publick Divine Service celebrated in the Church of England and established by publick Authority within this Realm until the Bull of Pope Pius Quintus in the Eleventh year of her Majesties Raign came out against her whereby he deprived her of all her Right Authority Dignity and Priviledge in or unto these her Realms and Dominions and absolved all her Subjects of their Allegiance After this Bull it was that those who regarded the Pope's power or threats more than their Prince's just Authority or their own Allegiance refused to come to Church and from that occasion first acquired the stile of Recusants Vid. Camb. Annal. This gave rise also to a multitude of treasonable practices and conspiracies against the Queens life taken up also against King James Vid. Arth. Crohagans case in Crook 1. Rep. continued against our late Soveraign King Charls the First and still fermenting to break forth upon all opportunities to promote the Catholick cause and all abetted by the traitorous Doctrine of King-killing justified and proclaimed to the World by Bellarmin Co licenzâ— con priviâ—egio Baronius Mariana Emanuel Sa Allen Creswell and others both Natives and Strangers the consequence whereof was this That though Treason was always in the intention yet God be praised nothing hath yet been brought to Execution but the Traitors In this affair St. Jo. Davys D sc of Ireland fo 242. I find a memorable Observation of a grave Statesman That in the Indentures of submission of the Irish to King Hen. 8. all the Irish Lords did acknowledge him to be their Soveraign Lord and King and owned his Supremacy in all causes utterly renouncing the Pope's Jurisdiction most worthy of note says he in that when the Irish had once resolved to obey the King they made no scruple to renounce the Pope Besides these which have been experienc'd in our own Country infinite have been the mischiefs occasion'd in the World upon this score of Supremacy and Dominion and that by the mighty strugling and bickerings that have been maintained between the Papacy and the Princes of the Earth about the gaining and keeping this Power Besides the general Observations that a great means of the growth of the Turkish Empire to it s now formidable stature hath been the Wars and disturbances wrought upon this ground amongst the Christians themselves Also the decay and corruption of sincere piety and devotion by the turning the current of Religion out of its pure primitive channel into the sink of disputes and controversies about the Rights and Bounds of Dominion when Christ himself hath told us That his Kingdom is not of this world This caused Divine Religion to degenerate into Humane Policy and upon this it was that Machiavel too truly observed Mach. Disc on Tit. Liv. lib. 1. cap. 12. That there was now here less Piety