c significavit nobis sanctitas vestra per venerabilem Patrem A. Covâ—ntrensem Litchfeldensem Episcopum dilectum fidelem nostrum P. Saracenum Civem Romanum quod gratum habereâ—is acceptum si venerabilis Pater P. Wintoniensis Episcopus cum gratia nostra reverti posset in Angliam sicut ad ejus spectat officium curam securus genere pastoralem super hoc ex parte sinceritatis vâ—strae nos rogaverunt Ad quod Sanctae Patern tati vestrae duximus respondendum Quod cum idem Episcopus Regnum nostrum ultimo exivit gratis moâ—u ductus proprio potius quam nostram vel alterius compulsionem Et etiamsi bene recolitis ad preces vestras nobâ—s specialiter inde directas sedem adiâ—t Apostolicam Vnde si memoratus Episcopus voluntatem habuerit revertendi in Regno nostro commorand bene placet nobis ipsus adventus Nec erit qui ipsum super hoc aliquatenus impediat aut cum redierit tranquilitatem ipsius perturbet licet etiam graviter versus ipsum moveremur ad Instantiam vestram conceptum rancorem siquis esset penitus et remitteremus parati et expositi tanquam filius Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae devotissimus in hiis aliis vestris inhaerere Conciliis voluntatis vestra pro viribus nostris bene placitum ad implere Teste Rege 40 die Martii Anno c. XIX The King wrote after the like manner unto the Bishop Others and those very often were called to Rome to answer Complaints or Private Mens Suits by which occasion the King lost the use of their Service and a great part of the Wealth and Substance of this Realm was spent in the Court of Rome SECT 13. â—â—vestiture into Bishopricks and the Kings assent in choice of Bishops taken from him 13. It is well known that the King hath special Interest in the Choice and Investitures of Prelates unto Bishopricks both because a great part of the good Government of his People dependeth upon the good Government of that State and also because in those times he furnished himself with Counsellours taken out of the Number and employed others in places of weighty and most necessary Services of the Realm Wherefore the Kings of England were ever by the Ancient Customs and Laws of the Land allowed their Assent and Directions in all Elections of Persons unto those places This right hath been strangely oppugned by divers Popes some of them disturbing Elections made by the Consent of the King and others bestowing Bishopricks at Pleasure without Election at all and against the Kings will The first that stirred that Quarrel in England was Anselm Arch-bishop of Canterbury For when the Kings of England needy of Moneys borrowed of the Clergy great Loans never to pay again he to exempt himself from Subjection to the King laboured to make his Archbishoprick to depend meerly on the Pope not on the King although he had acquired it by the Concession and free Gift of the King Anselm then being promoted in the year 1092 to the Archbishoprick by King William Rufus the King having franckly bestowed that rich Bishoprick upon him soon after would extort from him a great Sum of Money for the exigence of his Affairs as claiming some recompence for his Gift Anselm refused to give it and stealing away privately out of England went to Pope Vrban the second who at that time was Violently Prosecuting against the Emperour Henry IV the Quarrel of Investiture begun by his Predecessours Gregory VII This Vrban liking the Prudence and Dexterity of Anselm gave ear â—o his Counsel and gave him the Archbishops Pall thereby voiding â—he Investiture which he had received from King William Du Moulin contr Card du Perron l. 1. 7. cap. 11. and obliâ—ing him there-after to depend upon him This Anselm did so behaâ—ing himself ever after as holding his Arch-bishoprick by the Popes Ordination not by the King's Concession The King being herewith incensed Prohibited Anselm to enter inâ—o his Kingdom confiscated the Lands and Estate of the Arcbishoâ—rick and by an express Edict declared That the Bishops held their â—laces and Estates meerly from him and were not subject unto the Pope for the same And that he had the same rights in his Kingdom â—s the Emperour had in the Empire At length it was determined â—hat all the Abbots and Bishops of England should be called togeâ—her to judge of this Controversie Bp. Godwins Catal. of Bps. They met at Rockingham-Caâ—tle and the Matter being proposed by the King for fear or â—lattery saith Bishop Godwin they all assented unto him and â—orsook their Archbishop All the Bishops of England subscribed except only Gondulphus Bishop of Rochester By the Intervention of Friends Anselm made his Peace but afâ—er his return from Rome holding a strict league with the Pope â—e began again soon after to disswade the Clergy from receiving â—nvestitures from the King wherefore he was constrained to fly the second time out of the Kingdom and his Estate was again seized upon and conficated to which he was restored at his return He came then to Pope Vrban who received him honourably as a Confessor suffering for the Cause of Christ The year after Vrban kept a Council at Clermont in Avergne whereby he granted full Pardon of Sins to all that should contribute to the expedition into the Holy Land c. In the same Council he decreed that thence-forth it should not be lawful for any Prelate or Ecclesiastical Man to receive the Investiture or Collation of a Benefice or Church-dignity from the hand of any Lay Person But the Princes derided these Decrees and retained the Possession or these Investitures In the year 1099 King William and Pope Vrban died Henry the First succeeded William who sought to be reconciled with Anselm and called him home again But Anselm being obliged by an Oath to the Pope prevailed with the King that a Council should be gathered at London where he declared the Order he had from the Pope That no Lay Man should have the Power to confer any Investiture and began to degrade the Bishops promoted by the Kings Nomination refusing to consecrate some Bishops named by the King King Henry being highly displeased banished him out of England presently and confiscated his Goods Whilst these things passed in England Pope Paschal prosecuted the Quarrel of his Predecessors against the Emperor Henry IV. He caused the Emperors own Son to rebel against his Father who soon after dying with Grief was so forsaken that Pope Paschal would not suffer him to be buried for his Carcass lay five years at Spire rotting without any Christian Burial The new Emperor Henry V past presently into Italy after the Death of his Father where the Pope hoping to be recompensed for helping him in his Conspiracy against his Father found himself deceived for when he press'd him to renounce the Rights of Investitures which his Ancestors as
Sigebert saith had enjoyed above three hundred years the Emperor grew very Angry and laying hold of this Pope Paschal committed him to close Prison Neither would he release him till he had renounced his claim to the Investitures and Collations of Benefices saying to him in in scorn that which Jacob said to the Angel wrestling with him I will not let thee go before thou hast given me thy Blessing Then Paschal to redeem himself out of Captivity granted to Henry that both he and the Popes after him should leave unto the Emperors the peaceable enjoying of the Investitures of Ecclesiastical Dignities by the Ring and the Staff Also that none should be Consecrated Bishop without an Investiture from the Emperor The Pope and the Emperor reciprocally bound themselves by Oath upon the Host of the Mass which they received together But because that Oath was extorted the Pope thought not himself obliged to keep it So he brake that Agreement and excommunicated Henry and all Princes usurping Investitures This accident confirmed Henry the First King of England in a resolution to retain the Investitures of his Kingdom And that Order was held in England for a long time Only the Popes that they might not be injurious to their pretences by a long Prescription would send the Pall to some Prelats invested by the King confirming that which they could not alter and giving an Approbation which was not sought from them And further as to Elections of Bishops the great Troubles that were in the Reign of King John grew upon no other occasion than because the King refused Stephen Langton whom the Pope would have thrust into the See of Canterbury Mat. Paris fol. 299. notwithstanding that there had passed a former Election of another with the Kings assent and that the King justly alledged he might not trust Langâ—on in his Realm because he had a long time been on the part of his Enemies The King menaced the Pope and his Creatures seized the Temporalities of the Archbishop banished him his Paâ—ents and Kindred with the Monks of Canterbury as Traitors By his and the Prelats Treachery confederating with him the Kingdom was interdicted the King excommunicated his Subjects absolved from their Allegiance he and his deprived of the Crown given to the French King enforced to resign his Kingdom to the Pope become his sworn Tributary Vassal and Homager to renounce the ancient Rights of his Crown to receive Stephen and his Confederats to favour to restore them to their Bishopricks with the Profits and Damages sustained by their Exile before the King could be absolved The King is forced to humble himself before him and swear to him before he would absolve him He instigates the Nobles against the King threatens to excommunicate him and revive the interdicts if he proceeded by Arms against them He was very severe against the Clergy-men who adhered faithfully to King John He excites the Barons to take up Arms against the King for their Liberties extorts the Great Charter from him with new additional Clauses wresteth a new Charter for the Election of Bishops and Abbots from him and of the Patronage and Royalties of the Bishoprick of Rochester as absolutely as the King enjoyed them To requite which he surrendered the Castle and Ammunition of Rochester to the Barons He refuseth to execute the Popes Excommunication though oft pressed to it by the Legat and others He is aecused and suspended in the Council at Rome for confederating with the Barons against the King A just retaliation At length his Suspension is token off but he not to return into England till Peace made betwixt the King and his Barons Ralph N. v l Bishop of Chichester and Chancellour of England being chosen Archbishop by the Monks of Canterbury was approved by the King and put in Possession of the Temporalties by and by The Monks of Canterbury thereupon pressing the Pope to confirm his Election Anno 123â— the Pope made diligent enquiry of Simon Langton Brother to Stephen elected but rejected by King John and the Pope too at his request to be Archbishop of York concerning Ralphs Person and Disposition Simon told the Pope that he was an hot Fellow Stout Subtle an old Courtier and very gracious with the King and therefore that he would make variance betwixt him and the King and cause him to deny the payment of that Tribute granted unto him by King John This was enough so without any more ado he dissolved the Election never alledging any matter of Exception against him but willed the Monks to chose another Then the Monks chose one John their Sub-prior He being called to Rome and first charged with insufficiency but sufficiently cleared thereof by the testimony of certain Cardinals to whose Examination he was referred he was yet in the end compelled to give over his right to that See And after some other several Elections of Archbishops to that See Mat. Paris fol. 502 515. made with the Kings Allowance they were all one after another declared void by the Pope In the Reign of King Edward the Second Anno 1313 after the Death of Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury the Monks of Canterbury elected for his Successour one Thomas Cobham Dean of Salisbury and Prebend of York a Man of such Vertue and Learning that he was commonly called by the Name of the Good Clerk but the Pope bestowed that place upon Walter Reynolds SECT 14. Patronages disturbed and Benefices bestowed upon Aliens 14. In other Promotions and Ecclesiastical Livings the Popes usurped a larger liberty of bestowing them at their will upon such as they made choice of or upon themselves without regard of any Mans right to present or whether the Persons upon whom those Livings were bestowed were the Natural Subjects of the Realm or not Whereupon ensued many Mischiefs one was that a great part of the Wealth of this Realm was bestowed and spent in Forreign Parts Another that many Aliens flocking into the Realm to occupy these Promotions their presence here was dangerous to the State and the King unfurnished of fit Persons being his Liege-Subjects to imploy in necessary and secret Services of this Realm Thirdly That the Natural Subject was discouraged and sought not to make himself fit for any place of Service by diligence in Study seeing that the Rewards of Learning were carried away by Strangers Of these are many Examples in our Histories and the wrong complained of from time to time In the Reign of King Henry the Third Pope Gregory before his Death to carry on his Wars and Designs against the Emperor Frederick and throw him out of the Empire Anno 1240 intended by way of Provision to confer all the Benefices in England especially of the Clergy and Religious Persons on the Sons of Romans and other Forreigners sending his Bulls to three Bishops â—iz to Edmond Archbishop of York the Bishops of Lincoln and Saâ—um to confer no less than 300 of the next Benefices that
no other cause being known but the Popes pleasure Levies of Moneys to the Popes use without cause In the year 1245 the Pope demanded of all Clerks that were Non-resident half their Revenues and of those that were resident a third part Matthew Paris writeth that in the year 1257 the Popes Proctors sent with his Bulls into this Realm extorted of Clerks and Religious Persons great sums of Money and if any found themselves Grieved and offered to appeal they were forthwith by one Commission or other Excommunicated Mat. Paris fol. 1002. In the year 1248 he exacted of the Monastery of St. Edmondsbury the place of the Abbot being void 1000 Marks and would not confirm the Election of the new Abbot until the Monks had promised to pay 800 Marks In the Reign of King Edward the Second Pope John XXII reserved to his See the First-fruits of all vacant Benefices for the space of three years At that time also certain Usurers set up in England called Caursins who by Usuries and strange Arts devised in Italy did eat up the poor People and the Clergy The King himself was much indebted to them The Bishop of London would have repressed them but because they were maintained by the Pope he was not able to efâ—ect it The Franciscans and Dominicans preached up the Popes Power â—nd drew all the Confessions to themselves and every day obtained â—riviledges to the prejudice of the Parochial Priests who became â—lmost useless The State of England was deplorable for hungry â—talians of the baser sort with Bulls and Warrants from the Pope came daily to fleece the People and to raise such sums of Money â—s they would demand upon the Clergy If any denied what they demanded he was presently Excommunicated And they that held the great Benefices were Strangers who were but the Popes Farmers This caused Matthew Paris that lived then and beheld these things to lament That the Daughter of Sion was become like a shameless Harlot that could not blush by the just Judgment saith he of hâ—m that made an Hypocrite to reign and a Tyrant to domineer Sometimes the Pope made his advantage by Grants made to other Bishops to spoil the Realm as to the Bishop of Rochester whose Name was Laurentius de Sancto Martino a Chaplain and Counsellour of King Henry the Third This Man got a Dispensation from the Pope to hold all his former Livings in Commendam with this Bishoprick And yet alledging that his Bishoprick was the poorest of England and therefore his Living yet unable to maintain the Port of a Bishop he never ceased till he had extorted from the Clergy of his Diocess a Grant of a fifth part of all their Spiritual Livings for five years and appropriated unto his See for ever the Parsonage of Friends-bury The Pope at the same time granted a Bull to the Archbishop of Canterbury to collect the Fruits of all vacant Benefices within his Province for one year Mat. Paris fol. 1000. SECT 18. The way that yielded to the Pope his greatest Harvest The Popes Legats was by Legats sent into this Realm for they coming hither under a plausible title of care to reform things that were amiss within the Realm and the presence of a Legate having an Authority little inferior to the Pope himself being terrible to the Subject they had opportunity not only to gather to their Masters whatsoever they liked to demand but also prevailed intollerably for themselves and some of them with such insolence as it is strange that any Prince could ever suffer them in his Realm I shall here speak something of the Original of these Legats and shew how by degrees the Legati à latere were brought in Authority amongst the Nations and how they did inlarge the Popes Phylacteries At first because Rome was the chief City of the Empire from thence as from a Seminary were preachers sent to sundry Nations to preach and plant the Gospel or to confute Heresies afterwards to provide vacant Benefices and to supply the absence of the Roman Bishop in Synods in all which they did no other thing but as other Bishops might have done and also did But when the Bishops of Râ—me were made Patriarchs and became ambitious these Legats did the same Offices at some times but therewith they began craftily to injoyn unto Archbishops and Metropolitans to execute some things which they were commanded by the Word of God to do and they would give them power within their own Diocesses as if Bishops had been Vicars of the Roman Patriarchs or his Legat. Petrie's Church History p. 272. These Primats did gladly imbrace the show of Honour that for reverence of the Roman Church they might be the more respected in their own Jurisdiction and sometimes the more easily advance themselves above their Competitors Sometimes the Popes sent Legats into other Diocesses with such modesty that they had Authority to attempt nothing without concurrence of the Bishops or Synod of that Countrey Albeit these Legations were partly good and just and at the worst were tollerable yet they were not potestativae or imperious but charitativae or exhortatory nevertheless the Popes brought the Churches and Bishops into subjection by such means for afterwards they were sent only for ambitious Usurpation Covetousness and Worldly Affairs The ordinary Legats at Pisa Romandiola Bononia Ferrara Avignon and if there be any other such are Provincial Deputies Praetores or Vice-Roys The Nuncio's at the Court of the Emperor or of any King Prince or State are Ambassadors or Spies for Secular Affairs The Affairs of any Church that are gainful if they be of less account are reserved unto the Judgment of the Nuncio yet not definitively but to be determined at Rome And things of greater importance are wholly reserved for the Court of Rome The Ancient Bishops of Rome did severely injoyn their Legats to acknowledge duly the inferior Bishops within their own Jurisdiction but now they pass by the Metropolitans and draw all Actions unto themselves and the Court of Rome Likewise their Ambition and Avarice have so provoked some Nations that they will scarce â—it any Legat as Sicily and France have intrenched their Office â—â—e particultrs are more largely written by Antonius de Dominis â—hbishop of Spalato de Republ. Ecclesiast lib. 4. cap. 12. â—f these some had the Titles and Ensigns others the power of â—ats or more without the Title or Badges Some were sent â—essively into England Wales Ireland France and elsewhere â—ublish Popes Excommunications Interdicts Bulls Croisados â—ms Suspensions Citations Mandats c. to and against Emâ—â—â—ors Kings Princes Bishops Abbots Priors and all sorts of â—sons to exact collect Moneys Pillage Sacred Churches â—â—nasteries Mansions founded by our devout simple Ancestors for â—â—ief of the poor of Strangers and Sustentation of Religious â—â—rsons c. â—t was an Ancient Priviledge of the Kings of England and Scotâ—â—â—d that no Legat à latere should come into any of their Domiâ—â—ons by the Popes Mission unless at the Kings special
instant reâ—est to the Pope who eluded this priviledge by sending Nuncio's â—aplains Clerks Friers Minors or Praedicants sometimes into â—â—eir Realm with the full power not Titles or Ensigns of Legats Some Irish Bishops without the Kings Privity endeavouring to â—â—ocure a Legat to be sent into Ireland the King upon notice â—â—ereof by his Chief Justice and others writes to the Pope to send 〈◊〉 Legat thither against his will Pope Gregory the Ninth his Legat was imprisoned for stirring 〈◊〉 Sedition in Lombardy against the Emperor Three Legats with â—ndry Archbishops and Bishops were taken by the Emperors Galâ—ys going to a Council upon the Summons of Pope Gregory IX Gualo a Presbiter Cardinal of St. Martin crowned King Henry 〈◊〉 causing him to do homage to the Church of Rome and Pope â—nocent for England and Ireland and to swear faithfully to pay â—e Annual Rent for them which his Father King John had granted 〈◊〉 long as he injoyed those Realms He deprived Simon Langton â—rchdeacon of Canterbury and Gervase de Habruge who obstinately â—dhered to Lewis and the Barons and celebrated Divine Service to â—hem and the Londoners after their Excommunication of their Beâ—efices for which they were compelled to go to Rome He sent â—nquisitors through all Provinces of England suspending and deâ—riving Clerks of their Benefices for very small faults and adhering â—o the Barons bestowing their Livings on his own Creatures Clerks â—nriched with others Spoils He received a thousand Marks from Hugh Bishop of Lincoln and vast sums from other Religious Peâ—sons Canons exhausting their Purses and reaping where he 〈◊〉 not sow He bare sway in the Councils of King Henry III wâ— sealed some Writs and Patents with his Seal before his own Sâ— was made and usurped on his Crown during his Minority witâ—out Opposition Bernardus de Nympha came Armed into Englaâ—â— with the Bulls of Pope Innocent IV to collect Money from thâ— Cruce signati for Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings Brother Dâ—vers Blank Bulls of the Popes were found in his Chest after 〈◊〉 Death containing manifold Machinations of the Romans to debase and oppress England John de Diva an English Frier was armed with many Papâ— Bulls to extort Moneys from the English for Pope Innocent IV under dreadful Penalties and Fulminations He exacts six thousanâ— Marks out of Lincoln Diocess His Exaction at St. Albans waâ— appealed against who demanded 300 Marks notwithstanding thâ— Appeal to be paid within Eight days under pain of Excommunication and Interdict which the Pope upon an Appeal caused theâ— to pay He had a Bull from the Pope to inquire of all Lands alâ—enated from Churches and Monasteries Vexations by Proviso's aâ— Simoniacal Contracts for Livings to seize them to the Popes use and Excommunicate Interdict all Opposers without Appeal John Ruffin was sent with the power though not the title of a Legat into Ireland to collect Moneys there He extorted six thousand Marks from the Clergy there notwithstanding the Kings Prohibition Otto I. Pope Honorius his Nuncio was sent to King Henry III. Hâ— demandeth two Marks by way of Procuration from all Conventuaâ— Churches of England he demandeth two Dignities and two Monkâ— portions in all Cathedrals and Monasteries Pryn's Hist of Popes Usurpations Otho Cardinal Deacon of St. Nicholas in Carcere Tulliano Legaâ— to Pope Gregory IX was received into England with Processions anâ— ringing of Bells He disposed of vacant Benefices to all that camâ— with him whether worthy or unworthy the King almost did nothing without him and adored his foot-steps He was present iâ— the Parliament at York to mediate a peace between the Kings oâ— England and Scotland The Charter of Peace was sworn to anâ— ratified in his Presence He desireth leave of the King of Scots tâ— enter as a Legat into Scotland to regulate Ecclesiastical Affairâ— there as in England who answered That neither in his Fathers time nor of any his Ancestors any Legat had Entrance into Scotland neither would he permit it whilst he was in his righe senses But if he â—ntered at his own peril he must expect violence from his rude Subjects â—rom which he was unable to protect him yet he knighted and beâ—â—owed some Lands on his Nephew A great Fray was occasioned at Oxford by his Porters Insolence â—nd he was assaulted by the Scholars at Osney-Abbey stiled an Uâ—urer a Simoniack a Ravisher of Mens Rents a Thirster after Money a Perverter of the King and Subverter of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 forced to fly secretly from thence Both the King and he proâ—eeded severely against the Scholars for it by Ecclesiastical Cenâ—ures Excommunications Penances Imprisonments almost to â—he ruin of the University He was denied Entrance into Scotland by the King thereof the â—econd time He gave a Writing under his Hand and Seal to the King of Scots that his Admission into Scotland should not be drawn â—nto Consequence who took it away with him upon his privat reâ—cess He there collected the fifteenth part of the Goods of all Preâ—ats and Beneficed Clerks and sent it to the Pope The English Noâ—les send Letters of Complaint to the Pope against his confering of Benefices by Provisions upon Aliens and other Grievances Frederick the Emperor was incensed against King Henry III for this Legats collecting of Moneys in England imployed in Wars against him demanding his Expulsion out of England as the Emperors and the Kingdoms Enemy He demandeth Procurations for himself from the Clergy not exceeding the sum of four Marks for any Procuration The King sent a Prohibition to him to exact the fifth or any other part of the Benefices of his Clerks attending on his Service which he could by no means endure He joyneth with Peter Rubee in exacting a great Tax from the Prelats and Abbots to shed Christian Blood and to conquer the Emperor The Bishops and Canons except against his intollerable Demands He laboured to raise a Schism and Division among the Clergy to obtain his Exactions He demanded Procurations from the Cistercians who manfully denied them as contrary to their Priviledges which the Pope dispensed with by his Non obstante The King upon his Departure out of England by the Popes Summons feasted placed him in his own Royal Throne and at Dinner to the admiration of many Knighted his Nephew and bestowed an Annuity of Thirty pounds per Annum upon him which he presently sold He conferred above Three hundred rich Prebendaries and Benefices at his own and the Popes pleasure on their Creatures He spoiled the Church of Sarum and maâ— other Cathedrals leaving them destitute of Consolation He accompanied by the King and Nobles in great state to the Sea-sidâ— at his departure out of England He left not so much Money 〈◊〉 England behind him when he left it Mat. Paris fol. 735. as he drained out of it Church plate and Ornaments excepted He stayed three years in England great were the rewards demanded
he summoneth a Parliament at London by reason of the Complaints of the English against those Grievances which they could no longer tollerate without the brand of sluggishness and their own imminent ruin Great was the Indignation of the Pope against the miserable English for that they durst complain against their daily injuries and oppressions in the Council which he so multiplied that the English were more vile in his eyes and the Court of Rome than any other â—en of the remotest Nations Insolently saying It is expedient for 〈◊〉 to compound with the Emperour Frederick that we may trample the â—â—tle King of England under our Feet who now kicks with the heel aâ—â—inst us Then the King the Nobles Archbishops Bishops and Abbots â—ew up seven Articles in Parliament against the Popes Grievances â—â—d Oppressions 1. In Extorting and Collecting several Sums of Money by General â—axes and Assesses without the Kings Assent or Consent against the anâ—ent Customs Liberties and Rights of the Realm and against the Appeal and Contradiction of the Proctors of the King and Kingdom made 〈◊〉 a General Council 2. In hindering Patrons to present their Clerks to Vacant Livings and â—estowing them by Proviso's on other Roman Clerks utterly ignorant of the English Tongue to the peril of the peoples souls and impoverishing the â—ealm beyond measure by transporting Money out of it 3. In granting Pensions out of Livings by provision and more proviâ—â—on of Benefices than he promised after his Bull against them 4. That one Italian succeeded another That Subjects causes were â—â—awn out of the Realm by the Pope's Authority against the Custom of the Realm against the Written Laws that men ought not to be condemned among their Enemies and against Indulgences granted by his Predecessors â—o the Kings and Realm of England 5. The frequent mention of that infamous word Non-obstante in his Bulls by which the Religion of an Oath ancient Customs vigour of Writings the Established Authority of Charters Laws Priviledges were debilitated vanished away and his not carrying himself courteâ—ously towards the Realm in revoking the plenitude of his power as he promised 6. That in the Benefices of Italians neither their Rights nor sustentation of the poor nor hospitality nor preaching of God's Word nor the useful Ornaments of the Churches nor Cure of Souls nor Divine Services were performed as they ought to be and according to the Custom of the Countrey 7. That the Walls of their Houses fell down together with their Roofs and were dilapidated To which other Complaints to the King and Parliament against 〈◊〉 Court of Rome were super-added which they sent to the Pope by their respective Messengers with five several Letters two from the King to the Pope and his Cardinals a third from all the Archbishops and Bishops a fourth from all the Abbots and Priors the fifth from all the Earls and Temporal Lords speedily to reform all their Grievances to prevent unavoidable Mischiefs to the King the Pope and the Church of Rome and their revolt from Subjection to them They complained that the Pope demanded Knight-service due only to the King to Lords from their Tenants from Prelats and Clergy-men to find him so many Horse or Foot for half a year or pay a great Ransom in lieu of it under pain of Excommunication which they must reveal to no Man That he granted one years Fruits of all Benefices that fell void within the Province of Canterbury to Archbishop Boniface That he by sealed Bulls required the Abbots of the Cistercian Order in England to send him golden Jewels to adorn his Planets and Copes as if they might be goâ—â— for nothing That if any Clerk should from thenceforth die intestate his Goods should be converted to the use of the Pope which he commanded the Friers Preachers and Minors diligently to execute seizing on the Money Goods and Plate oâ— three rich Archdeacons which the King hearing of prohibited and by the common advice of his Nobles and Prelats in Parliament issued several successive Prohibitions to the Abbot of St. Albans and others not to pay any Tallage to the Pope or his Agents before the return of their Messengers to Rome against these Grievances under pain of seizing his Barony and to the Bishops not to exact or levy any such Tax for any Clerk Religious Person or Lay-man to the prejudice of his Royal Dignity against his and his Nobles Provisions in Parliament which he neither could nor would indure The Pope contemned the zealous Letters and memorable Complaints of the King and whole Kingdom against his Exactions requiring the Bishop of Norwich and others to levy a Subsidy for him at which all were amazed The King summons a new Parliament at Winton concerning the manifold Grievances of the whole Realm and especially of the Church wherein the Messengers sent to the Court of Rome reported That they could discern no Humility nor Moderation in the Popes Gestures or Words concerning the Oppressions wherein the Church and Realm of England were grieved and whereof they complained That when they expected a pleasing Answer the Pope told them The King of England who now kickâ— his Heel and Frederizeth hath his Council and I have mine which I will pursue That from that time scarce any English Man could dispatch any Business in Court yea they were all repelled and reviled as Schismaticks so as so many Epistles of the King and the universality of the Nobles and Prelats of the Realm had no efficiency at all At which Report the King and Nobles being much exasperated the King by their Advice commanded Proclamations to be made through all Countreys Cities Boroughs and Villages of the Realm that no Prelate Clerk or other Person throughout the Realm should consent to any Contribution to the Pope or transmit any Money towards his Aid or in any wise obey his Papal Commandement which was accordingly done The Pope hearing thereof wrote to the English Prelats more sharply than before requiring them under pain of Excommunication and Suspension to pay in the Aid he demanded to his Nuncio in the New Temple before the Feast of Assumption Hereupon the King was so terrified with the Popes Menaces that he and the Richest Prelats complied with his Designs paying 6000 Marks to the Pope to the great impoverishing of the Realm which was transported by the Pope's Nuncio and Merchants to aid the Landgrave against the Emperor Frederick part whereof he intercepting grievously reprehended the Effeminacy of the English and of Richard Earl of Cornwall for yielding to the Popes party to the Destruction of the Realm of England and detriment of the Empire The Pope intended to have interdicted the Realm of England had they not paid his 6000 Marks and the King by his Nuncio's signified his Compliance to it Now all the consolation and hope of relieving the English expired their Enemies being their Judges SECT 22. 22. Hereunto I shall add what I found in an Ancient Manuscript which briefly gives us an
unite appropriate divide such Livings and do many strange things else about them no cause appearing to any man but his own will The Popes Legates also procured of the Kings of England Stipends and Provisions of good value out of Ecclesiastical Benefices and other Dignities Rustand the Popes Legate being in Favour with King Henry the Third procured from him besides the Livings he obtained by the Popes Provisions a Grant of Provisions out of the Ecclesiastical Benefices Dignities and Prependaries which should first happen in his own Gift amounting to 300 Marks by the year to be preferred before all others formerly granted by him one only excepted SECT 16. Souldiers mustered and sent out of the Realm 16. Soulders have been Mustered and sent to Foreign Wars out of the Realm upon the Popes Commandment which Case hapned in the time of King Richard the Second the Pope gathering within this Realm a Band of Souldiers for the Wars of the Holy Land and appointing them for their Captain the Bishop of Norwich The Realm generally misliked that their Souldiers should be committed to the Guidance of an Ecclesiastical Person unacquainted with the Wars and therefore resisted for awhile but at length suddenly yielded upon a superstitious Conceit taken in their Heads The Croisado's for the Relief of the Holy Land was a Papal Cheat for Popes and others to pick simple Christians Purses for Popes Designs to maintain Wars against Christian Emperors and Princes the Greek Church and the Albigenses detesting and opposing Papal Usurpations and Corruptions to inthral depose and murder them So great was Pope Innocent's Animosity against the Emperor Frederick that when Forces of the Croisado came out of France or England or other parts to sail into Syria to defend Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre against the Saracens he stopt them and gave them the same Graces and Indulgences as if they had performed the Journey into the Holy Land upon Condition that they should turn their Armes against Frederick whose Power lay upon him because he stiffly maintained the Rights of the Empire The Pope proceeded so far as to give the Empire to Robert Brother of Lewis IX King of France upon condition that he should conquer it But Robert sent his Present back to the Pope both because he sent him no Money to furnish him for that Conquest and because he found it very strange that the Pope would give that which was none of his Also because he shewed himself an Enemy to a great and vertuous Prince who had done and suffered so much bravely fighting for the Cause of the Christians against the Infidels Then he added That the Popes are lavish of the Blood of others and that their end is to tread all the Princes of the world under their feet and to put on the Horns of Pride Mean-while persecution grew sore against those whom they called Vaudeois and Albigenses against whom the Pope caused the Croâ—sado to be preached and an infinite number of them to be massacred Pope Gregory IX who compiled the Decretals needing Money for his War against the Emperor Frederick sent a Legat into Engâ—and named Stephen who exacted a tenth part of all their moveâ—ble Goods that is of all their Flocks Rents Fruits Wares Offerings and Gifts to the Church And the said Legat had power â—o Excomunicate all that should refuse to pay and to put the Churches in Interdict He injoyned the Prelates upon pain of Exâ—ommunication to make that Collection speedily and without â—elay All that should cross that Holy Work he Excommunicated â—pso facto He would be paid in new Coin and of good Weight He took the Tithe even of the Corn in the first Blade that is of â—he Crop of the year after In these Exactions he was so urgent and griping that the Parishes were forced to engage the Chalices and Church-Plate to satisfie his Covetousness And he had certain Usurers with him who lent Money upon double use to those who had no ready Money This caused a great Clamour and Lamentation over all the Countrey but without effect The Money was imployed by the Pope in inâ—ading many Towns belonging to the Emperor in Italy And the Emperor could not defend them because he was ingaged against â—he Saracens in the Levant where he took Jerusalem and put the Affairs of the Christians in a flourishing Estate And it is probable â—hat he had utterly destroyed the Saracens if the Injuries which he â—eceived from the Pope had not re-called him For the Emperor making a League for ten years with the Saracens and returning â—nexpectedly from the Holy Lâ—nd Mat. Paris p. 351 352. Matth Westm p. 128 129. interrupted the Popes proceedâ—ngs and soon recovered all his Castles so that the Pope was â—orced by meditation of Friends to stoop to the Emperor and make his Peace with him beyond all Expectation Scarce was the Collection ended made by Stephen the Legate when Pope Gregory inventing Extortions grounded upon fair Reaâ—ons sent Nuncios with power of Legats who by Sermons Exâ—ortations and Excommunications brought an infinite number of English Men to Mendicity and turned them out of their Houses This was done under a pretence of contributing to the expence of the Holy War of which himself hindered the success and yet he promised to them that should contribute Money for it the remission of â—ll their sins and to them that should go in Person an Augmentation of Glory yet the Pope never gave any part of the Money raised â—or that expedition to any Prince that paid Armies and sought â—or that Quarrel All was thrown into the Popes Coffers as into 〈◊〉 Gulph and by him imployed to make War against Frederick for he presently broke the Covenant sworn unto him The Treasure of the Realm spent in the Popes Wars Mat. Paris fol. 703 704. Moreover Wars made by the Pope were oftentimes supported at the Charges of Forreign Countreys the Pope bearing them in hand that they were the Wars of the Church and therefore did in common concern every of their States and Interests under which colour large Contributions have been drawn out of this Realm In the year 1240 the Pope forced all Aliens within this Realm to contribute to the Wars against Frederick the fifth part of the Revenues of their Spiritual Livings and in the same year took another fifth part of all Bishopricks to the same use The Pope ceased not thus but immediately commanded new Collections to be made still pretending his Wars with the Emperor against which Commandment the Clergy made divers Exceptions which are at large set down by Matth. Paris fol. 714. and 7â—5 Idem 1219. In the year 1255 Alexander IV. sent a Legate into the Realm who exacted the tenth part of all the Goods and Chatels in England Scotland and Ireland pretending the Church-wars against Manfred who had invaded the Kingdom of Naples which the Pope claimed to appertain to his See SECT 17. Sometimes again great sums were levyed