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A09061 An ansvvere to the fifth part of Reportes lately set forth by Syr Edvvard Cooke Knight, the Kinges Attorney generall Concerning the ancient & moderne municipall lawes of England, vvhich do apperteyne to spirituall power & iurisdiction. By occasion vvherof, & of the principall question set dovvne in the sequent page, there is laid forth an euident, plaine, & perspicuous demonstration of the continuance of Catholicke religion in England, from our first Kings christened, vnto these dayes. By a Catholicke deuyne. Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610. 1606 (1606) STC 19352; ESTC S114058 393,956 513

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office for that saith Florentius from the time he was made Archbishop which was no lesse then two years it was not permitted vnto him either to hold any Synod or to correct the vices which were sprung vp through England Wherevnto Malmesbury and Edmerus that 〈◊〉 with him doe add that the King would not suffer him to goe to Rome to take his pall of the Pope as all Archbishops of Canterbury were accustomed to doe and the other greatly vrged to haue licence But after a long combat which he had had with the King diuers other Bishops that followed the Kings fauour in a Synod at London vpō the third weeke in lent Anno Domini 1095. and eight yeare of King VVilliam his raigne the said Archbishop being extreamly baited by the King his followers stood constant in his appeale to Rome 4. Which thing Rufus perceiuing saith Malmesbury he sent secretly certaine messengers to Rome to intreat the Pope which then was Vrban the second to send the Pall of Canterbury vnto the King to be giuen to whom he would Whervnto though the Pope would not yeeld yet he sent back with his messengers for Legate the Bishop of Albanum named VValta with the said Pall who shewed vnto the King so many reasons why the Pope could not yeeld to his demaund and intreated him so forceably to be content that he might giue the said Pall from the Pope to Anselme with accustomed ceremonyes in the Church of Canterbury as at length he obteyned the same and made them freinds 5. But this frendship lasted not longe for that the very next yeare after the King continued his old manner of oppressing the Church S. Anselme went vnto him to VVinchester and there first by intercessors desired the King that he might haue licence to goe to Rome to conferr diuers difficultyes of his with Vrban the Pope The King answered that he would not giue him licence for that he knew him to haue no such great sinnes that it was needfull for him to goe to Rome for absolution nor yet to be lesse learned then Pope Vrban whose counsaile direction he would aske Whervpon the Archbishop entring the Kings chamber sate downe by his side saith the Story and disputed the matter with him affirming him to deny Christ himself that denyed recourse vnto his Vicar vpon earth And thervpon he concluded that this licence could not be denyed him by a Christian King and consequently he would goe The King said he should carry out nothing with him The Archbishop answered he would goe naked and bare-foote Which firme resolution the King perceiuing to be in him vsed by messengers vnto him diuers intreatyes saith VValsingham and offered large promises of fauours if he would stay But the other would not but departed the Realme though he were searched and rifled by the Kings Officers at the port 6. By all which story it most euidently appeareth that albeit this young disorderly and passionate King were as well in this as in other matters headstronge and violent in pursuing his appetites desires as well in Ecclesiasticall as Temporall affaires yet did he neuer deny the Popes spirituall iurisdiction in England but rather acknowledged the same in sending to Rome to intreat that the pall might be sent to him as also in going about to diuert S. Anselms recourse thither But alas there passed not many years but God punished seuerely these greiuous sinnes against his Church For as both the foresaid Malmesbury Edmerus that liued with him doe write S. Anselms going to Rome frō thence with Pope Vrban to a Councell of Bishops gathered togeather at Bary in Apulia wherin among other things all lay-men were excommunicated that presumed to giue Ecclesiasticall Inuestitures as also those that receiued them at lay-mens hands which was thought principally to haue byn done in respect of King VVilliam he returned againe some years after into France and there passing his banishment with great quietnes of mind he being one day with S. Hugh Abbot of Cluniaecke famous in those dayes for holines the said Abbot told him in the hearing of diuers others that the night before he had seen King VVilliam called before God and receiued the sorrowfull sentence of damnation wherat all the hearers marueyling the next newes they heard from England was that the said King was strangely slaine by an erring arrow of his familiar seruant Tyrrell while he hunted in the New-forrest and that being stroken he fell downe dead without speaking any one word And the same authors doe recount diuers other the like presages and prognostications that happened as well to the King himself as to other friends of his in England portending this euent but neglected by him 7. And this shall suffice for King VVilliam Rufus who raigned thirteen years And though he was naught to all kind of men saith Malmesbury and pernicious in his actions as well to secular as Clergy men yet had he no other iudgement in matters of religion then his father or auncestors nor euer was he noted of any least difference therin Nor doth Maister Attorney bring any instance at all out of this Kings Raigne and therfore shall wee passe to his younger brother that ensued him in the Kingdome OF KING HENRY THE FIRST VVhich was the third King after the Conquest §. I. 8. This was the third sonne of VVilliam the great surnamed the Conquerour who finding the commodity by absence of his eldest brother Robert Duke of Normandy tooke the Kingdome of England vpon him hauing gained by faire promises the good-wills of all or most of the Realme and so was crowned by Maurice Bishop of London for that S. Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury was yet in exile as before vnder Rufus you haue heard 9. What the said Henry did sweare and promise and what he began euen from the very day of his Coronation to put in practice Florentius that then liued declareth in these words Consecrationis suae die Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam c. From the very day of his consecration he set free the holy Church of God which in his brothers dayes had byn sold and let to farme he tooke away all euill customes and remoued all vniust exactions wherby the Kingdome had byn wrongfully oppressed before commaunded that peace and freedome should be holden throughout the whole Realme He restored the law of S. Edward to all men in common with those additions or corrections which his Father had added thervnto c. So Florentius And what his Fathers additions were and how greatly in fauour of the Church and of Ecclesiasticall power authority and libertyes you haue heard before in his life and lawes Wherby we may easily ghesse with what mind and iudgement this man entered vnto his crowne 10. And albeit in this point he neuer altered yet there passed not two years of his gouernment but partely vpon Kingly appetite to haue power in all things and
reward in the life to come for it And so much of this 14. But now to passe to another consideration about the same King it seemeth to me that nothing sheweth more this King● true affection deuotion and confidence towards the Pope and Sea of Rome then his owne recourse thervnto in his greatest affliction before mentioned of the conspiracy of his wife and children against him For then he wrote a very lamentable letter vnto Pope Alexander beginning thus Sanctissimo Domino suo Alexandre Dei gratia Catholicae Ecclesia Summo Pontifici Henricus Rex Angliae c. Salutem deuotae subiectionis obsequium In which letter among other things he saith thus Vbipleniorem voluptatem contulerat mihi Domm●● ibi grauius me flagellat quod sine lachrymis non dico contra sanguine●●●eum viscera mea cogor odium mortale concipere c. Where God hath giuen me greatest pleasure and contentment there doth he most whip me now and that which without teares I doe not speake vnto you I am constrained to conceiue mortall hatred against my owne bloud and my owne bowels My freinds haue left me and those of myne owne house doe seeke my life this secret coniuration of my wife and children hath so intoxicated the minds of all my most familiar freinds as they prefer their traiterous obedience to my sonne and would rather beg with him then raigne with me and enjoy most ample dignities c. Abse●● corpore presens tamen animo me vestris aduolno genibus I being absent in body but present in mynd with you doe cast my self at your knees Vestrae iurisdictionis est Regnum Angliae c. Experiatur Anglia quid possit Romanus Pontifex The Kingdome of England is vnder your iurisdiction Let England learne by experience what the Bishop of Rome can doe Promitto me dispositioni vestra in omnibus pariturum I doe promise to obay your disposition in all hings 15. Thus he wrote at that tyme with teares as you haue heard wherewith Pope Alexander being greatly moued sent commaundement to Richard Archbishop of Canterbury to write earnestly vnto K. Henry the sonne to recall him from his rebellion vnder paine of excommunication as before we haue shewed And this confident recourse of K. Henry to the Pope in so great an affaire declareth well the opinion he had of his authority And conforme vnto this were all the rest of his actions and doings concerning Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction when he was out of passion and perturbation acknowledging none at all in himself but only from the Sea Apostolike And heervpon he fouuded the security of all his hopes by his first marriage with the Queen Eleanor as hath byn said whose diuorce from King Lewes was vpon the Popes sentence declaringe the same to be inualide and no marriage at all by reason that they were married within degrees of consanguinity prohibited by the Church 16. And soone after this againe about the 6. yeare of his raigne the same King as Stow relateth procured dispensation of the said Pope by his Legat-Cardinalls Henricus Pisanus and Gulielmus Papionensis to make a marriage between Henry his eldest sonne of seauen years old and Margaret the French Kings daughter that was yet but of three years old which he would not haue done by all likelihood with so manifest perill of his whole succession therby if he had either doubted of the Popes authority therin or presumed of his owne 17. And not many years after this againe the said King being very desirous to remoue from the Church of VValtam in Essex certaine secular Chanons that liued not with edification and to place in their roome regular Chanons presumed not to doe it of himself or his owne authority which yet might seeme a small matter but by the authority of the Pope Rex saith Houeden ex authoritate Domini Papae instituit in Ecclesia de VValtham Canonicos regulares The King did appoint regular Chanons in the Church of VValtham by the authority of the Pope And the same doth testifie VValsingham vpon the yeare 1177. that it was done in the vigil of Penticost Authoritate Summi Pontificis sub praesentia Regis By the authority of the Bishop of Rome the King being present at the doing 18. And the same VValsingham two years after that againe doth record another iudiciall Act of the said Pope Alexander in England which is that he exempted from the obedience of the Archbishop of Canterbury Roger that was Prior of the monastery of S. Augustine in the same Citty which had byn subiect to him saith he for fiue hundred years before And it is probable that neither the King nor Archbishop did like thereof but could not let the same 19. And finally to goe no further in this matter of this Kings obedience and deuotion towards the Church when he was out of choller and passion and free from such other perturbations as did draw him strōgly oftentimes to the doing of certaine things which after he repented I shall end with one shorte narration only of the foresaid VValsingham or a strange extremity and aduersity of fortune from which God deliuered him at one tyme by means of his deuout mynd towards the blessed Martyr S. Thomas of Canterbury vpon the year 1174. which was three yeares after his said martyrdome at what time the Kings state was this as partly before you haue heard Lewys King of France cōioyning himself with Henry the third King of England and the rest of his brethren against their Father pressed him sore with great armies in Normandy and other partes of his Dominions in France And at the very same time his wife Queen Eleanor in England conspiring with her said sonnes incited by her example many other Princes and noblemen to doe the like who raised diuers rebellions And besides all the rest VVilliam King of Scotland came in with a great Army on the North-side and Philip Earle of Flaunders was entered with another on the South-side At which time K. Henry seeing himself in these straites and not well knowing what to doe yet resolued at the length to passe from Normandy into England and first to succour the principall parte But being on the Sea there arose such a tempest as seing himself in great daunger Erectis in caelum luminibus saith VValsingham lifting vp his eyes to heauen he desired God that saw his intention to be mercifull vnto him as his meaning and purpose was to seeke the peace both of the Clergy people of England c. And God saith our Author admitted presently the prayer of this our humbled King and brought him safe to Hampton-port with all his people who from that day forward giuing himself to pennaunce vsed saith he a very thinne diet to wit bread and water only and casting of all temporall cares nor entring into any one Citty as he went by the way neuer ceased vntill he came to
pretence of many causes appealed therein to the Sea of Rome the Archbishop not admitting the same appeale pronounced notwithstanding sentence of excommunication against him Celestinus the Pope not only reuoked the said sentence but exempted moreouer the said Bishop Bishopricke from the obedience of the said Archbishop and Archbishopricke of Yorke as the same author relateth So as in this he shewed his authority in England 37. But now let vs passe to K. Richard himself who being valiantly occupied in the warres against the Infidels and enemies of God in Asia had many crosses fell vpon him First the falling out and departure of K. Philip of France from that warre as you haue heard who returning into France began to treat presently with Earle Iohn to trouble the peace of his brothers territoryes and the principall point that combined these two togeather against King Richard besides the enuy of the one and ambition of the other was that both of them were afraid least Prince Arthure Earle of Brittany sonne to Geffrey Iohns elder brother should succeed in the Kingdome of England if any thing should happen to King Richard and so the Bishop of Ely had giuen out that King Richard himself had written from Sicily which point was much feared as preiudiciall to them both Whervpon they made a fast league and began on both sides of the Sea to trouble the State which when K. Richard vnderstood and that Pope Celestin●● 〈◊〉 his letters and other diligence could not stay them and that 〈◊〉 grew into sedition at home by partes-takinge he was forced sorely to his greife and to the publicke lamentation of all Christendome to leaue that warre and to abandon the victorie that was euen now almost in his hand if he had stayed as the euent also shewed for that soone after dyed the Saladine by whose death there was no doubt but that King Richard had recouered Ierusalem 38. But he returning for defence of his owne countrey fel into great misery For being taken as hath byn said by Duke Leopold of Austria vpon pretence of certaine iniuries receiued from him his people in the warres of Asia he was deteined by him and by the Emperour Henry the 6. more then fifteen moneths prisoner and forced to paie in the end aboue two hundred thousand markes for his ransome partly in present money and partly in pawnes and pledges left for the same And so after foure yeares absence the said King returned 39. But in this tyme of his captiuity his chiefest comforte and refuge was in the assistance of the said Pope Celestinus as may well appeare by the sundry letters of many written vnto the said Pope in his behalfe but especially and aboue others of the afflicted Lady and Queen his mother Eleanor who wrote three large letters vnto him by the pen of Petrus Blesensis Archdeacon then of London that had byn Secretary to her husbād K. Henry the second and she beginneth one saying thus Sanè non multum ab insania differt dolor Sorrow truly doth not much differ from madnes And then Gentes diuulsae populi lacerati prouinciae desolatae in spiritu contrito humiliato supplicant tibi quem constituit Deus super Gentes Regna in omni plenitudine Potestatis These nations heer deuided in their owne bowels by absence of their Prince this people torne and broken in themselues these desolate prouinces doe in a contrite and humbled spirit make supplication to you whom God hath placed ouer Nations and Kingdomes in all fullnesse of power And then againe Moueat te Summe Pontifex etsi non huius peccatricis infalicissimae dolor saltem clamor pauperum compeditorum gemitu● interfectorum sanguis Ecclesiarum spoliatio generalis denique pressura sanctorum Be you moued ô high Priest if not with the sorrow of mee a most vnfortunate sinner yet with the cry of poore men with the groanes of them that are in fetters with the bloud of them that are heere slaine with the spoyling of Churches therof ensuing and with the generall oppression of all holy people And yet further Duo filij mihi supererant ad solatium qui bodie mihi misera damnatae supersunt ad supplicium Rex Richardus tenetur in vinculis Iohannes frater ipsius regnum Captiui depopulatur ferro vastat incendijs Two only children of many remained vnto me for my comforte which now are vnto me most miserable and damned woman become a torment King Richard is held captiue in chaines and Iohn his brother doth spoile by sword and fire the said captiues Kingdomes and dominions 40. This and much more to the same lamentable effect wrote this afflicted mother vnto Pope Celestinus in those dayes requesting him by Ecclesiasticall censures to compell both the Emperour and Duke of Austria to set her sonne the King at liberty And to this effect hath she many vehement speaches exhortations vnto him as for example Nonne Petro Apostolo saith she in eo vobis à Deo omne regnum omnisque potestas regenda committitur Benedictus autem Dominus qui talem potestatem dedit hominibus non Rex non Imperator aut Dux à iugo Vestrae Iurisdictionis eximitur Vbi est ergo Zelus Phinees vbi est authoritas Petri c. were not all Kingdomes and was not all power and gouernment committed by God vnto Peter the Apostle and in him to you Blessed be our Lord that gaue such authority vnto men No King no Emperour no Duke is exempted from the yoke of your Iurisdiction And where is then the Zeale of Phinees where is the authority of Peter c. 41. And againe in another epistle Illud restat vt exeratis in malesicos Pater gladium Petri quem ad hoc constituit Deus super gentes regna Christi crux antecellit Caesaris Aquilas gladius Petri gladio Constantini Apostolica Sedes praeiudicat Imperatoria potestati Vestra Potestas à Deo est an ab hominibus Nonne Deus Deorum locutus est vobis in Petro Apostolo di cens Quodcunque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum in caelis quodcunque solueris super terram erit solutum in caelis Quare ergò tanto temporetam negligenter immò tam crudeliter filium meum soluere defertis aut potius non audetis Sed dicetis hanc potestatem vobis in animabus non in corporibus fuisse commissam Esto Certè sufficit nobis si eorum ligaueritis animas qui filium meum ligatum in carcere tenent Filium meum soluere robis in expedito est dummodo humanum timorem Dei timor euacuet This only remaineth ô Father that you draw forth the sword of Peter against malefactors which sword God hath appointed to be ouer nations and Kingdomes The Crosse of Christ doth excell the Eagles that are in Cesars banners the spirituall sword of ●●ter is of more power then was the
necessitie of the English Church and the King by euill 〈◊〉 saile of some went about to let the said Synod forbidding the same by his supreame Iusticer which was the highest power at that time vnder the King the said Archbishop admitted not the prohibition Archiepiscopus saith Houeden generale celebrauit Concilium Londonys apud VVestmonasterium cōtra prohibitionem Gaufredi filij Petri Comitis de Essexia tunc temporis Summi Iusticiarij Anglia The Archbishop did celebrate a general Councell at VVestminster in London against the prohibition of Geffrey the sonne of Peter Earle of Essex which at that time had the office of the cheife Iusticer of England So as we see that they followed not the Kings inclination in this spirituall affaire but held their Councell and finished the same notwithstanding the former secular prohibition of the supreme Iusticer And Houeden that was then liuing setteth downe all the Canons and Ordinances at large of the said Councell which had these words in the end of euery one seuerally repeated Saluo in omnibus Sacrosanctae Romanae Ecclesiae honore priuilegio sauing in all points the honour and priuiledge of the holy Church of Rome Which was the sooner added for that the general Councell of Lateran in Rome was shortely after to ensue which might adde take away or alter whatsoeuer should seeme best to the Decrees of this Nationall Councell 53. Neither is there read any thing to haue byn done or said against this by the King though it is like that some of his Counsell did egge him against it as may appeare by the said prohibition of his Iusticer before mentioned Nay not only was K. Iohn obedient to the Church her authority at this time but otherwise also shewed himself very deuout pious by many wayes to which purpose among other things it is recorded by this author that when S. Hugh Bishop of Lincolne who was held for a great Saint all dayes of his life lay on his death-bed at London King Iohn went vnto him to visit him with great deuotion and confirmed his testament which he had made of his goods in fauour of the poore and promised moreouer to God in his presence that during his life he would alwayes confirme and ratifie the testaments of English Bishops and Prelates made to that effect 54. And the same author recounteth furthermore that n●● longe after this the King being at Lincolne twelue Abbots of the Order named Cistercienses comming vnto him fell downe at his 〈…〉 of his 〈…〉 ence all their cattle 〈◊〉 in the same 〈…〉 whom the King said that they should rise vp 〈…〉 saith our author diuina inspi 〈…〉 cecidit 〈…〉 omiam postulant c. And then the King himself by the inspiration of Gods holy 〈◊〉 fell downe vpon 〈◊〉 on the ground before their feete making them pardon for the iniury done to them by his officers And from that day forvvard he graunted them that all their 〈◊〉 should feed freely in his forrest And moreouer he willed them to seeke out a fit place in the Kingdome where he might buyld them a monastery for his deuotion and so he did founding both that and 〈◊〉 others as the monasteryes of Farendon ●●●●ayles 〈◊〉 and VV●●x-hall● so as if he had continued in the course of piety and moderation in life he had byn a notable King towards which he had many good partes 55. But about the 7. or 8. yeare of his raigne he began greatly to change his cōditions to the worser part● which some ascribe 〈◊〉 to the death of Queene Eleanor his mother vpon the sixth yeare of his raigne to whom he bare respect as long as she liued and her death was thought to be hastened by the affliction she tooke of K. Iohns cruelty towards Arthure Earle of Brittany her Nephew who being a goodly young Prince of 17. yeares old was made away in the Castle of Roane in the yeare 1203. by poison as some men thinke but as the King of France maintained before Pope Innocentius he was slaine by K. Iohns owne hands and his younger sister carried prisoner into England kept in Bristo● Castle where she pined away though both these pretended to be neerer the Crowne of England then K. Iohn himself for that they were the children of his elder Brother Geffrey by marriage Earle of Brittany 56. From this beginning then of domesticall bloud K. Iohn fell into his other rages of dis●re●●●● life and namely against the Church and Church-men 〈◊〉 wherof this particular occassion fell ou●● that the foresaid 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Canterbury being dead vpon the you●● 〈…〉 the King desiring to prefer to that 〈◊〉 one Iohn Gray Bishop of 〈◊〉 whom he great●●● 〈…〉 principall monkes of the 〈…〉 election appertained to 〈…〉 for that 〈…〉 Canterbury to further that election by his owne presence And the monkes 〈…〉 cretly they had chosen another before whose name was 〈◊〉 Sub-prior of the house and with the same secresie had 〈…〉 away towards Rome for his confirmation with oath 〈◊〉 should not disclose himself vntill he came thither yet 〈◊〉 ly vpon offence taken with him for discouering himself 〈…〉 election in Flaunders and partly vpon the instance and 〈…〉 the King present they chose the said Bishop of Norwich 〈◊〉 him his letters of election in like manner with which the King presently sent him away to Rome adioyning speciall messengers of his owne to commend him to Pope Innocentius by all me●●es possible for his admittance 57. But the Pope seeing two elections made by the monk●●● 〈◊〉 two seuerall men and that the Couent was deuided vpon the matter he persuaded them for concordes sake to choose a 〈◊〉 and to leaue the former two and so at last they did and tooke● certaine English Cardinall then in Rome named Stephen Long●●● a man of great learning and most commendable life but not knowne or liked by the King both for that he had byn brought vp in the vniuersityes of France and not of England and for that the King could not brooke that the election which he had ●●●cured with so great diligence of the Bishop of Norwich should be reiected whervpon he fell into so great distemper of passion as was lamentable For first hauing made proclamation that the said Cardinall elected Archbishop and confirmed by the Pope and sent into France should not come into England 〈◊〉 receiued by any man vnder paine of death he sent his officers to Cāterbury to sease both on the lāds of the Archbishopricke ●● also of the monkes and to driue them out of the Realme with all the shame and vexation that might be and so they did And the said expulsed monkes were forced to fly ouer the sea to 〈◊〉 and liued for the time in the monastery of S. Berlin in that Ci●●● and the King commaunded to be put into that Couent 〈◊〉 religious men of the order of S. Angustine and more then this 〈◊〉 to that exasperation
declared 〈…〉 proofes demonstrations so 〈…〉 ted many other for breuityes sake the 〈…〉 tion being so apparant as there vvas 〈…〉 co●firme the same wheras on the contrary side M. Attorney sheweth himself so poore weake needy naked in his proofes as he hath alleadged only hitherto but foure instances or examples out of all these six hundred years that may seem somewhat to fauour him though indeed they doe nothing at all as in their places hath byn declared But now from this King downward we shall haue somewhat more store laid togeather by him out of peeces or raggs of Statutes though as little effectuall to proue his purpose as the other before recited and refuted 2. To begin then with young K. Henry who was but entred into the tenth yeare of his age when the scepter was deliuered vnto him and raigned somewhat more then 56. years He was crowned at Glocester after the death of his Father by one parte of the Realme that followed him and this especially as hath byn said through the presence authority of the forsaid VVallo Pope Innocentius his Legat who earnestly persuaded and inuited all sortes of people to follow and obey this young King and to forsake Prince Lewes of France that had London and the South-partes of England deliuered vnto him And finally denounced excommunication vpon all those that resisted this K. Henry therby drew at length all the Lords and Barons of England in effect to returne vnto him and was cheife Gouernour both of the said Kings person and Realme for a time togeather with some of the English nobility as before hath byn declared 3. Neither shall it be needfull heere to set downe the particulars of his said Coronation with the ordinary oath which all Kings tooke humbly vpon their knees before the high Altar and vpon the holy Euangelists to maintaine the liberties of the Church and to doe iustice to all sortes of men which for me we hauing set downe in the life of K. Iohn this mans Father some other Kings before may serue for an ●xample of all the rest Onlie there is to be noted as particular in this mans coronation that presentlie after his said oath he added this clause as Matthew Paris setteth it downe Deinde fecit homagium Sancta Romanae Ecclesiae Innocentio Papae c. Then he did homage to the holie Roman Church and to Innocentius the Pope therof for his Kingdomes of England and Ireland sware that he would faithfullie paie euerie yeare those thousand markes of tribute which his Father K. Iohn had giuen vnto the said Church c. Which is the first solemne homage that we read to haue been made by any King for temporall obedience vnto the Church of Rome in their coronation For albeit K. Henrie the 2. in his sorrowfull epistle before mentioned to Pope Alexander the 3. when he was in his greatest affliction wrote as Petrus Blesensis setteth it downe who was his secretarie Vestrae Iurisdictionis est Regnum Augliae quantem ad seudatorij iuris obligationem vobis duntaxat obnoxius teneor astringor The Kingdome of England is of your iurisdiction and to you onlie am I bound as subiect for so much as appertaineth to the obligation of feudatorie right yet is this by most men vnderstood to be meant by that King either in respect of that ancient voluntarie tribute before mentioned of Peter-pence or els of some particular agreement made between the said Pope Alexander and him vpon the controuersie about the death of S. Thomas of Canterbury 4. But we read no such thing continued by his sonnes after him vntill K. Iohn vpon the occasions before specified made this new couenant as hath byn declared Which yet afterward vpon the yeare of Christ 1245. and 29. of this Kings raigne when a Generall Councell was gathered by Pope Innocentius the 4. at Li●● in France VValsingham writeth that foure noble men togeather with the Kings aduocate or attorney VVilliam Powycke were sent by the King common cōsent of the Realme to the said Councell and Pope to contradict the said ordination and concession of K. Iohn as a thing that he could not doe without the consent of his whole Realme for many reasons which they alleadged And so we se that in this very contradiction what respect they bare ●oth to that Councell and head therof Innocentius the 4. to whose iudgmēt they were content to remit the matter And the Popes answere was saith VValsingham Remindigere m●r●sa deliberatione that the thing required a long deliberation and so left the matter in suspence for that time 5. But to returne to this yonge King againe who being first as hath byn said vnder the Gouernment of the Popes Legat the Earle of Pen-broke high Marshall of England and after his death which was vpon the 4. yeare of the said Kings raigne the Legats departure he was wholy vnder the gouernment of Peter Bishop of VVinchester vntill the yeare of Christ 12●3 and y. of his raigne at what tyme being 17. yeares old and feeling in himself a great desire to gouerne as young Princes are wont to doe thought to obtaine the same by the Popes authority and so sent priuie messengers to Rome to Pope Honorius the 3. saith Mathew Paris and requested at his hands for many reasons that he might be declared able to gouerne of himself togeather with his counsell and to receiue into his hands all those castles lands which diuers of his Barons did hold in his name from the tyme of his Fathers death Which thing was graunted him and the Popes Bull sent to the Archbishops Bishops Barons about the same with authority and commaundement to compell them by Censures to doe the same if any should refuse 6. And two yeares after this againe when he was 19. yeares old he calling a Parlament did decree and publish the famous great Charter called Magna Chaerta for the priuiledges of the Church as also the Charter of Forrests for the nobility and common people and many other things did happen in this time of his youth and non-age which doe euidently declare his dutifull respect vnto Ecclesiasticall power and especially to that of the Sea Apostolike not assuming to himself any peece or parcell therof And this might we easily declare by many examples wherin he proceeded as he was taught both by the presidence of his auncestors and by the common induction of religion and practice of all Christian Princes in those dayes and this as well after he came to full age as before and so continued vnto his dying day 7. And for that this mans raigne was large and of many years as hath byn said and if I should stand vpon particular proofes and examples of his acknowledgement of the supreme authority of the Sea of Rome and practice therof in all occasions it would be ouerlong and tedious therfore it shall be sufficient
pro eius anima deprecetur that such as passed by seing that crosse might pray for her soule And moreouer in particuler Stow out of auncient recordes doth affirme the said King to haue bestowed two mannors and nyne hamlets of land vpon the monastery of VVestminster for the keeping of yearely obits for the said Queene and for money to be giuen to the poore in almes 7. I leaue to speake of many other such actions of his as that he procured amongst other things the solemne most honourable translations of the bodyes of three English saints in his dayes S. Richard Bishop of Chichester S. Hugh Bishop of Lincolne and S. VVilliam Archbishop of Yorke He consented also and concurred that Q Eleanor his mother should leaue her Princely state and dignity and to be veyled Nunne in the Monastery of Almesbury and enioy her dowry which was great that she had in England all dayes of her life which was also confirmed to her by the Popes authority saith Mathew VVestminster yea and soone after he consented in like manner that his owne dearest daughter the Lady Mary also to whom he had designed a great and high state by marriage should follow the like profession of religions life in the same monastery though in this later he had much more difficulty to wynne himself to consent thervnto then in the former 8. And finally this other act also may be added for a full complement of his piety when he was in good tune which is recorded by the said Mathew of VVestminster that liued at the same time and perhaps was present that in the yeare of Christ 1297. which was the tenth before he dyed being to passe ouer the seas towards his warrs and hauing extremely vexed his people both spiritualty and temporalty with heauy exactions for the same and in particular broken grieuously with Robert VVinchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury he being now ready to departe called all the people togeather vpon the 13. of Iuly before the great hall of VVestminster and there standing vp vpon a certayne scaffolde of timber the said Archbishop of Canterbury newly reconciled vnto him remaining on the one side and the Earle of VVarwicke on the other and his little Prince Edward before him Erumpentibus lachrymis saith our Author veniam de commissis humiliter postulauit c. the teares breaking forth he did most humbly aske forgiuenes of his subiects for all that he had committed against them confessing that he had not gouerned them so well and quietly as became a King to doe but had taken their goods from them c. Adding further and saying Beholde I go now to expose my self and my life to danger for you wherefore I aske at your hands that if I returne againe you will receaue me in the place that now you hold me and I shall restore vnto you againe all that I haue taken from you and if I returne not then take this my childe and crowne him for your King Whervnto the Archbishop weeping abundantly answered that it should be so and the people with crying out and casting vp their armes promised fidelity and obedience vnto his ordination So Mathew VVestminster And this for his piety 9. But of the other point of his peremptory and violent proceeding diuers times with his subiects there want not also many examples especially in exacting often and great subsidies at their hands for his warrs of France Scotland and VVales wherin he was continually imployed was the first King in deed that euer brought VVales to be wholy subiect to England Lecline the last Prince therof being taken and slaine and his brother Dauid likewise apprehended and put to death in London by the same K. Edward 10. Alexander also King of Scotland being deceased and all his issue extinguished K. Edward as chiefe Lord tooke vpon him to decide that controuersie for the succession and in the end determined the matter in fauour of Iohn Baliol Earle of Galloway against Robert Bruse Earle of Valenand that pretended the same And albeit the whole nobility and people of Scotland bound themselues by obligation which our historyes doe set downe to stand to the iudgement of the said K. Edward yet in the end they would not but assisted the said Bruse made recourse to Pope Boniface the 8. to prohibite K. Edward to proceed in that matter and to commaund him to surcease from his warrs against Scotland which they pretended to be in the protection of the Sea of Rome and finally after much bloudshed and infinite expences both in this Kings tyme and his successours the of-spring of Bruse preuayled in that Countrey 11. But now as I said in respect of these warrs and many necessityes theron depending K. Edward was forced greatly to presse his people with exactions and to make them forfaite and buy againe their libertyes especially that of Magna charta and of the Charter of Forrest which as voluntarily he set forth and published in the beginning of his raigne as you haue heard so afterward the same not being obserued vpon instant suites of his people and nobility and contributions graunted him for the renouation therof he confirmed it two or three tymes in his life as often reuoked the same againe vntill he had more money And last of all in the yeare 1307. which was the last of his raigne he sued to the Pope for a dispensation of his oath made in that behalfe to keepe the said Charters priuiledges affirming them to be made against his wil by force of his peoples importunity 12. We reade also that in the yeare 1278. and sixt of his raigne he did depriue many famous Monasteryes saith Mathew of VVestminster of their auncient accustomed libertyes namely among others the Monastery of VVestminster wherin he had receaued saith he both baptisme confirmation and coronation and wherin his Fathers and other his auncestours bodyes lay And moreouer in the yeare 1295. he vsed great violence to all Monkes and religious men that were strangers and had their Monasteryes buylded by straungers in England for he tooke their Monasteries and goods from them allowing only to euery Monke 18. pence a weeke for his mayntenaunce for a tyme the next yeare after he commaunded vpon the suddaine all the Monasteryes of England to be searched and all their treasure to be taken violently and to be brought to London to his Exchequer for the charges of his said warrs And two yeares after this againe the same King holding his Parlament at S. Edmunds-bury and demaunding a great contribution of his people the Clergy denyed it pretending a new commaundement and constitution lately made by Pope Bonifacius the eight wherby he did forbid vnder paine of excommunication that any such exactions should be paid by Ecclesiasticall men without consent of the Sea Apostolicke wherat King Edward being offended though he would not contradicte the said constitution yet he
note more diligently such matters doe in great parte faile vs. For that Mathew of VVestminster endeth with King Edward the first as the other Mathew Paris before him did with this mans father K. Henry the third and Roger Houeden before him againe with K. Iohn and VVilliam Nubergensis Petrus Blesensis before them with K. Richard ● VVilliam of Malmesbury Henry Huntington as also Florentius VVigorniensis with his continuance made an end of their historyes partly vnder K. Stephen and partly vnder K. Henry the first so as now downe-ward from this King Edward the second we shall only haue Raynulph of Chester and Thomas VValsingam for the most ancient writers of this time that doth ensue who yet are nothing so copious or diligent as diuers of the former 41. This Edward therefore second of that name and surnamed of Carnaruan for that he was borne in that towne of VVales when his Father lay with an army in those partes to reduce that countrey to subiection as he did who being of the age of twenty three yeares when his father dyed vpon the borders of Scotland in the yeare 1307. receauing two speciall things in charge saith VValsingam from his Father vnder paine of his curse The first that the should prosecute presently and end the enterprize began against Scotland before he went to London or procured to be crowned the second that he should not touche or waste but send to the holy land a certaine summe of money which his said Father had layed togeather for the assistance of that warr to the which he had purposed to goe himself in person if he had liued Wherevnto Iohn Stow addeth a thirde in these wordes His father charged him on his curse that he should not presume to call home Pierce of Gaueston by common decree banished without common consent c. Notwithstanding all these admonitions and threats this careles young Prince performed no one thing of the three but got himself presently into France and there was married in Bullen vnto Lady Isabell only daughter of Philip the fourth surnamed the faire King of France and in that marriage and triumphe therof spent the foresaid money which prospered afterwarde accordingly for that this marriage and wife was the cause and occasion not only of his ouerthrow and miserable ruine but of all the warrs in like manner that ensued for many yeares after betwene France England For that shee being the only daughter and heire as hath byn said to the King of France her sonne Edward the third in her title began first the said warrs which brought finally the losse not only of that which was gotten of new but of all the rest that we had before in France and shee taking a deepe disgust with her said husband for his disordinate affection to Pierce Gaueston whome presently after his fathers death he recalled from banishment the two Spencers and others misliked by her and the greater parte of the Realme shee finally after many troubles warrs insurrections and great store of Noble-men cut of and destroyed on both partes preuailed against the said King her husband and hauing on her side the authority of her young sonne the Prince and all his followers did put downe the said King depriued him of his crowne sett vp her young sonne in his place committed the other to prison where soone after he was pitifully murthered And these are the varietyes of worldly fortunes these the frailtyes and vncerteintyes of earthly Greatnes And where King Edward placed all his pleasure from the same spring issued forth the beginning and progresse of all his miserie 42. But as for his religion and iudgement therein notwithstanding all other his errours in life and behauiour that it was constantly Catholicke according to that which he had receaued and inherited from his Ancestours no doubt can be made at all For that the whole State of his realme touching Ecclesiasticall affaires remained as he found it and as it had continued in the tymes of his progenitours and that the Bishops of Rome had generall authority ouer England in his dayes not only in meere spirituall iurisdiction which all the Bishops of England professed to receaue from him but also in externall disposing when he would of Bishoprickes and other Prelacies notwithstanding all the complaints made in his Fathers and Grand-fathers tymes about that matter may be made euident by many examples 43. For first we reade that in the yeare 1311. when Pope Clement the fifth in a Councell at Vienna in France vpon many graue and vrgent causes as was pretended alleadged did put downe the whole order of knights called Templarij for that their first institution was to haue care to defend the Temple of Ierusalem against infidells and did appoint their lands which were many and great to be giuen to an other newer order which then begun named Hospitalary for that they had the care of the hospitals wherein Pilgrims were receaued which now are the knights of S. Iohn of Malta albeit this matter were of such importance and consequence for that the persons were many and of nobility and their possessions great as hath byn said yet was that Decree obeyed in England without resistance and the persons depriued and put to perpetuall pennance in a Councell at London anno 1311. and their said lands and goods giuen to the other sorte of knights and confirmed by Parlament in London 13. yeares after to wit in the yeare of Christ 1324. which was the 17. of King Edwards raigne as VValsingam and others doe testifie which well declareth what the Popes authority was at that day in England 44. Againe we reade that in the yeare 1319. which was the 12. of this Kings raigne great warre being betwene England Scotland King Edward had procured that Pope Iohn the 22. should send two Cardinall-Legates into England to examine the matter how it stood and to punish by Ecclesiasticall Censures that party that should be found stubborne and repugnant to reason Wher vpon finally hauing heard both sides and finding Robert Bruse King of Scotland to haue offered iniuryes to the King of England they pronounced sentence of excommunication against him and put the whole Kingdome vnder interdict For releasing wherof the said King Robert and the State of Scotland 4. yeares after sent a solemn embassage to the Pope to wit the Bishop of Glasco Earle of Murray which being vnderstood by King Edward he sent also a messenger on his behalfe to contradicte the same And albeit him Embassadour saith our Story in dignity were but a simple Priest yet so many reasons and accusations he alleadged against them● or K. Edward and his c●u●e as the Scottish Embassadours ●●ld obteyne no release at that time And this for the Popes au●●●●●●y in those dayes for publicke affaires 45. But as for priuate matters of England especially the disposing of Bishoprickes confirmation inuestitures of all Bishops 〈◊〉
now that this authority was no new thing or to vse his words not a Statute introductorie of a new but declaratorie of an old and that the same was conforme to the auncient laws of England acknowledged and practised by all her auncestors Kings of the same and that the difference of her sex as they had qualified the matter and couched their words did hinder nothing at all the acceptance of this authority shee was content to lett it passe admitt therof for the time though I haue beene most credibly informed by such as I cannot but beleiue therein considering also her forsaid sharpenes and pregnancie of witt that vpon diuers occasions especially for some yeares after the beginning of her raigne she would in a certaine manner of pleasantnes iest thereat herself saying Looke what a head of the Church they haue made mee 37. And to the end that no man may imagine that these things some other which heer I am to touch of the good dispositiō this deceased Princesse had of her self towards Catholicke religion at the beginning of her raigne and for diuers yeares after if she might haue been permitted to her owne inclination are fayned I doe affirme vpon my conscience in the sight of him that is author of all truth and seuere reuenger of all false-hood that nothing hereof is inuented or framed by mee but sincerely related vpon the vndoubted testimonies of such as reported the same out of their owne knowledge As for example that not longe before the death of Q. Marie a cōmission being giuen to certaine of the priuie Counsell to goe and examine the said Ladie Elizabeth at her howse of Hat-field not far from London when other matters had been debated shee taking occasion to talke with one of them a part in a window said vnto him with great vehemencie of spirit and affliction of mynd as it seemed laying her hand vpon his Oh Syr and is it not possible that the Queen my sister will once bee persuaded that I am a good Catholicke Yes Madame quoth the Counsellor if your Grace bee so indeed God will moue her Maiestie to beleiue it Wherevpon the said Ladie both sware and protested vnto him that she did as sincerely beleiue the Roman Catholicke religion as anie Princesse could doe in the world in proofe thereof alleadged the order of her familie which was to heare masse euery daie and the most of them two one for the dead and the other for the liuing And this hath the said Counsellour oftentimes related vnto mee and others hee being a man of great grauity truth and sinceritie in his speeches 38. And cōforme to this I haue seen a letter written in Spanish from the said howse of Hat-field vnto K. Philip then in Flaunders by the Count of Fer●● afterward Duke and then Embassadour for the said King in England which letter was written vpon the 16. daie of Nouember in the yeare 1558. when Queen Marie being now extreme sicke and annealed out of all hope of life he went to visit the said Princesse Elizabeth from his Maister and relateth all the conference and speach he had with her and her answers to diuers points concerning her future gouernment with his opinion of the same both in matters of 〈◊〉 and religion concerning the latter wherof though hee discouered in her a great feeling and discontentment of certaine proceedings against her in her sisters time and therevpon did fore●●some troubles like to ensue to some of them that had been in ●●fe gouernment and namely to Cardinall Poole if he had liued 〈◊〉 wrtieth he that for the Principall points of Catholicke faith ●●en in controuersie he was persuaded she would make no great ●●teration and in particular he affirmeth that she protested vnto vnto him very sincerely that she beleiued the reall presence in the Sacrament after the words of consecration pronounced by the Priest 39. Which relation of this noble man is much consirmed by that which was written to the said Queene herself some six or seauen yeares after by Doctor Harding in his dedicatory epistle before the confutation of the English Apologie of the Church of England vpon the yeare 1565. wherin he commendeth her liking of her more sober preachers both allwayes heertofore saith he and specially on Good-friday last openly by words of thanks declared when one of a more temperate nature then the rest in his sermon before your maiesty confessed the Reall Presence So he And that this opinion and affection staied and perseuered with her euen vnto her old age by her owne confession I haue for witnes another Worshipfull knight yet aliue who vpon the truth of his conscience hath often protested vnto me that hauing occasion to walke talke with her and to discourse somewhat largely of forraine matters for that he was newly come frō beyond the seas in her garden at VVhitehall not aboue fiue or six yeres before her death relating vnto her among other things the iudgment and speaches of other Princes concerning her excellent partes of learning wisedome bewty affability variety of languages and the like but especially the speaches of certaine great Ladies to this effect vpon viewing of her picture the said knight seeing her to take much contentment therein and to demaund still greedily what more was said of her he thought good asking first pardon to ad the exception that was made by the said Ladies to wit how great pitty it was that so rare a Princesse should be stained with heresie wherat her Grace being much moued as it seemeth answered And doe they hold me for an heretick God knoweth what I am if they would let me alone and so auouched vnto him in particular that she beleiued the Reall presence in the Sacrament with other like protestations to that effect 40. And sundry yeares before this againe there being sent into England from France one Monsieur Lansacke of the French King Counsell that was Steward in like manner of the Queen-mothers houshould as before hath byn mētioned he was wont to recount testifie after his returne with great asseueration that hauing had confident speach with the Queen of England about matters of religion she told him plainely that which before we touched about her spirituall Supremacy to wit that she knew well inough that it belonged not to her but to S. Peter and his Successours but that the people and Parlament had layed it vpon her and would needs haue her to take and beare it Adding moreouer her Catholicke opinion about other points in controuersie also and namely about Praying to Saints affirming that euery day she prayed herself to our Blessed Lady And so far forth had she persuaded this to be true to this French Counsellour as he did not only beleiue it and reporte it againe with great confidence but was wont to be angry also with such as should seeme to make doubt of the truth therof among whome for
Hen. 1. Florent 〈…〉 an 1106. S. Anselm and the King reconciled Prosperous successe of K. Henry vpon his amendement Flo●ent VV●●● in Chron. an 1107. Malme●b in ●it Hen. 1. l. 3. Hovv K. Henry of cōscience resigned inuestitures Houeden part 1. a●nal fol. 272. The meeting of K. Henry and Pope Castus at Gesòrse in Normādy Mal. lib. 5. annal in vita Henr. 1. Polid. virgil l. de inuento●ib Retū Gratian disti●● 65. cap. 22. Adrian Sigebert in Cron anno 1111. Baron in annal an 774. The beginning of inuestitures by secular Princes The vse of Inuestitures graunted only by the Se● Apostolicke Malmesb. l. 5. hist. in vit ●en ● fol. 94. A consideration of much moment Florent in ●●on 〈◊〉 ●11 1213. Diuers proofes of K Henry acknovvledging the Popes Supremacy The Charter of Hen. I founder of the Abbey of Reading in the 26. yeare of his raigne and an Dom. 1125. VVeake and impertinent proofe Founders had authority to giue Charters Supra cap. ● This in●●●nce of ●o valevv Supra Ibid. K. Stephen began his raigne an ●●35 and held it 1● yeres and more vntill ●●54 Vncertainty of humane designement● Malmesb. in Stephene Malmesb. l. 1. Hist. Nouell Malmesb. Ibid. The oath of K. Stephen for the libertyes of the Church Malmesb. Ibid lib. 1. Nouell Inconstancy of King Stephen by euill coūsailors A violent act of K. Stephen Malmesb. Ibidem The K. cited to appeare before the Bishopps The kings plea by his Attourney before the Bishops K. Stephen grāted an appeale to Rome but doubteth the same Differēce betvvixt K. Stephens Attourney and ours Ibidem Florent an 11●9 VValsingh in ●pod●g Neustriae an 1142. VVilliam Archb. of York the Kings nephevv depriued by the Sea Apostolick Nuberg l. 1. hist. caep 1● 26. Pol●d l. 12. hist. versus finen● Be●●ard epist ●●4 235 237 238. 139. 251. This King raigned from the yeare 1154. vnto 1189. vvhich vvas 35. years K. Henry his temporall greatnes Nubergens l. 3. c. 25. The same handleth much more largely Petrus Bles●●sis Archdeacō of Bath that vvas his latin Secretary many years epist. 47. K Henry punished in that vvherin he tooke most delight Rhetemag Lexomen epist and Henr. 2 ep●●t 253. apud Ble●●●s ●ct Blese● epis●●la 164. Excōmunication threatned to the Queene Stovv in v●● Henr. 2. Nuberg l. 3. 6. 25. K. Henry his lamētable end His vertues Lavves attempted by King Henry against the Church K. Henry vehement contentiō to haue these lavves take place 〈◊〉 port 2. A●nal in ●● 1164. K. Henry the secōd made Legate of the Pope K. Henry his humility to the 〈◊〉 Apostolick K. Henry himselfe appealeth to the Pope Houed part 2. annal in v●● H. 2. K. Henry appealeth the secōd time K Henry commeth from Ireland to appeare before the Popes Legates Pet. Bloson Epist. 136. The purgation absolutiō of King Henry A circumstance notably cōmending the true obedience of K. Henry to the Church of Rome Pet. ●●esen ●pistola 136. A letter of K Henry the secōd to the Pope vvritten in great affliction Stovv a● 1160. K. Henry founded al his state vpon the Popes authority Houed in vi● Hon. 2. VValsing in Ypod●g●● noustr an 1177. Di●erse things done by authoritye of the Pope in England The straites vvhervnto King Henry vvas driuen VVasing in Ypodig 〈◊〉 an 11●4 K. Henry strangely deliuered The earnest and ● syncere penaunce● of King Henry The vvonderfull successes of K. Hen. vpon his penance See Nuberg l. 2. hist. ● 25. 33. ● Blesensi● epist. 153. This King raigned from the yere 11●9 vntil 1199. that is 10. yeres Misfortunes of K. Richard King Richard deuout and obedient to the Church of Rome See Blesen epist. 64. ad Celest. PP Reg. Ho●ed part 2. Annal. in vit Rich. 2. King Richards behauiour oath at his coronation King Richard goeth to Ierusalem by the Popes procurement The Kingdom commended to the Popes protectiō See Houed and math Paris anno 1190. Houed i● vit Rich. 1. fol. 375. Diuers Appellations from the King to the Pope Houed Ibid. fol. 376. King Richard sent his mother to Rome to entreate the Pope Houed part 2. An. pag. 392. Houeden Ibid. fol. 326. King Richardes letter to P. Clement the 3. Pope Celestines letter to the Realme of England The Bishop of Ely fauored defended by the Pope and the King Nubergens reiū Angl. l. 4. cap. 17. Geffrey the kinges brother by authority of the P. made Archbishop of Yorke Nubergens Ibidem cap. 25. King Richards fortunes letted by his brothers ambition enuy of the K of France King Richards captiuity in Austria See Pet. Blesen epest 144. ad Celest. PP Q Eleanores cōplaints vnto Pope Celestinus ●les epist. 145. Q. Eleanora her petition to Pope Celestinus Ibid. epist. 146. Matt. 16. Epist. 6● ad Celest. ●P The speach of the Archbishop of Reane in K. Richards behalfe cōcerning S. Peters povver Sap. ●●p 6. 〈◊〉 10. A manifest inference vpō the premises against M Attorney Hou●d in vt R●●● 1. fol. 445. Hovv small and little spirituall iurisdiction King Richard pretended Paris i● vit Rich. 8. Hunting and hauking reproued by the Pope in our English Bishops ●●u●d in vita Ru●ar 1. fol. 428. Ibid. fol. 176. Geffrey restored to his Bishopricke by Pope Innocentius Disgust appeale of the Archb. of Roane against K. Richard This King began his raigne an 1199. and raigned 18. yeres vnto an 1216. Variablenes of K. Iohn The pretences of the Dolphin of France to England K. Iohns obeyng the Sea Apostolick Houed 2. part Annal. fol. 458. K. Iohn pretended no supremacy Ecclesiasticall A councel h●ld against the kings prohibition Houed in vi● Ioan. fol. 461. The piety of K. Iohn in the beginning of his raigne K. Iohne humility and liberalitye K. Io●ns mutation to the vvorse See vvalsing in ●pedig anno 1204. and Math. Paris anno 2215. The first occasiō of K. Iohns breach vvith the Church churchmen Great offence and indignation of K. Iohn against Clergie men Houed Ibid. Many vvish that Pope Innocentius had dealt more myldly vvith K. Iohn Extreme acts of K. Iohn in his indignation Paris in vit Ioan. an 1210. Paris Ibid. an 1212. Math Paris Ibid Paris anno 1213. in vit Ioan. King Iohn offered subiection to the K. of the Moores The strāge cōtrariety of King Iohn The aydea that King Iohn receaued from P. Innocentius The church-liberties confirmed by K. Iohn and the Pope Paris an a● 15. See Fox his pageants of the toade skinned to prepare the poisō vvith other circūstances pag. 133. of his Acts and monuments All anciēt English lavves against M. Attorney K. Henry the third began his raigne 1216 and dyed anno 1●7● hauing 56. yeres The coronation beginning of King Henry the third Math. Paris in vit Hen. 3. an 1216. Temporal homage done to the Sea Apostolick by King Henry the third Bles epist. 136. ad Alex. PP Vvalsing●m in 〈◊〉 Nous●ria
anno 1245. Ibidem K. Henry obtaineth of the P. to be accompted of ful age Paris in 〈◊〉 Hen. 3. an 122● The beginning of the great Charter for church priuiledges VValsingh in vi●a Edvvards prim●● initi● E●ypodig N●u 〈◊〉 an 1274. The deuout behauiour of K. Henry 3. Conferēce betvvene K. Henry aud S. Levves K. of France Paris anno 12●4 in vst Hen. 3. The vtilities by our English Kinges deuotion to Rome Paris Ibid. The Ciuil vvarrs of England vnder K. Henry the third The points vvherin the soueraignty of the Sea of Rome vvas seene The manner of Ecclesiastical elections vnder K. Henry 3. The manner of placing a Bishop of Durham Paris in vit Henr. 3. an 1226. 1228. An other example of the prouision of the Church of Canterbury Ibidem Richard of Canterbury appealeth to Rome against K. Henry 3. Paris an 1231. in vit Henr. 3. Tvvo elected Archbishops of Canterbury refused by the Pope Paris anno 1232. Hovv obedient K. Henry vvas to the Sea of Rome Cōplaints of English-men against strāgers● in England Math. Paris anno 1244. The louing and obedient letter of K. Henry vnto Pope Innocentius Cōplaints made to the Councell and Pope himselfe of abuses Paris anno 1245. The popes seuerall orders for prouiding for Englishmen Generall consent of vv●●ting to the Sea of Rome for remedye of agrieuāces Math. Paris Anno. 1146. The beginning originall cause of al restraints Mag. C●art cap. 1. The statutes of K. Henry all in fauour of the Clergye 2. H. 3. tit Prohibitiō 13. 4. H. 3. Ibidem 15. 15. H. 3. tit Prohibitiō 22. Regist. fol. The explication of the lavv Stat. an 9. 〈◊〉 6. cap. 11. Spirituall co●●tes superior to the tēporall Hovv spirituall Courtes are the Kings courtes M. Attorneys inference hovv it holdeth and holdeth not Diuers examples ouerthrovving M. Attorneys commentarye Paris anno 1●32 The King obeyed the Bishop of London in restoring Earle Hubert Paris Ibid. K Henry obeyed the B. of London in spirituall matters The Bishops refuse to excommunicate at the Kings appointment Paris anno 1234. S. Edmōd Archb. of Canterbury threatneth excōmunication to the King if he obey him not Paris anno 1215. pag. 656. K. Henry obeyed the Deane of Paules in spirituall authority The Statute of Merton an 20. Hen. 3. This instance proueth nothing See the Code l. 5. tit 27. log 1. Constant lib. 5. Imper. Ze 1. lib. 10. Imper. Iustin. Nouell constit 89. de natural liberis §. Siquis igitur c. Lib. 4. Decret tit 17. cap. 6. * Cap. Cōquestus est * Cap. 13. Per venerabilem Ilidom Cap. 7. Causam quae M. Attorney mistaketh and mis-relateth the matter This King began his raigne an 1272. and raigned 35. yeares vntill 1307. Stovv in vita Edouards pr●●● King Edvvard surnamed Long-shanke Deuotion of K. Edvvard Magna Charta VValsingam in vitae Edvvards p. anno 1191. King Edvvard praied and gaue almes for his Queenes soule Crosses erected VVorkes of piety of King ●dvvard VVestmon in he● or maiori in vita Edou primi Vestmonasteriensis anne 1197. A pious patheticall speach of King Edvvard King Edvvardes occasions of dealing in VVales and Scotland VValsingam anno 1292. in vita Edouards King Edvvardes mutabilitie in keeping priuiledges Math. Vestmonast VValsingam anno 1307. Math. Vestmon an 1278. Violent proceeding of K. Edvvard A sleight of K. Edvvard against the Clergie In anno 1294. A Knight sent to force the Monkes of VVestminster to yelde by feare to the Kings vvill In meere spirituall things the King neuer made difficulty to obey the Sea of Rome VValsingam eodem anno Diuers Bishopricks disposed of by Popes vnder K. Edvvard the first King Edvvardes deuotion tovvards the first Pope in Auinion King Edvvard accused the Archb. of Canterbury vnto the Pope VVestmonast eodem anno The great respect borne to the Sea of Rome by King Edvvarde An Embassadge sent by K. Edvvard to excuse himselfe to the Pope Thomas VValsingam in an 1308. The manner of vvriting of K Edvvard and his nobility to P. Bonifacius Math Vestmonaster Thom. Valsing in an 1301. 1302. King Edvvards lavves in preiudice of the Clergy of England Vide 3 Edo 5. ●● Ass pl. 19. Brooke tit premunire pl. 10. Note this vvas vva ●y the common-lavv of England before any statute made Cōmon-lavv must haue some birth or beginning VVestmonasteriensis an 1197. A cleere ouerthrovv of M. Attorneys assertion In vvhat sense the publishing of a Bul might be punished in K. Edvvards dayes Reportis fol. 15. 31. 〈◊〉 ● tit ●●com 6. ● instance 15. Edouar tit Quare non admisit 7. Vide 39. Edou 3. 20. Note 1. ansvvere Cōmon-lavves imagined but not extant Anno ● Edouards ter●●i stat 2. cap. 2. Seasing of Bishops landes Anno. 14. Edo 3. stat 3. pro Clero Hovv Bishops might be punished for not admitting the Kings iust presentatiō Supra cap. praeced The Archbishop of Canterbury depriued of his spiritual iurisdiction by Q Elizabeth anno 1580. The statu●e of 〈…〉 an 〈…〉 vnderstoode in vvhat sen● should ●e receiued allou●ed h●ere Lib. 1. Decretalium Gregorie tit 21. The Decree against Bigamy In 6 Decre alium ●●● tit de Bigamis The true state of the case and doubt risen in England A poore commentary and shifte of M. Attorney Hovv M. Attorney straineth the ●ext to helpe himself 4 instance Statutum de anno 25. Edou● 1. Carlile vide 20. Edouar 3. tit Essom 24. Nota. The first attēpte vvas to vsurpe vpon such Ecclesiasticall things as appertayned to the Clergy of England vvho at that tyme stood in great avve of the church of Rome The ansvvere to the fourth Instance of M Attorney Incōueniences by promoting strangers in England Diuers agreemēts for prouision of Benefices VVest monast anno 1307. Remedy sought from the Pope himselfe VValsing Ibidem See statute anno 25. Edouards 3. The statute of Carleile maketh nothing for M. Attourney This King began his raigne an 1307. and raigned 19. yeres to vvitt vntill 1326. Ancient English vvriters vvhen the end VValsing in 〈◊〉 1307. Stovv in Edouardo p. ●●●ine vita The ill successe of King Edvvardes marriage ●n France The suppression of the Knights of the Temple VValsi●gam in storia Ed●u●r● 2. anno 1311. 1●24 ●o●dor Stovv Ibidem Recourse made to the Pope by Englād and Scotland in their greatest controuersies VValsing anno 1319. 1323. The ● of Canterbury made by the Popes prouision The Bishop of Hereford taken frō the barre by Ecclesiasticall authority The statute of Edvv. 2. articuli ●l●●i cap. 36. Eos the ordinance of circumspecté agatis ●do 1. so this effect ●y this statute of the ● of Ed. 2. and 15. of Edvv. 3. cap. 6. 31. E. 3. cap. 11. and by other statutes heretofore mentioned the iurisdiction of the Ecclesiasticall courtes i● allovved vvarranted by consent of Parlament in all cases vvherein they novv haue iurisdiction so as these lavves may be iustly called
inuisibilitie in those ages but novv she is become visible in our daies Nay you doe set her forth vvith so great an enlargement of greatnes and glorious apparence as you say she is more extended now then ours For that quoth you vve haue all England all Scotland all Germany all Denmarke all Poland a great part of France and some part of Italie VVherein your large extension of your Church in this second parte of your Relation if vve could beleeue you is no lesse strange then vvas your restriction of her secresie and inuisibilitie in the first For vvho vvil graunt you al England for Protestants vvhen they shall see so many prouisions made against both English Catholickes Puritanes vvhich later part of men as vvel as the former that they cānot make one Church vvith you shall presētlie be shevved in the Preface of this vvorke 30. Hovv you haue all Germany for youres there being so manie religions and the greatest parte Catholicke and other different Sects greatlie disagreeing from you I knovv not by vvhat figure you can make your Reader to beleeue that you speake truth The like I saie of Denmarke vvhere al are Lutheranes and not of your Church nor vvill it admit Caluinistes to dvvell or dy or be buried amongst them Of all Poland it is a notable hyperbole for so much as both the King ●●d State professe publicklie the Catholicke reli●●on and the Sectaryes that are in that kingdome ●●e Trinitarians Arrians Anabaptists more perhaps ●●nuber then Caluinistes I marueile you omitted ●●ecia and Noruegia vvhere as they are not Catho●●●kes so are they not of your religion or Church 〈◊〉 nor those of France neither though they be ●●luinistes for as for your some parte of Italie I ●old to be no parte at all nor vvas it anie thing ●se but a certaine ouerflovving of your speach to ●ake the full sound of a greater number the Pro●●stants of France I say cannot make one Church ●●ith you as neither those of Scotland vvith the residue of Holland Zealand and other of ●●ose Prouinces vnited of Geneua as their Mo●●er-Church these I say being all Puritanes ●●d Precisians cannot make any Church vvith ●ou in that vnion of faith and doctrine vvhich ●●e vnity of a Church requireth as by your and ●●eir ovvne confession vvritinges testimonyes ●●d protestations is extant in the vvorld to be ●●ene Wherefore I shall desire the intelligent Rea●●r to make vvith me a briefe recollection about ● Attorneyes doctrine for his Church First he ●●aunteth as you haue heard the Roman Church 〈◊〉 haue byn the true Mother-Church for diuers ●ges togeather spread ouer the vvhole vvorld dilated throughout all Prouinces perspicuous eminent and admirable in florishing glorie by the greatnes and multitude of her children professing Christ euery-vvhere in vnion of faith doctrine and Sacraments as the holie Fathers i● those ages and others ensuing doe testify vnto vs 32. Secondlie he vvill haue this glorious Churc● so to haue fallen sicke pyned and vvithered● vvay vvithout groaning and so to haue vanishe● out of mens sightes as she could not be knovvn vvhere she vvas for many hundred yeares togeather nay he vvill haue her to be like a wedge o● golde so corrupted and mingled vvith lead an● tinne as no man can tell vvhere the gold lieth except he try it vvith the touch-stone vvhich touch stone in our case he saith to be the scripture vvhereby the Church must by euerie man be tryed and touched so as ech one that vvill knovv this Church and haue benefit from the same mus● touch her first see vvhether she be the Church or no and so in-steed of submitting himself vnto her and to be directed by her he must first mak● himselfe touch-maister and Iudge ouer her 33. Thirdlie M Attorney hauing shifted of this time of the inuisibility of his Church in this sort he novv in this last age maketh her so visible againe vpon the suddaine as that she comprehendeth all the Churches of the aforenamed King●●mes of vvhat Sect or profession soeuer so that ●●●y differ from the Catholicke vvhich are some ●●ne or ten Sectes at the least al dissenting amōg ●●●mselues professing in their vvritings actes ●●d doings that they are not of one religion nor ●●nsequentlie can be of one Church and yet e●●●ie one goeth vvith his touch-stone in his hand 〈◊〉 vvit the Bible as vvell as M. Attorney and are ●eady to touch him and his Church as he them ●●d theirs but vvith different effect and successe 〈◊〉 he fyndeth by this touchstone as you haue ●●ard that all they are of his Church but they ●●d euery one of them by the same touch-stone ●●e fynde the contrary and not one of them vvill ●●unt I saie not one of all the vvhole number of nevv Sectes that the Church of Englād as novv standeth is either the true Church of Christ or ●●eir Church and in this I dare ioyne issue vvith ● Attorney out of their ovvne bookes assertions ●●d protestations So as novv M. Attorney that vvhich in the ●●●iptures is so memorable of it self so commen●●d by Christ our Sauiour so respected by the A●●stles so testifyed and defended by the primitiue ●artyrs so magnifyed by the ancient Doctors ●●d Fathers and by all good Christians so reue●●nced and dreaded I meane the glorious name ●f the Catholicke and vniuersall Church and the benefit to be in her and of her vvithout vvhich no saluation can be hoped for of Christ but ineuitable and euerlasting perdition by vvhich on the other side and in which saluation onlie maie be attained all this I saie is come to be so poore base and contemptible a thing vvith you and so vncertayne as you knovv not vvhere your Church is nor greatlie care so that at all she be and vvhen you name your Sectary-brethren and associates therein they denie you and your alliance as you see and vvhen you assigne your touch-stone of scriptures they vse the same against you and proue thereby youres to be no Church and ech one of themselues in seuerall to be the onlie true and Christian Church And this haue you gained by leauing the Roman vvhich you graunt in old times to haue byn the holy mother-Church see vvherevnto you are come and this shall suffice for this matter 35. This epistle vvould grovv ouerlong if I should entertaine my self in all the impertinent speeches vvhich you had that daie in your glorie as it semeth against Catholickes the least parte vvhereof did in vvise-mens sightes concerne the prisoner at the barre though by your Rhetoricall application all vvas dravven vpon him by hooke or by crooke for that Yorke VVilliams Colen Squiar and Lopus vvere brought in squadron to muster there to that effect vvherof all notvvithstanding except the last are defended and their conspiracies most euidentlie proued to haue byn feygned by a learned vvorthy and vvorshipfull gentleman of our Countrey dedicated these yeares past to the Lords of the late
and brought into vse how far the execution of ech parties authoritie should be extēded in certaine inferiour things that might seeme either mixt or doubtful as by many examples both in France Spaine Sicily Naples Flaunders England and other countreys may be declared Whervpon notwithstanding daylie wee see sundry difficulties sutes and controuersies to arise 41. Some States also and Catholike Kingdomes haue made certaine Decrees or Restraints at sometimes de facto whether rightfully or noe I will not now dispute for preuentinge and remedyinge some pretended inconueniences in the exercise of certaine points of the Popes Authority within their said Realmes Some other also pretend to haue done the same with indult consent transaction or conuiuency of the Pope himself But none of all these which is the mayne pointe did euer deny or call in question the said Authoritie it self as after shall appeare but rather did many wayes acknowledge and confesse the same and of this kind of Restrictions or Interpretations are the most part of these few peeces of Decrees and Statutes Customes Laws or Ordinances that M. Attorney doth alleadge which make nothing at all for the proofe of his mayne question that our English Kings before and after the Conquest did take vpon themselues supreame Spirituall Authoritie as deriued from the Right of their Crowne nay rather they make fully against him for that the very manner of making these restraintes first by way of supplication to the Popes themselues as after shall be shewed and then by domesticall ordinances doth well declare what opinion the said Princes had of that power to be in the said Popes not in themselues And this is so much as needeth to be said in this place for a generall light to the whole matter Now shall we passe ouer to treat of the particular occasion wherevpon M. Attorney thought good to ground his whole discourse of Q. Elizabethes Ecclesiasticall Authoritie as presently shall be declared THE PARTICVLAR STATE OF THE CONTROVERSY VVith M. Attorney concerning the late Queens Ecclesiasticall Povver by the auncient laws of England deduced out of the case of one Robert Caudery Clerke CHAP. III. MAister Attorney for preamble or entrance to his designed Argument against recusant Catholicks for that to be his purpose the end of his booke declareth he setteth down a pittifull case of one Robert Caudery Clerke depriued of his benefice or parsonage of North-looffennam in Ruland-shire by the Bishop of London as high Commissioner with consent of some of his associates authorized in Causes Ecclesiastical by a Commission of the late Queene graunted by her letters Patents the nynth day of December in the 26. yeare of her Raigne I doe call the case pittifull not so much in respect of the poore man depriued and vexed as after shall appeare but much more of the publike partiality appearing to haue been vsed against him by sway of the tyme and by such men as occupied the place of Iustice. You shall heare how the Case passed and iudge therof your selues 2. This Caudery in the Terme of S. Hilary saith M. Attorney in the 33. yeare of the raigne of Q. Elizabeth brought an action of trespasse against one George Atton for breaking of his cloase in North-looffennam aforesaide vpon the 7. day of August in the 31. yeare of the said Q. But Atton pleaded not guyltie and the Iurie found that the said Cauderie had been depriued of that benefice in parte wherof the Cloase was broken by a sentence of the said Bishop of London Cum assensu A. B. C. D. c. Collegerum suorum For that he had preached against the Booke of Common-praier and refused to celebrate diuine seruice according to the same 3. Heerupon it came in question how and by what Authoritie the said Bishop of London had giuen his sentence either rightfully or wrongfully And first it was alleadged by Cauderyes Coūsell that the Authoritie of commission giuen to him to witt to the forenamed Bishop of London and certaine others his Colleags by the foresaid Q. Elizabeths letters Patents was only founded vpon a Statute made in the first yeare of her Raigne by which it was enacted That such Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall as by anie spirituall or Ecclesiasticall power hath heertofore been or may lawfully be exercised for the visitation of the Ecclesiasticall estate and persons and for the reformation order and correction of the same and of all manner of errours heresies schismes abuses offences contempts and enormities within this Realme should for euer be vnited and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme And that her highnes her heyrs and Successors should haue full power and Authoritie by vertue of that Act by letters Patents vnder the great Seale of England to assigne nominate and authorize such persons being natural borne subiects as her Highnes her heirs or Successours should thinke meet to exercise and execute vnder her highnes her heyrs and successours all and all manner of Iurisdiction Priuiledges and Preheminences in anie wise touching or concerning anie spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Realme of England and Ireland And to visite reforme redresse order correct and amend all such errours heresies schismes abuses offenses contempts and enormities whatsoeuer which by anie manner of spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Power Authoritie or Iurisdiction can or may lawfully be reformed ordered corrected and amended c. 4. This was the ground wherby both the Queene was indued as you see with all manner of Ecclesiasticall power and Iurisdiction and had authoritie also giuen her to bestow the same vpon others without anie other condition heere expressed but onlie that they should be naturall borne subiects So as if it had pleased her Maiestie to haue bestowed a Commission vpon so many Ladies of the Courte to visit some parte of the Cleargie or Laitie to redresse their errours heresies abuses or other enormities or insteed of the Bishops named by her she had thought good to nominate their wiues for high commissioners ouer them to reforme order redresse correct or amend abuses I see not by the words of the Statute why it had not been lawfull For so much as there is no exception of sex therin And as well might the Queene haue made women her substitutes in this point as this Statute gaue all the power in capite to her self being a woman I would aske moreouer that wheras K. Henry the eight when he was made head of the Church appointed for his Vicar-Generall in Spiritualibus the Lord Cromwell that was a meere lay man and caused him to sit aboue all the Bishops in Synods and Councels about Ecclesiasticall affaires why his daughter Q. Elizabeth that had the same authoritie that he had might not haue appointed my Lady Cromwell or anie such other Ladie of that sex wherof there were diuerse that professed good skill in diuinitie at the beginning of her Reigne for her Vicaresse-Generall in Ecclesiasticall affaires Nay why the feminne sex
of the whole entire body of the Realme 15 You see whervnto this deuise tendeth to make yt a matter of treason to deny this fancy of M. Attorney that for so much as the Canons and Ecclesiasticall lawes of the Church made by Popes and by Generall Councells from tyme to tyme and receued vniuersally for spirituall and Ecclesiasticall matters throughout the Christian world were receued also and allowed by the Kings Comnn wealth of England which was an euident argument of their acknowledging of the said Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction of the Church and spirituall gouernours therof of this approbation and allowance he would inferr that these lawes were the Kings lawes though deriued as he sayth from others that is to say from Popes and Bishopps At which inference I doubt not but that his fellow-lawyers will smile And truly I am sory that he being accoumpted so great a man in that faculty which is wont to reason well hath giuen so manifest occasion of laugther For that euery puney young student of law will see by common reason that the admitting of an other mans lawe doth not make it his lawe or that he had power to make that lawe of himself but rather to the contrary it sheweth that the admitter acknowledgeth the other for his Superiour in all matters contained vnder that law For the power of making lawes is the highest power that principally proueth dominion in any Prince and the admitting and obeying therof by another Prince is an euident argument of inferiority and subiection and so here the admitting of the Popes Ecclesiasticall and Canon-lawes was an argument that the admitters acknowledged his supreme authority in Ecclesiasticall affayres 16. Neyther is M. Attorneys example of the Romans or Normans any thinge to the purpose all For that the Romans did not take from the Athenians any formall lawes made by them for the gouernment of the Romans for that had been to acknowledg superiority as before hath bene said but rather they taking a suruey of all the Grecian lawes aswell of Athens as other Common-wealthes or States they tooke parcells therof here and there and applied the same to their Common-wealth which was properly to make lawes of them selues And the like may be sayd of the Normans if they borrowed any of their lawes from England which yet I neuer read in any Author besides M. Attorney but rather that the Normans gaue lawes to England 17. But nowe in the Canon-lawes receiued in England for almost a thousand yeares together after our first Conuersion the matter is farr different for that these were receiued wholy and formally as lawes made by another superior power in a different Tribunall different causes sent expresly to England and to all other Christian Kingdomes to be receiued and obserued and some also out of the same Ecclesiasticall power made within the land by Synodes and Prelates therof and promulgated to be obserued both by Prince and people formally and punctually as they lay and so were receiued admitted allowed and put in execution by the said Prince and his Officers except perhaps some tymes some clause or parte therof might seeme to bring some inconuenience to the temporall State for which exception was made against it and the matter remedied by common consent And this was another manner of admitting lawes then the Romans admitted some peeces of there lawes from Athens or rather translated some pointes of the Athenian lawes into theyrs which was to make them selues Maisters of thus lawes and not receiuers or admitters And finally wee see by this to what poore and pittifull plight M. Attorney hath brought the title of his booke De Iure Regis Ecclesiastico Of the Kings Ecclesiasticall law to witt that it is the Popes Ecclesiasticall law● in deed made and promulgated by him and his but receiued and obeyed by the King and consequently not the Kings law but the Popes 18. Wherfore to conclude the first part of this Chapter for so much as M. Attorney by these two arguments De Iure which are the only he mentioneth hath proued no right at all of supreme spirituall Iurisdiction to haue accrewed to Q. Elizabeth by the title and interest of her temporall Crowne but rather the contrary to witt that both his Arguments haue proued against himself we see therby how vnable he is to proue his said affirmatiue proposition by this first head and sorte of proofe De Iure I shall now in the second part of this chapter endeuour to prooue the negatiue by as many sortes of rightes and lawes as any thing may be proued that is to say not only by Canonicall Ciuill lawes but by law of Nature also of Nations Mosaycall Euangelicall and by our ancient Common-lawes of England all which doe concu● in this that Q. Elizabeth being a woman could not haue any supreame spirituall power or Iurisdictiō in Ecclesiasticall matter● THE SECOND PART OF THIS CHAPTER VVherin is shevved that Q. Elizabeth in regard of her sex could not haue supreame Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction §. I. 19. First then being to performe this we are professe in this place that we meane not to imitate the proceeding of some Protestants in this behalf who following no certayne rule of doctrine no● moderation in their doings or writings doe passe to extreames therfore feeling themselues greiued vnder Q. Maryes raigne with the course of Catholike religion then held tooke vpon them to publishe that women were not capable of any gouerment at all Temporall or Spirituall nor to be further obeyed than they would make Reformation in Religion for so they called it comforme to their willes and prescriptions as appeareth by the bookes writings and actions both of Goodman VVhitingham Gilbye Knockes others who taking their fire of fury from Geneua sought first to kindle the same in England and being repulsed thence brake into open flames of combustion in Scotland and neuer coassed vntill it brought two Noble Queens mother and daughter to their ruyne and afterward put their heire and successor into such plunges by those and other heades of like doctrine and desperate attemptes answerable therunto as Gods right hand did only preserue him from like ruyne 20. But we are not of this spirit to seeke reuenge by such new brayn-sicke doctrine we graunt that Queens may lawfully raigne inherite that Successiō which euery Countrey by their peculiar lawes doth allow them The great Kingdome of France doth excude them so doe many lesser States in Italie and Germany and other Countryes yet doth Spaine England Scotland and Flanders admitt them for preuenting other inconueniences when Male-sucessors doe fayle So as for this point of Q. Elizabeths temporall gouerment we haue no controuersie in this place If any fell out betweene her and the Bishop of Rome whose authority she tooke from him and applyed it to her self and many otherwayes exasperated him that fact appertayneth not to vs that are priuate men to iudge
and prescribeth in particular what is to be done as lawfull Iudge in these matters And to that of the French Bishops he giueth such answeres as therby he testifyeth that he wel knew himself to haue supreme authoritie and iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall as well ouer all Bishopps of France as of England and all countryes besides throughout all Christendome For thus he wrote as S. Bede relateth For as much as concerneth the Bishopps of France I gaue you no authoritie ouer them and from the ancient tymes of my precedessors the Bishop of Arles hath receaued his pall from the Sea of Rome whome we ought not to depriue os that authoritie which from them he hath receaued c. 12. And the same Pope Gregorie sending the pall which is the proper signe of Archi-episcopal authority vnto the same S. Augustine of England he appointeth him his limitts of power and iurisdiction and what he shall doe and giue to others and this without any reference vnto K. Ethelbert any way to depend of him in his said authority or execution therof For thus he writeth vnto him Reuerendissimo Sanctissimo Fratri Augustino Coepiscopo Gregorius seruus seruorum Dei. Quia noua Anglorum Ecclesia c. For that a new Church of the English nation by Gods gyft and your labour is now brought to participate of the grace of our Sauiour Christ we doe graunt vnto you the vse of the pall in the sayd Church only to be vsed in the solemne celebration of Masses we graunt you also authority to ordeine twelue Bishops vnder you which shal be subiect to your iurisdiction but yet s● as the Bishop which shal be ordeyned for the citty of London shall euer afterward be consecrated by a Synod and shall receaue also a pall of honour from this holy and Apostolike Sea of Rome ● wherin by Gods appointment I doe serue at this tyme. We doe will you also to send a Bishop to the Citty of Yorke whome your self shall thinke good to ordeyne but yet with this condition that if that Citty with other places neere about doe receaue the worde of God he may ordayne twelue Bishops also and so remaine with the honour of a metropolitan for that we doe intend God willing if we liue to giue him also the pall whome yet notwithstanding we will haue to be subiect to your disposition though after your death he shall so be ouer these Bishops whome he hath ordeyned as he be no way subiect to the iurisdiction of the Bishop of London c. But your Brotherhod shall not only be Superiour and haue authority ouer those Bishops which your self haue ordeined but ouer those also which shal be ordeined by the said Bishop of Yorke And so in the authority of Iesus Christ our God Sauiour you shall haue subiect vnto you all the Priests of Brittany to the end that from your mouth and holines of life they may receaue a true forme both of right belief and vertuous life and therby performing their dutyes of good Christians both in faith and manners they may come at length by Gods holy grace to enioye his heauenly Kingdome who keepe and defend you euer most reuerend Brother The tenth day before the Calends of Iuly Mauritius being Emperour c. the 4. indiction anno Domini 601. 13. By this epistle and commission of Pope Gregory we may see what authority he tooke himself to haue for all matters spiritual and Ecclesiasticall in our Countrey neither did he thinke herby to doe any iniury to King Ethelbert neither did the King take it soe or imagine that himself had any spirituall Iurisdiction or Ecclesiasticall authority to gouerne the Church by vertue of his temporall crowne more now by being a Christian then he had before when he was a Gentile but only that now he was to gouerne Ecclesiasticall persons also in ciuill and temporall matters and therby might rightly be called King of them both in the sense which befo●e in the second Chapter of this answere we haue declared 14. Nay good King Ethelbert was so far of from thinking himself to receaue any preiudice against the power and authority of his temporall Crowne by the spirituall iurisdiction ouer him and all others instituted by Pope Gregory as he infinitely reioyced therat and presently made temporall lawes to confirme the same hauing speciall care to prouide for the fafety and immunity of the Clergie as S. Bede doth signifie And moreouer that he reduced the forme of his secular iudgements and Tribunalls to the likenes of those of Rome Among other good things and benefits saith he which King Ethelbert with his wisdome did bring into his nation one was that he appointed by the counsaile of wise men the decrees of iudgements to be made according to the example of the Romanes which decrees being written in the English tongue doe remaine in vse and force vnto this day So Bede Who liued an hundred fifty yeeres after And this may suffice for example of the first Kingdome conuerted to Christian religion which was of Kent and the countreyes round about euen vnto the riuer of Humber 15. But if I would passe to the consideration of other Kingdoms also conuerted after this of their Christian Cōmon-wealthes instituted and ordeyned according to the forme of this first there would be much to say For first some foure yeares after the conuersion of the sayd K. Ethelbert of Kent by S. Augustine was conuerted by the preaching of S. Mellitus Sebert or as S. Bede calleth him Sabered King of the East-saxons and some fiue yeares after that againe King Sigebert of the East-angles by the preaching of S. Felix Bishopp and some seuenteene yeares after that againe K. Edwyn of the Northumbers by the preaching of S. Paulinus And then further some nyne yeares after that● K. Kinegilsus of the VVest-saxons by the preaching of S. Berinus and about the same time Prince Peda of the Mercians or Middle-iland people by the persuasion of the good K. Oswyn of Northumberland And finally about some 27. yeres after all this K. Ethelw●ld or Ethelwalch as S. Bede calleth him of the Southsaxons was conuerted by the preaching of S. VVilfride 16. All these Pagan Kingdomes as they receaued the faith and Kingdome of Christ by the industrye and labours of spirituall and Ecclesiasticall men that preached and instructed them and were subordinate the one to the other but all to the Sea os Rome so did those Kings now made Christians subiect themselues vnto them not only in matters of faith and beliefe but in discipline also and Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction as sheep to their Pastors according to that which before you haue heard S. Creg●●● Nazianzen tell the Emperour of his tyme and herby it came to passe that albeit these different Kingdomes had different te●porall lawes for secular affayres before their conuersion and reteyned the same afterward vntill England became one sole Monarchie
by breaking his faith and refu●ing his daughter in marriage the secret affection that most of the English nobilitie did beare vnto him with generall hatred to his aduersarie the perill of the Countrey by continuall warrs with the Danes and Scottes the hurt of the Church by Harolds irreligious gouernment but especially his contempt of the said Church Sea Apostolike in that he had taken the Crowne vpon him saith Matthew VVestminster without the ordinarie rites and solemnity therunto appointed and consent of the Prelates of the land And finally saith Malmesbury Iustitiam suscepti bell● quantis poterat facundiae verbis allegabat He did alleadge the equitie of his cause vnto Pope Alexander by all the force of eloquence that he could Which Harold on the other side did omit saith he to doe either that he was prowde by nature or distrusted his owne cause or for that he feared that his messengers might fall into VVilliam his hands who had besett all the portes Wherevpon Alexander the Pope hauing weighed his reasons sent vnto him a banner for the warre in token of his consent and Stow addeth these words Duke VVilliam after he had got the victory sent his standard to the Pope which was made after the shape and fashion of a man fighting wrought by sumptuous art with gold and pretious stones And further the said Stow out of Malmesbury and Mathew VVestminster doth ad that Duke VVilliam being arriued in England and offering conditions of composition to Harold before the battaile one was that he was content to stand to the iudgement of the Sea Apostolicke in that controuersie All which is likely he would neuer haue done if he had esteemed so little of the said Sea Apostolicke and authority therof as M. Attorney doth but rather would haue remitted the iustice of his cause to be examined sentenced by the Emperour or by some other tēporall tribunal But he remitted it to the Sea Apostolicke it fell out wel for him as you know 9. Secondly wheras K. VVilliam from his very first entrance had a desire to remoue Stigand from the Archbishoprick of Canterbury partly perhaps for his demerits and partly to haue a sure man in his place that was not English he dissembled the matter for three or foure yeares and this as some thinke in regard that the same Stigand had byn a persuader to K. Edward the Confessor to name Duke VVilliam for his Successor for so the said Duke confesseth in his message sent to Harold before the battaile as Stow relateth But now vpon the year 1070. vnderstanding that Pope Alexander had cited to Rome certayne Archbishops of Germany to wit that of Ments and Bamberge to answere to certaine accusations laid against them of Simony he thought good to take this occasion to demaund also of the said Pope iudgemēt against the foresaid Stigand and his brother Agelmare Bishop of the East-Angles and certaine Abbots suspected of like crimes Whervpon Pope Alexander sent three Cardinals into England for legats one of them a Bishop and the other two Priests who gathering togeather a Synod at VVinchester the forenamed persons were deposed by sentence of the said legats wherof two returned to Rome and one remained there as both Malmesbury and other historiographers doe write Out of which case we doe inferre that if K. VVilliam had thought his owne authority sufficient to haue depriued the foresaid Bishops he would neuer haue sued to Rome for the matter nor haue byn at the trouble and charge to call from thence three Legats 10. As soone as Stigand was deposed Lanfranke a most famous and learned Abbot of Normandy was called for by K. VVilliam and commaunded in the Popes name by the Legats to accept the same as before you haue heard who obeying thervnto made afterward his recourse confidently to Rome in all matters of importance that fell out as namely in this very first yeare he wrote a letter to Pope Alexander about a case concerning the Bishop of Lichfield in these words Vniuersae Christi Ecclesiae summo Rectori Alexandro indignus Anglorum Archiepiscopus Lanfrancus c. Vnto Alexander the highest gouernour of the vniuersall Church of Christ vnworthy Lanfranke Archbishop of English men c. And proposing sundry busines difficultyes vnto him he saith among the rest that in the forenamed Synod of VVinchester the Bishop of Lichfield being cited thither to answere to certaine crimes of incontinent life layd and proued against him and he refusing to appeare was excommunicated and deposed by the said legates licence giuen to the King to nominate another for that place But afterward at the feast of Easter he comming to the Court in tyme of Parlament resigned vp his Bishopricke vnto the King that was sitting togeather with his Bishops and lay nobility In which case Ego tum nouus Anglus saith he rerumque Anglicarum c. I being but a new English man and vnskillfull in English affaires but what I learne of others doe not presume either to consecrate another Bishop in his place nor yet to giue licence to other Bishops to consecrate any quoadusque praeceptio vestra veniat quae in tant● negotio quid oporte atfieri informare nos debeat vntill your commaundment come which in so great a busines must informe vs what we ought to doe So Lanfranke who referreth these matters as you see to the Pope and not to the King though he were the Kings fauorite nor did he feare to iniure or offend the King therby 11. And soone after this againe to wit the very next yeare following which was the yeare of our Lord 1071. and 5. of K. VVilliams raigne the said Lanfrancke elected Bishop of Canterbury Thomas a Norman chosen Bishop of Yorke went both of them to Rome in person to receiue their palls and confirmation at the hands of Pope Alexander by K. VVilliams consent albeit it was a very troublesome yeare in England for that all the North-parte of England rebelled to wit Edwyn Earle of Mercia Morcar Earle of Northumberland Eglewyne Bishop of Durham the famous Captaine Sewardbran manie others with whom ioyned the Scots Danes against the Normans and K. VVilliam had need of the presence of two such trustie chiefe men principall Prelates for staying the people at home And therfore Embassadours were sent to obtaine that their said palls might be sent to them into England But it could not be obtained for that Pope Alexander answered that it was an old custome that Archbishops of England should come receiue their palls at Rome And this answere was written to Lanfrancke in the Popes name by Hildebrand Archdeacon of that Sea who succeeded Alexander in the Popedome and was called Gregorie the 7. By all which is euident what authoritie Ecclesiasticall K. VVilliam did acknowledge to be in the Pope of Rome and how little he ascribed to himself in that kind 12. Furthermore
find recorded by Malmesbury and others of that time that Calixtus being made Pope vpon the yeare 1119. and presently comming into France and calling a Councell at Rhemes K. Henry of England sent diuers Bishops at his commaundement vnto that Councell And the next yeare after going to treat with the said Pope in person at his Castell of Gesorse in Normandy Acta sunt multae inter illos c. many things were treated between them saith Houeden as it was conuenient in the meeting of so great personages But the principall was that Henry obtained of the Pope to graunt vnto him that he might haue all the customes cōfirmed which his Father had in England and Normandy especially that none from thenceforth should be sent Legat into England except the King vpon some controuersie falling out which could not be ended by his Bishops should demaund the same of the Pope So Houeden 15. Wherby we may see the Kings iudgment of the Pope ●●thority and the recourse to be made thervnto in matters of mo●● moment And that which is more soone after this meeting I find that the foresaid Emperour made the like attonement with the same Calixtus which Malmesbury recordeth in these word● In nomine Sancta indiuiduae Trinitatis Ego Henricus c. In the name of the holy and indiuisible blessed Trinity I Henry by the Grace of God Emperour c. for the loue of God and of the holy Romaine Church and of my Lord Calixtus the Pope and for remedy of my soule doe remit freely to God and his holy Apostles S. Peter S. Paul and to his holy Catholike Church all inuestitures by ring and staffe and doe yeeld and permit that in all Churches within my Kingdomes and Empire there be made Canonicall election and free consecration of Ecclesiasticall persons c. 16. And thus was ended that fierce and bloudy controuersie that had lasted and troubled the whole Christian world aboue fifty yeares saith Malmesbury about the vse of Inuestitures pretended by princes to be graunted vnto them and their auncestours by different Popes But yet neuer challenged the same as incident to their Crowne or temporall iurisdiction but as a priuiledge graunted by the Sea Apostolike which might lawfully be done as you haue heard by the former rule of Baldus the Lawyer that the Pope may commit spirituall things by priuiledge in some cases as the is to a mere lay-man And yet further if we seek the beginning of these inuestitures how and when and to whome they were first graunted we shall find the matter very vncertaine For albeit some haue thought and written out of a certaine relation in Sigebert his Chronicle that the first graunt of these Inuestitures was made by Pope Adrian the first vnto Charles the Great in respect of his great meritts toward the Church yet others doe hold this to be false and that the name of Inuestitures was not knowne in those dayes but rather crept in afterward yea and rather taken and vsurped to themselues by certaine Princes by inuasion of intrusion vpon the Church priuately first then more publikely afterward and therevpon pretended by their Successours than granted by speciall gift or consent of any Pope a● al●● Which seemeth to haue byn the case also of our King Henry 〈◊〉 first who as you haue heard did pretend to challeng the i●●●●●●tures as vsed by his Father and brother before him wherof 〈◊〉 notwithstanding we finde no expresse proofe for example 〈◊〉 any of our historyes that they vsed them and much lesse that they were lawfully graunted vnto them And albeit they had byn yet might the same authority which did graunt them reuoke them againe vpon the notable abuses which therof did ensue by selling and buying of Churches by Princes and their officers 17. But howsoeuer this were yet is it manifest heerby that as well those princes which violently tooke these inuestitures vpon them as others that might haue them perhaps graunted for a tyme both of them I say did pretend to haue them from the Sea Apostolike and therin acknowledged the Primacy and Supremacy of Ecclesiasticall power to be in that Sea and not in themselues Which is wholy against M. Attorneys conclusion And therefore the said Emperour Henry the 5. when he deteyned prisoner the foresaid Pope Paescalis and forced him to make a constrained graunt vnto him of the said Inuestitures he would needs haue him put these words in his Bull. Illud igitur diguitatis priuilegium c. That priuiledge of dignity therfore that our Predecessours Bishops of Rome haue graunted vnto your Predecessours Catholike Emperours and haue confirmed the same by their Charters we graunt also to you and doe confirme by this present priuiledge and Charter that vnto the Bishops and Abbots of your Kingdome that shall be chosen freely without violence or Symmony you may giue the inuestiture of staffe ringe and that after the said inuestiture they may canonically receiue their consecration from the Bishop to whome it shall appertaine c. So he 18. And now consider good Reader that if so great potent an enemy of the Church of Rome was so desirous to haue her graunt albeit perforce of such little peeces and raggs of Ecclesiasticall authority as these were how much more glad would he haue byn to haue had all the Popes authority acknowledged to be in himself if he could haue deriued it from the Title of his Crowne and Empire as Syr Edward Cooke would haue taught him if he had byn his Attorney and how easily might he haue procured such a Statute to haue byn made vnto him by his people in Parlament as was made vnto Queen Elizabeth to giue her all supreame authority Ecclesiasticall that euer any person had or might haue if he had listed or if he had thought it had byn worth the procurement And surely it had bin a much more easie and lesse costly way to procure it at home in Germany 〈◊〉 to haue gone to Rome with so mayne an army and extraordinary charges labour and daunger as he did to extort the same from the Pope and yet not all his authority but a small peece therof as hath byn said 19. But now all was amended and accommodated againe as well the Emperour as his Father-in-law K. Henry yelded vp all their pretended right in those inuestitures as you haue heard And as in the procuring and retaining them by what manner soeuer they acknowledged the spirituall power of the Sea of Rome so much more in rendring them vp againe And for so much as both their acts are presumed principally to haue proceeded of our K. Henry all men may therby see his deuotion to that Sea 20. And this deuotion and obedience he continued from that tyme forward vnto his death which was some 15. years in all which time I might shew diuers euident argumēts of this point as of his often sending to Rome
monastery of Clare-vallis vnder the said S. Bernard was promoted vnto the dignity and proued a notable good Archbishop though at the beginning he being contradicted by the King had great difficulty to enter the people also being against him as well for feare of the said King as for fauour and loue of the other good man deposed and the Kings sonne Eustachius going to Yorke vpon that occasion vsed great violence and insolency and some not to be named against such as had opposed themselues against the election of the said deposed But finally the sentence and iudgement of Pope Eugenius tooke place and K. Stephen after a time permitted the other to liue quietly in his Bishopricke whereby we may see what power and iurisdiction the Pope had for such matters in England at that time And that neither K. Stephen nor his sonne Eustachius nor any of his Counsell went euer about to say for their pretence or excuse that these things belonged to the Kings authority-Royall not to the Popes tribunall 36. All which points being laid togeather and many other that for breuity I doe pretermit it commeth to be manifest that whatsoeuer actions this King in those infinite troubles fears and suspicious of his might sometymes vse for his gaine or interest or vpon persuasion of others against the Church or libertyes therof yet was his will and iudgement truly Catholike in this point nor was he euer noted for the contrary nor doth M. Attorney alleadge any one instance out of him or his tyme to that purpose And therfore shall we passe to other Kings after him OF THE RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SECOND Great Grand-child to the Conquerour And of his two sonnes K. Richard and K. Iohn and their conformityes in this controuersie CHAP. IX AS in the former Chapter for breuityes sake we ioyned three Kings togeather so shall we doe the like in this especially for so much as M. Attorney hath no one instance out of any of them whose raignes iudured for the space of aboue threescore years and thereby sufficiently testifieth that in this point of the Popes Ecclesiasticall authority their beleife iudgements and actions were correspondent and vniforme to those of their progenitors and predecessors as also were their lawes consequently which allwayes is to be borne in mind the common lawes of their dayes could not be contrary to that iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome which they themselues euerywhere did acknowledge professe and practise For better declaration notwithstanding wherof we shall not omit to set downe some particular and seuerall notes as well of these Kings and their successors as we haue done of the former OF KING HENRY THE SECOND The fifth King after the Conquest §. I. 2. This King then was a French-man borne as well as K. Stephen of the English-bloud only by Maude the Empresse daughter to K. Henry the first neece to the Conquerour He was sonne and heire to Geffrey Duke of Anioy and Poytoù and a little before his inheritance of England he had the rare fortune as then it was thought to marry with the young Queene Eleanor lately diuorced from K. Lewes the seauenth of France vpon their falling out after their returne from Ierusalem which Queene was daughter and heire to the Duke of Aquitaine so as all those States of Gascoyne Gwyan Poytoù Anioy and Normandy were vnited togeather in this K. Henry and by him conioyned to England The Dukedome of Brittany also falling in his tyme to the inheritance of an only daughter of Duke Canon King Henry procured to marry the same to his third sonne Geffrey for he had foure by his said Queen that liued togeather besides a fifth that died young It was his chaunce also to haue an English Pope named Adryan in his daies by whose fauour and concession he got interest to Ireland so as if we respect the greatnes and multitude of his dominions he was the most puissant King of all that euer had dominion ouer our nation vntill that day 3. But if we respect his manners you may besides others writers read a whole Chapter in Nubergensis of the conflict combat betweene vices and vertues in him though he conclude that his vertues were the more and his vices were sore punished in him by almighty God in this life to the end that his soule might be saued in the next as the same Author writeth And to this effect was he punished and afflicted most in those things wherin he had taken most delight and for which he had most perhaps offended God as first in the alluring of the said Q. Eleanor to make the foresaid diuorce from the King of France to marry him who afterward was a great affliction vnto him for that ha●●●● borne him many faire children she set the same against him ●● thervpon the former ardent loue waxing cold between them he was the more induced to liue lasciuiously with others and ●● the end committed her to prison and held her so for neere a dozen years togeather before his death 4. His children also he couered exceedingly to aduaūce crowning the elder of them King in his owne daies by the name of K. Henry the third and giuing him in possession the States of Gascoyne and Gwyan the second being Richard he made Earle of Poitoù the third which was Geffrey he inuested as hath byn said in the Dukedome of Brittany and the fourth named Iohn for that he had no seuerall State as yet to giue him he called in iest s●●● terre or lack-land signifying therby the great desire he had to prouide some State for him And for effectuating this saith Nubergensi● which liued in that age that is to say for aduauncing his children he offered iniuries to many wherby it came to passe by Gods iust iudgement that they all at different times conspired against him For first about the middest of his raigne both the mother and the children banded themselues against him with Lewes the K. of France that had byn her former husband wherof Petrus Blesensis that was his latin Secretary maketh mention in diuers epistles that are extant as namely in one written by two Archbishops that had byn his Embassadours to the said K. Lewes to make peace but could not who discouered that both his Queene and children had all conspired against him Quid amabilius ●ilijs say they quid vxore familiarius recessit tamon vxor à latere vestro filij insurgunt in patrem What is more delectable them children what is more neere or familiar then the wife And yet is your wife departed from your side and your children are risen against their father c. And in the same epistle they counsaile him to looke well to his person for that they sought his destruction 5. And the same is testified in another epistle written by the Archbishop of Roane in Normandy vnto Q. Eleanor her self wherin he persuadeth her vehemently by manie reasons
what agreements haue byn made these dayes publikely betweene the excellent Lord Tancred King of Sicilie and vs. And then after recitall of all particularityes he endeth thus testibus nobisipsis vndecimo die Nouembris apud Messanam We our selues being witnesse of this agreement the eleuenth day of Nouember at Messina 32. But when K. Richard soone after departing thence was arriued in Asia and had begun most prosperously his warrs against the Infidels the Deuill enuying his good successe stirred vp first seditiō in England by means of Iohn the Kings brother who perceiuing diuers to enuy the Greatnes of the Bishop of Ely left gouernour by the King and some Bishops also to be in faction against him began to make great stirs And on the otherside the same enemy of mankind castinge ielousies betweene K. Philip of France and the said King Richard did seperate them at last whervpon ensued the returne of the said King Philip with intention to inuade King Richards Dominions and to set vp his brother Iohn in his place as the sequele declareth 33. But Pope Celestinus the 3. that had succeeded in the place of Pope Clement lately deceased vnderstanding of the former conspiracie and faction against the Bishop of Ely in England wrote a vehement letter against the same to all the Archbishops Bishops and Clergie of England saying among the rest Cum dilectus in Christo filius noster Richardus c. wheras our deerly-beloued sōne in Christ Richard noble King of England when he resolued by taking vpon him the signe of the Holy crosse of Christ to reuenge the iniury of his redeemer in the Holie land left the tutele and care of his Kingdome vnder the protection of the Sea Apostolicke we that haue succeeded in that Sea haue so much the more obligation to cōserue the State of the said Kingdome the rights and honours of the same by how much greater confidence he placed in our protection and thervpon hath exposed his person riches and people to greater perils for exaltation of holy Christian religion c. Wherfore vnderstanding of certaine troubles lately moued by Iohn Earle of Morton and certaine others combined with him against your honourable Father VVilliam Bishop of Ely Legat of the Sea Apostolicke and Gouernour of your Realme Vniuersitati vestrae per Apostolica scripta mandamus in virtute obedientiae praecipimus c. We doe by these Apostolicke writings giue commaundement to your whole community Realme and charge the same in the vertue of obedience that all men surcease from like practise of conspiration turmoyle or faction c. giuen at our pallace of Lateran the 4. day before the Nones of December in the first yeare of our Popedome And by this you may see what authority he tooke himself to haue ouer all England and Bishops and Princes therof at that day 34. The which is yet more declared by that which soone after ensued for that the foresaid Earle Iohn and other Lords and Bishops combininge themselues with him hauinge proceeded yet further in that quarrell by cōmon consent of all the Realme as it seemed depriued the said Bishop of Ely of his office of Gouernour imprisoned him and driuen him out of England and elected in his roome VValter Archbishop of Roane for gouernour of the Realme they were no lesse carefull to send presently to excuse iustifie the matter vnto Pope Celestinus then they 〈◊〉 to the King himself for his satisfaction All which appeareth by a large letter written from Rome to the said Archbishop by his agents that were there who aduertized him how euill the matter was taken by the said Pope Celestinus Dominus Papa say they in restri depressione negotij plurima indignanter cum amaritud●ne proponebat c. The Pope did propose very many things with indignation and amaritude of mind to the depression of your affaire iterating many tymes that he knew the great affection confidence of the King of England towards his Chauncelour and Gouernour the Bishop of Ely and that he had seen many letters of the said King in his commendation but none against him that at his earnest instance the Sea Apostolike had made him also Legat à latere And that finally he absolued him from the sentence of excommunication which the said Archbishop of Ro●● had laid vpon him and for the rest he would expect the Kings inclination who being soone after taken prisoner in Germany sent presently for the said Chauncellour to come vnto him and made great vse of him for he was not only his interpreter betweene the Emperour and him and other Princes but he sent him also into England not as Chauncellour or Gouernour but as Bishop of Ely to lay the plot for his ransome 35. And I might recount many other examples of the same iurisdiction exercised in England by the same Pope without contradiction of any man in the absence of the said King though Earle Iohn the Kings brother was present and very potent amōg them and no great freind to the Pope as by the former letter may be imagined and who finally did driue out of England the said Bishop of Ely but yet neuer obiected or put doubt in the Popes authority about any Ecclesiasticall matter that there fell out As for example vpon the yeare 1191. which was the very next after the Kings departure Nubergensis liuinge at that time recounteth how Geffrey the Kings base brother hauing byn longe beyond the seas suing at Rome to be admitted to the Archbishopricke of Yorke and to haue his Pall which Pope Cleme●● would not graunt for diuers obiections and appealles made against him as well by Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury as you haue heard as also by others and namely the Bishop of Ely that was Gouernour of the land being much against him yet now vpon King Richards commendation and his owne many 〈◊〉 promises Pope Celestinus so much fauoured him saith Nubergensis as he gaue him his pall before he was consecrated and sent him to be consecrated by the Archbishop of Towers in France commaunding him vt ei non obstante vel appellatione vel occasione qualibet manus imponeret that he should by imposition of hands cōsecrate him notwithstanding any appellation or other occasion whatsoeuer to the contrary And so he did and he came into England and tooke possession of the said Archbishopricke and enioyed the same by this authority of consecration and inuestiture from Pope Celestinus notwithstanding all the contradiction and opposition of his potent aduersaryes as in the same Author at large is set downe 36. And when not longe after this againe the said Archbishop Geffrey requiring Canonicall profession of obedience to be made to him and his Sea accordinge to custome at the hands of Hugh Bishop of Durham who had purchased before of King Richard an Earl-dome to be annexed to his said Bishopricke and that the said Hugh refusing to doe the same vpō
ratas haberet donationes quas fecerat Rex in Eboracensi Ecclesia Dominus Rex redderet ei Archiepiscopatum suum cum omni integritate c. These Bishops were to demaund in the spirit of humulity on the Kings behalfe that the said Archbishop would ratifie and make good all the donations or gifts which the King had bestowed in the Church of Yorke during the time he had with-held his Archbishopricke that there vpon the King would restore vnto him his Archbishopricke with all integrity But the Archbishop demaunded first of these Bishops sent vnto him whether they would vnder their hands and writings assure him that he might doe it in conscience but they refusing he refused also to graunt the Kings request and therevpon appealed againe to Rome and went thither in person and the King on his side sent Proctors and Aduocats thither to plead for him as Houeden at large declareth And moreouer to bridle him the more he besought the Pope to make Hubert then Archbishop of Canterbury Legat of the Sea Apostolike ouer all England 47. And agayne both this Author and Nubergensis doe declare how the foresaid VValter Archbishop of Roane that had byn so great a friend of K. Richard euer since the beginning of his raigne and had gone with him to Sicily and returned againe to England for pacifying of matters between the Bishop of Ely that was Gouernour the Earle Iohn and moreouer had also byn Gouernour of England himself after King Richards Captiuitie had not onlie laboured for him as you haue heard by his letter to the Pope but went also in person to assist him in Germanie and remained there in pledg for him this man I say receiuing disgust at length from the said King for vsurping vpon certaine lands and liberties of his in Normandy he brake with him appealed to the Pope went to Rome against him and the King was forced to send Embassadours to plead for himself there against the other who pleaded so well saith Nubergensis alleadging the Kings necessitie for doing the same as the Pope tooke the Kings parte and tolde the Bishop openlie in publike Consistorie that he ought to beare with the King in such a necessitie of warre which being once past matters might easilie be remedied And thus much for the Popes authoritie acknowledged and practised during the raigne of this King Richard the first out of which M. Attorney found no probable instance at all to be alleadged to the contrarie and therfore made not so much as mention of any OF THE RAIGNE OF KING IOHN VVho was the seauenth King after the Conquest §. III. 48. Of this King being the last sonne of K. Henry the second we haue heard much before vnder the name of Earle of Mor●●● which may declare vnto vs the quality of his nature and condition to wit mutable and inconstant but yet vehement for the while in whatsoeuer he tooke in hand indiscreet also rash and without feare to offend either God or man when he was in his passion o● rage This appeareth well by his many most vnnaturall and treasonable actions against his kind and louing Father whilest he liued wherby he shortened his said Fathers life as before hath byn related And the same appeareth yet more in a certaine manner by his like attempts against his owne brother both when and after he was in captiuity which brother notwithstanding had so greatly aduaunced him and giuen him so many rich States in England as he seemed to haue made him a Tetrarch with him say our English authors that is to say to haue giuen him the fourth parte of his Kingdome which notwithstanding was not sufficient to make him faithfull vnto him 49. This man then succeeding his brother Richard with whom he was beyond the seas when he died laid hands presently on the Treasure and fortresses of his said brother and by the help of two Archbishops especially to wit VValter of Roane in Normandy and Hubert of Canterbury in England he drew the people and nobility to fauour him and was crowned first Duke of Normandy by the one and then King of England by the other when he was 34. yeares old and held out in the said gouernmēt with great variety of state and fortune for 18. yeares old togeather The first six with contentment good liking of most men the second six in continuall turmoile vexation and with mislike of all and the thi●d six did participate of them both to wit good and euill though more of the euill especially the later parte therof when his nobility and people almost wholy forsakinge him did call in and crowne in his place Lewes the Dolphin Prince of France pretended to be next heire by his wife the Lady Blanche daughter to the said K. Iohns sister Queene of Castile which brought K. Iohn to those straites as he died with much affliction of mind as after you shall heare 50. To say then somewhat of ech of these three distinctions of tyme noting some points out of them all that appertaine to this our controuersie with M. Attorney you haue heard in the end of K. Richards life how VValter Archbishop of Roane appealed to Pope Innocentius against the said King for seasing vpon certaine lands of his and namely the Towne of Deepe which Innocentius commaunding to be restored K. Iohn obayed and made composition with the said Archbishop vpon the yeare of Christ 1200. which was the second yeare of his raigne as Houeden reporteth restoring him Villam de Depa cum pertinentijs suis The Towne of Deepe with the appurtenances and diuers other things which the said author setteth downe shewing therby the obedience of K. Iohn to the Popes ordination 51. Moreouer there falling out a great controuersie between Geffrey Arcbishop of Yorke K. Iohns brother and the Deane and Chapter of the said Church and both parties appealing to Rome Pope Innocentius appointed the Bishop of Salisbury and Abbot of Tewxbury to call them before them in Church of VVestminster and determine the matter so they did made them freinds the King not intermedling in any part therof though the matter touched his brother and concerned his owne Ecclesiasticall supremacy if he had persuaded himself that he had had any And the verie same yeare the Bishop of Ely and the Abbot of S. Edmunds-bury were appointed Iudges by the said Pope in a great cause between the Archbishop and monks of Canterbury which they determined publikelie Vt Iudices à Domino Papa constituti saith Houeden as iudges appointed from the Pope without any dependance of the King at all though their cheife controuersie was about the priuiledges and proprieties of lands lordships and officers of theirs to wit of the said Archbishop and Monkes 52. And wheras the foresaid Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury with the rest of the Bishops summoned a generall Synod in England for ordaining many thinges according to the neede or
against all Clergy-men as he seased 〈◊〉 most parte of their goods throughout all England And 〈◊〉 Pope Innocentius wrote diuers letters to pacifie him 〈…〉 angerly to him againe Affirmae●s saith our 〈…〉 electione simul promotione N●rvicensis Episcopi 〈…〉 reuocari Affirming that he could not be 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and promotion of the Bishop of Norwich whome he vnderstand to be profitable vnto him Quod pro libertatibus Corona sua ●●abit 〈◊〉 fuerit vsque ad mortem That he would stand if need should be for the libertyes of his Crowne euen vnto death Et si de prae 〈◊〉 fuerit exa●ditus omnibus Roma●● petentibus maris semitas angu 〈◊〉 That if he may not be heard in the premisses he threatned to ●●●iten the passage of sea to all them that would goe to 〈◊〉 So he 58. In all which we see notwithstanding his great displeasure taken he doth not deny the Popes authority spirituall nor ascri 〈◊〉 the Supremacy therof vnto himself but only standeth vpon the libertyes of his Crowne which was as there he signifieth that the Archbishop of Canterbury should not be chosen without his consent or li●●ing though the election therof he tooke not to himself but left it free to the said monkes to whome from the very beginning of Christianity in England the said election appertained And truly many godly and wise men at that time did wi●h that Pope Innocentius had not stood so hard with K. Iohn in 〈◊〉 point as this was for contending him with a person gratefull vnto him in that Archbishopricke For from this disgust proceeded all the disorders and miseries that afterward ensued as namely the Kings raging against all the Clergie the particulars wherof are strange and lamentable the interdict of the whole Realme that lasted for fiue or six years without celebrating of deuine seruice in the Churches and finally the excommunication of the King himself and other infinite troubles therof ensuring the said King so raging on the otherside for diuers years togeather as he seemeth not to be well himselfe specially after he saw his Nephew Otho to be depriued also of the Imperiall Crowne by the said Innocentius 59. Many strange acts are recounted of K. Iohn in this time as for example that he sent from time to time to all noble men and gentlemen whom he any wayes suspected to be offended with him commaunding them to giue him for pledges their sonnes or daughters or next of l●yn And for that the wife of one VVil●●●● Erause Bar●● cast out a word that she doubted least her children might be vsed by Duke Geffreys children were to wit 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 the King sent to apprehend them all and they 〈…〉 he 〈◊〉 them so hardly as he tooke 〈…〉 and caused them to be starued to death in VVindes●r castle And the same author of ●●●●ris who liued at that time writeth the Kings fury to h● 〈◊〉 great to commit such horrible acts of cruelty vt 〈…〉 extuteret Tyrannorum That it would make euen Tyrants to 〈◊〉 he addeth further Muk●rum nobiliam vxores s●ti● appr●●●●● 〈◊〉 did oppresse and vse violence not only to the lands good● 〈◊〉 honours of noble men but to their wiues and daughter 〈◊〉 He telleth further that being one day at Nottingham and 〈…〉 that the Welch-men began to styr he cōmaunded to be brought forth 28. faire young children which he had for pledges of the cheifest nobility of that nation and all to be hanged togeather vpon one gallowes in the yeare 1212. 60. He caused in like manner all the Iewes through 〈◊〉 glaud both men women and children to be taken and ●●●●●ted to know where there money vvas vvho commonly 〈…〉 the violence of the said tortures gaue him all that they had and more too And when in Bristow they had tortured one by 〈◊〉 sortes of torture the King gaue this sentence vpon him that e●ery day he should haue one of his teeth pulled out with the 〈◊〉 test despite and torment that might be vntill he had paid 〈◊〉 ten thousand markes of money and when the Iew had 〈◊〉 seauen teeth to be so pulled out in seauen sundry dayes 〈◊〉 to auoyd the torment of the eight tooth bound himself to pay the ten thousand markes 61. The same author relateth in like manner that the said King meeting one day a company of men which were the 〈◊〉 officers that led bound a murderer towards prison that had robbed and slaine a Priest vpon the high way said vnto them It is no matter he hath killed an enemy of mine let him go●●●● and so they did And at another time being at Oxford and ●●●ring that a certaine Clarke by meere chaunce had 〈◊〉 woman to death and thervpon fled and the Iustice hauing 〈◊〉 three other Clarkes whom they found dwelling in the 〈◊〉 house though vtterly guyltlesse of the fa●● the King com●●●●ded them all three to be hanged And mo●●ouer when the ●●●●dome was put vnder interdict Rex quasi in f●riam v●●sus saith 〈◊〉 author in verba blasphemia pr●●upit iura●per 〈…〉 〈◊〉 King being turned as it were into fury did 〈…〉 blasphemous words swearing by the teeth of God● 〈…〉 ●●●soeuer he should find any Romanes in any of his land● he 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to Rome with their eyes pulled out and nosthrels 〈…〉 He spake also words as though he beleiued not the resurrection of the next life So 〈◊〉 our Author 62. But aboue all fury and wickednes was that resolution which he tooke soone after to wit vpon the yeare 1213. when he sent Syr Thomas H●●thington and Syr Raph Nicholson Knights and Syr R●●●rt of London Priest for his Embassadours to the great Ma●●●●●● King of Africke Morocco and Spaine named Miramumilinus offering to be of his religion and to make his Kingdome tributary vnto him and to be his vassall hold it of him if he would 〈◊〉 with an army by sea to assist him But when the said Ma●●●●●tan great Prince being a very wise man informing himself of the particular● of his person state showed contempt therof 〈◊〉 also of his offer as our Author that spake with one of the Ambassadours setteth downe at large K. Iohn tooke another resolution and passed to the quite contrary extreame resoluing not only to obey the Pope in spirituall iurisdiction but in temporall also and to make his Kingdome tributary and feudatory to the Sea of Rome by payment of a thousand markes euery yeare ther vnto which he bound himself and his heirs to doe vnder a 〈◊〉 large Charter sealed with the great seale of England in gold sending the same to Rome to Pope Innocentius vpō the yeare 1214. 63. And by this and other such tokens of his heartie conuersion and sorrow for thinges past he so gained the said Pope that suruiued him as he had him his most earnest defendour all daies of his life after both aginst the King of France his
sonne Prince L●wes and the Barons of England that made warre against him All whom he first cōmaunded to surcease their said warrs and emnities against the said K. Iohn and then for that they obaied not he threatned and ●enounced excommunication against them and besides this he sent his Legat named VVaell● to be with K. Iohn and assist him in person in all his needs and necessities which was no small help and comforte vnto him in those distresses And finall in after his death he was a principall cause why his young sonne Henrie the ● was admitted for King notwithstanding the Barons firme resolution promise and oath to the contrarie and that Prince Lawes was forsaken and forced to 〈◊〉 of England the said Lega● being made generall Gouernour both of the King and Kingdome for that present togeather with the Earle of 〈◊〉 Lord Marshall of the land 64. And as for the said Barons that so resolutely stoods 〈◊〉 K. Iohn and his succession their cause was about the priuiledged and laws of the Realme as well concerning the Glergie as lay men which were the same priuiledges as they affirmed that were graunted and set downe in King Edwards daies the Confessor confirmed by the Conquerour allowed published againe by K. Henry the first and not disallowed by this mans Father K. Henry the 2. in witnes wherof they produced a Charter of the said K. Henry the first All which liberties laws and ordinances K. Iohn promising them at his first recōciliation to giue gr●in● and ratifie was vrged afterward by them to publish the same ●● writing vnder the great seale of England as he did at Oxford in the presence of al his nobility in the 17. yeare of the said King● raigne which was the next before his death syaing in the 〈◊〉 writing Ex mera spontanea a voluntate nostra concessimu Char●a●●stra cōfirmauimus eam obtinuimus à Domino Papa Innocencia confirm●n quā nos obseruabimus ab haredibus nostris in perpetuū bona fide 〈◊〉 obseruari We haue graunted out of our owne meere free good will haue confirmed the same by our Charter and haue contained of Pope Innocentius that he confirme the same also with his assent which Charter both we shall obserue our selues and will haue to bee obserued faithfullie by our heirs for euen behold that K. Iohn doth not onlie confirme these liberties himself but procured the same to be confirmed also by Pope Innocentius for more stabilitie And the beginning of the said liberties it thus set downe Quod Anglicana Ecclesia libera sit habeat iuras●● integra suas libertates illasas maximè libertatem electionum q●● maximae magis necessaria reputatur Ecclesia Anglicunae That the English Church be free and haue all her rights whole and all h●● liberties inuiolate and especiallie her liberties of elections 〈◊〉 choosing her Prelates which is held to bee the greatest and most necessarie to the English Church And then follow the oth●● liberties of Barons noble-men and the common people 65. And for that it was vnderstood that notwithstan●●●● these two graunts and confirmations of these laws and priuile●ges K. Iohn by the counsaile of certaine strangers that wee●●bout him of his Countreyes in France was perswaded to 〈◊〉 the same againe and to informe the Pope wrong full●e 〈◊〉 intentions of the said Barons as though they meane not so 〈◊〉 the conseruation of these priuiledges indeed a●●●so●● 〈◊〉 Kingdome to the King of F●●nce and the Pope inclining to be●●u●e him the said Barons were so much exasperated therby as they made the vow before mentioned neuer to obey him or his anymore And thervpon calling ouer the said Prince Lewes of France gaue him London and all the South-parts of England and would haue gained him the rest in like manner if the Popes resistanes had not byn so great and K. Iohn had not died at that very instant in the heat of all the warre not poisoned by a monke as foolish Iohn Fox doth affirme and set forth in many printed and painted pageants of his booke but vpon greife of mind trauaile and disorder of diet as all auncient authors by vniforme consent doe agree And Iohn Stow citeth foure that liued in K. Iohns dayes to wit Mathew Paris Roger VVyndouer Raph Niger and Raph Gogshall in their histories of that tyme. 66. Wherfore to conclude this Chapter of K. Henry the second and of his two sonnes wee see how firme they were all three in this beleife and acknowledgement of the Popes spirituall authority ouer all the world and no lesse ouer England in those dayes and how fully the same was in practise among them And that albeit in some cases causes wherin they receiued some distast they strugled sometimes about the particular execution therof indeauoring to mak some restraint especially when it seemed to strech indirectly also to temporall affaires yet did they neuer so much as once deny the said Ecclesiasticall supremacy to be in the Sea of Rome and much lesse did euer ascribe it to themselues which so cleerly ouerthroweth M. Attorneys position as I maruaile what he will say to these and like demonstrations 67. And for that his often repeated ground is that Queen Elizabeth had her supreame authority in cases Ecclesiasticall according to the auncient common lawes of England hitherto he graunteth that there was no Statute-lawes at all by Parlament vntill the ensuing King K. Henry the third And for other lawes we see heere what they were by the testimony of the Bishops Barons of England vnder the Charters both of 〈◊〉 K. Henry the first and other Kings vpward vnto K. Edward the Confessor to wit all in fauour of the Church her liberties ●●nquises and priuiledges which liberties as other where I have noted and must often heerafter doe the same doe infer our conclusion of Ecclesiasticall and spirituall iurisdiction subordinate to the Sea of Rome and wholy distinct from temporall power and doe ouerthrow M. Attorneys assertion for the said spirituall 〈…〉 those liberties were as they were that 〈…〉 should haue iurisdiction in 〈…〉 ctions choise of Prelates of the 〈…〉 liberties are mentioned cited allowed● 〈…〉 by any King as you shall see they were by 〈…〉 them vnto K. Henry the 8. so often receiue●● 〈…〉 tion and his whole new books an open out 〈…〉 field And thus much of K. Iohn OF KING HENRY THE THIRD That vvas the eight King after the Conquest●●● And the first that left Statutes vvritten And vvha● instances and arguments M. Attorney alleadgeth out of him for his purpose CHAP. X. HITHERTO haue we passed ouer six hundred 〈◊〉 since our first English king rece●ued and therby put themselues vnder the of 〈…〉 Bishops depending therof for 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 Which Spirituall 〈…〉 haue byn euer beleeued 〈…〉 both Kings and Subiect from the 〈…〉 their lawes and continued by su 〈…〉 Which as it hath byn
for the indifferent Reader to consider these points following 8. First that we hauing proued the said acknowledgement in all former Kings it is not like that this deflected or went aside from their stepps or if he had done it would at least haue byn noted wherin and in what points and some records remaine therof as there doe of other points which were any way singular in him Secondly we finde this King much commended for pious deuotion by ancient writers and namely by Thomas VValsingham who in the beginning of K. Edward the first his life giueth a breife note of this King Henries life and death saying first of his sicknes and death that being at the Abbey of S. Edmunds-burie and taken with a greiuous sicknes there came vnto him diuers Bishops Barons and noble men to assist him and be present at his death at what time he humblie confessed his sinnes saith he was absolued by a Prelate and then deuoutlie receauing the bodie of our Sauiour asked all forgiuenes and forgaue all had extreme vnction and so humbly imbracing the crosse gaue vp his spirit to almightie God adding further of his deuotion in his life that euerie day he was accustomed to heare three masses sung and more priuatelie besides and that when the Priest did lift vp the hoast consecrated he would goe himself and holde the Priests arme and after kisse his hand and so returne to his owne place againe 9. Hee telleth also of his familiaritie with S. Lewes K. of France who raigning at the same time though some few years yonger then K. Henry conferred oftentimes with him about matters of deuotion and once telling him that he was delighted more to heare often preaching then manie masses K. Henry answered that he was more delighted to see his friend than to heare another man talke of him though neuer so eloquentlie 10. This then being so and K. Henry both liuing and dying so Catholicklie as both this man and all Authors doe write of him there can be no doubt but that he agreed fullie in iudgment and sense with all his predecessours as well in this point of the Popes Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as in all others And for his obedience to the Sea of Rome it was so notorious as diuers of his owne people at that time did thinke it to haue excesse For that it was not only in spirituall matters but in temporall affaires of his Kingdome also Nihil enim saith Matthew Paris nisi ex consensu Papae vel illius Legati facere voluit Hee would doe nothing especiallie in his later years but either by the consent of the Pope or his Legat. And further in another place Ipso quoque tempus Rex secus quàm deceret aut expediret se suumque Regnum sub paena exhareditationis quod tamen facere nec potuit nec debuit Domino Papae obliga●it At that very time also the King otherwise then was decent or expedient did oblige himself and his Kingdome which yet he could not nor ought to doe vnto Pope Innocentius the fourth vnder paine of disinheritage c. So he 11. And many times elswere is this complaint renewed and yet on the otherside we may vnderstand by the same Mathew Paris who so much misliketh this ouer much subiection as he calleth it to the Sea of Rome that diuers great commodityes ensued often therby both to him and the Realme To the Realme for that the Popes wrote heerby more confidently and effectually vnto him for amending certaine errors of his then otherwise perhaps they would or could yea threatned him also with excommunication when need required Wherof the said Paris writeth thus in one place In those daies the Popes anger began to be heate against the K. of England for that he kept not his promises so oftentimes made to amend his accustomed excesses and therefore at the instance of Lautence Bishop of Ely and many other that earnestly vrged him he threatned after so many exhortations made vnto him without fruite to excommunicate him and interdict his Kindome c. 12. But yet for all this when after his Barons did rise against him and held him diuers years in warre Pope Vrban the 4. saith Mathew Paris sent his Legat Cardinal Sabinian as far as Bellen in France to pronounce there and set vp the sentence of excommunication against the said Barons who being in armes permitted him not to enter the portes of England but yet not long after by the said Vrban his meanes and Pope Clement the 4. that succeeded him peace followed againe in the said Realme after many years of warre ciuill commotion with great variety of euents succeeding on both sides For that sometymes the King himself with his brother Richard surnamed King of the Romanes and Edward the Prince were taken by the Barons and sometymes the Barons had the worse and Simon Momfort Earle of Licester their cheife head and Captaine was slaine in the field and many miseryes distresses and calamityes ensued on both parts as are accustomed in warlyke affaires but especially of Kingdomes which haue their waues and turmoiles according as the winds of great mens humours and passions doe swell stirr vp or calme the same But in all this time no question was of Catholike religion in England nor any doubt at all of the distinction and subordination between temporall spirituall power and gouernment but that the one was acknowledged in the King as cheife head of the Common-wealth and the other in the Bishops as subordinate to the Sea Apostolike 13. And if we consider the cheife and most euident points wherin this acknowledgement is seen and to be obserued they are these in effect First and principally for all points of saith and beleife which points were not receiued in England nor other wise then they came authorized and allowed by the said Sea Apostolike And secondly for matters of manners in like form if any thing were decreed or ordained by the said Sea as to be obserued generally throughout all Christendome England presently admitted the same though in other matters which were either particular nationall or seuerall to euery Common-wealth England followed that which was most conuenient for her state peace and quietnes 14. And as for Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction and libertyes of the Church we se by the said Magna Charta decreed and confirmed by this King which is the very same in effect that his Father K. Iohn out of the Charter of K. Henry the first graunted vpon the 16. yeare of his raigne and confirmed againe and published by K. Edward his sonne and all his Catholike Successours that it was wholy left vnto Clergy men and to the Sea Apostolike and not taken nor vsed by the Kings as namely in all matters of Spirituall dispensations elections institutions admissions confirmation● of Prelates and the like all gathering of Synods making of Ecclesiasticall decrees excommunications absolutions indulgences iudging and determining of
strangers that had benefices or Ecclesiasticall liuings within the Realme both religious and other To which consideration he had these particular motiues peculiar to his time and state that he hauing for some yeares before proclaimed himself King of France and taken the Armes and Title of that Kingdome vpon him as due vnto him by succession for that he was next heire male in bloud to King Philip the 4. surnamed the faire that by his mother Queen Isabel was his Grandfather and all the Popes at that time being French-men and lying at Auinion in France for seauenty yeares togeather and the most parte of the Cardinals and Courte being in like manner of the same natiō that were ordinarily prouided by the Popes of benefices and Bishopricks in England and therby not fit as was pretended to teach preach or reside there King Edward besides the regard of other inconueniences entred into ielousie also of state thinking that these men were enemyes to his pretences in France and therevpon was the more pricked to make the prohibitions and lawes which he did 4. But yet writing first therof to the Pope himself in most humble and dutifull manner requesting redresse and remedy immediately from that Sea as by his letters yet extant doth appeare vpon this occasion saith VValsingham for that Pope Clement the 6. which once had byn Archbishop of Roane in Normandy a man of eminent learning but of profuse liberality made prouisions vnto two French Cardinals for their maintenaunce of two thousand markes a yeare vpon Bishopricks and Abbeys in England without the Kings knowledge or consent wherwith he being much offended commaunded first the Procurators of the said Cardinals to surcease and departe the land vpon paine of imprisonment then wrote vnto the said Pope that famous letter saith our Author for the liberty of the Church of England which he and others doe set downe The Title wherof is this Sanctissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino Domino Clemanti diuina prouidentia Sacrosancta Romana Vniuersal●● 〈◊〉 Summo Pontifici Edwardus eadem gratia Rex Francia Anglia c. ●●●uota pedum oscula beat●rum 5. This is the Title and inscription of his letter whereby wee may see what account he made of the Sea Apostolicke and Bishop thereof And in the prosecution of the said letter he layeth downe first how all the Bishopricks Prelacyes and benefices 〈◊〉 England being founded by the deuotion of Christian Kings ●ishops and Noble-men therof to the end that the people might be instructed the poore releiued the Churches serued the Princes assisted by Counsaile and help of the said Prelates according to that we haue heard touched before in the Statute of Carliele vnder this mans Grand-father and otherwise often repeated vpon other occasions all these good ends were said now to be euacuated by that the Sea Apostolike reseruing the coll●tions of such spirituall liuings to the Courte of Rome vnfit men strangers for the most parte were preferred and therby English-men discouraged and damnified the patrons of benefices depriued of their right of presentation many other such inconueniences ensued 6. Wherfore considering all these points saith the King P●●sata etiam deuotionis plenitudine quae domus nostra Regia Clerus ●●pulus dicti Regni perstiterunt hactenùs in obedientia Sedis Apostolica c. Considering also the fulnesse of deuotion wherwith our Kingly family as also the Clergy and people of our Realme haue p●●seuered hitherto in the obedience of the Sea Apostolicke it seemeth right that you as a Father prouiding for his children should with paternall affection alleuiate the burthens of your said children and permit for the time to come that Patrons of benefices may haue that solace as to present fit persons without impeachment to the said benefices wherof they are patrons and that Cathedrall Churches others of the said Kingdome may be prouided of Pastors by free elections c. Wherfore we ●●seech your Benignity to vouchsafe euen for the honour of God and saluation of soules and for the taking away of the foresa●● scandals and offences to put quickly some whole-some temperament vnto these matters to the end that wee who doe ●●●rence as wee ought to doe your most holy person and the holy Roman Church in paternae vestra dilectionis dulcedine quie scam●● may rest in the sweetnes of your fatherly loue towards vs. 〈◊〉 ●●●●lissimus ad regimen Ecclesia Sua Sancta per tempora prospera lon●●● The most high God preserue you to the gouernment of his holy Church for many and prosperous years Giuen at VVestminster the 26. day of September vpon the 4. yeare of our Raigne ouer France and 27. ouer England 7. Heere we see with what respect to the Sea Apostolicke King Edward pretended to make the restraints which he made of prouisions from Rome and to shew more his confidence and acknowledgement toward the said Sea he sent soone after the very same yeare vnto the said Clement the 6. a most honourable Embassage by Henry Earle of Lancaster and Derby as also the Earls Spenser and Stafford togeather with the Bishop of Oxford to treat with the said Pope and lay before him the right which he pretended to the Crowne of France though not in forme of iudgement or to put the matter in triall saith VValsingham but as to a father and friend he hauing 4. yeares before that written largly of the ground of his said right vnto this mans predecessour Pope Benedictus the 11. and to the whole Colledge of Cardinals himself being then at Antwerpe vpon the 16. of Iuly Anno Domini 1339. and 13. of his Raigne 8. His epistle to the Pope had the same title which the other before and that to the Cardinals Amabilium Deo patrum Sacrosancta Romana Ecclesiae Cardinalium Collegio venerando c. In the prosecution of which letter to the Pope after a large demonstration of his title he hath these words Non igitur apud vestrae viscera misericordia Sanctitatis locum inueniat detrahentium informatio amula c. Let not therefore the emulous informations of detractors find place in the bowells of your mercie and Holines against such a sonne of yours as by hereditary right of all his progenitors doth and will for euer immoueably persist in your obedience and in the obedience and grace of the Apostolicke Sea c. And we doe intimate this processe of our iustice to the said Crowne of France and of the iniury done against vs by detayning the same vnto the preheminence of your holy Highnes that by your supreme and holy measure of right and equity whervnto belongeth vpon earth to open and shut the gates of heauen and to whom appertaineth the fullnesse of power supereminency of tribunall you will fauour our right so much as reson requireth Parati semper ne dum à vestro sancto cunctis presidente iudicio
the memorie of Queen Mar●e without mentioning her at all so could I haue done also but that my purpose is to passe through the raignes of all our Princes without ouerpassing of anie And it maie serue also to our purpose to consider therby the broken and interrupted succession of this new headshipp in the Father sonne and daughters For as the Father by his Act had contradicted all his auncestors Kings of England before him from the beginning of their Conuersion vnto his daies so his sonne though succeeding him in the participation of that act yet contradicted him in all the rest that hee decreed touching matters of religion by vertue of that headshipp after him then came th' elder daughter who cōtradicted them both and restored all to the auncient state againe wherin it had cōtinued throughout the race of al her auncestors progenitors of England and Spaine for a thousand yeares and more So as heer M. Attorneys prescription can bee verie small for so much as his whole thrid therof was broken and cut of by Q. Marie and consequently he must begin againe with Q. Elizabeths raigne as the fountaine of all his deduction 32. And for so much as Queen Marie hauing as a deuout obedient and Catholicke Princesse returned al things belonging to religion to their auncient state and cōdition wherin her Father found them and her Grand-father left them shee repealed and mortified all such Statutes of innouations and new deuises as shee found to haue been made vpō anie occasion or fansie what soeuer during the time of her said Father and brother reducing her self in obsequium fidei to the humble obedience of that only faith which had been held and practised in Christs vniuersall Church and namely also in England from the beginning vnto her said Fathers daies punishing likewise diuers of the heads and authors of those new innouations and alterations that had been made and mamely and aboue others the chiefe author and instrument of all Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie who entring Catholikly as was thought into that dignity was the first Archbishop that euer failed or dissented in his faith frō the rest or from the obedience and subordination to the Sea Apostolicke and so by gods iudgmēt came to bee a stange example of a miserable end to bee burned publikly for his heresies and for that in particular against which his noble and learned predecessours Lanfrancus Anselmus and other Archbishops of Canterburie had foughten most famously aboue other learned men when it first sprang vp in Berengarius the first author and inuentor therof in the daies of VVilliam the Conquerour I meane the deniall of the Reall presence in the blessed Sacrament which of all other heresies was most hatefull vnto him for whose sake Cranmer first of all declined to schisme and heresie I meane King Henry the eight yea and to himself also for a tyme after the others death as may appeare by the foresaid first Statute made cheifly by his authority in the first yeare of King Edwards raigne in fauour of the said Reall presence against the Sacramentaryes 33. All which being so euery man may behold what ground or certainty there was in those dayes or is now for men to leave the Catholicke knowne religion and cast the saluation of their soules vpon such alterations as these were For that after Queen Mary who had restored all to the auncient state as hath byn said came her younger sister Queen Elizabeth a Lady of some fiue and twenty yeares of age who by little and little altered all againe agreeing in all points neither with the one nor with the other neither with them that had made the former alterations but brought in a new and distinct forme and fashion of beleiuing worshipping God peculiar to it self in diuers points and differing from all in some Of which innouation by the said younger sister against the elder they being the only two Queens that euer haue raigned in their owne right within our land since the beginning of Christianity we shall now passe to speake a few words and so end this whole discourse of our English Princes and their religion Of the raigne of Queen Elizabeth who was the three and twentith Princesse after the Conquest and last of King Henryes race §. v. 34. This Lady being the daughter of King Henry and Queene Anne Bullen comming to raigne after the foresaid Queen Mary her sister was persuaded to resume and take to her self that supreme spirituall power and iurisdiction which Queen Mary her elder sister had refused and caused to be restored to the place and persons from whom it was taken by her Father and brother And I say she was persuaded therevnto for that it is the opinion of many men that knew her and conuersed with her both before and after her entrance to the Crowne that she had neither great desire to take it at the beginning nor opinion that she might doe it but only that she was told it was necessary to her present state at that time in regard of diuers Popes sentences past against her legitimation the lawfullnes of her Parents marriage and the pretense of the Queen of France and Scotland at that tyme vpon 〈◊〉 supposed desect to the Crowne of England as due to her ●●ough the others illegitimation 35. For remedy of all which it was made a matter necessary that she should take the said authority Ecclesiasticall from the Pope and Sea of Rome and place it in her self especially when by negociation of some that desired the change it was brought about that the Parlamēt should offer it vnto her vnder this plausi●● Title of An Act for restoring to the Crowne the ancient iurisdictiō of the 〈◊〉 Ecclesiasticall and spirituall and the act it self so cunningly and ●●●ertly penned as before hath byn said as throughout the same ●●re is not found so much as once mentioned or named The head of the Church which euery-where is iterated vrged in the Statutes that gaue the same power to her Father and brother but in steed therof commeth in the deuise before mentioned of Supreme Gouernesse with authority to visit reforme correct errors heresies c●●ses c. And al this for sweetning the matter as a man may say to this Lady at the beginning who besides the other reason of Caluins mislike reprehension therof before mentioned in King Henry the eight had little opinion or appetite of the matter in those dayes not being ignorant for that she was of excellent wit how strange a thing it would seeme in the world to haue one of her sex Supreme in sacred and Ecclesiasticall matters i● ijt ●ua sunt ad Deum to vse S. Pauls words in this case that is to say in those things that are to be handled with God for men or between God and man 36. But being tolde by some in good sadnes at that time and M. Attorney offereth to stand to it
Pope Clement the 7. and how the same began cap. 15. num 4.5.6 7. Bulles from Rome not admitted in England except they came certified from some Prelate at home and why cap. 12. num 28. cap. 13. num 27. C. Calixtus the Pope his meeting vvith Henry the first in Normandy cap. 8. n. 14. Campian his fellow-martyrs protestations at their death cap. 16. num 12. Canon-lawes how they vvere receyued in England cap. 14. num 17. Canutus K. of England his confirmation of Peter-pence to Rome cap. 6. n. 72. Catholicke Religion the birth-right of Englishmen cap. 1. num 26. Catholickes falsely charged by M. Attorney cap. 16. num 2.3 deinceps Catholicke-Recusants from the beginning of Q. Elizabeths raigne cap. 16. num 7. Catholickes falsely accused of inconstancy cap. 16. num 18. Caudrey the Clerke his case cap. 3. per totum Causes of K. Henry the 8. his falling out and breach vvith the Sea Apostolicke cap 15. num 1.2 3. Ceadwalla K. of the VVestsaxons his pilgrimage to Rome cap. 6. num 83. His baptisme there and death ibid. Celestine Pope his letters to the Realme of England in absence of K. Richard the first cap. 9. num 33. Charters for Church-priuiledges before the Conquest and after cap. 5. num 2. 3. 4. deinceps cap. 8. num 23. The beginning of the Great-charter vnder K. Henry the third cap. 10. num 6. Church-libertyes confirmed by K. Richard the second cap. 12. num 43. S. Chrysostomes iudgement of spirituall power cap. 2. num 21.22.23 24. Ciuill warres in England vnder King Henry the third cap. 10. num 12. Clergy-men subiect to the Ciuill Magistrate in temporal affaires cap. 2. num 33. 34. But not in spirituall ibid. num 35. Clergie-mens persons exempted from secular povver cap. 2. num 26. 37. Clerkes euer exempted from temporall Iudges cap. 15. num 20. Collations of benefices by lay-men cap. 7. num 26. 29. Comparison betweene Catholick sand Sectaryes cap. 1. num 13. 14. Commodityes or discommodityes of municipall lavves cap. 1. num 20. Comon-lawes birthright cap. 1. num 22. 23. Complaintes against strangers beneficed in England cap. 10. num 21.22 23. deinceps Remedyes sought to the Pope therfore ibid. num 23. Controuersy-wryters condemned by M. Attorney and vvhy cap. 1. num 26.27 28. 29. Controuersy-writers against their conscience cap. 1. nu 32. and vvho they be ibid. num 35. Constantius the Emperour reprehended by Bishops cap. 4. num 6.7 8. Confirmation of Church libertyes in England by diuers Kinges before and after the Conquest cap. 5. num 7. deinceps Cap. 8. n. 23. Conquest of VVales by K. Edward the first cap. 11. num 9. Conuersion of diuers Kingdomes in England one after the other cap. 6. num 15. Condemnation of Protestantes doctrine by K. Henry the eight cap. 15. n. 15. 16. Conscience the cause that Catholicks follow not M. Attorneys current cap. 16. num 19. 20. Constantius the Emperour his iudgement touching such as dissembled in Religion cap. 16. num 20. Councell of Constance in Germany cap. 13. num 6. English Prelates sent thither ibid. Courtes spirituall and temporall and their difference ca 4. nu 11. deinceps Courtes spirituall superiour to temporall ca. 10. num 30. Cranmer the first hereticall Archbishop of Canterbury ca. 15. nu 32. Burnt at Oxford for his heresies ibid. Crosses erected by K. Edward the first ca. 11. num 6. Crowne of Englād not subiect to any in temporalityes ca. 12. nu 48. D. Decrees and Ordinances of Pope Formosus for the Church of England ca. 6. num 59. Decree against Bigamy ca. 11. nu 31. Decree of Pope Gregory the ninth about proceeding against hereticks ca. 13. num 14. Decrees of K. Henry the eyght his breach with the Sea Apostolicke ca. 15. num 11. 12. Despaire causeth forgetfulnes of all reason and duty and vvhy ca. 16. n. ●2 Demonstrations before the Conquest against secular Princes Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction in England cap. 6. per totum Deposition of Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury ca. 7. num 9. Difference of Courtes and vvhat it proueth ca. 4. num 11. Difference of lawes and law-makers before the Conquest ca. 6. num ● Difference of Courtes shew differēce of origen and authority ca. 11. nu 50. Directions of ancient Fathers hovv to find out Truth ca. 1. nu 17. 18. Dispensations of most importance procured alvvayes from Rome cap. 6. num ●4 35. Dissention betvveene Protestants and Puritans and vvhy Prefac n. 18. 19. Dissimulation in Religiou hovv daungerous cap. 16. num 20. Doubts raised in England concerning bygamy cap. 11. num 32. E. Ecclesiasticall lavves made to be the Kinges lavves by M. Attorney cap. 4. nu 13. 14. Ecclesiasticall vveighty matters allvvayes referred to Rome by our English Kinges cap. 6. num 19. Edgar K. of England his speach for the reformation of the Clergy cap. 6. num 87. 88. His piety and deuotion tovvards the Sea of Rome ibid. S. Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury threatneth K. Henry the third if he obayed not cap. 10. num 37. K Edward the Confessor his confirmation of Peter-pence to Rome cap. 6. num 73. K. Edward the first surnamed Long-shanke cap. 11. num 3. His deuotion ibid. num 4. His vvorkes of piety ibid. His Conquest of VVales ibid. num 9. His mutability in keeping Church-priuiledges ibid. num 11. His violent proceeding against the Clergy ibid. num 12. 13. His euer obedience to the Sea of Rome in meere spirituall things ibid. num 14. 17. His deuotion tovvards the first Pope in Auinion in France ibid. num 16. His accusation of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Pope ibid. num 16. His lawes in preiudice of the Clergy ibid. num 21. K. Edward the second his euill successe of marriage in France cap. 11. n. 41. K. Edward the third his restraints against the Clergy of England cap. 12. num 1. 2. His punishment for the violence vsed towards the Church cap. 12. nu 2.3.39 40. Motiues that induced him therto ibid. num 3. His great embassage to the Pope ib. num 7. His protestation for obedience to the Sea of Rome for himselfe and his cap. 12. num 8. His disordinate life ibid. num 41. K. Edward the fourth his raigne ouer England cap. 14. num 1.2.3 deinceps K. Edward the sixth his raigne cap. 15. num 26. His Supremacy of the Church of England declared by the Protector his vncle ibid. S. Egwyn Bishop of VVorcester his monastery of Euesham cap. 6. num 42. His voyage to Rome ibid. nu 79. Elections of Bishops 4. kinds cap. 7. num 32. Eminency of spirituall power aboue temporall cap. 2. num 19. England made tributary to Rome cap 6. num 67. cap. 9. num 62.63 64. Entrance into England denyed to the Popes Legates and vvhy cap. 14. n. 13. 15. Error vvhat it is