that hee should rule and defend the Kingdome and the people of the Lorde and aboue all things the holy Church And when the Popes eyes were fixed vpon the Bishopricks of England to bring them all spirituall promotions to his owne donation his Holinesse receiued admonition from the same Conqueror that hee should goe against the most auncient Lawes of his kingdome if he did admit or acknowledge the power of any forreiner as the Pope was A.D. 1088 So William Rufus sonne to the Conqueror did strictly forbid Anselm Archbishop of Canterburie and charged all other Bishops to haue no respect to Rome or to the Pope saying J cannot endure any equall in my kingdome so long as J liue A.D. 1114 Henry the first by his Atturney did forbid Anselm returning from Rome to enter his land vnlesse he would faithfully promise to keep all the customs both of William the Conqueror his Father and of William Rufus his brother A.D. 1164 Henrie the second made all the Bishops c. sweare in a generall assembly at Cloredon that these liberties of the Crown amongst which one was That no Archbishop Bishop or any other person should goe out of the Realme without the King his leaue Another did direct Appeales That if any were made they should come from the Archdeacon to the Bishop from the Bishop to the Archbishop and if the Archbishop fayled in doing Justice it shall bee lawfull at the last to come vnto the King that by his commaundement the matter may bee ended in the Archbishop his Court So that no person shall presume to appeale further without the King his consent And hee writ letters to all his Shiriffes Lieutenants in England in this manner I commaund you that if any Cleargie man or Lay man in your Countie appeale to the Court of Rome you attach him hold him fast-ward till Our pleasure bee known Henrie the third when it was propounded in Parliament whether one borne before Matrimonie may inherit in like maner as they that are born after And the Bishops intreating the temporall Lords to consent to the affirmatiue because the Canons Decrees of the Church of Rome are so all the Earles and Barons answered with one voyce That they would not haue the Lawes of England changed and so the statute passed with the Lords temporall against the orders of Rome The same King writeth in this wise to the Bishops seuerally to euerie one in his Diocesse Henry the third by the Grace of God to the Reuerend in Christ B. of N. Whereas Wee haue heretofore written vnto you once twise thrise as well by Our priuie Seales as also by Our Letters Patents that you should not exact or collect for the Popes behalfe anie tallage or other helpe of Our Subiectes either of the Cleargie or of the Layetie for that no such tallage or helpe either can or is vsed to bee exacted in Our Realme without the great preiudice of Our Princely dignitie which Wee neither can nor will suffer or sustaine Yet you contemning and vilipending Our Commaundement and contrarie to the Prouision made in Our last Councell at London graunted agreed vpon by Our Prelates Earles and Barons haue that notwithstanding proceeded in collecting the same your taxes and tallages Whereupon Wee doe greatly maruaile are moued especially seeing you are not ashamed to doe contrarie to your owne Decrees whereas you and other Prelates in the said Councell in this did all agree and graunt that no such exactions should bee heereafter vntill the returne of Our and your ambassadors frō the Court of Rome sent thither purposely of Vs and in the name of the whole Realme for the same to prouide for redresse against these oppressions Wherefore Wee straightly will and commaund you that from henceforth you doe not proceede any more in collecting exacting such tallages or helpes as you will enioy Our fauour and such possessions of yours as within this Our kingdome you haue and hold And if you haue alreadie procured or gathered any such thing yet that you suffer it not to bee transported out of Our Realme but cause it to bee kept in safe custody till the return of the said Ambassadors vnder the paine of Our displeasure in doing of the contrarie and also of prouoking Vs to extend Our hand vpon your possessions further thē you will thinke or beleeue Moreouer willing charging you that you participate make knowen this Our Inhibition with your Archdeacōs Officials which We here haue set forth for the liberties of the Cleargie and of the people as knoweth God c. A.D. 1212 When King John had refused the disordered election of Stephen Langton to the Archbishopricke and See of Canterburie Jnnocent the third forced the King to resigne his kingdome and to take it of him againe the said Pope at the yearely rent of 1000. Markes But the Barons the Bishops were so much displeased therewith that in plaine contempt of the Popes keyes curses they did choose them another King and chased King Iohn the Popes fermor in dispite of all his new Landlord could doe A.D. 1291 King Edward the first made a Statute at Carlile that the Pope should exercise no Iurisdiction in England and in his time one bringing an excommunication from Rome against a Subiect of England and the same being brought by complaint before the King and his Councell the fact was adiudged high Treason the offendor had suffred death but by the mediation of the Chauncellor Treasurer the King was content with his banishment Edward the second would not suffer the Peter-penie to bee collected otherwise then had been accustomed A.D. 1360 Edward the third reuiued the Statute of Premunire made by Edward the first Pope Gregorie the eleuenth writ to him that this Law might bee abrogated but preuailed not Shortly after this time Richard fitz Ralfe liued was made Archbishop of Armagh a holy learned man as appeareth by his labours and disputations against the begging Friers A.D. 1413 Henry the fourth made a Law that no Popes Collector thenceforth should leuie any money within the Realme for first fruites of any Ecclesiasticall liuing vnder pain of incurring the Statute of Prouisions or Premunire An. 5. Henr. 5. Act. 17. It was enacted in a Parliament That the Church all estates should enioy all their liberties which were not repealed or repealeable by the common Law meaning the excluding of the Popes forreine power which hath alwayes beene excluded by the common Law A.D. 1428 As King Henry the sixt with Duke Humfrey Lord Protector the rest of the Councell were in the Dukes house in the Parish of S. Bennets by Pauls Wharfe one Richard Candray Procurator in the Kings name behalfe did protest denounce by this publike instrument That whereas the king and all his Progenitors Kings before him of this Realme of England haue beene heretofore possessed time out of minde with speciall priuiledge custom vsed and
obserued in this Realme from time to time that no Legate from the Apostolike See should enter into this Land or any of the K. dominions without the calling petitioÌ„ request inuitement or desire of the King And forasmuch as Henry B. of WintoÌ„ Cardinall of Eusebius hath presumed so to enter as Legate from the Pope being neither called sent for required or desired by the King therefore the said Richard Candray in the Kings name doth protest by this JnstrumeÌ„t that it standeth not with the Kings minde or intent by the aduice of his Councell to admit approue or ratifie the comming of the said Legate in anywise in derogation of the right customs Lawes of this his Realme or to recognise or assent to any exercise of this his authoritie Legantine or to any actes attempts or hereafter by him to be attempted in this respect contrarie to the foresaid Lawes rights customes liberties of this Realme by these presents c. In the same K. Henry the fixts time there is a Record in the 17. yeare of his raigne in Easter tearme 28. April That all the temporalties of the Archbishoprick of Armagh within the realm of Ireland were taken seised into the hands of the King by his Barons of the Exchecquer by reason of a resignation an admission therof by the Pope which resignation was made by Iohn Bote Archbishop of the Archbishopricke aforesaid In England there be verie auncient Lawes That no Legate from the Bishop of Rome or other religious person should enter the bounds of the kingdome vnlesse first hee did promise by solemne oath that he will bring in nothing to derogate from the King or Lawes and customes of the kingdome The practise hereof was seene in the late raigne of Q. Mary notwithstanding all her deuotion to the Pope For when she did vnderstand that his holinesse was not well minded to Cardinall Poole Archbish of Canterbury but to abate his power in England was readie to make Frier Peto a Cardinall also had a Nuncio with the Hat purposely to giue opposition to Cardinall Poole Q. Mary by the aduise of the Peers Councellors Iudges disparched a messenger to Calis with coÌ„mandement to the Popes Nuncio That he should not come neere her Coasts nor stirre one foote from Calis towards England I could tell you of Charles the fift that was Emperor and grandfather to the K. of Spaine that now is who besieged Rome it selfe did take it maugre all the Popes Bulls curses yea imprisoned ClemeÌ„t then Pope 33. Cardinals with him seuen moneths space in Adrians tower neither would hee dismisse them till Clement made agreement of 400000. Duckets for his own ransome a greater summe was imposed vpon the Cardinals In like sort I might relate how Philip the second Clarles his sonne inuaded Italy with an armie vnder the coÌ„duct of duke D'alva wasted the countrey spoiled the people cast a trench about Rome it selfe but for breuitie sake I rest onely vpon the acts and rights that our own kings Princes haue euer challenged and vsed All these examples whether they be forrein or domesticall tend to this one point That howsoeuer Princes be coÌ„tent somtimes for their own behoofe to giue way to the B. of Rome for the exercises of his superstitions in their kingdomes and dominions yet all of them out of their magnanimities and heroicall spirits do scorne that the Pope should vsurpe or intrude any Iurisdiction ouer their people and subiects further then they themselues like of and thinke to stand with the safetie and good of their countries So it appeareth that the Pope was neuer anie long time in full quiet possessioÌ„ of his preteÌ„ded power in the realm of Engl. and that his Iurisdiction was neuer made a matter of coÌ„science withall this deduction sheweth that it was not Hen. 8. Edw. 6. Elizabeth his sister all Princes of happy memorie or his Matie that now reigneth most gratiously ouer vs that disclaimd the popes authoritie power first but all their most noble progenitors haue done it coÌ„staÌ„tly in a perpetual discent froÌ„ the CoÌ„queror And for the K. that now is besids his right his piety his iustice his Clemencie his learning and other Princely indowments which are able to gain him honor respect amongst meere strangers hee hath a particular aduantage for which hee may worthily challenge more honor obedience froÌ„ you then any of his famous predecessors could expect at the subiects of this kingdome in their seueral times first he is extracted out of your owne bloud descending lineally from Fergus Yee are his brethren his bones his flesh are yee why then are yee the last that giue the King his right Secondly he hath added much more honor dignity to your bloud theÌ„ he receiued by it for wheras formerly the Seas had bouÌ„ded it within this IslaÌ„d so as it had no additioÌ„ or accesse of glory elswhere his Matie hath now giueÌ„ lustre brightnes vnto it with the best highest blouds of Engl. Scotl. FraÌ„ce DeÌ„mark Germany out of al the greatest houses of christeÌ„dom will you theÌ„ diminish his honor that hath aduaÌ„ced made yours to shine will you take away his right that is of your owne kindred transfer it to a meer stranger that seeketh for yours and not for you will you strip a iust King of his birth-right or due bestow it vpon an Italian Priest vnsent of God vncalled by man vnfit for place that hath no maner of claime or warrant for it from Scriptures holy Councels or learned auncient Fathers Let no such ingratitude be found in your generous minds Know ye not that your obedience to the K. begetteth bringeth forth his protection defence of you and can you desire or in equitie expect absolute general protection froÌ„ the K. wheÌ„ you giue him but partiall obedience in teÌ„poral things only not in busines Ecclesiasticall There is no reason no iustice no proportion in that reciprocatioÌ„ ProtectioÌ„ obedience are of like equall extent therfore by the rules of nature which wills you to do as you would be done to if you will haue the K. to protect you your wiues childreÌ„ lands goods houses whilst you are in the exercises of your religioÌ„ euen there also you must acknowledge the king his power and yeeld your obedience to his lawes for they are strengthened by the lawes of God or if you will apply your selues 〈…〉 acie to the popes pleasure in those affaires the K. by way of retaliatioÌ„ might withdraw his protection leaue you for those times to spoile or to his defence whom ye obey Therefore I beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ eueÌ„ I that must giue accouÌ„t for your miscarriage to the chiefe Bish of your soules with sobs teares intreat you again again to take this matter into serious coÌ„sideratioÌ„ to aduise with the word of truth vncorrupted antiquitie euen with the godly writers that liued gouerned the Churches wheÌ„ your holy B. St. Patrick coÌ„uerted this couÌ„trie to the faith of Christ that you may honor the K. with that Soueraignetie which is due vnto him illustrat your own noble families make mee happie in the winding vp of my dayes who will neuer cease to pray for you all whilst I am ARMAGH Marc. 10.25 Matt. 20.20 Matth. 18.1 Esay 28.16 1. Cor. 3.11 Psal 18.31 Galat. 2.8 Aeneas Syluius Epist 280. Mat. 20.28 2. Part. Esay 42.2 Matt. 12.20 Psalm 103.14 Rom. 15.1 Mark 12.17 Reuel 19.16 Numb 16.7 Rom. 13.1 Chrysostom in Epist ad Rom. Homil. 28. Act. 15.29 1. Cor. 10.25 1. Tim. 2.2 Gent. 49.10 August in Io. tract 6. Aug. contra Crescon 1. Sam. 25.28 Ester 3.1 Act. 25.10 2. Sam. 14.2 1. Ring 12.26 1. Pet. 2.13 Dan. 4.18 Deut. 17.15 Act. 13.21 1. Sam. 10.20 21. 1. Sam. 10.24 Psalm 82.6 Ioh. 10.34 Rom. 13.7 Prou. 24.21 Rom. 13.4 Psalm 122.7.8 9. Ioh. 21.16 Matt. 16.19 Act. 20.28 Mat. 10.24 Orig. in Mat. 16. tract 1. Di Consider ad Eugen. Reuelat. 3.7 Ioh. 20.21 Mat. 28.18 Matt. 28.19.20 Reuel 13.1 1. Chron. 24.5 Galat. 2.9 1. Cor. 3.10 Act. 20.17 c. Reuelat. 2.1 1. Tim. 1.3 Genes 13.8 Psal 133.1 Genes 13.7 1. Cor. 14.31 Matth. 5.9 Hebr. 20.21 Exodchan 4. vers 15. 16. Exod. 32. 2. Chron. c. 8 vers 14.15 2. Chron. 19. vers 8. 2. Chro. 35.2 Luc. c. 2. v. 7. Ioh. 18.36 Act. 25.11 About the yeare of our Lord. 150. Ad Scapul About the yeare of our Lord. 220. Cyprian libr. 1. Epist 3. Lib. 5. in proâ—â—mio In vita Constant orat 1. Lib. 1. cap. 9. De vita Constant orat 3. De vita Constant libr. 3. cap. 10. African Concil c. 92. About the yeare 534. Epist 24. Concil Calce Act. 1. It appeares by the storie of those times and by his own Epistles that hee was willing enough to haue to doe with other Churches Gregor Epist 32. 30. About the yeare 233. In Matth. tract 1. 250. Ad Quiriâ— De Trinit l. 2. De Trinit in dialog 〈◊〉 4 Serm. 66. 16. Ser. fest Pontecost 1. Cor. 3.11 De verb. Domini sed Matth. Serm. 13. About the yeare 680. Boniface Pope when Edward the first was king of England Math. Paris
it followeth in the storie that at length hee made peace with all the nations round about Concerning Officers Rex Assuerus Aman quamuis alienigenam ad id honoris euexit vt cunctis Persarum Medorum Principibus anteferretur Et Mordechaium totius honoris dignitatis eius successorē constituit The Book of Kings and Chronicles yeeld cleere testimonies that these Offices were in the Kings dispose hee placed and displaced them all euen the high-Priests too Pope Boniface the 8. would haue put himselfe into these rights in Frāce But he got a Great fooliship for this attempt Sciat maxima tua fatuetas c. and then was quiet Who can doubt of the matter of appeale that reads Pauls prouocation vnto Cesar I stand at Cesars iudgement seate where I ought to be iudged not only in respect of himselfe because hee could not decline that iurisdiction but of all others besides for none could exempt him because Cesar had the last resort and supreame Iudicature Last of all the grace of deliuerance and pardoning criminalls was in the King else Ioab was mistaken in the middest of his subtilitie when he sent the woman of Tekoah to Dauid Dauid Salomon were mistaken too the one when hee pardoned Absolon and Shemey the other when he gaue to Abiathar the high priest his life Thou art worthy of death but I will not kill thee goe to Anathoth to thine owne fields Hee did confine him Now who can denie the Kings Supremacie seeing all the particulars of Soueraignetie meete together in his person Peter graunts it Submit yourselues to all maner ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it bee to the King as hauing more then all that is the force of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in my poor vnderstāding he that hath power boue all must needes bee Supreame But why doth Peter call it a humane ordinance The Kings power is like to Pearles that are found heere below but carrie a resemblance of Heauen in their brightnesse and Orient colours Such is the authority that I treat of S. Peter calls it a humane ordinance because it is conuersant here vpon earth and exercised amongst men But it may iustly challenge an higher parentage when the beautie therof is marked and the emoluments considered Then it is like to Daniels goodly Tree of whose fruite all mortall men doe tast and eat vnder whose shadow they also take rest and comfort How often haue those holy Fathers run to the defence and succour of this Tree in stormes which now in their faire Sunne-shine goe about to shroude lopp the branches O vnthankefull remembrancers But to the point If this power be of men how is it sacred and if it be from heauen why should it not be Soueraigne The Royall Law is this Thou shalt make him King ouer thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose The people haue no authoritie to make a King no voyces nor interest in the businesse when they desire a King God reserueth that power to himselfe You know who saith it Acts 13. When the people of Jsrael desired a King God gaue vnto them Saul the Sonne of Cys Samuel did not appoint him the people did not chuse him but God To morrow about this time I will send thee a Man him shalt thou annoynt There is Samuels warrant And will you see what part the people had Samuel assembled the people the tribe of Benjamin was taken So Saul the sonne of Cys was taken And Samuel said see you not him whom the Lord hath chosen Nor Priest nor Prophet nor people had Nomination Election or Approbation of the King but God did all according to the reseruation of his own Law The people were beholders no actors they did take Conditions they could make none Hoc erit ius Regis This shall bee whether you translate it the Kings right or his manner It is an Item to Subiects that they can neuer Capitulate with their Prince If you translate it the Kings right then that may not be inuaded If you translate it His manner or custome that creates an other right and cannot handsomely be auoyded Heere is the difference between a Law that giueth right a Custome that maks a manner in the former there is an expresse allowance in the second a secret consent The appointment of the second King was like vnto the first and the third also was assigned to Dauid by God The greatest diffrence was that Gods Election began then to be hereditarie and to bee declared by succession But mens inheritances take not away Gods right they confirme it rather because he appointeth heires Ego dixi dij estis He calleth them Gods to whom the Word of God came Which speech of Christ is an Hebraisme signifying that Kingdomes Gouernments come not by authority or practise of men but by Gods holy Ordinance and Commission The Word of God must come vnto them before they can be called Gods And so I will shut vp this point with that which they say Peter spake to Birthwould a Moncke of Glassenburie when hee was anoynting Edward the Confessor as I remember The Moncke was inquisitiue who should succeed him in the kingdome And Peter answered Ne talia cures Sir Moncke trouble not your head with such cares Regnum enim Angliae Dei regnum est For the Kingdome of England is Gods kingdome Euen so Lord IESVS let it euer continue that it may bee safe vnder the shadow of thy wings If the Monckes vision were true it brings our Superuisors of kingdomes a Supersedeas from Peter that should be of some force amongst those that crie nothing but Peter Peter If it be not true yet it shews what the opinion of the world was then namely That the disposition of kingdomes belongeth to God alone And that the Care of Titles and Successions was no fit Meditation for Monckes and Parsons of that rancke Thus much for the Supremacie of the Kings power Now the stile of Kings followeth which our SAVIOVR in this place would haue proportionable to the Maiestie of their places wee are commanded To giue honour to whom honour belongeth Surely none hath such right vnto it as the King And the first part of honour consisteth in Tearmes and Titles of respect My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious God and the King are proposed ioyntly and made the Obiects of our feare therefore the Holy Ghost inioyneth vs to performe no perfunctorie or vulgar reuerence to Kings but that which is Sacred Cordiall Bring such reuerence all Complements of Honour will follow to content Christian Princes And remember that as they haue Gods Chaire and represent Gods image so hee hath communicated his Name vnto them which containeth the amplitude of all Honour Heere the Sonne of God calleth them Benefactors or gracious Lords a Title anciently