if he would do the other promiseth to bring about that Den. shuld depart w e his army into Germany whereunto the people of Rome also did lykewise mooue him To whom Gregory answered that he was content so to do but vpon condition that the emperor would submit himself to aske pardon to amend hys fault and to promise obedience The Emperour not agreyng to those conditions went to Senas taking Clement new stalled Pope with hym After the returne of the Emperor the foresayd Robert Buiscardus approching w e his souldiours brast in at one of the gates and spoileth the Citie And not long after deliuereth Hildebrand out of his enemies hands and caried him away to Campana where he not long continuyng after dyed in exile Antoninus writeth that Hildebrand as he did lie a dying called to hym one of his chief Cardinals be wailing to him his fault misorder of his spirituall ministery in stirring vp discord warre dissension wherupon he desired the Cardinall to go to the Emperor and desire him of forgeuenes absoluing from the danger of excommunication both him and all his partakers both quicke and dead Thus hast thou gentle Reader the full history of pope Gregory 7. called Hildebrand which I haue laid our more at large desire thee to marke because that frō this Pope it thou marke wel springeth all the occasion of mischiefe of pride pompe stoutnesse presumption tiranny which since that tyme hath raigned in his successours hetherto in the cathedral church of the Romish clergy for here came first the subiectiō of the temporal regiment vnder the spiritual iurisdictiō And Emperors which before were their maisters now are made their vnderlings Also here came in the suppression of priests mariage as is sufficiently declared Here came in moreouer the authoritie of both the swords spiritual secular into spiritual mens hands So that christian magistrates could do nothing in election in geuing bishoprikes or benefices in calling Councels in hearing correcting the excesses of the clergy but only the Pope must do all Yea moreouer no bishop nor Pastor in his owne parish could excommunicate or exercise any discipline amongst his flocke but onely the Pope chalenged that prerogatiue to himselfe Finally here came in the first example to persecute Emperors kings with rebellion excommunication as the clergy themselues hereafter doe testifie and witnes in proceeding against Paschalis Thus these notes beyng well obserued let vs by the grace of Christ now repaire again to our coūtry history of englād About the death of Pope Hildebrād or not long after folowed the death of king William Conqueror in the yere of our Lord 1090. after he had raigned in Englād the space of 21. yeares and 10. moneths The cause of his sicknes and death is said to be this For that Phillip the French king vpon a tyme iesting sayd that king William lay in child bed and nourished his fat belly with this the foresaid william hearing therof aunswered againe and sayd when he should be Churched he would offer a thousand candels to hym in Fraunce wherewithall the kyng should haue litle ioy whereupon king William in the month of Iuly when the corne fruite grapes were most flourishing entered into Fraunce set on fire many Cities and townes in the westside of Fraunce And lastly commyng to the Citie of Meaux where he burning a woman beyng as a recluse in a wall inclosed or as some say two mē Anachorites inclosed was so seruent and furious about the fire that with the heate partly of the fire partly of the tyme of yeare therby he fell into sicknes and dyed vpon the same By the life actes of this king it may appeare true as stories of him report that he was wise but guilefull riche but couetous a faire speaker but a great dissembler glorious in victory strong in armes but rigorous in oppressing whom he ouercame in leuiyng of tasks passing all other In so much that he caused to bee enrolled numbred in his treasury euery hide of land and owner therof what fruit reuenewes surmounted of euery Lordship of euery township castel village field riuer wood within all the realme of England Moreover how many parish Churches how many liuing cattell there were what and how much euery Baron in the realme could dispend what fees were belonging what wages were taken c. The tenour contents of which taskment yet remaineth in rolles After this tasking or nūbring which was the yere before his death folowed an exceding moreine of cattell barennes of the ground with much pestilence and hote feuers amōg the people so that such as escaped the feuer were cōsumed with famine Moreouer at the same season among certain other Cities a great part of the City of London with the church of Paules was wasted with fire an 1085. In hunting and in parkes the foresayd king had such pleasure that in the country of Southhamptō by the space of 36. miles he cast downe churches and Townships and there made the new forest louing his Decre so dearely as though he had bene to them a father making sharp lawes for the increasing thereof vnder payne of loosing both the eyes So hard he was to Englishmen and so fauorable to his owne country that as there was no English Byshop remainyng but onely wolstane of Worcester who beyng commaunded of the king and Lancfrank to resigne vp his staffe partly for inhabilitie partly for lacke of the French tongue refused otherwise to resign it but only to him that gaue it and so went to the tombe of king Edward where he thought to resigne it but was permitted to enioy it stil so likewise in his daies there was almost no English mā that bare office of honour or rule In so much it was half a shame at that tyme to be called an English man Notwithstanding he some deale fauoured the citie of London graunted vnto the Citizens the first charter that euer they had written in the Saxon with greene waxe sealed and conteined in few lynes Among his other conditiōs this in him is noted that so geuen he was to peace and quiet that any maiden being laden with gold or siluer might passe thorough the whole realme without harme or resistance This William in his tyme builded two monasteries one in England at Battail in Suffex where he wan the field against Harold called the abbey of Battail an other beside named Barmōdsey in his countrey of Normandy After the life story of K. William thus briefly described with the acts order of battail betwene him K. Harold although much more might haue bene written of that matter if the booke had come sooner to my hands which afterward I sawe now remaineth in the end of his story to describe the names of such Barons nobles of Normandy which enterd with him into this land as well of them which were embarked
the whole summe whereof was found yerely to be three score thousaÌ„d Markes to the which summe the reuenues of the whole crowne of England and not extend Ex Math. Parisiens fol 185. a. The Nobles then vnderstanding the miserable oppression of the Realme being assembled together at Dinistable for certayne causes sent one Fulco in the name of the whole nobility vnto M. Martinus the Popes Marchaunt with this message that he iudelayedly vpon the same warning should prepare himselfe to be gone out of the realme vnder payn of being cut all to pieces At which message the Legate being sore agaâ— went straight to the king to know whether his conseÌ„t was to the same or not Of whom when he found litle better comfort he tooke hys leaue of the king who had him adue in the deuils name faith M. Paris and thus was the realme rid of M. Martinus Ex Mat. Paris 185. b. an 1245. As soone as Pope Innocent had hereof intelligence by the coÌ„playnt of his Legate he was in a mighty rage And furthermore remembring how yâ— french king the king of Arragon not long before had denied him entraunce into theyr land and being therfore in displeasure with theÌ„ likewise began in great anger to knit his browes and said it is best that we fall in agreement with our prince whereby we may the sooner bring vnder these little petty kinges and so the great Dragon being pacified these litle serpents we shall handle at our owne pleasure as we lift After this immediarly theÌ„ folowed the generall councell of Lions to the which councell the states and Lordes of the Realme with the consent of the communaltye sent two Bulles One conteining a generall suplication to the Pope and the councell the other with the Articles of such greuaunces which they desired to be redressed whereof relation is made sufficiently before pag. 267. The other bill of the Supplication because it is not before expressed I thought here to exhibite for two causes First that men now in these dayes may see the pitifull blindnesse of those ignoraunt dayes wherein our English nation here did so blindely humble themselues and stand to the Popes curtesy Whom rather they should haue shaken of as the Grecians did Secondly that the pride of the Pope might the better appeare in his coulours who so disdaynefully reiected the humble sute of our Lordes and Nobles when they had much more cause to disdayne rather to stampe him vnder their feet The tenour of the SupplicatioÌ„ was this ¶ The copy of the Supplication written in the names of all the nobles and commons of England to Pope Innocent the 4. in the generall Councell at Lyons anno 1245. ¶ To the reuerend Father in Christ Pope Innocent chiefe Byshop the nobles with the whole comminaltye of the Realme of England sendeth commendation with kissing of his blessed feet OVr mother the Church of Rome we loue with all our hartes as our duety is and couet the encrease of her honour with so much affection as we may as to whome we ought alwayes to flye for refuge whereby the griefe lying vpon the childe maye finde comfort at the mothers hand Which succour the mother is bound so much the rather to imparte to her childe how muche more kinde and beneficial she findeth him in relieuing her necessitiee Neither is it to the sayd our mother vnknowne how beneficiall and bountifull a geuer the Realme of England hath bene now of long tyme for the more amplifying of her exaltation as appeared by our yerely subsidie whiche we terme by the name of Peterpence Now the sayd Church not contented with this yearly subsidie hath sent diuers Legates for other contributions at diuers and sondry times to be taxed and leuyed out of the same Realme al which contributions and taxes notwithstanding haue bene louingly and liberally graunted Furthermore neither is it vnknowne to your fatherhood how our forefathers like good Catholickes both louing and fearing their maker for the soules health as well of themselues as of their progenitours and successors also haue founded Monasteryes and largely haue endued the same both with their owne proper landes and also patronages of benefices whereby suche religious persons prosessing the first and chiefest perfection of holy Religion in theyr Monasteries might with more peace and tranquillitie occupy themselues deuoutly in Gods seruice as to the order appertained And also their Clearkes presented by them into their benefices might sustaine the other exteriour labours for them in that seconde order of religion and so discharge and defend them from all hasardes so that the saide religious monasteries cannot be defrauded of those their patronages and collations of benefices but the same must touche vs also very neare and worke intollerable griefe vnto our hearts And now see we beseche you which is lamentable to behold what iniuries we sustaine by you and your predecessors who not considering those our subsidies and coÌ„tributions aboue remembred doe suffer also your Italians and forreiners whych be out of number to be possessed in our Churches and benefices in Englande pertaining to the right and patronage of those monasteries aforesayde which forreiners neither defending the sayd religious persones whome they ought to see to nor yet hauing the language whereby they may instructe the flocke take no regarde of their soules but vtterly leaue them of wilde wolues to be deuoured Wherefore it may truely be said of them that they are no good shepheards where as neither they know their shepe nor the shepe do know the voyce of their shepherds neither do they kepe any hospitalitie but only take vp the rents of those benefices carying them out of the Realme wherewith our brethren our nephewes and our kinsfolkes might be susteined who coulde and woulde dwell uppon them and employ such exercises of mercie hospitalitie as their dutie required Whereof a great nuÌ„ber now for mere necessitie are lay men and faine to flie out of the realme And now to the enteÌ„t more fully to certify you of the truth ye shall vnderstand that the sayd Italians and strangers receiuing of yerely rentes out of Englande not so little as 60000. Markes by yeare besides other auailes and exises deducted doe reape in the said our kingdome of England more emoluments of meere rents then doth the king himselfe being both the tutour of the Church and gouernour of the land Furthermore where as at the first creation of your Papacie we were in good hope and yet are that by meanes of your fatherly goodnesse we shoulde enioy our franchises and free collation of our benefices and donatiues to be reduced againe to the former state nowe commeth an other greeuance which we cannot but signifie vnto yoâ—â—ressing vs aboue measure which we receiue by M. Martinusâ— who entring late into our lande without leaue of our king with greater power then euer was sene before in any Legate although he beareth not
by the statute of the Londiners geuē forth commaundement through all his land that no corne shoulde at that tyme be turned to the making of drinke Such a Lord is God thus able to do where he is disposed to strike And yet we miserable creatures in our wealth and aboundaunce will not surcease dayly to prouoke hys terrible maiesty But let vs returne to the order agayne of our story After the Scottes had thus plagued miserably as ye haue heard the Realme of England they inuaded also Ireland where they kept and cōtinued warre the space of 4. yeares But in fine the Irishmen by ayd sent to them from England quitte themselues so well that they banquished the Scottes and slew Edward Bruys and many of the Nobles of Scotland with many other and droue the residue out of the country The king about the 12. yeare of his raigne assembled a new host and went into Scotland where he layd siege to Barwike But in the meane time the Scottes by an other way inuaded the marches of Yorkeshyre robbing and harieng the countrey that they slew much people Wherfore the Archbishop of of Yorke and other Abbottes Pryors Clerkes with husbandmen assembled a great company and gaue them battell at a place called Mytton where the Englishmen were discomfited and many of them slayne but the Archbishop and the Abbot of Selby and diuers other there escaped But because there were so many spirituall men there slayne it was called therefore the whyte battayle By reason whereof the king hearing of this and partly because wynter did approche was constrayned to breake vp his siege and so returned not without great daunger At this tyme the two Spensers Syr Hugh Spenser the father and Hugh Spenser the sonne were of great power in England and by the fauour of the King practised such cruelty and bare themselues so haughtely and proud that no Lord of this land might gainsay them in any thing that they thought good wherby they were in great hatred and indignation both with the nobles and the commons no lesse then Peter Gaueston was before Soone vppon this came two Legates from Rome sent by pope Iohn the 22. vnder the pretence to set agreement betwene England and Scotlād who for theyr charges and expences required of euery spiritual person iiij d in euery marke But all theyr labour nothing auailed For the Legates as they were in the North parts about Derlinghton with theyr whole family and trayne were robbed and dispoyled of theyr horses treasure apparell and what elles they had and with an euill fauoured handling retired backe agayne to Duresine where they said a while wayting for an answere from the Scots But when neyther the popes Legacy nor his curse would take any place with the Scottes they returned agayn to London where they first excommunicated and cursed as blacke a s soote al those arrogant and presumptuous robbars of Northumberland Secondly for supplying of the losses receaued they exacted of the Clergy to be geuen and paid vnto them viij d in euery marke But the Clergye thereunto woulde not agree seeing it was theyr owne couetouines as they say that made them venture farther then they needed Only they were contēted to relieue them after iiij d in a mark as they promised before further they woulde not graunt whereof the king being aduertized and taking part wyth his clergy directeth his letters to the said Legates in form as followeth Rex Magistro Rigando c. REX Magistro rigando de Asterio canonico Aurelian Salutem c. In Englishe thus The king to maister Rigand of Asserio Canon of Aurelia greeting We haue taken notice of the clamours and lamentable petitions of the subiectes of our Realme perceauing by the same that you practise many and sondry inconueniences very straunge neuer heretofore accustomed nor heard of in this our realme aswell agaynst the Clergy and ecclesiasticall persons as agaynst the layrie euen to the vtter oppression and empouerishing of many our liege people which if should be wincked at as God forbid may in processe of time be occasion of greater perills to ensue whereat we are not without cause moued and not a litle grieued We forbid you therefore that from henceforth you practise not ne presume in anye case to attempt any thinge within this our Realme either agaynst our Clergy or laytie that may any maner of way tend to the preiudice of our Royall person or of our Crowne and dignitie Regall witness the king at wyndsoure the vi day of February in the xi yeare of his raigne Per Concilium Likewise in the same yeare the sayd king writeth to the same effect to the Archbishop of Caunterbury as followeth Rex venerabili in Christo Patri W. eadem gra Archiepiscopo Cant. In English thus The king to the reuerend father in God W. by the same grace Archbishop of Canterbury 1. primate of Englande greeting We are credibly enformed by many our subiectes that certayne straunge imposicions neuer heard of before within any our dominions vpō lands tenemēts goods and cattels concerning testaments and cases of matrimony are brought into our Realme to be executed vppon our subiectes by you or some others which if should proceede to execution would manifestly tend to the disherisō of our Crowne impeachment of our Crowne and dignitie Regall and the intollerable damage of the subiectes of our realme and to the dew preseruation of the whiche you are bound by solemne othe of alleageance we therefore commaund and straitly charge you that you proceede not in any case to the execution of anye suche letters either in your owne person nor by anye other nor yet presume by colour of the same to attempte any thinge that may be preiudiciall or hurtfull to our Crowne or dignitie Regall And if you or any other in your name haue done or attempted anye thing by colour of the same that ye call back and reuoke the same foorthwith without delaye Witnesse the King at Shene the xvii of February the xi yeare of hys raigne Peripsum Regem The like letters in effect were directed to the Archbyshop of Yorke and to euery other Byshop through England By force of whiche letters the greedy Legates beyng restrayned of theyr rauening purpose taking what they could get and setting a peace such as it was betwene the king and the Earle of Lancaster were fayne to pack Besides the restraynt aboue mentioned for strange imposicions there followeth moreouer the same yeare the kings prohibitiō for the gathering of Peter Pence directed to the foresayd Legate the Tenor whereof followeth A prohibition of Peter Pence Rex magistro Rigando c. In English thus The king to mayster Rigand of Asserio Canon of Aurelia greeting We are geuen to vnderstād that you doe demand and purpose to leuye the Peter Peny within our Realme otherwise then the sayd Peter Peny hath bene heretofore accustomed to be leuyed in the time of
honour and their liues who otherwise if he intended that way were in great daunger But the bishop youthfull and hauty taking occasion by their humblenes to swell the more in himselfe answered that he woulde not be taught by their counsaile but that he wold haue it done though all the commons whome he named Ribals sayd nay Also rebuked the Mayor and his brethrē for mecockes and dastardes for so fearing the vulgar sort of people The citizens perceauing the wilfull stoutnes of the bishop meekly answering againe sayde they minded not to resist him but to let him doe therin what he thought good onely desired him that he would licēce them to depart and hold them excused for not wayting vppon him conducting hym out of the town with that reuerence which he required For if they should be seene in his company all the suspicion thereof would be vpon them and so should they be all in daunger so much as theyr liues were worth The Byshop not regarding their aduise and counsaile commaunded one of hys men to take the rod borne before the Mayor to cary the same before him Which being done perceaued of the commons the Byshop after that maner went not farre but the rude people rūning to shut the gates came out with their bowes some with clubbes and staues soome with other instrumentes some with stones let driue at the Bishop and his men as fast as they might in suche sort that both the bishop his horse vnder him with most part of his men were hurt wounded And thus the glorious pride of this iolly prelate ruffling in hys new scepter was receaued and welcomed there That is was so pelted with battes and stones so woūded with arrowes and other instrumentes fit for such a skirmishe that the most part of his men with hys mace bearer all running away frō him the poore wounded bishop was there left alone not able to keepe hys old power which went about to vsurpe a new power more thē to hym belonged Thus at is cōmōly true in al so is it wel exemplified here which is commōly sayd and as it is commonly seene that pride will haue a fall and power vsurped will neuer stand In like maner if the Citizens of Rome following the example of these Lēnam men as they haue the like cause and greater to doe by the vsurped power of theyr Byshop would after the same sauce handle the pope and vnscepter him of hys mace and regalitie which nothing pertaineth to him They in so doing both should recouer theyr owne liberties with more honour at home and also win muche more commendation abroad Ex chron mon. D. Albani This tragedy with all the partes thereof beyng thus ended at Lennam whiche was little after Easter as is said about the month of April an 1377. the same yeare vpon the 12. day of the moneth of Iune next after dyed the worthy and victorious Prince king Edward the 3. after he had raygned yeares 51. A prince no more aged in yeares thē renoumed for many snguler heroicall vertues but principally noted and lauded for his singuler meekenes clemency toward his subiects and inferiors ruling them by gentlenes and mercy without all rigour or austere seueritie Among other noble and royall ornamentes of his nature worthely copiously set forth of many thus he is described of some which may briefly suffice for the comprehēsion of all the rest Orphanis erat quasi pater afflictis compatiens miseris condolens oppressos releuans cunctis indigentibus impendens auxilia opportuna That is To the Orphans he was as a father compacient to the afflicted mourning with the miserable relieuing the oppressed and to all them that wanted an helper in time of neede c. But chiefly aboue all other thinges in this Prince to be commemorate in my mynde is thys that he aboue all other Kinges of this Realme vnto the time of king Henry the eight was the greatest brideler of the popes vsurped power and outragious oppressions during all the time of whiche king neyther the Pope could greatly preuayle in thys Realme and also Iohn Wickliffe was maintained with fauour and ayde sufficient But before we close vpp the story of this king there commeth to hand that which I thought not good to omit a noble purpose of the king in requiring a viewe to be taken in all his dominions of all benefices and dignities ecclesiasticall remayning in the handes of Italians and Alious with the true valuation of the same directed down by commission in the time of king Richard the second wherof the like also is to be found the tenour of which commission of king Edward I thought here vnder to set down for worthy memory The king directed writtes vnto all the Byshop's of England in this forme EEdward by the grace of God king c. To the reuerend father in Christ. N. By the same grace Bishop of L. greeting Beyng willing vpon certayn causes to be certified what and how many benefices aswell Archdeaconries other dignities as vicaradges personages Prebendes and Chappels within your dioces be at this present in thandes of Italions and other strangers what they be of what valour and how euery of the sayd benefices be called by name And how much euery of the same is worth by the yere not as by way of Taxe or extent but according to the true valor of the same likewise of the names of al singuler such strangers being now incombentes or occupying the same and euery of thē moreouer the names of all them whether Englishmen or Straungers of what state or condition soeuer they be whiche haue the occupacion or disposicion of any such benefices with the fruites and profites of the same in the behalfe or by the authoritie of any the foresayd Straungers by way of ferme or title or procuration or by any other wayes or meanes whatsoeuer and how long they haue occupyed or disposed the same and withall if anye the sayd straungers bee nowe residents vppon any benefices commaunde you as wee heretofore commaunded you that you sende vs a true certificat of all and singuler the premisses into our high Court of chauncerie vnder your seale distinctly and openly on this side the feast of thascention of our Lord next comming without farther delay returning vnto vs this our writte withall Witnesse our selfe at Westminster 16 day of April in the 48. yeare of our Reigne of England and ouer Fraunce the 35. yeare BY vertue hereof certificat was sent vp to the king into his chauncerie out of euery dioces of England of al such spiritual liuings as were then in the occupation eyther of Priors Aliens or of other straungers whereof the number was so great as being all set downe would fill almost halfe a quyer of paper Whereby may appeare that it was highe time for the king to seeke remedie herein either by treatie with the Pope
obedience of the foresayd Bishop in this behalfe accordingly Whereof fayle you not vnder payne of C.li. witnesse our selues yeauen at our Mannor of Langley the viii day of Marche the 12. yeare of our Reigne To these aboue rehearsed and other fauourers of Wickliffe within this our countrey of Englande we may adde also the Bohemians for so much as the propagation of the said doctrine of Wickliffe in that Countrey also take roote comming from England to Boheme by thys occasion as in story here followeth There chaunced at that time a certayne student of the coūtry of Bohemia to be at Oxford one of a welthy house and also of a noble stocke Who returning home from the vniuersitie of Oxford to the vniuersitie of Prage caryed with him certayne bookes of Wickliffe De realibus Vniuersalibus De ciuili iure Diuino De ecclesia De questionibus varijs contra clerum c. It chaunced the same time a certayne noble man in the Citty of Prage had founded and builded a great Church of Mathias and Matheus which Church was called Bethleem geuing to it great landes finding in it two preachers euery day to preach both holy day and working day to the people Of the whiche two preachers this Iohn Hus was one a man of great knowledge of a pregnant wit and excellently fauoured for his worthy life amongst them This Iohn Hus hauing familiaritie wyth this yong man in reading and perusing these bookes of Wickliffe tooke such pleasure and fruit in reading therof that not onely he began to defend this author opēly in the schooles but also in his sermons commending him for a good man an holy man and heauenly man wishing himselfe when he should dye to be there placed where as the soule of Wickliffe should be And thus for the spreading of Wickliffes doctrine enough And thus much briefly concerning the fauourers adherentes of Iohn Wickliffe in generall Now particularly in order let vs by Christes grace prosecute the stories and persecutions of the said parties aforenamed as the course of their times shall require first beginning with the valiant champions wil. Swinderby and Walter Brute The history of William Swinderby IN the yeare 1389. William Swinderby priest within the dioces of Lincolne being accused and detected vpon certayn opinions was presented before Iohn bishop of Lincolne and examined vpon certayne articles in the Church of Lincolne after the forme and order of the popes law according to theyr vsuall rite obserued his denouncers were these Fryer Frisby obseruant Frier Hincely Angustine Tho. Blaxton Dominican The articles wherewith they charged him although in forme of wordes as they put thē vp might seeme something straunge here to be recited yet to the entent that all men may see the spitefull malice of these spider Fryers in sucking al things to poyson and in forging that is not true as in processe Christ willing here after shall better appeare by his aunsweres I thought good here to notifie the same That men may aske their debtes by charitie but in no maner for debt to imprison any man and that he so imprisoning is accursed That if parishners do knowe their Curate to be a lechour incontinent and an euill man they ought to withdraw from him their tithes or els they be fautours of his sinnes That tithes purely be almose and in case that Curates be euill men the same may lawfully be conferred to other men That for an euill Curate to curse his suget for withholding of tithes is nothing els but to take with extortiō wickedly and vnduely from them theyr money That no prelate may curse a man except he know before that he is cursed of God That euery Priest may absolute any sinner being contrite and is bound notwithstanding the inhibition of the Bishop to preach the Gospell vnto the people That a Priest taking any annuall pension vppon couenant is in so doing a simoniacke and accursed That any priest being in deadly sinne if he geue himselfe to consecrate the body of the Lord he committeth idolatry rather then doth consecrate That no priest entreth into any house but to euill intreat the wife the daughter or mayde And therefore he admonished the goodman of the house to take heede what priest he let into his house An other conclusion falsly to him obiected That a child is not truely baptised if the priest that baptiseth or the godfather or godmother be in deadly sinne Item that no man liuing agaynst the law of God is a priest how euer he were ordeined priest of any Bishop These articles or conclusions vntruely collected were as cruelly exhibited agaynst him by the Fryers in the Byshop of Lincolnes court The which articles although he neuer preached taught or at any time defēded as appereth more in the processe following yet the Friers with theyr witnesses standing forth against him declared him to be conuict bringing also dry wood with them to the towne to burne him and would not leaue him before he made them promise and sweare for feare of death neuer to hold them teach them nor preach them priuily nor apertly vnder payne of relapse and that he shoulde goe to certayne churches to reuoke the foresayd conclusions which he neuer affirmed As first in the Churche of Loncolne then in S. Margarets Church of Leycester Also in S. Martines Church in Leycester and in our Ladies churches at Newarke and in other Parishe Churches also of Melton Moubray of Haloughton Hareburgh and Lenthburgh Which pennaunce being to him enioyned he did obediently accomplishe with this forme of reuocation whiche they bound him vnto vnder these wordes The reuocation of William Swinderby whereunto he was forced by the Friers I William Swinderby priest although vnworthy of the dioces of Lincolne acknowledging one true Catholique and Apostolique fayth of the holy Church of Rome doe abiure all heresie and errour repugning to the determinatiō of the holy mother church wherof I haue bene hetherto infamed namely the conclusions and articles aboue prefixed and euery one of them to me iudicially obiected by the Commissary of the reuerend father in Christ and Lord L. Iohn by the grace of God Byshop of Lincolne and do reuoke the same euery one of them some as hereticall some as erroneous and false and do affirme and beleue them to be so and hereafter will neuer teach preach or affirme publiquely or priuily the same Neither will make any sermon within the diocesse of Lincolne but asking first and obtayning the licence of the foresayd reuerend father and Lord the Byshop of Lincolne Contrary to the which if I shall presume hereafter to say or doe to holde or preach I shal be content to abide the seueritie of the Canon as I haue iudicially by the necessitie of the lawe sworne and doe sweare c. Thus haue you the conclusions and articles of thys good man falsly obiected to him by the malicious and lying Fryers and also the
that the foresayde William and Stephen beinge succoured by the aide of their factours or fauourers should not bee able to flye or escape to their accustomed starting holes and that the sharpnes of their paines so aggrauated may geue them sufficient cause to returne to the lap againe of their holy mother the church we strayghtlye charge and commaunde all and singular our Shrifes Bailifes Barones and al other our officers in the Citie and Dioces of Hereford in any other place being within our dominion of Wales by the tenour of these presentes that from time to time where they thinke it most meete they cause it openly to be proclaimed in our name that none of what state degree preeminence kind or other coÌ„dition he shal be of do cherish opeÌ„ly or secretlye the foresayd William and Steuen vntil the time that they repent theÌ„ of their heresies and errours and shal be recoÌ„ciled vnto the holy Church of God Neither that any person or persons be beleuers fauorers or receiuers defendours or in any case wittinglye instructours of the said William or Stephen or any other of the residue of the heretikes that are to be coÌ„uinced vpon the forfaiture of all that euer they haue And that also they geuing their attendance be obedient aunswerable to the foresayd bishop and his deputies in this behalfe for the execution of the premisses and that they certify vs and our counsel distinctly and plainly from time to time of the names of all and singular persons which shall fortune to be found culpable in this behalfe vnder their seales In witnes whereof we haue caused these out letters patentes to be made Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the ix day of Marche in the xv yeare of our reigne Farington ¶ An other letter of the sayd kyng agaynst Walter Brute RIchard by the grace of God kyng of England and of Fraunce and Lorde of Irelande To hys beloued and faythfull Iohn ChauÌ„dos knight Iohn Eynfore knight Renold de la Bere knight Walter Deueros knight Thomas de la Bare knight William Lucie knight Leonard Hakelute knight and to the Maior of the Citie of Hereford to Thomas Oldcastle Rich Nash Roger Wygmore Thomas Waylwayne Iohn Skydmore Iohn VpHarry Henry Motton and to the Shiriffe of Hereford sendeth salutations For asmuche as it is aduertised vs that one Walter Brute and other such children of iniquitie haue damnably holden affirmed and preached certaine articles and conclusions being notoriously repugnaunt against the holy Scripture of the which some of them as heresies and the rest as errours are finally by the Church condemned and that in diuers places within the dioces of Hereford and partes neare adioyning both priuely openly and obitinately which thing wee perceiue not onely to redounde to the subuersion in a maner of the Catholicke faith which as well we as other catholicke Princes ought of duety to maintaine but also to forewarne vs of the subuersion of our faithfull Diocesans And that the sayd Bishop vpon the good deliberation and aduisement of a great number of Doctours in Diuinitie and other learned skilfull men in the Scriptures of speciall deuotion according to his bounden duetie purposed to begin and make diuers and sundry processes by law to be sent vnto the foresayd Walter and hys accomplices to appere personally before him and other the Doctours aforesaid in the cathedrall church of Hereford the morow after the translation of S. Thomas of Hereforde next ensuing and to procede in the same place against the same Walter in the foresaide articles and conclusions for the amendement of his soule Now a fresh because that the sayd Walter and others of their retinue cleaning and confederating with him might not suffer condigne paines according to their demerites indeuour themselues to make voide and frustrate the sayde godly purpose of the same Bishop in such correction execution as should haue bene done and with force doe resist and let the same with all the power they may to the great contempt of vs and of our crowne and to the breaking and hurting of our peace and pernicious example of others Doe appoynt you and euery of you immediatly as soone as this our commission shall be deliuered vnto you in our behalfe and name to make open proclamation in the diocesie and partes aforesayde where ye shall thinke it most meete and conuenyent That no man be so hardy hencefoorth of what state or condition soeuer he shall be within the Dioces and partes aforesayde vpon paine of forfaiture of all that euer hee hath to make or leauie any conuenticles assemblies or confederacies by any colour or that they presume to attempt or procure any other thing wherby our peace may be hurt or broken or that the same Bishops and Doctors aforesaid may be by any meanes molested or let in the execution of suche correction as is to be done according to the Canonical sanctions and to arest all those which ye shal finde or take offending in this behalfe or that keepe themselues in any suche conuenticles And that they being committed to prison be there kept till you shall haue other commaundement from vs and our counsel for their deliueraunce And that ye distinctly and plainly certifie vs and our sayd counsell of all your doing in thys behalfe vnder your seales or else the seales of some of you And therefore we straightly charge and commaunde you and euery of you that ye diligently attende vpon the premisses and that in your deedes yee execute the same with all diligence and carefull indeuour in the forme and maner aforesaide And further wee geue straight charge and commaundement to all and singular Shriffes Maiors Bailiftes Constables and other our faithfull subiectes by the tenour of these presents that they be attending vpon you counselling and aiding you and euery of you as is meete and conuenient in the doing and execution of the premisses In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our letters patents to be made Witnesse my selfe at Westminster the 22. day of September in the 17. yeare of our raigne ¶ By the same King and Counsell Thus king Richard by the setting on of W. Courtney Archb. of Canterb. and his fellowes taking part wyth the Pope and Romith Prelates waxed something strait and harde to the poore Christians of the contrary side of wyckleffe as by these letters aboue prefixed may appeare Allbeit durâ—ng all the life of the saide king I finde of none expresly by name that suffered burning Notwythstanding some there were which by the foresaide Archbish. William Courtney and other Bishops had bene condemned and diuers also abiured and did penance as well in other places as chiefly about the towne of Leycester as followeth here to be declared out of the Archbyshoppes register and recordes At what time the saide Archbishop W. Courtney was in his visitation at the towne of Leycester certaine there were accused and detected to him by the monks and other Priestes
King that the citations whereupon such priuations inhabilitations are graunted were made within the Realme and that if such Ordinaries or such presented or others doe pursue the contrary that then they and theyr procurators fautours and counsellours doe incurre the paines contained in the statute made against prouisors in the 13. yere of the raigne of the late Richard king of England the second by processes to be made as is declared in the statute made against suche prouisors in the 27. yeare of the raigne of king Edward predecessour to our Lorde the king that nowe is any royall licences or grauntes in any maner to the contrary notwithstanding and that all other statutes made against prouisors and not repealed before this present Parliament be in their full force and be firmly kept in all poyntes That the kings counsell haue power by authoritye of Parliament in case that any man finde himselfe griened in particular that he may pursue and that the said counsel by the aduise of the iustices do right vnto the parties This to endure vntil the next parliament reseruing alwayes vnto the king his prerogatiue and libertie Item that no Popes collector thenceforth should leuy any money within the realme for first fruites of any ecclesiasticall dignitie vnder payne of incurring the statute of prouisions Besides in the sayd Parliament holden the 11. yeare of this king is to be noted how the commōs of the land put vp a Bill vnto the kyng to take the temporall landes out from spirituall mens handes or possession The effecte of which Bill was that the temporalities disordinately wasted by men of the Churche might suffice to finde to the K. xv Earles xv C. Knightes vi M. CC. Esquires and a C. houses of almose to the reliefe of poore people moe then at those dayes were wythin England And ouer all these foresayd charges the king might put yearely in his cofers xx M. pounde Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerely rent iii. M. marke and euery Knight C. marke and iiii plough landes Euery Esquier xl marke by yeare with ii plough landes euery house of almose C. marke wyth ouersight of two true seculars vnto euery house And also with prouision that euery towneship should keepe all pore people of their owne dwellers whych might not labour for theyr liuing with condition that if moe fell in a towne then the towne might maintaine than the said almes houses to relieue such towneships And for to beare these charges they alledged by theyr sayd bil that the temporalties being in the possession of spiritual men amounted to iii. C. and xxii M. marke by yeare Wherof they affirmed to be in the see of Cant. with the abbaies of Christes church of S. Augustines Shrewsbury Coggeshale and S. Osus xx M. marke by yere In the see of Yorke and Abbeyes there xx M. marke In the see of Winchester and abbeys there xx M. marke In the see of London with abbeys and other houses there xx M. marke In the see of Lincolne wyth the abbeys of Peterborowe Ramsey and other xx M. marke In the see of Norwych with the abbeys of Bury and other xx M. marke In the see of Ely Spalding and other xx M. marke In the see of Bathe wyth the abbey of Okinborne and other xx M. marke In the see of Worcester wyth the abbeys of Euisham Abingdon other xx M. marke In the see of Chester with the precinct of the same with the sees of s. Dauid of Salisbury and Exceter wyth their precinctes xx M. marke The abbeis of Rauens or Reuans of Fountains of Bernons and diuers other to the number of v. moe xx M. marke The abbeys of Leicester Walthan Gosborne Merton Ticetir Osney and other vnto the number of vi mo xx M. marke The abbeys of Douers Batil Lewys Couentry Dauentre Tourney xx M. marke The abbais of Northhampton Thortō Bristow Killingworth Winchcombe Nailes Parchissor Frideswide Notly and Grimmisby xx M. marke The which foresaid sommes amount to the full of iii. c. M. marke And for the odde of xxii M. marke they apointed Hardford Rochester Huntingdō Swineshed Crowland Malmesbury Burton Teukesbury Dunstable Shirborne Taunton and Biland And ouer this they alleaged by the sayde bill that ouer and aboue the said summe of iii. C. and xxii M. marke diuers houses of religion in England possessed as many tēporalties as might suffice to find yerely xv M. priests and clerks euery priest to be allowed for his stipend vii marke by the yeare To the which Bill no answer was made but that the king of this matter wold take deliberation aduisement and wyth that answer ended so that no further labor was made These things thus hitherto discoursed touching suche actes and matters as haue bene incident in the lyfe time of this king followeth next the 13. yeare of his raigne In the which yeare the sayd king Henry the 4. after that hee had sent a little before a certaine company of captaines souldiours to aide the duke of Burgundy in Fraunce among whome was the Lord Cobham keping his Christenmas at Eltham fell greeuously sicke From thence he was conneied to London where he began to call a parliament but taryed not the end In the meane time the infirmitie of the king more and more increasing he was takē and brought into a bed in a fair chamber at Westminster And as he lay in his bed he asked how they called the same chamber and they answered and sayde Ierusalem And then he sayde it was his prophecie that he should make his ende in Ierusalem And so disposing himselfe towarde hys ende in the foresayd chamber he died vpon what sicknesse whether of leprosie or some other sharpe disease I haue not to affirm Ex vetust Chron. Anglico cuius initium That all men called The like prophecy we read that pope Siluester 2. pa. 180. to whom being inquisitiue for the time and place where he should die it was answered that he shuld die in Ierusalē Who then saying Masse in a Chappel called likewise Ierusalem perceiued his end there to be nere and died And thus K. Henry the 4. successor to the lawful K. Richard 2. finished hys life at Westminster and was buried at Cant. by the tombe of Thomas Becket c. An. 1413. ¶ King Henry the fift AFter thys Henry the 4. reigned Henry the 5. hys sonne which was borne at Munmorth in Wales of whose other vertues and great victories gotten in Fraunce I haue not greatly to intermeddle Especially seeing the memory of hys worthy prowesse being sufficiently described in other writers in this our time may both content the reader and vnburden my labor herein Especially seing these latter troubles and perturbatious of the Churche offer me so much that vnneth any vacant laisure shal be left to intermeddle wyth matters prophane After the coronatiō then of this new king which was the 9. day of April called then
doings of whom you as a beardles boy of smal knowledge haue not rightly conceiued who in dede despising Princes comandements haue deserued euerlasting reward Wherby is to be noted what difference is to be sent betweene the hose of Princes then and the hose of seruingmen now There is a certaine Chronicle in olde English meter which among other matters speaking of William Rufus declareth him to be so sumptuous excessiue in poinpous apparel that he being not contented with a paire of hose of a lowe price which was iii. shillings caused a paire to be bought of a marke whereupon his chamberlaine procuring a paire much worse then the other before sayd That they costenid a marke and vnneth he them so bought Ye belamy quoth the king these are well bought Appendix Historiae After the tune of this king William the name of kings ceased in the country of Wales among the Britaines since king Ris. who in the raigne of this king the yeare of oure Lorde 1093. was slaine in Wales Ex continuatione Roger. Houeden King Henry the first HEnry first of that name the third sonne of W. Conquerour succeeding his brother Rufus began his raigne in England the yere of our Lord 1100. who tor his knowledge science in the 7. liberal arts was surnamed Clerke or bewclerke In whome may wel appeare howe knowledge and learning doth greatly conduce to the gouernement and administration of any realme or country At the beginning he reformed the state and condition of the clergie released the grieuous paiments reduced againe king Edwards laws with emendation therof he reformed the old and vntrue measures made a measure after the length of his arme he greatly abhorred excesse of meats drinks many things misused before his time he reformed and vsed to vanquish more by counsaile then by sworde Suche persons as were nice and wanton he secluded from hys court This man as appeareth litle fauoured the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome Soone after he was King he maried Matilde or Maude daughter of Malcolin king of Scots and of Margaret his wife daughter of Edward the Dutlaw as is before specified being a profesied Nunne in Winchester whom notwithstanding wont the popes dispensation he maried by the consent of Anselme By the which Maude he receaued 2. sonnes William and Richard 2. daughters Maude Mary which Maude afterward was maried to Henry the v. Emperour c. In the second yere of his reigne Robert his elder brother Duke of NormaÌ„dy who being occupied in the Christen warres against the Turkes and being elect as yee heard king of Hierusalem hearing of the death of Rufus refused the kingdom therof For the which as is thought he neuer sped wel after Thus the saide Robert leauing of the Lordes busines and returning into Normandy made there his preparation and came ouer into England with a great hoste to chalenge the Crowne But by mediation of the Lordes it was agreed that Robert shoulde haue yearely during his life iij. M. markes as was likewise promised him before by R. Rufus his brother And whether of them ouer liued the other to be others heyre And thus Robert departed again vnto NormaÌ„dy to the great discontentation of his Lords there But in few yeares after the forenamed tribute of iij. M. Markes through the meanes of Queene Maude was released to the King his brother In proces of time variance falling betwene king Henry and the sayd Robert his brother at length Robert in his warre was taken prisonner and brought ouer into England was put into the Castel of Cardise in Wales where he continued as prisoner while he liued In this time as about the iij. yeare of this king the hospitall of S. Bartholomewe in Smithfield was founded by meanes of a minstrell belonging to the King named Rayer And after was finished by Richard Whittyngton Alderman and Maior of London This place of Smithfield was at that day a lay stowe of all ordure or filth the place where the felones other transgressors of the kings lawes were put to execution Diuers strait lawes were by this king prouided especially against theeues and felones that who so were taken in that fault no money should saue him from hanging Item that who so did counterfait false money shoulde haue both his eyes and nether partes of his body cut off Item in the same Councell was decreed an order for Priestes to be sequestred from their wiues whych before were not forbidden according as the wordes of mine author doe purporte whose wordes be these Anselmus prohibuit vxores sacerdotibus Anglorum ante non prohibitas Quod quibusdam mundissimum visum est quibusdam periculosum ne dutrimundicias viribus maiores appeterent in immundicias horribâ—les ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent c. Hen. Hunt Item it was then decreed that Monkes and Priests should beare no rule ouer lay persons Item it was then decreed concerning broydering of heare and wearing of garments Item that the secrete 〈◊〉 act betwene a yong lad and a yong maid should not stand with other things mo concerning the excommunication of Sodomites c. In the storie of William RuÌ„fus before was declared how Anselmus Archbishop of Canterbury departing out of the realme went vnto the Pope who after the death of King William was sent for againe by the foresayde King Henrie and so returned againe and was at the Councell of the King at Westminster where the king in the presence of the Lordes as well temporall as spiritual ordeined and inuested 2. Bishops Roger Bishop of Salisburie Roger bishop of Hereford During which parliament or couÌ„cel of the king Anselmus in his conuocation deposed and displaced diuers Abbots and other Prelates from their roumes and dignitics eitherfor that they lawfully came not by them or vprightly did not administer the same After this councel and the other before set forth by Anselmus Herbert bishop of Norwich had much adoe with the priests of his diocesse For they would neither leaue their wiues nor yet geue ouer their benefices Whereupon hee wrote to Anselme the Archbishop for counsaile what was to be done therein Which Anselme required him as he did other mo the same time by wryting to perswade the people of Norfolke and Southfolke that as they professed Christianitie they shoulde subdue them as rebels against the church and vtterly to driue both them and their wiues out of the countrey placing Monkes in their rowmes as by the Epistles of the said Anselme doth appeare Whereof certaine parcels shall hereafter by the grace of Christ ensue for the better euidence of this and the other his actes aboue recited The like businesse also had Gerarde the Archbishop of Yorke in depriuing the priestes of his prouince from their wiues which thing with all his excommunications and thundrings he coulde hardly bring about Upon this ruffeling of
maūdy thursday wherefore the Iewes were burned he coūted a Saint an 1177. Ireland subdued to the crowne of England by thys king an 1177. Ex varijs Chron. Under the raigne of the sayd king Henry about the 25 yeare of his raigne Ludouicus the frenchking by the vision of Thomas Becket appearing to him in his dreame promising to him the recouery of his sonne if he would resort to him at Canterbury made his iourney into England to visite S. Thomas at Caunterbury with Phillip Earle of Flaunders where he offered a rich cup of golde with other pretious iewels a 100. vessels of wine yearely to be geuen to the Couent of the church of Caūterbury notwithstanding the sayd Phillip in his return from England taking his iourney to Paris to visite S. Deuis in the same his pilgrimage was strickē with such colde that he fell into a palsey and was benumbed of the right side of his body an 1178. Iornalensis alij Stephanus Episcopus Redomonsis was wont to make many rimes and gaudish prose to delite the eares of the multitude to whom a litle before his death this verse was founded in his care Desine ludere temerè nitere properè surgere de puluere an 1178. Nic. Triuet Albingenses denyed transustantiation in the Sacrament of Christes body and bloud about the city of Tholouse also that matrimony was not a Sacrament c. an 1178 ibidem King Henry separated himselfe from his wife Alionor and held her many yeares in prison as some think for the loue of Rosamūde Which semeth to me to be the cause why God afterward stirred all his sonnes vp to warre agaynst him and to worke him much sorrow an 1179. Nic. Triuet Notwithstanding the sayd Alionor was shortly after reconciled to him S. Frideswide was translated vnto Oxford an 1179. An. 1180. There came to the councell of Pope Alexander one Pisanus Burgundio a man very cunning both in Brecke and Latin which brought and presented to the counsell the Homelyes of Chrisostome vpon the Gospell of S. Iohn translated out of Greeke into Latin and sayd that he translated likewise a great part of his exposition vpon Genesis saying moreouer that the sayd Chrisostome had made expositions in Greeke vpon the whole olde testament and also the new an 1180. The Monkes of Charterhouse first entred into this land an 1180. An. 1181. Richard Pech Byshopp of Couentry before his death renounced his bishoprick and became a Chanō in the Church of S. Thomas by Stafford Ex Chronico peruetusto cui initium In diebus sanctis Regis c. About the latter time of this king Henry one Hugo whō men were wont to call S. Hugh of Lincolne borne in Burgundy and Prior of the Monks of Charterhouse was preferred by the king to the Bishopricke of Lincoln who after his death is said to do great miracles and therfore was counted a Saynt an 1186. Flores Hist. Baldwinns Archbyshop of Caunterbury began the building of his new house and Church of Lambeth but by the letters of pope Clement 3. he was forbid to proceed in the building thereof an 1187. Triuet I do finde likewise in the foresaid written Chronicle remaining in the hands of one Williā Cary Citizen of Lōdō that this forenamed king Henry the 2. gaue to the court and church of Rome for the death of Becket 40. thousand markes of siluer And 5. thousand marks of gold an 1187. Mention was made a little aboue of Amalrike king of Ierusalē which destroyed Babylon so that it was neuer after to this day restored but lyeth wast and desolate wherein was fulfilled that which in the Prophets in so many places was threatened to Babylō before This Amalrike had a sonne named Baldwin a daughter called Sibilla Baldwine from the beginning of his raigne was a Leoper and had the falling sickenesse being not able for feeblenesse of body although valiaunt in hart and stomacke to satisfy that function Sibilla his sister was first maried to one Willermus Marques of Moūt Ferrat by whom she had a sonne called also Balwinus After him she was maried to another husband named Guido de Liziniaco Earle of Ioppe and of Ascalon Upon this befell that the foresaid Baldwine the Leoper sonne of Amalricus being thus feeble infirme as is sayd called his nobles together with his mother the Patriarche declaring to thē his inability and by the consentes of them committed the vnder gouernement of the City to Guido the husband of Sibilla his sister But he being found insufficiēt or els not lucky in the gouerning thereof the office was translated to another named Raimundus Earle of Tripolis In the meane time the Soldan with his Sarasins mightely preuayled agaynst the Christiās ouerran the countrey of Palestina In which meane time Baldwine the king departed Whereby the kingdome fell next to Baldwinus the sonne of Sibilla by her first husband Willermus The which Baldwinus being but fiue yeares olde was put to custody of Raimundus aforesayd Who also in his minority before he came to his crowne dyed whereby the next succession by dissent fell to Sibilla the wife of Guido aboue mentioned To whom the pieres and nobles ioyning together in coūsell offred to the sayde Sibilla as to the lawfull heyre to the crowne to be theyr Queene with this condition that she should sequester from her by solemne deuorsement the foresayd Guido her husband But she refused the kingdōe offered to her on that condition till at last the Magistrats with the nobles ingenerall graunted vnto her by theyr othes confirmed the same that whomesoeuer she woulde choose to be her husband all they would take and obey as theyr king Also Guido her husband with like petition among the rest humbly requested her that the kingdom not for his sake or for his priuate losse might be destitute of gouernement At length she with teares consenting to theyr entreaty was contented and solemnely was crowned theyr Queene who after the maner agayne receiued theyr fidelity by theyr othe Whereupon Guido without all hope both of wife and kingdome departed home quietly to his owne This done the Queene assembling her states and prelates together entred talke with thē about the choosing of the king according to that which they had promised and sworne vnto her and to obey him as theyr king whom she would name to be her husbande Thus while they were all in great expectation wayting euery man whome she would nominate The Queene with a loud voyce sayd to Guido that stood amongst them Guido my Lord I choose thee for my husbād and yelding my selfe and my kingdome vnto you openly I protest you to be the king At these words al the assembly being amased wondred that one simple woman so wisely had beguiled so many wise men And worthy no doubt was she to be commended and extolled for her singuler vertue
Embassadours the king also at Canterb. by letters as it should seeme certified from hys owne ambassadors waited their comming Where the 13. day of May the king receaiued them making vnto them an othe that of and for al things wherin he stode accursed he woulde make ample restitution and satisfaction Vnto whom also all the Lords Barons of England so many as there were with the king attending the Legates coÌ„ming sware in like maner and that if the king would not accoÌ„plish in euery thing the othe which he had taken that then they wold cause him to hold and confirme yâ— same whether that he wold or not or by strength to vse the authors words Then submitted the king himselfe vnto the Court of Rome and to the pope And resigning gaue vp his dominions and realmes of Englande Ireland from him and from his heires for euermore yâ— should come of him Wyth this condition that the king and his heirs should take againe these two dominions of the Pope to forme paying yearely therfore to the Court of Rome a 1000. Markes of siluer Then tooke the King the crowne from hys heade kneeling vpon his knees in the presence of all his Lordes Barons of England to Pandulphe the popes chiefe legate saying in this wise Here I resigne vp the crowne of the realme of England to the Popes hands Innocent the third put me wholy in his mercy and ordinance Then tooke Pandolphe the crowne of king Iohn and kept it 5. daies as a possession seazon taking of these two realmes of England and Ireland Continuing also al things promised by his charter obligatorie as foloweth The copie of the letter obligatorie that K Iohn made to the Pope concerning the yelding vp of the crowne and the Realme of Englande into the Popes hands for a certaine summe of money yearely to be paide TO al christen people throughout the world dwelling Iohn by the grace of God K of England greeting To your vniuersitie known be it that forasmuch as we haue greeued offended God our mother church of Rome forasmuch as we haue neede of the mercy of our Lord Iesu Christ we may nothing so worthy offer coÌ„perent satisfactioÌ„ make to God to holy church but if it were our own body as with our realms of EnglaÌ„d of Ireland Then by the grace of the holy ghost we desire for to meke vs for the loue of him that meked him to the death vpon the crosse And through counsell of the nobles earles Baroâ—â— we offer frely graunt to God to the apostles S. Peter Paul and to our mother church of Rome to our holy father Pope InnoceÌ„t the 3. to al the popes that come after him all the realme patronages of churches of England of Ireland with all the appurtenaÌ„ces for remission of sins helpe health of our kings soules of al christeÌ„ soules So that froÌ„ this time afterward we wil receiue hold of our mother church of Rome as in ferme doing sealtie to our holy father the Pope Innocent the 3. and to all the Popes that come after him in the maner abouesayd And in the presence of the wise man Pandolphe the Popes Southdeacon wee make liege homage as it were in the popes presence we before him were that he himselfe shuld haue done al maner things abouesaid and therto we bind vs all that come after vs our heires for euermore without any gainsaying to the pope eke the ward of the church vacant And in token of this thing euer for to last we will confirme ordaine that he be our speciall renter of the foresaide realmes sauing S. Peter pence in all thing To the mother church of Rome paying by yere a 1000. markes of siluer at 2. times of the yere for al maner customes that we should do for the saide realmes that is to seine at Michelmas at Easter that is for England 700 markes and 300. markes for Ireland Sauing to vs to our heires our iustices and our other franchises And all these things that before ben said we will that it be firme stable without end to that obligation we all our successors our heirs in this maner beth bound that if we or any of our heirs through any presumption fal in any point againe these things aboue sayd and he bene warned and wiâ—l not right amend him he shall then lese the foresaid realmes for euermore and this charter of obligation and our warrant for euermore be firme and stable without gainsaying We shal from this day afterward be true to God to the mother church of Rome to thee Innocent the 3. and to all that commen after thee and the Realmes of Englande and of Ireland we shall mainteine trewlich in all maner pointes against all maner men by our power through Gods helpe Upon this obligation the king was discharged the 2. day of Iuly from that Tirannicall interdiction vnder which he continued 6. yeares and 3. monethes But before the releasement therof first he was miserably coÌ„pelled as hath bene declared to geue ouer both hys crowne scepter to that Antichrist of Rome for the space of 5. daies and his client vassall feudary and tenant to receiue it againe of him at the handes of an other Cardinall being bounde obligatorily both for himselfe for his successours to paie yerely for a knowledge therof a M. marks for England Ireland Then came they thether from all partes of the Realme so many as had their consciences wounded for obeying their liege king as blind Idiotes and there they were absolued euery one of his own bishop except yâ— spirituall fathers and Ecclesiastical souldiours for they were compelled to seake to Rome as captiues reserued to the popes owne fatherhoode In this new ruffeling the King easily graunted that abbots deanes and curates shoulde be elected freely euery where so that the lawes of the realme were truly obserued But against that were the bishops alledging their Canonical decrees and rules synodal determiniâ—g the king therein to haue nothing a do but only to geue his consent after that they had once elected But among this shauen rable some there were which consented not to this wicked errour A sort also there were of the prelates at that time which were not pleased that that lands interdiction shoulde cease til the king had paid al yâ— which their Clergy in all quarters of the realme had demaunded without reason yea what euery saucie sir Iohn for hys part demaÌ„ded euen to the very breaking of their hedges the stealing of theyr appels and their other occasional damages which grew to an incredible summe and impossible to be answered Such was the outragious cruel noyse of that mischieuous progenie Antichrist against their naturall king Notwithstanding that which is vttered afore concerning the bitter malice of the Clergye against their Prince yet
the city by the Barons and Citizens for the space of 40. dayes And Octobonus the Legate who for feare was fled into the Tower they narowly layd for that he shoulde not escape At length by the intreaty of the Earle of Gloucester and other Earles that were his friendes both the Barons and Cittizens were pardoned and admitted to the kinges fauour And 4. Byshops and 8. other noble men were chosen such as were at Couentry first nominated that they should order and dispose all matters betweene the King and suche as had lost theyr inheritaunce as also the forme of theyr peace and raunsome And proclamation was made vppon the feast of all Sainctes of perfect peace and record throughout al the Realme The 52. yeare of this king Henries raigue 8. daies after the feast of S. Martin he held a parliament at Marlberge in the yeare of our Lord aboue recited where by the aduise of wise and discrete men with all the consentes of the nobles he ordeined and enacted diuers good and profitable statutes for the reformation and bettering of the state of the realme execution of common iustice which are called the statutes of Marleberge The same yeare vpon S. Gregoryes day Octobonus the Legate called a Councell at London where were fine Archbishops and a great number of Byshops Abbots other Prelates which Councell also within three dayes brake vp agayne The same yeare vpon S. Iohns day the Baptist Edward the kinges sonne diuers other noble men of England took vpon thē the crosse by the legates hands at Northhampton to the reliefe of the holy land and the subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ which done the legate that same yeare wēt out of England not purposing after that to returne agayne This holy Legate sayth mine author whiche might well bee resembled to Lynx the monstrous beast whose quicke sight penetrateth euery thing enrolled to perpetuall memorye the valuation of all the churches in the realme of England so narowly as by any meanes possible be might enquire the certainty thereof The same was he that made all the Cathedral Conuentuall Churches to pay pencions so that those Churches whiche gaue not the vacancie of their benefices to their Clerkes and straungers should pay vnto them a certein yearly pencion during the vacācy of the benefices which they should haue The same yeare died Pope Clement 4. after whose death the Church of Rome was two yeares vacant then was chosen an archdeacon Cardinall whose name was Theardus as hee was taking hys iourny into the holy lande and called hym Gregory the 10. Then also dyd Edmunde Earle of Lancaster and Leicester and seconde sonne of king Henry take to wife the Earle of Albemark his daughter and the Niece of y◠Earle of Gloucester at whiche maryage was the king and the Queene and all the Nobilitie of England The same yeare was the body of S. Edward the king Confessour by Walter Gifford Archbishop of Yorke and other Bishops intombed in a new rich Schrine of golde and siluer beset with precious stones in the presēce of Hēry the king of Englād In which yeare also fel great rayne and inundation of waters suche as hath not lightly bene seene which increased and continued the space of 40. dayes and more The same yeare died Walter de Lawile Bishop of Sarum the third day before the nones of Ianuary After whō succeeded Robert of Northampton the Deane of the same Church And because the see of Cant. was then vacant he was confirmed by the Chapter of Canterbury whiche Chapter had alwayes the iurisdiction in spirituall causes during the vacancy of that see in as ample maner as the Byshop hymselfe had beyng aliue After thys the Byshop elect comming thither thinking to haue had hys consecration was notwithstanding put backe for two causes one was for that there was present then no more but one Byshop the other was for that all the other Bishops had appealed that he might not be consecrated to their preiudice that is by the authoritie of the Chapter of Cant. saying that they would not be vnder the obedience of the monks After this solempne Messengers were for this cause sent to the Cardinals of Rome for that then that see of Rome was vacant who receiued aunswere that during the vacation of that see the confirmation and consecration of the Byshop elect pertayned to the foresayd Chapter of Caunterbury The same yeare also was the Lord Henry the sonne heyre of the Lord Richard king of Almayne and brother to king Henry 2. slayne at Uiterbium in a certayne Chappel hearing Masse by the Lord Simō and Buido the sonnes of the Lord Simon Mountfort Earle of Leister During this kinges raigne there was made a great generall expedition of diuers and sondry Christian princes to Ierusalem taking vpon them the Lords character that is the Crosse among whome was also Edward the kings sonne one to the which expeditiō was graunted him a subsidie throughout al the realme And the month of May the yeare of our Lord. 1270. or as sayth Florilogus an 1269. he set forward on his iourny About the time when Prince Edward was preparing his iourny toward Asia Boniface the Archbishop of Canterbury ended his life in the country of Sebaudia goyng belike to Rome or comming thence After whose death the Monks of Canterbury proceeding to a new election grāted by the king agreed vppon the Prior of their house named Adam Chelendene But the king his sonne Prince Edward consenting and speaking in the behalfe of Robert Burnell theyr Chauncellour did sollicite the matter with the Monkes partly intreating partly threatning them to chuse the said Robert to be Archbishop Notwithstanding the Monkes being stoute woulde neyther relent to their curteous request nor yet bow to theyr boystrous threates but constantly persisting in their former election appealed from the king and prince to the Pope Prince Edward being now on his iourny and seing himselfe thus frustrated of the Monkes writeth backe to the king his father deuoutly praying and beseching in no wise to admit the election of the foresayd Monks And so passing to Douer with Hēry the sonne of Rich. his vncle king of Romanes with their wiues tooke their passage in the month of August After this the Prior thus elected as is foretold but not admitted by the king to be Archbishop went vp to Rome In the meane tyme the Monkes in the absence of their elect ordayned one Geoffrey Pomenall to be theyr Official who seing himself aduaunced to that dignity bearing belike some old grudge agaynst the Prior of Douer caused him to be cited vp to appeare in the Chapter house of Canterbury The Prior of Douer seing this citation to be preiudiciall to him and to the Church of Douer whereas the Monkes of Cant. haue no such iurisdiction the see of
Margaret the daughter of our progenitour Henry the third at our Citty of Yorke in the feast of Christmas at whiche tyme the sayd Alexander dyd hys homage to our sayd progenitour who reigned in this Realme 56. yeares And thereford betweene the homage made by the sayd Alexander king of Scotland and the homage done by Alexander sonne to the sayd king of Scots to vs at our coronation at Westminster there was about 50. yeares At which tyme the said Alexander kyng of Scottes repayred to the sayd feast of our coronation and there did he his duety as is aforesayd ¶ Besides these letters of the king the Lordes temporall also in the name of the whole communaltie and Parliment wrote an other letter to the pope answering to that where as the pope arrogated to hym to be iudge for the title of the realme of Scotland whiche the king of England claymed to hymselfe whiche letter I thought also here to annexe contayning as in the wordes of the same here foloweth to be read and seene * The Lordes temporall and the whole Baronie of England to the Pope THe holy mother Churche by whose ministery the Catholicke fee is gouerned in her deedes as we throughly beleeue and holde proceedeth with that ripenes in iudgement that she will be hurtfull to none but like a mother would euery mans right to be kept vnbroken as well in other as in her selfe Whereas therefore in a generall Parliament called at Lincoln of late by our most dread Lord Edward by the grace of God the noble kyng of England the same our Lorde caused certayne letters receaued from you to be read openly and to be declared seriously afore vs about certayne businesses touching the condition state of the realme of Scotland We did not a little muse and maruaile with our selues hearing the meaninges concerning the same so wondrous and straunge as the like we haue not heard at any time before For we know most holy father and it is well knowne as well in this realm of England as also not vnknowne to other persons besides that from the first beginning of the Realme of England the certayne and direct gouernement of the Realme of Scotland in all temporall causes from tyme to tyme belonged to the kynges of the same Realme of England and Realme of Scotland as well in the times both of the Brittaines as also of Englishmen Yea rather the same Realme of Scotland of olde tyme was in see to the Auncetours of our foresayd Lordes Kynges of England yea and to hymselfe Furthermore the Kynges of Scottes and the Realme haue not bene vnder any other then the kynges of England and the Kinges of England haue answered or ought to aunswere for theyr rightes in the foresayd Realme or for any hys temporalities afore anye Iudge Ecclesiasticall or secular by reason of free preheminence of the state of hys royall dignitie and custome kept without breach at all tymes Wherefore after treatie had and dilligent deliberation of the contentes in your foresayd letters this was the common agreeing and consent with one mynde and shall be without fayle in tyme to come by Gods grace that our foresayd Lord the Kyng ought by no meanes to aunswere in iudgement in any case or shoulde bring hys foresayd rightes into doubt nor ought not to send any proctors or messengers to your presence specially seeing that the premisses tend manifestly to the disheriting of the right of the Crowne of Englande and the playne ouerthrow of the state of the sayd Realme and also hurt of the liberties customes and lawes of our fathers For the keeping and defence of whiche we are bounde by the duety of the othe made And we will mayntayne them with all power and will defend them by Gods helpe with all strength And farther we will not suffer our foresayd Lord the king to doe or by anye meanes to attempt the premisses being so unacustomed vnwont and not heard of afore Wherefore we reuerently and humbly beseech your holines that ye would suffer the same our Lord king of Englande who among other Princes of the worlde sheweth himselfe Catholicke and deuour to the Romishe Churche quietly to enioye hys rightes liberties ' customes and lawes aforesayde without all empayring and trouble and let them continue vntouched In witnesse whereof we haue set our seales to these presentes aswell for vs as for the whole communaltie of the foresayd Réalme of England Dated at Lincolne in the yeare of our Sauiour 1031. anno Edwardi primi 28. The yeare following which was from Christ an 1303. the sayd Pope Boniface the eight of that name taking displeasure with Phillip the Frenche king did excite king Edward of Englad to warre against him promising hun great ayd thereunto But he as mine author sayth little trusting the Popes false vnstable affection toward him well proued before put him of with delayes Ex Rob. Auesb. wherupon the French king fearing the power of king Edward whom the Pope had set agaynst hys friendship restored vnto him agayn Wascone which he wrongfully had in his hands deteined Concerning this variaunce here mentioned between the Pope and the French kyng how it begā first and to what end it fell out the sequell hereof Christ willing shall declare after that first I haue finished the discourse begon betweene England and Scotland In the yeare 1303. the foresayd Willa Waleys which had done so many displeasures to the king before continuing still in his rebellion gathered great multitudes of the Scottes to wtstand the king til at length the yeare following he was taken and sent vp to Londō and there executed for the same After which thinges done the king thē held his Parliament at Westminster whether came out of Scotland the Bishop of S. Andrewes Robert Bruse aboue mentioned Earle of Dunbarre Earle of Acles and Syr Iohn comming with diuers other The which volūtarily were sworne to be true to the king of England and to keep the land of Scotland to his vse agaynst at persons But shortly after the sayd Robert Bruse who as is sayd maried the second daughter of Earle Dauid forgetting his othe before made vnto the king within a yeare or two after this by the counsell of the Abbot of Stone and Bishop of S. Andrewes sent vp vnto Pope Clement the 5. for a dispensation of his othe made unsinuating to him that King Edward vexed and greued the realme of Scotland wrōgfully Whereupon the pope wrote vnto the king to leaue of such doinges Notwithstanding whiche inhibition of the Pope the king prosecuting hys owne right after he had the vnderstanding of the doings of the Scots of the mischiefe of Robert Bruys who had slayne with hys owne handes Syr Iohn Comyng for not consenting with him and other Lordes at hys Parliament areared his power strength of men preparing himselfe toward Scotlād where he ioyning with the said Syr Robert and all the power of Scotland in a
any our progenitours exercising herein grieuous censures ecclesiasticall to the great annoyaunce and damnifying of the subiectes of our Realme for present remedy whereof our louing subiectes haue made theyr humble supplication vnto vs. And for asmuch as the sayd Peter Peny hath bene hetherto accustomed to be gathered and leuyed vppon landes and Tenementes within our Realme after a dewe maner and forme We not willing that any such vnaccustomed Imposicions shall in any wise be made vpon the landes and Tenemēts of any our subiects within our dominions Prohibite you vpon grieuous payne strai ghtly charging that in no wise you presume to exacte gather or leuy the sayd Peter Peny in any other forme or maner then hath bene heretofore accustomed to be gathered and leuied in the tyme of our progenitours or since the beginning of our raigne vntill further order be taken in our high Courte of Parliament by the aduise of the Nobles and Pieres of our realm such as may well be taken without preiudice of our Crowne and damage of subiectes Witnesse the king at Westminster the first day of march Per ipsum Regem Consilium To the same effect letters were directed to the Archbishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest of the clergy Touching the first originall of which Peter pence though mention be made before in the life of king Offa and others yet to make a briefe recapitulation of the same according to the Rolles as they come to our handes thus it followeth De Denarijs beati petri sic scriptum c. That is to say It is thus found recorded in auncient Chronicles touching the Peter pence of S Peter an 187. Offa king of Mercia trauelled vp to Rome in the time of the Pope Adrian the first to obtaine the Canonizing of S. Albone And hauing performed his vow visiting the Colledge of English Students which then florished in Rome did geue to the maintenance of the scholers of England Studentes in Rome one peny out of euery Tenemēt within this Realme that had land belonging to the same amounting to the yearely value of 30 pence And for this his munificence he obteined of Pope Adrian that no person within his dominiōs publicke repenting him for not perfourming enioyned penance should therefore be banished Anno Domini 857. Adewulfus Rex Westsaxonium tempore Leonis Papae quarti Rome singulis annis 300. Mancusas portari precepit taliter diuidendas ibidem Viz. 100. Mancusas in honoré scilicet petri specialiter ad emendum oleum quo impletétur omnia Luminaria ecclesiae Apostolicae in vespera paschae in galli cantu 100. mancusas in honorem scilicet Pauli eisdem de causis 100. preterea mancusas precepit exhiberi Vniuersali Pape ad suas Eleemosinas ampliandas Et sciendum quod secundum antiquorum Anglorum interpretationem differunt mancusa mancaiquia mancusa idem erat apud eos quod marca argentes Manca vero erat moneta aria quadra valebat communiter 30. denarios argenteos Of which Peter Pence is founde a transcript of the originall Rescript Apostolicall the Tenor whereof is this Gregorius Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei venerabilibus fratribus Cantuar Ebor. Archiepiscopis eorum suffraganeis dilectis filijs Abbatibus prioribus Archidiaconis eorumque officialibus per regnum Angliae constitutis ad quos literae istae peruenerint salutem Apostolicam Benedictionem Qualiter denarij beati petri qui debentur Camere nostrae colligantur in Anglia in quibus Episcopatibus dioces debeantur ne super hoc dubitari cōtingat presentibus fecimus annotari sicut in Registro sedis Apostlicae continetur De Cantuar. diocess 7. l. 1◠5 sterlingorum De London diocess 16. l. 10. s de Rossens diocess v.l. 12. s De Norwicens diocess 21. l. 10.5 De Elienum v. l. De Lincol. 42. l. De Cistrens 8. l. De Winton 17. l. 6. s. 8. d. De Exon. 9. l. 5. s. De Wigorne 10. l. 5. s. De Hereforde 6. l. De Bathon diocess 12. l. 5. s. De Saref bur 17. l. De Couentre 10. l. 5. s. De Eboram 11. l. 10. s. Datum apud Vrbem Veterem 10. Kal. Maij. Pontificatus nostri Anno secundo Summa 30. marce dimidi Concerning which Peter Pence it is touched in y◠lawes of king Edward the Saint chap. 10. when where of whō vnder what payne this Peter Pence must be gathered being but the kinges meere almes as is aforesayd And thus much touching Peter Pēce Now for other letters writtē by the k. to the Pope the same yeare for other matters as craning the popes helpe in compounding the variaunce betwixt the 2. Archibishaps of Cant. and York for bearing the crosse from the one prouince to the other thus it followeth that the king greeuously complayneth quod tantae dissentiones 1. that suche hurly burly and vproare arose thereof that they coulde not meete together in one place through the great multitude of armed men assistants on both partes in the very bearing of the crosse to the great disturbance of the people Now after this longe digression to tourne to our English matters agayne mention was made before of the variaunce betweene the king and the Earle of Lancaster and of a peace concluded betwene them But this peace did not long endure which the king by his owne default did break sending to the Scots a priuy messenger which was taken in the way to haue the foresaid Earle of Lancaster by their meanes made away c. In the mean time the Lords and nobles of England detesting the outragious pride of the Spēsers wherby they wrought dayly both great dishonor to the king and hindraūce to the cōmon weale in such wise conspired against them that gathering their power together they made are quest to the king that he should remoue the Spensers frō his person For the which there was a Parliament called at London the Barons came together with a great cōpany At which Parliament both the Spensers were banished the land for terme of their liues and they took shipping at Douer and so voided the land But it was not lōg after but the king contrary to that ordinance made in the Parliament sent for the Spensers agayne and set them in high authority ruled all thinges after their sensuall appetites nothing regarding iustice nor the cominō wealth Wherfore the Barons entēding agayn to reforme this mischief assembled their powers but the king making so hasty speed and gathering his people so soone was stronger then they pursued thē so in diuers places that the Barons not fully ioined together some flying some departing to the king some slayne by the way in the end were chased so egerly that in short space the foresayd Thomas Earle of Lancaster was taken put to death in the rest of the nobility to the number of 22. of the greatest men and chicfest Captaines of this realme
Such a stroke heareth ambition in thys Apostolicall see whiche we are wont so greatly to magnifie But of this inough whiche I leaue and referre to the consideration of the Lorde seeing men will not looke vpon it Drawing now toward the latter end of king Richards raigne it remaineth that as we did before in the time of K. Edward the third so here also we shewe forth a summary recapitulation of such parliamentall notes proceedinges as then were practised by publique parliament in this kings time against the iurisdiction of the Bysh. of Rome to the intent that such if any such be that thinke or haue thought the receauing of the popes double authoritie to be such an auncient thing within this realme may diminishe theyr opinion As euidently may appeare by diuers arguments heretofore touched concerning the election and inuesting of byshops by the king As where king Oswin coÌ„maunded Tedde to be ordayned Archbish. of Yorke Also where king Egfride caused Cuchbert was brought to K. Canuce and at his commaundement was instituted Byshop of the same see Ex lib. Malmesb. de gestis pontif Anglorum And likewise Math. Parisiensis testifieth that king Henry the 3. gaue the Archbishopricke of Caunterbury to Radulphus then Bishop of London and inuested him wyth staffe and ring And the sâ—â—re king gaue the Bishopricke of wint to W. Gifford and moreouer following the steppes both of his father and brother before him endued him with the possessions pertaining to the sayd Bishoprick the contrary statute of pope Urbane forbidding that Clerkes should receaue any Ecclesiasticall dignitie at the hand of Princes or of any lay person to the contrary notwithstanding c. Innumerable examples of like sort are to be seen in auncient historyes of this our realme As also out of the parliament tolles in the time of king Edward hath sufficiently bene touched a little before Whereunto also may be added the notes of such parliamentes as haue bene holdeÌ„ in the raygne of this present king Richard the second the collation whereof in part here followeth * Notes of certayne Parliamentes holden in the the raigne of king Richard 2. making agaynst the Pope IN the first yeare of King Richard 2. in the parliament holden at Westminster it was requested and graunted that the popes collector be willed no longer to gather the first fruites of benefices within this realme being a verye noueltie and that no person doe any longer pay them Item that no man doe procure any benefice by prouision from Rome on payne to be out of the kinges protection Item that no Englishman do take to farme of any Alien anye Ecclesiasticall benefice or Prebende on the lyke payne In which byll was rehearsed that the French men had 6. thousand poundes yearely of such liuinges in England Item that remedy might be had against the popes reseruations to dignities electiue the same being done against the treaty of the pope taken with king Edward 3. In the second yeare of the sayd king Richard the secoÌ„d it was by petitioÌ„ requested that some order might be takeÌ„ touchyng Aliens hauyng the greatest part of the Church dignities in their handes Whereunto the kyng auÌ„swered that by aduise of the Lordes he will prouide therfore Item it was enacted that all the benefices of Cardinals and others rebels to pope Urbane that now is shal be seased into the kynges handes An Acte that Pope Urbane was true lawfull Pope and that the liuynges of all Cardinals and other rebels to the sayd Pope should be seased into the kinges handes and the kyng bee aunswered of the profites thereof And that whosoeuer within this Realme shall procure or obtayne any prouision or other instrument from any other Pope then the same Urbane shall be out of the kynges protection Moreouer in the thyrd yeare of kyng Richard the second the Prelates and Clergie made their protestation in this Parliament expressely agaynst a certaine new grauÌ„t to wit their extortions That the same neuer should passe with their assent and good will to the blemishyng of the liberties of the Churche if by that worde extortion they ment any thyng largely to proceede against Ordinaries others of the Church But if they ment none otherwise to deale hereafter therin theÌ„ before that the time had bene done then would they consent Wherunto it was replied for the king that neither for the same their sayd protestation or other wordes in that behalfe the king woulde not stay to graunt to his Iustices in that case and all other cases as was vsed to be done in times past and was bound to doe by vertue of his othe done at his coronation Furthermore in the fourth yeare of the sayd king Richard 2. it was requested that prouision might be had agaynst the popes collectors for leuying of the first fruits of ecclesiasticall dignities within the realme Item that all Priors Aliens might be remoued out of their houses and licensed to depart neuer to reuert And that English men may be placed in their liuinges answering the king as they did And in the 9. yeare of the foresayd king touching matter of the Staple the speaker of the Parliament pronounced that he thought best the same were planted within the realme considering that Calis Bruges and other towns beyond the seas grew very rich therby and good townes here very much decayed and so much for the common profite Touching the king he affirmed that the subsidie custome of wool more yelded to the king wheÌ„ the staple was kept in England by one thousand markes yearely then it did now being holden beyond the seas Item that inquisition and redresse might be had against such religious persons as vnder the licence to purchase 10. li. yearly do purchase 80. li. or 100. li. Item that all Clarkes aduaunced to any ecclesiasticall dignitie or liuing by the king will graunt to the king the first fruites of their liuinges none otherwise then they would haue done to the Pope being aduaunced by him In the 11. yeare of K. Richard 2. it was put vp by the petitions of the commons that suche impositions as are gathered by the popes bulles of Volumus and imponimus of the translations of B.B. and such like might be imployed on the kinges warres agaynst the schismatickes of Scotland And that such as bring into the realme the like bulles and nouelries may be reputed for traytors In the 13. yeare of his raigne followed an other parliameÌ„t in which although the archbish of Canterbury and Yorke for them and the whole Clergie of their prouinces made their solemne protestations in opeÌ„ Parliament that they in no wise ment or would assent to any statute or law made in restraynt of the popes authoritie but vtterly withstood the same willing this protestation of theirs to be enrolled yet the sayd protestation of theirs at that time took no great effect
temporall and nobilitie of the Realme and cheifly those that studied for the preseruatioÌ„ of the commonweale not â—casing as yet to coÌ„tinue his mischeuous enterprise if by Gods prouideÌ„ce it be not preuented that with speed Amongst all other of the Nobilitie these first he put to death the Earle of Salisbury the Earle of Huntington the Earle of Gloucester the Lord Roger Clarendon the kyngs brother with diuers other knights and Esquiers and afterwards the Lord Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester and the Lord Henry Percy sonne and heyre to the Earle of Northunberland the which Lord Henry he not onely slew but to the vttermost of his power againe and againe he caused hym to be slayne For after that he was once put to death and deliuered to the Lord of Furniuale to be buryed who committed his body to holy sepulture with as much honour as might be commending his soule to almighty God with the suffrages of the blessed masse other praiers the said Lord Henry most like a cruel beast still thirsting hys bloud caused his body to be exhumate brought forth againe and to be reposed betwene two milstones in the towne of Shreusbury there to be 〈◊〉 wyth armed men And afterwards to be beheaded anâ— quartered commanding his head and quarters to be caried vnto diuers cities of the kingdome Wherefore for so detestable a fact neuer heard of in any age before we pronounce him as in the former articles excommunicate 8. Eightly we depose c. agaynst the said Lord Henry for that after his atteining to the crowne he willingly ratified allowed and approued a most wicked statute set forth renued in yâ— parliament holden at Winchester The which statute is directly against yâ— Church of Rome the power principalitie therof giuen by our Lord Iesus Christ and vnto blessed S. Peter his successors Bishops of Rome vnto whom belongeth by full authoritie the free disposing of all spirituall promotions as wel superior as inferiour which wicked statute is the cause of many mischiefes vid. of simonie periurie adultery incest misorder disobedience for that many Bishops Abbots priors and prelats we will not say by vertue but rather by errour of this statute haue bestowed yâ— benefices vacant vpoÌ„ yong men rude and vnworthy persons which haue compacted with them for the same so that scarce no one prelate is found that hath not couenanted with the partie promoted for the halfe yearely or at the least the third part of the said benefice so bestowed And by this meanes the said statute is the destruction of the right of S. Peter the Church of Rome and England the Cleargie and vniuersities the mainteuance of wars and the whole common wealth c. 9. Ninthly we say and depose c. against the said Lord Henry that after he had tyrannously taken vpon him the gouernement of the Realme England neuer florished since nor prospered by reason of his continuall exactions of money and oppressions yearely of the cleargie and coÌ„minaltie neither is it knowen how this money so extorted is bestowed when as neither his souldiours nor his gentlemen are payed as yet their wages and fees for their charges and wonderfull toile and labour neither yet the poore countrey people are satisfied for the victuall taken of them And neuertheles the miserable clergie and more miserable comminaltie are forced still to pay by menaces and sharp threatnings Notwithstanding he sware when he first vsurped the crowne that hereafter there should be no such exactions nor vexations neither of the clergie nor lâ—â—tie Wherfore as afore we pronounce him periured c. 10. In the tenth and last article we depose say and openly protest by these presents for our selues all our assistents in the cause of the Church of Rome and England and in the cause of king Richard his heires the clergie and comminaltie of the whole Realme that neither our entention is was nor shall be in word nor deed to offend any state either of the prelats spirituall Lords temporall nor commons of the realme but rather foreseeing the perdition and destruction of this Realme to approch we haue here brought before you certeine articles concerning the destruction of the same to be circumspectlie considered of the whole assembly as well of the Lords spirituall as temporall and the faithfull commons of England beseeching you all in that bowels of Iesus Christ the righteous iudge and for the merits of our blessed Lady the mother of God and of S. George our defender vnder whose displayed banner we wish to liue and die and vnder paine of damnation that ye will be fauourable to vs and our causes which are three in number Wherof the first is that we exalt vnto the kingdome the true lawfull heire and him to crowne in kinglie throne with the diademe of England And secondly that we renoke the weshmen the Irishmen and all other our enimies vnto perpetuall peace and amitie Thirdly and finally that we deliuer and make free our natiue countrey from al exactions extortioÌ„s vniust paiments Beseeching our Lord Iesus Christ to graunt his blessing the remission of their sinnes life euerlasting to all that assist vs to their power in this godly and meritorious worke and vnto all those that are against vs we threaten the curse of almighty God by the authority committed vnto vs by Christ and his holy Church and by these presents we pronounce them excommunicate These Articles being seene and read much concourse of people daily resorted more and more to that archbishop The Earle of Westmerland being then not far off with Iohn the kings sonne hearing of this mustered his souldiours with all the power he was able to make bent toward the Archbishop but seeing his part too weake to encounter with him vseth practise of policie where strength would not serue And first comming to him vnder colour of frendship dissembled laboureth to seeke out the causes of that great stirre To whome the Archbyshop againe answering no hurt to be entended thereby but profit rather to the kyng and common wealth and maintenance of publicke peace but for so much as he stood in great scare and danger of the king he was therefore compelled so to doo And withall shewed vnto him the contents of the Articles aforesaid which when the Earle had read setting a faire face vpon it seemed highly to commend the purpose and doyngs of the Bishop promising moreouer that he would helpe also forward in that quarell to the vttermost of his power And required vpon the same a day to be set when they with equall number of men might meere together in some place appointed to haue farther talke of the matter The Archbishop easilie perswaded was content although much against the counsaile of the Earle Marshall and came Where the Articles being openly published and read the Earle of Westmerland with his companie pretended well to like vpon the same and to ioyne their
1000 marks The fift part of all the goods of the clergy granted to the Pope Great expence of money in the court of Rome betweene the B. of Lincoln and the Cathedrall Church Money wast fully bestow ed. Mony comming to the Pope betweene the b. of Lincoln the monks within his Dioces How pretely the Pope can take with both handes Money may doe much at Rome The popes answere to Rob Grosted Iustice peruented by the popes authoritie for money Money comyng to the Pope by the election of Boniface archb of Cant. and of Ethelmare B. of Wint. both straÌ„gers and French men Mariage with Alinore the kings sister a Nunne dispensed by the Pope for money What inconuenience commeth by the Popes dispensations Wilfull periurie mainteined by the Popes dispensations Enormities which spring out of the popes dispensations The miserable impouerishing of the Realme by the popes prouisions and contributions Cardinall Otho Legate in England The receiuing of Otho the popes Legate into the Realm Anno. 1237. Otho the Legate seeketh to come into Scotlande The king of Scottes his answere to Cardinall Otho The 〈◊〉 of Seaâ—â—â— hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 within 〈◊〉 popes Legate Cardinal Otho 〈◊〉 ped 〈◊〉 ing into Sâ—â— land Oppression of the 〈◊〉 of Englâ—â— by Cardiâ—â—â— Otho the popes Legaâ—â— Anno. 1238. The nobles of England writ to Pope Gregory 〈◊〉 collationâ—â— benefices wrasled or of their 〈◊〉 Petrus Rubeus the popes 〈◊〉 All beneâ—â— ced men in England â—â— pelled to geue theâ—â— part of the reuenewes to the pope anno â—â—â—â— Anno. 1240. Excuses of the Clergy why they would not contribute â— the Pope â—oc childreÌ„ of Rome â—laced in benefices in England Edmund Archb. of Cant. deparâ—eth the â—ealme and dyeth in exile Three thousand pounds to the popes â—se Romaynes 23. brought to Englande to be benefited The P. for money releaseth christias of their â—owâ— Mumelius 20 other messenger of the pope An exectable exaction of the pope vpon the house of Peterborough Abbot of Pe terborough thrust out of the popes court The obligation of kyng Iohns tribute to the pope burned The bishops of England put their handes and seales to the popes bill Petrus Rubeus Petrus de Supino the Popes collectors in England A thousand and fiue hundreth markes broughâ— out of Ireland for the Pope M. Martinus aâ— other messenger for the Popes money an 1244. Extortion of the Popes Legate vpon the clergie of Englando Contribution of x. M. markes for the Pope The pope craftely holdeth with the kyng that the king might holde with him Intimation geuen to the king touching the importable oppression of the realme by the Pope K. Henries letter to the Pope The kyng offereth to kisse the Popes feet Damage receiued by the pope in the realme of England The pope prouisions The kinges too much in subiection to the pope Ex Mat. Paris sol 172. The pope setteth Welch men against the king of England Contribution required of the clergie of England for the pope with their excuses and reasons against the same The portes of England layd to stop the popes letters yet all would not serue Siâ—â—e 〈◊〉 land 〈◊〉 yerely 〈◊〉 out of 〈◊〉 landâ—â—â— Pope 〈◊〉 Italia 〈◊〉 M. Martinâ—â— the Popes legate serâ— out of Enâ— land in the deuils 〈◊〉 The pope in displeasure with the king of England * 〈◊〉 lot The 〈◊〉 wordes of the pope against the French 〈◊〉 and king of England Anno. 1245. The supplication of 〈◊〉 Lords and commons of England 〈◊〉 the Pope The superstitious 〈◊〉 ding of neonasterics in England Iniuries receiued in England by the Pope Benefices in â—uglande wickedly giuen a way to Italians Three score thousande markes yerely giuen to Italians out of the church of England Italians receiued more in this land of meer reÌ„ts then did the kings crown Detestable dealings of the popes legate in England Complaint of M. Martin â—he Popes Legate K. HeÌ„ry the â—hird vsed euery day to â—eare 3. masâ—es by note The stout wordes of the Lordes â—o the Pope The suppliâ—ation of the English naâ—ion tooke no place with the Pope The Englishe Ambassadours agreeued with the Pope The Pope in an anger with England The Bishops of England set their seales to the popes tribute Anno. 1246. The pope stirreth Lewes the French king to warre against the K. of Englande Lewes the freÌ„ch kyng refuseth to warre against Englande The first yeares fruites for seuen yeares gathered of all benefices for the Archb. of Cant. The prelates of England charged to find horse and harnes for Popes warres A subtile practise of the pope The popes baite layde for more money A new lawe of the pope to season vpon all the goods of clergie men that die intestate A note of certaine ecclesiasticall persons dying in England worth great substance Sixe thousand marks to be gathered of the clergie of Englande for the Pope The king beginneth to withstand the Pope but durst not holde out The Pope in a chafe The wordes of Ioannes Anglicuâ— Cardinall to the Pope The miserable troubles of christendome Of Spaine he meaneth because the king of Aragone a litle before had cut off the tongue of a certaine B. that did reprehend him Paris fol. 207. Power giuen to the Bish. of Worcester to interdict the land The K. fayne to relent to the Pope 238. Of this diuision read before pag. 282. The Grecians vsed to washe their altar if any latin masse had bene saide vpon them Ex Actâ—s concilâ—â— Lateranâ—â—sis cap. 4. Goods gotten by vsury attached for the Pope Excommunication abused False â—â—â—lutiâ—â— oâ— sinnes Vsurarie prauâ—las Goods 〈◊〉 in dead â— wils for restitution eâ—uâ—ted to the Pope Goods â—â—bequetheâ— in deâ—d 〈◊〉 willes coâ— uerted to war agaiâ—â—â— the Gâ—â—eâ—â— Goods â—â—gotten coâ—uerted 〈◊〉 Pope Abseloâ— for 〈◊〉 An vâ—â—â—â—nable eâ—â— on of the Pope Non 〈◊〉 Three â—â—n thousande poundes â—â—acted of â—â— clergie to â— payde to â—â— Pope A Parliament Letter sent the Pope the name all the eâ—tes com â—altie of â—e realme â—ote fooles â—uâ—ingiuing the â—hurch so â—uch â—he Pope â—â—â—king beâ—â—e EnglaÌ„d â— swimme â—th golde â—â—d siluer The popes â—â—swere aâ—aine to the â—â—ng of England The Pope â—alfe in his promise Note the subtle practise of the pope to get money The Bishop of Lincolnes answere to the Friers the Popes messengers The Abbot of S. Albons maketh great sute to the Pope for the 400. markes that he should pay This Iohannes Anglicus was the more fierce against the Abbot because hee receiued him not with such reuerence as hee thought meete for the popes legate Example howe this Realme of England was oppressed miserably by the Pope The Abbot of AbbingdoÌ„ cited to appeare before the Pope The Abbot of Abingdon condemned in 50. markes for denying of an english benefice to an Italian the Popes nephew A detestable extortion of the pope vsâ—d against the priorie of Binham The Grecians excused purged in parting froÌ„ the Church of Rome The miseries that haue risen in
as I am heartily glad so my request is to you that the friendship and amitie which hath bene tofore betweene my father and your predecessours in times past may now also betwene vs in like manner continue vndeminished And that loue and gentlenes may first beginne of my part heere I sende vnto you that gift that S. Peter had in foretime of my predecessors And likewise the same honors obedience which your predecessours haue had in the realme of England before in the time of my father I will you to haue the same in my time also after this forme I meane and tenour that the vsage and maner of dignitie and such customes which my father hath had in this realme of England in the time of your auncetors I in like ample maner also nowe in your time may fully enioy the same in this the saide realme of England Thus therefore be it knowen to your holines that during this life of mine God almighty abling me to the same these aboue named dignities vsages customes of this realme of England shall in no part be lessoned Yea and if that I as God forbid I should would so much deiect my selfe into such cowardnes yet my Nobles yea the whole people of England in no case would suffer it Wherfore deare father vsing with your selfe a better deliberation in the matter let your gentlenesse so moderate it selfe toward vs least ye compell me which I shall doe against my will to receade and depart vtterly from your obedience At the same terme also be sent an other letter or Epistle to the sayde Pope crauing of him the passe for Girardus Archb. of Yorke the forme wherof here also followeth Reuerendo diligendo patri vniuersali Papae Paschali Henricus dei gratia Rex Anglorum salutem Amor quem plurimum erga vos habeo benignitas quae multum vestros actus exornat c. In English To the reuerend and welbeloued father vniuersall Pope Paschalis Henry by the grace of God king of England greeting The great loue which I beare to you and the no lesse gētlenes in you which not a little beautifieth your doings ministreth to me boldnesse to write And where as I thought to haue reteined still this Gerardus with me and to haue craued your palle for him by letters yet notwithstanding when his desire coulde not otherwise be satisfied but woulde needes present himselfe before your presence by his owne hart to craue of you the same I haue sent him vp vnto you Desiring your benigne fatherhoode in this behalfe that he obtaining the palle at your hands may be sent home again to me And thus requiring the assistance of your prayers I praye the Lord long to conserue your Apostleship This second letter of the king in sending for the Palle was well taken of all the court of Rome which as mine author sayth procured such fauor to Girardus archbishop of Yorke and bringer thereof that no complaint of his aduersaries afterward could hurt him with the Pope Notwithstāding he was accused grieuously for diuers things and specially for not standing to the consecration of Anselitic Archbishop of Cant. Polidorus in his 11. booke of his English history affirmeth that Anselmus also went vp to Rome with Birardus about the same cause But both the premisses and sequele of the story argueth that to be vntrue For what needed the 2. Monks to be sent vp on Anselmus side if he had gone vp himselfe Againe howe coulde the Pope wryte downe by the saide messengers to Anselme if he had there bene himself present For so procedeth the story by the narration of Malmesbury and others After the Ambassadours thus on both sides sent vp to Rome had laboured theyr cause with instante sute one against the other the pope glad to gratifie the king yet loth to graunt his request being against his owne profite and therefore more inclining to Anselmus side sendeth downe his letters to the sayde Anselme signifying that he woulde not repeale the statutes of his holy fathers for one mans pleasure charging him moreouer not only not to yeide in the cause of inuesting but constantly to adheare to the foresaid decreemēt of Pope Urban his predecessor c. Besides this letter to Anselme he directed also an other to the king himselfe which letter mine author saith the king suppressed and did not shewe onely declaring by word of mouth what the ambassadors had saide vnto him from the Pope Which was that he permitted vnto him the licence of Inuesting vpon condition that in other things he would execute the office of a good Prince c. To this also the testunony of the 2. bishops aboue minded did accord which made the matter more probable But the 2. monkes on the other side replied againe bringeth foorth the letter of Anselme to the contrary c. To thē was answered againe that more credite was to be geuen to the degree and testimonie of the Bishops then to theirs And as for monkes they had no suffrage nor testimonie saide they in secular matters and therefore they might hold their peace But this is no secular matter sayd Baldwine abbot of Ramesey Whereunto the nobles again of the kings part answered saying that he was a good man and of such demeanor as they had nothing to say against him neither so woulde if they might but yet both humane and diuine reason taught them so to yelde more credite and confidence to the testimonie of 3. bishops then of 2. monkes Whereby may well appeare that Anselme at that time wēt not with them Then Anselmus seeing the king and his peres how they were set and hearing also the testimonie of the 3. bishops against which he saw he could not preuatle And also hauing the popes seale which he sawe to be so euident on the contrary side made his answer again that he would send to Rome for a more certaintie of truthe Adding moreouer that he neyther would nor durst geue ouer his cause though it should cost him his life to do or proceede against the determination of the Churche of Rome vnlesse he had a perfect warrant of absolution from thence for his discharge Then was it agreed by the king and his nobles that he should not send but go himselfe to Rome And much intreatie was made that he wold take that iorney himself in his owne person to present himselfe to the Pope for the peace of the Church and of his country And so at the length by persuation was content went to Rome and spake with the pope In short time after followeth also the kings Ambassador William Warlwast new elect bishop of Exetor who ther pleading on the kings side for the ancient customes of the realme for the kings right of Inuesting c. First declared howe England of a long continuance had euer bene a prouince peculiar to the Church of Rome and howe it paied dewly
his yerely tribut vnto the same Inferring moreouer how the king as he was of nature very liberall so also of courage a prince stout and valiant Then what a shame wold hee thinke it be to him as it were in deede if hee who in mighte and dignitie farre exceeded all his progenitours should not defend and maintaine the liberties customes by them procured wherefore he desired the Pope to see to the matter so as might stande both with the kings honor and also with his owne profite and aduātage who otherwise no doubt shoulde loose a great peece of money out of the realme vnlesse he did remit some thing of the seueritie of his canons and lawes decretall With these and such other perswasions like to the same effect the court of Rome was well cōtented agreeing that the kings request ought with al fauor to be graunted But the Pope Anselme sate still marking their doings The ambassadour supposing their silence to be halfe a yeelding to him added moreouer and sayd that the king no not for the crowne of his realme would loose the authority of Inuesting or admitting his Prelates within his Dominion Whereunto the proude Pope answering againe brast out in these wordes Nor I sayde he for the price of his heade as thou sayst wil lose the geuing of spirituall promotiōs in Englande and confirming it with an othe before God sayth he I speake it know it for a certaine c. Then it followeth in the storie of Malmesberie with this word of the P. the mindes of the rest were chaunged saying Benedicta fit cordis tui constantia benedicta oris tui loquela The kings attourney also was therewith dashed who notwithstanding yet brought to passe that certaine of the Kinges customes vsed before of his father were released vnto hym At the which tune in the same court was decreed that the king onely which had inuested them being excepted the other which were inuested by the king to be excommunicated the absolution and satisfaction of whome was left to Anselme the archbishop Thus Anselme being dismissed from Rome tooke his iorney toward England But the ambassador pretending to go to S. Nicholas remained behinde to see whether he could winne the popes mind to the kings purpose Which when he saw it would not be he ouertaketh Anselmus by the way at Placentia and opened to him the kings pleasure The king sayth he geueth to you in charge and commaundement that if you will come to England and there behaue your selfe to him as your predecessours did to his father you should be receiued and retained in the Realme accordingly if not you are wise inough sayth he ye know what I meane and what will followe c. And so to these wordes parting from him retourned againe to the King Anselmus remained at Lions a yeare and a halfe writing diuers letters to the King after this effect and wordes as followeth ¶ To his reuerend Lord Henry king of England Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie faithful seruice with prayers Epist. 224. Although ye vnderstand by William Warlwast what we haue done at Rome oyet I shall shortly shewe you that belongeth to me When I came to Rome I declared the cause wherefore I came to the Lorde Pope He answered that he woulde not swarue from the statutes of his predecessours Furthermore he commanded me that I should haue no fellowship with them that receiued inuestings of Churches at your hands after the knowledge of this prohibition except they woulde doe penaunce and forsake that they had receiued without hope of recouerie nor that they shuld not communicate with the other Byshoppes that had consecrated suche menne except they woulde present them selues to the iudgement of the Apostolike sea The foresayde William can be a witnesse of all these things if he will This William when we departed a sonder reconing vp in your behalfe the loue and liberalitie which yee haue had alwayes towardes me warned mee as your Archbyshoppe that I shoulde shewe my selfe such a one that if I would come into Englande that I might be wyth you as my predecessoure was wyth your Father and ye might entreate mee wyth the same honoure and liberalitie that youre father entreated my predecessor By which wordes I vnderstand that except I woulde shewe my selfe suche a one you woulde not haue me come into England For your loue liberalitie I thanke you but that I shoulde be with you as my predecessour was with your father I cannot do it For I dare not do homage to you nor dare communicate with them that take inuestings of Churches at your hands because of the foresaid inhibition made I my selfe hearing it Wherfore I desire you to send me your pleasure herein if it please you whether I may returne into England as I sayde with your peace and power of mine office In the meane while great businesse there was much posting went to and fro betwene the king the archbishop and the Pope but nothing was done for neither woulde the Pope agree to the king neither woulde the King condescende to the Archbishop At last the Archbishop seeing by no meanes he could preuaile against the king thought to reuenge himselfe by excōmunication and so went about the same The king hauing word thereof by the Countesse Adala his sister desireth her to come to him to Normādie and bring Anselmus with her whereupon through the meanes of the Countesse reconcilement was made the archbishop was restored to his former possessions againe Only his returne into England was differred because he would not communicate with those whome the King had inuested So the king tooke his passage ouer into England and Anselme made his abode at the Abbey of Becke Then were ambassadors againe directed vnto Rome W. Warlwast Baldwin aboue named Abbot of Ramesey who at length cōcluded the long controuersy betwene the king the Pope vpon this agreement that the King should take homage of the Bishops elect but shoulde not deale with inuesting them by staffe and ring c. While the Embassadours were thus in their sute at Rome diuers complaintes were daily brought from Englande to Anselme against the Priestes and Chanons who in his absence contrary to the late councel holden at London receiued their wiues vnto their houses againe so were permitted by the king paying him certaine mony for the same Anselme the fore enemie against lawfull mariage agreeued therwith addresseth his letters vnto the King requiring hym to refraine from any more taking of suche exactions declaring moreouer and affirming that the offences of all such Ecclesiasticall ministers must be corrected by the instance of Byshops and not of lay men To this the king answereth gently againe by letters tempering himselfe howe he purposed shortly to come ouer into Normandie and if he had done any thing amisse either in these or other things he would reforme it by his obedience It was