abroad again some Opinions which he had recanted in the Synod two years before for which he was said to be relaps'd into Heresy His Tenets were these That God alone was to be invok'd by the Prayers of the Faithful that that Worship was due to Christ himself not upon the account of his Human Nature but of his Divine Nature only that it was not lawful to pray to Saints or any other created Being that those that offer'd Gifts to the Image of the Cross or of the Saints were guilty of Idolatry that a Monastick Life was contrary to the Institutions of Christ that the Administration of Civil Affairs and all Secular Government was forbidden to Priests by Christ himself and that many of those Opinions that were condemn'd as impious by the Council of Constance were Orthodox All these Assertions were referr'd by the Archbishop as Judge in this Affair to the four Orders of Mendicant Fryers who were to examine whether they were agreable to the Holy Scriptures and the Sense of the Fathers and the Lawyers were order'd to consider what punishment was to be inflicted on one relapsed into Heresy The Divines deliver'd their Opinion That the Tenets maintain'd by him were impious and contrary to the Holy Scriptures and the Decrees of the Church of Rome As to matter of Law William Lyndewood Official of the Court of Arches Thomas Brown Dean of the same Court and the other Lawyers answer'd That one suspected of Heresie was to be debarr'd from the Communion of the Church for a year and if after this probation he repented of his Errors he was to be receiv'd again into the bosom of the Church but if he relaps'd into Heresy again he was to be reputed guilty of a capital Crime and deliver'd over to the Secular Power whereupon by the Sentence of the Synod he was declar'd a Heretick and solemnly devested of his Orders Soon after the end of this Synod the whole Kingdom was seiz'd with the greatest consternation imaginable upon the News of the King's death who having pursued the Dauphin with too much heat as far as Bourges on the 31 st of August died at Bois de Vinciennes about three Miles from Paris of a violent Fever which he had contracted by his excessive Fatigues He died in a very unlucky time for King Charles his Father-in-Law pin'd away with grief for the death of his Son King Henry who was very dear to him and died within twenty days after The King's Body was brought over into England and buried at Westminster The Inheritance of both Kingdoms descended to Henry the Sixth who was then an Infant the government of which was left by the late King in his Will to his two Brothers that of England to Humphry Duke of Glocester and that of France to John Duke of Bedford till his Son should come of Age the care of whose Education was committed to Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester and Thomas Beaufort Duke of Exeter his Great Uncles Certainly no King of England ever excell'd King Henry the Fifth in all vertuous Qualifications nor was there any one whose death was so prejudicial to the Kingdom He was adorn'd with all the Accomplishments both of Body and Mind that could be desir'd in a Prince with Prudence Courage Constancy Modesty Bounty Eloquence Beauty and Strength all which being attended with a singular good Fortune procur'd him a wonderful esteem amongst Foreigners and are celebrated as well by the French Writers as by those of our own Nation The Duke of Glocester that he might settle the Affairs of the Kingdom according to the Injunctions of his Brother King Henry call'd a Parliament at Westminster on the 9 th of November and first of all he commanded the Archbishop of Canterbury to declare to both Houses the cause of their meeting for Thomas Bishop of Durham upon the death of the King had resign'd the Seal and other marks of the Chancellorship to which this Office belongs to the Duke of Glocester at Windsor and had laid down the Place The Archbishop having spoken largely in praise of the Vertues of King Henry the Fifth and made honourable mention of his Actions in France came to speak of the Young King and affirm'd that it was by the special favour of Almighty God that a Son of such promising hopes should succeed so great a Father that his very Title of the Sixth was attended with a lucky Omen for as the number Six was the most compleat of all the rest because in so many days God Almighty had made this vast Fabrick of the World so this King Henry the Sixth of that Name would be the greatest of all his Predecessors that he would compleat what his Father had so prosperously begun in France and that as he was descended both from the Kings of England and France so he would at length enjoy both those Crowns which were devolv'd to him by lawful Inheritance That he in the King's Name did declare to the Peers and all the People that they should enjoy all the Privileges and Immunities granted to them by his Highness's Predecessors and that he was commanded to give them three Reasons for calling this Parliament Which were That Governors might be assign'd the King by a publick Act that they might consult about the Peace of the Realm and the Administration of Justice and that they might provide for the defence of the Kingdom against the Insults of Foreign Enemies Lastly He exhorted them by the Example of Jethro Moses's Father-in-law to make choice of the best and wisest of the Nobility to take upon them the government of the King and Kingdom and besought them that they would use their utmost endeavours for the safety of the King and the benefit of their Country When the Archbishop had done speaking the Protectorship was unanimously confirm'd to the Duke of Glocester and some of the most Eminent of the Bishops and Nobility were appointed to be of the Privy Council till the King should come of Age of which the Archbishop was nam'd first But he having lost his King and Patron who had advanc'd him to the highest Honors and who dearly lov'd him when the Parliament was dissolv d retir'd within the Bounds of his Province in which he perform'd the Duties of his Function with great diligence For the Year after the death of Henry the Fifth by his Metropolitical Authority he visited the Diocesses of Chichester and Salisbury and the next year that of Lincoln in which Visitations he revers d all those things that had been acted amiss by the Ordinaries and examin'd into the Faith and Manners of the People In his journy through the Diocess of Lincoln he came to Higham Ferrers the Town where he was born in which out of a pious and commendable design of adorning the Place of his Nativity he dedicated a Noble College which he had formerly begun there to the Honour of
first to be sworn to the Infallible Chair Ib. The Pall denoting full power over the other Bishops 41 Delivered him in the King's Palace of Sutton 42 Where he took the Oath of Obedience Ib. The Pope gave the Church but the King could only give the Land 43 Which was done after renouncing of the Clauses derogatory to the King's Power Ib. For his Patent he paid Six hundred Marks 44 Secur'd the Church from the Envy of the two Houses Ib. Being formerly voted to supply King Henry the Fourth by the Church's Wealth Ib. Whilst the Church paid Tenths oftener than the Laity did Fifteenths c. 45 Which Consideration but chiefly the Intercession of his Predecessor with the King had then averted the storm Ib. Another Address of the Commons against the Clergy Ib. Which was design'd as the then Bishop alledg'd for the enriching themselves 46 King of France said he has not a Noble now of the Revenues of the Monasteris that were brought to the Exchequer Ib. The Petition rejected Ib. Henry the Fourth averse to Wickliff's Doctrine abetted by the Petitioners 47 In Henry the Fifth's time the Address renew'd Ib. To avoid which the Clergy resolv'd to give the King Money for a War with France Ib. For which a Synod is call'd at London 48 The Title of the Kings of England to France Ib. Claim'd by Edward the Third Ib. Whose Competitor was Philip de Valois Ib. King Edward claiming by 's Mother rejected under pretence of the Salick Law assumed the Title 49 Successfully invaded France and entail'd the Quarrel Ib. Richard the Second waved the Quarrel Ib. Henry the Fourth was diverted by Intestine Commotions Ib. But the happy Juncture was in Henry the Fifth's time Ib. As Chichele thought for a more glorious Diversion Ib. His Speech to the King for that purpose 50 Accommodates himself to the King 's Heroic Temper Ib. Thinks France no less than the Envy of the World 51 Represents the King's Right Ib. And insinuates the Injuries done his French Provinces Ib. The Salick Law an Obtrusion 52 And a Cheat to debar the Female-Line Ib. Not made by Pharamond as pretended Ib. Put Four hundred years after him and in Germany 53 If it obliges the French it relates to private Inheritances only for Ib. In dispute one French King never us'd it against another for Ib. Pepin claimed by a Female 54 And so did Hugh Capet Ib. And by the like Lewis the Tenth confirm'd his Right Ib. This Law made a Bugbear to Foreigners contemned by themselves 55 'T is contrary to the Civil Law and Ib. The Constitutions of most Nations Ib. And to the Divine Law 56 Jesus Christ the Lawful Heir by his Mother of the Jewish Kingdom Ib. The French rather deny the Bible than submit to a Foreign Prince 57 The Salick Law literally excludes not the Sons of Females 58 And is to be taken in the most favourable sense 60 The Archbishop asserts the King's Call as well as Right to France Ib. With other great Encouragements to the Expedition Ib. Success a Good Sign in the Vertuous and Brave 61 But the Earl of Westmorland advises a War with the Scots Ib. From the Roman Example to begin with the lesser Enemy Ib. And the readiness of Provisions for the latter 62 With the easiness of the Victory Ib. The justice and necessity of the War Ib. The Earl Answered by Jo. Duke of Exeter 63 That the Scot's Strength lying in the French ought to be first attaqued Ib. France once conquer'd the Scots will be helpless Ib. Advised to hinder the Scots Attempts in the King's absence Ib. Which Opinion highly applauded Ib. And War with France was the Cry of the House 64 The Archbishop's renowned for the wisdom of his Counsel 65 The King provides an Army and Navy Ib. Sends Ambassadors to demand France Ib. The Army's Rendezvouz at Southampton 66 The French Ambassadors in Answer offer the French King's Daughter in Marriage Ib. Their Conditions not thought honourable by the King The Archbishop s more full Answer 67 That the French King had not answered King Henry's Demand Ib. Who insisted only on the Dominions his Ancestors had enjoyed 68 Which Answer the King confirms Ib. The French Ambassadors remanded Ib. The King sets sail 69 Takes Harflew Ib. Defeats the French at Agincourt Ib. Of whom Ten thousand are slain Ib. And many Noble Prisoners Ib. In the King's absence the Archbishop arms the Clergy in Kent Ib. Calls a Synod 70 In which two Tenths are granted for the War Ib. Another Synod 71 Christendom divided between Three Popes Ib. By two of whom the Council of Pisa refused Ib. A General Council appointed by the Third Ib. The Archbishop appears at Constance by Proxy 72 Their Charges 2 d. per l. out of the Clergy's Revenues Ib. The Emperor comes to England as Mediator 73 Whereupon the Delegates are press'd to Constance Ib. Where a Decree pass'd about Wills and Administration Ib. That 5 s. shall be paid for a Probate Ib. And that the Clergy shall bring in the Tenth six Months sooner Ib. The Mediation in vain between the Two Kingdoms 74 Harfleu being besieg'd and Four hundred English slain by the French Ib. Wherefore the King sends his Brother the Duke of Bedford to Normandy Ib. Presents the Emperor with the Garter Ib. And conducts him to Calais Ib. The Emperor goes to Constance Ib. The Archbishop goes to France 75 Ambassadors from the French to King Henry at Calais Ib. Who returning got a Supply from the Parliament Ib. And Two Tenths from the Synod 76 The King setting sail left the Duke of Bedford Vicegerent Ib. The Archbishop interdicts the Church of St. Dunstans 77 Excommunicates the Criminals viz. Ib. Lord Strange Lady and Servants Ib. The two former with Tapers and all in their Shirts and Drawers only did processional Pennance from St. Paul's to St. Dunstan's for purification of which the Lady fill'd the Vessels with water 77 78 At Constance they dispute about a new Pope Ib. And against John Wickliff Ib. By whom the Seeds of sound Doctrine had been dispersed Ib. Particularly among the Bohemians Ib. Wickliff pronounc'd Heretick 79 And decreed that his Bones be taken up and burnt Ib. And his Followers be prosecuted as Hereticks Ib. John Huss and Jerom of Prague condemn'd to Flames Ib. Whose death made the Emperor and Council infamous Ib. The publick Faith being shamefully violated the Bohemians revenge it Ib. The Council decreed Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks 80 Of which the Papists ashamed kept it to Luther and others Ib. Pope John the Twenty third charg'd for not leaving the Papacy 81 And accused before the Council of Adultery Incest Witchcraft c. Ib. Gregory by Proxy resign's the Chair as did also Benedict 82 At Constance a Council is decreed superior to the Pope Ib. Five Nations compos'd the Council Ib. Martin V th elected Pope 83 The Decree of the Council's Power repeal'd by Leo the Tenth Ib. A Council
Benedict defended by Baldus Two Bull-Carriers the Pope's Emissaries were ignominiously treated at Paris p Carol. Molin de Monarch Franc. n. 140 141 142. q Niem lic 3. de Schism cap. 7. nemore unionis Tract 6. cap. 31. Charles the Fourth of France did neither regard the Church nor his own Kingdom Whose Son 's Successor Robert of Bavaria King the Romans siding with Gregory chiefly fomented the Church-Divisions The Emperors then were degenerated When their Power was most requisite to rectify the Pope's mismanagement r C. Hadrianus c. in Synodo Dist 63. c. Victor Honorium Dist 97. s C. Si quis 2. qu. 7. c. nos si in compenter ead t C. Hâ—beo librum Dist 16. c. Valentinianus Dist 63. c. mandastis 2. qu 4. Gregory Renounc'd by his Cardinals at Pisa Who with those of Benedict deprived them both of the Papacy For which some worldly Divines charged them with Schism u Vide Niem in nem Union Tract 4. cap. 9. x C. Multis Dist 17. y Bald. ad d. c. olim de rescrip in c. quia propter de elect * Herbis z Zabar in c. licet n 13 de elect in cons 150. in Tract de Schismate hujus temporis Ancharan Cons 181. a Pâ—nor ad c. licet de vitanda n. 8. de elect Dec. in Consil pro Concilio Pisano Felin ad c. super literis n. 21. de rescript Cardin. Jacob. de Concil lib. 3. Art 1. n. 11. Jo. Royas de Haeret. n. 518. b Niem in nem unionis Tract 6. cap. 15 16. c Card. Bellar. lib. 1. de Concil cap. 8. King of England and France c. favour the Cardinals and their aforesaid Sentence in Council Which the Cardinal of Bourdeaux with great zeal got ratified in England Walsingh 1409. H. Chichele one of the Delegates to Pisa Before whom and Associates a Learned Sermon preached Hos 1. 11. d In vol. 1. Operum Jo. Gerson Bishop of Sarum another Delegate made an eloquent Oration in the Council of Pisa * Advocatus Fisci e Niem lib. 3. de Schism cap 44. Where both Popes were pronounced perjured c. and Alexander the Fifth elected f Abb. ad c. licet de vitanda n. 8. de elect Who when a Boy had begg'd from door to door Afterwards his Parts known sent to Oxford Then made Archbishop of Milan and created Cardinal by Innocent the Seventh Alexander was too honest studious and Monastick to be politically qualified for the Chair 'T is thought he was poysoned He was succeeded by John the Twenty Third A papal Triumvirate g Ann 11. H. 4. fol. 78. 8. 1410. 1411. H. Chichele returns from his Embassy Was diligent in his Function 1413. Allegiance sworn to Henry the Fifth before his Coronation That King sent our Henry Ambassador to the French King and Duke of Burgundy h Enguerrant de Monstrellet cap 106. To the former for a Treaty of Peace i Enguerrant de Monstrellet chap. 109. To the latter about a Marriage Whilst the King seem'd more inclinable to the French King's Daughter H. Chichele chosen President of the Council 1414. The Monks desire leave to elect an Archbishop of Canterbury k Polydâ—r lib 19. in Edvard 3. l Abb. ad c. â— de Consuet n. 4. Apostil ibid. And Canonically demanded H. Chichele m C. sicut vir 7. qu. 1. n C. inter corporalia extr de translat Episc o Tot. tit extr de postul Prelat p Tot. tit de translat Episc Rebust in prax benefit par 1. tit de translat Episc Which Custom was introduced by Papal Ambition H. Chichele expects the Pope's leave To obtain which Proxies are sent to Rome With the King's Letters in his favour The Pope divorc'd H. Chichele from St. David's Made him Archbishop by way of provisor * Provisionis titulo But he was first to be sworn to the Infallible Chair q C. Significasti 4. de elect r C. Antiq. 23. de Privileg s C. nisi 3. de usu Pallii The Pall denoting full power over the other Bishops t C. 1. eod lit u C. ex tuarum 5. eod tit Delivered him in the King's Palace of Sutton * A c. Significasti de Electi Where he took the Oath of Obedience The Pope gave the Church but the King could only give the Land Which was done after renouncing of the Clauses derogatory to the King's Power For his Patent he paid Six hundred Marks Secur'd the Church from the Envy of the two Houses Being formerly voted to supply King Henry the Fourth by the Church's Wealth Whilst the Church paid Tenths oftener than the Laity did Fifteenths c. Which Consideration but chiefly the Intercession of his Predecessor with the King had then averted the storm Another Address of the Commons against the Clergy Which was design'd as the then Bishop alledg'd for the enriching of themselves King of France said he has not a Noble now of the Revenues of the Monasteries that were brought to the Exchequer The Petition rejected Henry the Fourth averse to Wickliff's Doctrine abetted by the Petitioners In Henry the Fifth's time the Address renew'd To avoid which the Clergy resolv'd to give the King Money for a War with France For which a Synod is call'd at London The Title of the Kings of England to France Claim'd by Edward the Third Whose Competitor was Philip de Valois King Edward claiming by 's Mother rejected under pretence of the Salick Law assumed the Title Successfully invaded France and entail'd the Quarrel Richard the Second waved the Quarrel Henry the Fourth was 〈…〉 But the happy Juncture was in Henry the Fifth's time As Chichele thought for a more glorious Diversion His Speech to the King for that purpose Accommodates himself to the King 's Heroic Temper Thinks France no less than the Envy of the World Represents the King's Right And insinuatâ—… the Injuries done his French Provinces The Salick Law an Obtrusion And a Cheat to debar the Female Line y Gregor Turon lib. 2. Paul Aemyl in princ Girard du Haillan livre 1. Not made by Pharamond as pretended But Four hundred years after him and in Germany If it obliges the French it relates to private Inheritances only for z Franc. Hottom in Franco-gall cap. 10. In dispute one French King never us'd it against another for Pepin claimed by a Female and so did Hugh Capet And by the like Lewis the Tenth confirm'd his Right This Law made a Bugbear to Foreigners contemned by themselves z L. maximum intem c. d. liber praeterit 1. lege 12. Tab. c. de legit haered sect Si quis igitur Anth. de haered ab intest sect Item vetustas Instit eod tit 'T is contrary to the Civil Law and The Constitutions of most Nations And to the Divine Law Numb 27. 8. Jesus Christ the Lawful Heir by his Mother of the Jewish Kingdom The French rather deny the Bible than submit to a Foreign Prince The Salick Law literally excludes not the
upon the death of Thomas Arundel fell to the Exchequer were by a particular favour granted him by a Patent under the Great Seal after he had paid Six hundred Marks He came to Leicester upon the account of the Parliament which the King had call'd there that he might consult with his Prelates Lords and Commons about making new Laws raising Money and the State of the Kingdom in general In this Parliament the Archbishop by his great Wisdom averted a terrible Storm from the Church which was rais'd against it by the envy of the Nobility and Commonalty at the Wealth of the Prelates which had shewed it self at several times during the Reign of Henry the Fourth but now seem'd to threaten them more nearly in this new Government For ten years before this in a Parliament holden at Coventry in the Year 1404. when King Henry the Fourth demanded Money of them for his Wars with the Scots the Welsh the Bretons the Flemings and the French the House of Commons replied that there was no other way of supplying the necessities of the Publick but by diminishing the excessive Wealth of the Clergy and that such was the Condition of the People of England that they not only advanc'd Money continually for the Service of the War but also expos'd their persons to the common Enemy while the Clergy staid at home and neither serv'd their Country with their Persons nor their Estates To this Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury briskly replied That the Clergy granted Tenths oftner than the Laity did Fifteenths and that more of their Tenants and Domesticks serv'd in the Wars than of those of the Nobility beside their Prayers which they pour'd out to God day and night for the prosperity of the Kingdom And presently turning himself to the King he fell upon his Knees and besought him that he would be mindful of his Oath by which he had solemnly promis'd before God and Man to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Church entire and unviolated by which and by engaging those of the Nobility whom he thought to favour his Cause he prevail'd so far that the Demands of the Commons were thrown out by a publick Act. Six years after this in another Parliament holden by Henry the Fourth at Westminster the Commons in an Address presented to the King set forth that the Revenues of the Prelates and Monks which they consumed in Debauchery and Excess were sufficient to supply the Necessities of the King and Kingdom that out of them might be maintain'd Fifteen Earls Fifteen hundred Knights Six thousand two hundred Esquires and One hundred Hospitals and therefore they besought the King that he would seise them into his own hands and out of them would defray the necessary Expences of the Kingdom To which Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury again replied That the Commons did not desire the Lands of the Clergy to enrich the Exchequer but to repair their own Fortunes which were wasted by their Prodigality out of the rich Spoils of the Church as it had formerly happened to the Monasteries in France which in the Wars between the English and the French were brought into the Treasury out of which said he the King has not now so much as a Noble left At that time also the King rejected the Petition of the Commons whether it were that he fear'd an eternal Infamy would attend him if he should rob the Church or because he thought that the Promoters of this Design were secret Favourers of the Doctrine of John Wickliff to which he had always a great aversion From that time during the Reign of Henry the Fourth there was nothing attempted against the Church But in this Parliament at Leicester the House of Commons in an Address petition'd the new King that their demands against the Clergy which were represented four years ago might be taken into consideration again and voted in both Houses The Archbishop was extremely troubled at this for he was very sollicitous that the Church should receive no prejudice under his Government his greatest fear arose from the consideration of the King's Youth which is generally bent upon hasty Designs and Innovations Having therefore communicated this Affair to the Bishops it was determin'd by them that the Clergy should offer the King a great Sum of Money and excite him to make war with the French and to assert his Title to that Crown which falling to Edward the Second by Marriage was by him transmitted to his Successors Most of the Writers of that Age relate that the Archbishop upon this occasion presently call'd a Synod at London yet none of their Decrees are now to be found among the publick Records Now our Kings claim'd the Crown of France by this Title Charles the Fair King of France who was the only surviving Male-Heir of the Line of Philip the Fair his Father dying without Issue Edward the Third King of England Son to Edward the Second by Isabella Daughter of Philip the Fair by his Ambassadors demanded the Crown of France of the Estates of that Kingdom as next of kin to Philip the Fair his Mother's Father and Charles his Unkle On the other side Philip de Valois Son to Charles de Valois who was Brother to Philip the Fair maintained that he was next Heir by right of Succession as Cousin German to the late King Charles the Fair whereas Edward claim'd only in right of his Mother as being Grandson to Philip the Fair by his Daughter and Nephew to Charles the Fair by his Sister which Claim was contrary to the Laws and Constitutions of France by which the Crown is to descend upon the Male-line only alledging the words of the Salick Law that no Woman should inherit in Salick Land which Salick Land he affirm'd to be the Kingdom of France The French therefore rejected King Edward's Claim and acknowledg'd Philip for their King whereupon Edward presently assum'd the Title of King of France which our Kings have us'd ever since and having invaded France successfully he left the Quarrel entail'd upon his Successors together with the Crown of England After him Richard the Second a weak Prince desisted wholly from the War with the French and Henry the Fourth though he were a Valiant Prince yet being taken up partly with the Rebellions of the Welch and partly with the Intestine Divisions of his own Nobility he could not employ the whole Force of the Kingdom against them But in Henry the Fifth all opportunities concurr'd for carrying on the War a vigorous Age a great Courage Riches and Peace at home Beside which the Archbishop was of opinion that the fierce and restless Disposition of the Young King ought to be employ'd in some difficult Enterprize and that the only way to keep him from making any Disturbances at home was to shew him an Enemy abroad as there is no other way to stop the fury of
Synod but they all refusing the Condition lest they should be accounted inferior to the Doctors in Presentations to Livings this Decree which would have been for the good of both Universities was at that time laid aside When the Synod was ended the injurious proceeding of Martin the new Pope began to be enquir'd into For about this time several Bishops dying in England the Pope substituted others at his own pleasure In the beginning of the next year he made Benedict Nicoll Bishop of St. David's William Barrow Bishop of Bangor John Chandeler Bishop of Salisbury and Philip Morgan Bishop of Worcester by vertue of that absolute Power which the Popes in that Age arrogated to themselves in disposing of the Bishoprickes of England The Clergy here had been quiet for some time during the Council of Constance after the deposing of John the Twenty third For the Bishops of Salisbury and Hereford dying at that time two new Bishops were made by the free Election of both those Chapters nor could the whole College of Cardinals by their Letters written from Constance prevail upon the Chapter of Salisbury to demand John Bishop of Litchfield the King's Commissioners at the Council for their Bishop But Pope Martin having now got quiet possession of the See of Rome became far more insolent than his Predecessors for in the beginning of his Pontificate he claim'd a Right of presentation to all Churches whatsoever reserv'd to himself the Donation of all Bishopricks by provision disannull'd all the Elections of Bishops made by the Chapters and within two years time made thirteen Bishops in the Province of Canterbury taking his opportunity while the King was engag'd in the War with France to venture upon an Action which Edward the Third and Richard the Second had prohibited by most severe Laws he also made his Nephew Prospero Colonna a Youth of Fourteen years of Age Archdeacon of Canterbury by Provision to whom some years after to gratify the Pope the King granted the Profits of as many Benefices in England as did not exceed fifty Marks yearly Besides this Complaints were made of his promiscuous uniting of Churches which are commonly call'd Appropriations and Consolidations of his easiness in granting Dispensations by which Priests were excus'd from residing upon their Benefices and Laymen were permitted to hold Spiritual Preferments and lastly that there was no notice taken of the English in the distribution of the Dignities of the Court of Rome The King's Commissioners at the Council of Constance John Bishop of Litchfield and John Polton Dean of York were order'd to represent these Grievances to the new Pope who soon obtain'd a concession of some Privileges to the English which in the Instrument it self are call'd Agreements between Martin the Fifth and the Church of England These were That the uniting of Parishes should not depend wholly upon the Pope's pleasure but that the Bishops of the several Diocesses should have power to examine into the reason of it That the Vnions of Churches and Consolidations of Vicarages made in the time of the Schism should be made void That those Dispensations granted by the Pope by which Priests were excus'd from Residence and Laymen and Monks were made capable of holding Livings should be recall'd That for the future the number of Cardinals should be lessen'd and that they should be promoted equally out of all Nations and that the English should be admitted to all other Offices in the Court of Rome About the same time the King sent another Embassy to the Pope to desire him not to intermeddle in the disposing of those Livings in England the Presentation of which belong'd to him as well by Agreement made between the Kings of England and the Popes as by his Royal Prerogative that no Frenchmen might be preferr'd to any Bishopricks or Livings in Aquitain or any other of the King's Dominions in France that Dignities and Benefices in Ireland might be conferr'd only upon those that understood English and that the Bishops of that Kingdom in their respective Diocesses might take care that the People should speak only English That for the future no Frenchmen might be admitted into the Monasteries founded by the French in England and that the Pope would grant the King a Supply who was now making war in defence of the See of Rome out of the Money that was paid to the Treasury of Rome in England To which Requests when the Pope return'd no favourable Answer the Ambassadors added that if he did not speedily satisfy their demands they were commanded to declare openly that the King would make use of his own Right in all these things which he had desir'd of him not out of necessity but only to shew his respect to his Holiness and to put in a publick Protestation concerning these Matters before the whole College of Cardinals The French also and the Germans protested against these Provisions and other Artifices of the Pope For the Estates of France being assembled at Paris in May this Year by their Edict reviv'd all the Ancient Laws that had been made to redress the Grievances and restrain the Tyranny of the Popes in which Edict it was further added that Martin should not be acknowledg'd as Pope by the French unless he would subscribe to this Decree and when he had interdicted the Church of Lyons the Interdict was taken off by the Parliament of Paris and the Rector of that University was tried for High Treason for appealing from the King's Edicts to the Pope The Germans also about this time being pillag'd by the Extortion of the Pope's Receivers desir'd of him a redress of their Grievances but they were put off with Indulgences and Pardons as Aeneas Sylvius relates who liv'd at that time in Germany Toward the end of this Year the Archbishop of Canterbury after he had visited the Diocess of Rochester being sent for by the King pass'd over into France leaving John Wodnesburgh Prior of Canterbury his Vicar-general He found the King at Roan in Normandy who since his arrival in France had taken partly by storm and partly by surrender Caen Cherbourg Allenson Constance Falaise and several other strong Towns in Normandy and had then laid siege to Roan the Capital City of that Province About this time it was agreed upon by the two Kings to send Commissioners on both Sides to treat of a Peace who were to meet at Pontlarch a Town lately taken by King Henry situated upon the Seine about eight Miles from Roan On the King of England's part were sent the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Warwick from the French King Philip Morvillier President of the Parliament of Paris the Bishop of Beauvais and Reginald Tolleville Knight and from the Pope Cardinal Vrsini who was to mediate the Peace on both Sides The Commissioners debated fifteen days about composing Matters
the Virgin Mary of St. Thomas of Canterbury and King Edward the Confessor and plac'd in it Eight Chaplains or Fellows Four Clerks Six Choristers and over all these a Master who were to pray for the Souls of the deceased He also built a large Hospital for the maintenance of the Poor of that place both which Foundations he endowed with ample Revenues which were afterwards augmented with great Legacies which his Brothers Robert and William Chichele two Eminent Citizens of London left them in their Wills After his return from his visitation of the Diocess of Lincoln he held a Synod at London on the 12 th of October being sollicited by Letters from the King to demand a supply of Money of the Clergy for the War with France For after the death of Henry the Fifth and Charles the Sixth the Dauphin supposing that the Name of King would be of great advantage to him caus'd himself to be crown'd at Poictiers and took upon him the Title of Charles the Seventh King of France and a great many Princes and Governors of Towns coming in to him who still retain'd an affection for the Name of France he made preparations for War with greater vigour On the other side John Duke of Bedford who by his Brother's Will was appointed Regent of France having contracted a stricter League of amity with Philip Duke of Burgundy by marrying his Sister Ann attack'd the Dauphin in several parts of France and having divided the Forces betwixt himself and Philip Duke of Burgundy he sent Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury toward Sens with some choise Troops and desir'd of Humphrey Duke of Glocester Regent of England a fresh Supply of Men and Money Whereupon Henry Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor of England John Stafford Bishop of Bath Lord Treasurer Richard Earl of Warwick William Alnewyke Keeper of the Privy Seal Lewis Lord Bourchier and Ralph Lord Cromwell were sent from the Duke of Glocester to the Synod The Bishop of Winchester in a formal Speech having laid before them the present condition of Affairs in France exhorted and intreated them to bestow some part of their Revenues for subduing the remains of the Dauphin's Forces But then it plainly appear'd how much they were all affected with the loss of King Henry the Fifth For whereas they had granted Tenth's so frequently and so readily in former Synods as we have related before they now stuck at the very first demand of the new King thinking that all the hopes of conquering France depended upon Henry the Fifth and that nothing could succeed now he was gone For when the Proctors for the Clergy had debated the Matter several days William Lyndewood was deputed by them to return their Answer which was That the Estates of the Clergy were so drain'd by the continual expences of the War that they were hardly sufficient to maintain them and their Families handsomely that the value of a great many Livings was so fallen that there were not Priests to be sound who would supply the Cures and in short That in the Commissions of all the Proctors for the Clergy the power of granting Tenths was expresly taken away Upon this the Bishop of Winchester went to the Lower House and in a long and pressing Oration besought them to supply the Necessities of the Publick but when he could obtain nothing of them who excus'd themselves upon the narrowness of their Commissions The Synod was adjourn'd by the Archbishop to the 26 th of January following At which time the Bishop of Winchester with the rest of the Lords came thither again and having made a Speech to the Bishops Abbots and Priors of the Vpper House in the Name of the King they granted half a Tenth protesting withal that This Concession should not oblige them unless the Proctors for the Clergy would consent to it for that a division of the two Orders of the Clergy in the matter of granting Tenths being introduced by this Example would be of very pernicious consequence to Posterity But the Lower House persisting stiffly in their former Resolutions were not at all mov'd with the importunate Demands first made by the Bishop of Winchester and afterwards by the Archbishop and the rest of the Bishops Whereupon the Archbishop presently dissolv'd the Synod and appointed another to be held two Months after on the 23 d of April thinking that by the Election of new Proctors the business would be more easily affected When this Synod was assembled the Archbishop first of all commanded the Lower House to chuse their Speaker who is commonly call'd the Prolocutor who pitch'd upon William Lyndewood of which he himself makes mention in his Commentaries After which the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer William Alnewyke Keeper of the Privy Seal the Lord Scrope the Lord Cromwell with some others of the Privy Council came again to the Synod and the Lord Chancellor with his florid Speeches and the rest of the Lords engaging them severally by Flatteries Threats and Promises at length with much ado they obtain'd half a Tenth When this business was over one Robert Hoke and one Thomas Drayton both Priests one of the Diocess of Lincoln and the other of Canterbury were brought before the Synod and accus'd of Heresy It was alledg'd against them That they would not kneel before the Crucifix and that they had in their possession certain Books in which it was said that the Priest could not change the Host in the Sacrament into the Body of Christ that a Monastick Life and Auricular Confession were the Inventions of the Devil and that amongst Christians all things ought to be in common which Opinions they abjur'd publickly at Paul's Cross But the sharpest Accusation was brought against one William Russel of the Order of Minor Fryers for teaching the People in his Sermons That personal Tythes were not commanded by God but that it was lawful for all Christians to bestow them in charitable uses upon the Poor as they pleas'd themselves This extreamly troubled and perplex'd the Clergy who fear that if this Opinion should spread it self among the People they should lose this part of their Income by which the Wealth of their Order would be greatly diminish'd Wherefore he was order'd by the Synod on a day prefix'd to recant out of the Pulpit at Paul's Cross but before the time came he fled out of England whereupon he was pronounc'd contumacious by Edicts set forth against him and afterwards in open Court proclaim'd a Heretick and his Opinion was adjudg'd to be impious by the Decrees of both Vniversities which the University of Oxford presently signified by their Letters to the Archbishop and the Synod which are yet extant Shortly after the Synod being inform'd that he was at Rome sent Messengers to apprehend him and accuse him before the Pope who were allow'd a Farthing in the
nothing becoming a Prince Robert of Bavaria who after the deposing of Wenceslaus by the Electors was made Emperor little minded the Affairs either of the Empire or the Church for he suffer'd Italy Avignon and several other Parts of the Empire to be detained by those that had no right to them and siding with Gregory he was accounted the chief Author of these Dissensions in the Church It is certain that the Emperors in those times were much degenerated from those of former Ages who both made and depos'd the Popes and call'd Councils for composing the Differences of Christendom And indeed there was never more need of such a power in the Emperor than at this time for through these Factions of the Popes the Faith of Christians began to stagger all holy things were bought and sold the Manners of the Clergy were corrupted without Censure and the Popes themselves were men of such dissolute Lives that these things would find but little credit with Posterity if they were not deliver'd by two Writers of approv'd integrity Theodoric of Nismes and Baptista Platina who were both Secretaries to Popes and lived in the Court of Rome one under Sixtus the Fourth and the other under Vrban the Sixth Boniface the Ninth Innocent the Seventh and now at this time under Gregory the Twelfth The Cardinals of Gregory's Party perceiving that the Emperor was not very sollicitous in appeasing these Tumults in the Church presently after their arrival at Pisa declar'd by a publick Edict that Gregory was the Author of the Schism that he was devested of the Papacy that whatsoever should be acted by him as Pope for the future was actually void forbidding the Bishops Abbots Prelates and all those that held of the Church to pay to any of his Officers any Annates Tribute or other Dues and having call'd into them the Cardinals of Benedict's Party who had lately revolted from him at the persuasion of Charles King of France by a general Consent they devested them both of the Papacy and appointed a Council to be held the next Year at Pisa on the Feast of the Annunciation for chusing a new Pope all which they signified by Letters to all the Princes of Christendom desiring their favour and assistance for setling the peace of the Church to which end they enjoin'd all the Bishops of the Western Church to be present at the Council Now although some of the Divines of that Age to serve their own Interests by flattering the Pope maintain'd that the Cardinals were guilty of Schism and that a Council could not be call'd without the Pope's Authority yet Baldus Cardinal Zabarella and Peter Ancharanus defended them For Baldus says that against such kind of Popes they ought first to make use of fair words then of Bulrush-spears and at last of Stones and open Force and that they are to be depos'd by a Council Zabarella and Ancharanus who were present at the Council of Pisa have very fully prov'd that the Cardinals have power to call a Council in which the Pope may be call'd in question and depos'd which Opinion of theirs is follow'd by Ponormitanus Decius Felinus and other more Modern Authors who expresly approv'd of the Council of Pisa to which may be added the sense of the Universities of Paris and Bologna who put out their Decrees in favour of the Cardinals and very lately Cardinal Bellarmine a very rigorous Defender of the Pontificat Dignity as he doth not plainly allow of the Authority of the Council of Pisa so neither hath he ventur'd positively to deny it The minds of all the Christian Princes especially of our King and the King of France were very much inclin'd in favour of the Council and this Year the Cardinal of Bourdeaux a man of known Wisdom and Integrity came from Pisa first into France and afterwards into England where in a long Oration before the King and Parliament he so incensed them all against Gregory that Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury being also induced to it by Letters from the University of Paris had determined to go himself to the Council but at the King's persuasion who put him in mind of the care of his Health the inconveniences of travelling and the publick Affairs of the Kingdom he laid aside that Design and it was unanimously agreed upon to send Delegates to assist at the Council in the name of the English Nation This was the state of the Church of Rome when the Council of Pisa was appointed To return now to Henry Chichele In the beginning of the Year 1409. Robert Hallum Bishop of Salisbury Henry Chichele Bishop of St. David's and the Prior of Canterbury who were the Delegates pitch'd upon by the Synod at London took their Journey towards Pisa through France Upon their arrival at Paris John Gerson an eminent Divine and Chancellor of that University preach'd a learned and elegant Sermon before them upon these words of the Prophet Hosea The children of Israel and the children of Juda shall be gather'd together in which after he had spoken in praise of the University of Oxford which had lately sent thither their Deputies to promote the calling a Council and establishing Decrees against the Contumacious Popes and had discours'd very largely upon that Text of Scripture concerning the Power of an Oecumenical Council he assured them that all the People of Paris congratulated their arrival he commended their Piety who would undergo such inconveniences for the Peace of the Church and in the name of the University offered them all the assistance and friendly Offices that they were capable of performing This Sermon is extant among Gerson's Works Having pass'd through France they made a splendid entry into Pisa on the 27 th of April where they found assembled in the Council One hundred and forty Archbishops and Bishops besides Abbots and others of the Clergy who were there in great numbers The Bishop of Salisbury as superior in dignity to the other Delegates in an eloquent Oration exhorted them in the Name of the King his Master to establish a Peace and compose those Divisions in the Church which was earnestly recommended to them by the Ambassadors from the other Princes French Spaniards Scots Portuguese Hungarians Danes Suedes and Poles Upon which the Fiscal having laid before the Council the Crimes of the two Popes Gregory and Benedict and praying that the Examination of them might be referr'd to some Persons deputed with full power of enquiring into them they were both convicted by the testimony of Witnesses who were cited for a punishment of their Contumacy and by other proofs and were pronounc'd by the Council perjur'd Schismaticks Hereticks and devested of the Papacy and on the 7 th of July the Cardinals by a power delegated to them from the Council elected Peter Philardus who was call'd Alexander the Fifth This Alexander was
by birth a Cretan but it is not certainly known who his Father was When he was a Boy he was taken up by a certain Franciscan Fryer as he was begging from Door to Door who perceiving good Parts in him admitted him into his Order and instructed him in Grammar and Logick whilst he was in Italy from thence he sent him to Oxford where applying himself to the Studies of Philosophy and Divinity he attain'd to a very great perfection in both those Sciences as he shew'd afterwards in his Lectures at Paris and his close and subtile Commentaries upon the Books of Sentences After that by the Interest of John Galeatius Duke of Milan he was made Archbishop of that place then he was created Cardinal by Innocent the Seventh and now at last he was made Pope He was a man of great Learning and Integrity but having been wholly addicted to study and confin'd to a Monastick Life he was generally esteem'd unfit for the Administration of Publick Affairs He enjoy'd not the See of Rome either long or peaceably for the next Year going from Pisa to Bologna on the first of May in the Tenth Month of his Pontificate he was poison'd as it is believ'd and Balthasar Cossa whom he had made Legate of Bologna a man of a fierce Disposition and fitter for the Soldiery than the Priesthood was chosen Pope by the College of Cardinals partly through fear of the Soldiers that he kept in Garrison in the City and partly by bribing the poor Cardinals that were lately promoted by Gregory and took the name of John the Twenty third Now while Alexander was Pope at Pisa and Bologna Gregory assum'd that Title at Ariminum and Benedict at Panischola a City of Arragon so that three Popes sat at one time in St. Peter's Chair which could hardly contain the Pride of one and by the just judgment of God their Vanity was made manifest who would have the holy Flock of Christ and the Faith of all Christians to depend upon a perpetual succession of Popes in that See The Council of Pisa being broke up and the Winter coming on Henry Bishop of St. David's who is mention'd in the Statute-Books this Year as the King's Ambassador with the other Delegates return'd into England and the two following Years he was call'd by the Archbishop to two Synods holden at London as appears out of the publick Acts of those Synods the rest of his time he spent in visiting his Diocess examining into the Lives of the People and all the other Duties of his Episcopal Function which he perform d with great diligence as often as he had leisure from publick Affairs in which he was often employ'd by King Henry the Fourth who always highly honour'd him for his great Wisdom On the 20 th of March 1413. Henry the Fourth dyed at Westminster and Henry the Fifth a very accomplish'd Prince succeeded him to whom in respect of his excellent Endowments the Nobility of their own accord swore Allegiance before he was crown'd which we never read to have been done to any of our Kings before him While he was in a private Capacity he spent his younger days loosely and extravagantly but when he came to the Crown he chang'd his course of Life together with his Condition for he presently put away from him all those that he had made his Equals and who had serv'd him as Instruments of his Extravagances and took to him all the wisest and gravest men whose Counsels his Father had made use of amongst them Henry Bishop of St. David's whom he ever after highly esteemed and this very Year in the beginning of his Reign he chose him out of all the rest and sent him upon two very honourable Embassies first to the King of France and then to the Duke of Burgundy the remembrance of which we owe to the French Writers for ours have omitted this and many other passages For a War was begun in France between Charles the Sixth and Henry the Fourth occasion'd by the frequent Incursions of the French into Aquitain which at that time was in the possession of the English This Quarrel was transmitted together with the Crown to Henry the Fifth by his Father But King Charles being taken up with the Intestine Divisions between his Brother Lewis of Orleans and John Duke of Burgundy desir'd a Truce with the English from which King Henry being newly come to the Crown and his Affairs at home being not yet throughly setled was not much averse Whereupon Richard Earl of Warwick and Henry Bishop of St. David's were sent out of England and from the French King the Master of the Horse which is the highest Honour in France and the Admiral who meeting at Calais concluded a Truce for one Year When he was come back from France he was sent again the same Year with the Earl of Warwick to demand the Duke of Burgundy's Daughter in marriage for King Henry They met with the Duke at Lisle in Flanders and treated with him according to their Instructions but return'd without concluding any thing either because they did not like the person of the Lady or because the King was become more inclinable to a Match with the King of France's Daughter and had sent Ambassadors into France at this very time to treat about it Some few Months after his return he receiv'd a very ample Reward of these Embassies and his other Merits For the Creation of an Archbishop of Canterbury being in consultation he of all the Bishops of England was chosen without dispute as most capable of exercising the highest Office in the Kingdom next to the King himself in whose Judgment he was look'd upon as the fittest Person to deliver his Opinion first in the Privy Council For Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury dying on the 19 th of February in the Year 1414. John Wodneburgh Prior of Canterbu and the Monks of that Church desir'd leave of the King to elect a new Archbishop which was a Prerogative that the Kings of England had challeng'd to themselves since the time of Edward the Third who took it away from the Pope and constituted Bishops by his own Authority which practice of theirs Panormitanus affirm'd to be agreeable to the Constitutions of the Canon-Law When they had obtain'd leave of the King by a Grant under the Great Seal they first call'd home the absent Monks and celebrated the Funeral of Thomas Arundel in Christ's Church in Canterbury and on the 4 th of May they all assembled in the Chapter-house where after Solemn Service and a Sermon in which they were all admonish'd of their Duty out of the Holy Scriptures in a matter of so great importance and having also caused the King's Grant to be reâ—d Henry Bishop of St. David's was immediately demanded by all their Voices which demand was declared by John Langdon
one of the Monks in the name of the rest to the People who were assembled in the Church in great numbers expecting the Election of a new Archbishop Now he could not be elected to the Archbishoprick but must only be demanded according to the Rules of the Canon-Law in which a Bishop is said to contract marriage with his Church and cannot part from it without the Pope's leave so that a Bishop being engag'd to his See is not elected to another but is demanded and is said not to be promoted to a second Bishoprick but translated from the first all which was introduc'd by the Ambition of the Popes who by this Device got the disposal of most of the Bishopricks in Christendom into their own hands The same day two of the Monks of that Society William Molesh and John Moland were appointed Proxies for the rest who on the 15 th of March waited upon the Bishop at London and acquainted him with the desires of the Prior and Monks humbly intreating him in their name to take upon him the government of the Church of Canterbury At that time he answer'd only that for the present he could determine nothing positively in a matter of so great concern but desir'd a day's time to consider of it The next day when they came to him again in the Bishop of Norwich's House in the presence of Edward Duke of York and several other Persons of the greatest Quality he told them in express words that he could not gratify their desires because it was not lawful for him to lay down his Bishoprick of St. David's without leave from the Pope however that he was not wholly averse from accepting their offer if the Pope would consent to it and therefore he referr'd their Petition to his Arbitrement Whereupon the Prior and Monks by their Proxies sent to Rome humbly requested of Pope John the Twenty third that he would confirm their Petion of Henry Bishop of St. David's to the vacant See of Canterbury and at the same time King Henry signified by Letters to the Pope that he had granted leave to the Prior and Monks of Canterbury to elect an Archbishop that upon their request of the Bishop of St. David's he had given his assent to their Petition that the Bishop was a Person of eminent Note and had deserv'd this Dignity by his Virtue and that nothing now remain'd but that he would do his part in this Affair Now the Merits of the Bishop were well enough known to the Pope first in the Court of Gregory the Twelfth with whom he sided when he was Cardinal and after that in the Council of Pisa where he was also present so that the Proctors for the Chapter of Canterbury soon obtain'd of the Pope who was then at Bologna on the 27 th of April that by his Bull he would absolve the Bishop from the Bond by which he was tied to the Church of St. David's and translate him to the See of Canterbury in which notwithstanding he did not confirm the Demand of the Monks but promoted him to the Archbishoprick by way of Provisor that so he might not depart from the received Custom of the Popes in assuming to themselves a right of donation of Bishopricks and Livings he added moreover this Restriction That he should not enter upon the exercise of his Archiepiscopal Function till he had taken an Oath of Fidelity to him and the Church of Rome before the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich and lastly by several Bulls sent to the Prior and Monks of Canterbury to the Bishops of that Province to the Prelates and Vassals of the Church and to all the People he commanded them to obey Henry Archbishop of Canterbury and to pay him all the reverence honour obedience and other Services due to his Function But beside the Petition of the Chapter and the Pope's Bull there yet remain'd the Pall which was an Ornament taken from the Body of St. Peter who is buried at Rome and was worn only by Patriarchs and Archbishops and some Bishops to whom it was granted by a particular Privilege to denote that full power that they have over the inferior Bishops and that only in the Churches of their own Province and upon Holidays appointed by the Pope and till they had receiv'd it it was accounted unlawful for them to call a Synod to make holy Water to confer Orders to consecrate Churches or to exercise any part of their Function This he obtain'd of the Pope by the means of Robert Apilton Canon of York whom he sent to Bologna for that purpose which afterwards the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich by a Power delegated to them by the Pope's Bull deliver'd to him with great solemnity in the King's Palace of Sutton in the presence of the King himself Humfry Duke of Glocester Richard Earl of Warwick George Earl of March and many other of the Nobility and there he took an Oath of Obedience and Fidelity to the Pope without which they could not deliver him the Pall in these words I Henry Archbishop of Canterbury will be faithful and obedient to St. Peter to the holy Apostolical Church of Rome and to my Lord John the Twenty third and his Successors that shall be canonically elected I will not consent to nor engage in any Design against their Life Limbs or Liberty The Secrets that they shall entrust me with either by themselves by their Legates or by Letters I will not willingly reveal to any one to their prejudice I will assist them in maintaining and defending the Papacy and the Rights of St. Peter against all persons whatsoever as far as it consists with my Order I will honourably attend the Legate of the Apostolick See both at his coming and return and will supply him in his necessities When I am call'd to a Council I will come except I shall be hinder'd by some lawful Impediment I will visit the Apostolical Palace every three years either in my own person or by my Deputy except I shall be excus'd by leave from the Pope The Possessions belonging to my Archiepiscopal See I will not sell nor give away nor mortgage nor grant any new Infeoffments of them nor any other way alienate without the consent of the Pope So help me God and his holy Gospel But though he had obtain'd a power in Ecclesiastical Affairs from the Pope yet he could not meddle with the Lands and Revenues of the Church without the King's Authority Wherefore he went to the King at Leicester where he was put in possession of them on the 30 th of May after he had sworn Allegiance to the King and had expresly renounc'd all those Clauses in the Pope's Bull for his Translation which might prejudice the King or derogate from his Royal Prerogative after which the whole Revenue of the Archbishoprick which
a Torrent but by dividing the Water into several Chanels For this end he rose from his Seat in the House of Lords and address'd himself to the King who sate on his Throne in this manner May it please your Highness IN this Consultation about the publick Affairs of the Kingdom when so many things have been propos'd tending to restrain the Vices of your Subjects by good Laws to the impartial Administration of Justice and to the establishment of the Peace of the Kingdom it would be accounted the highest ingratitude if I alone who by your bounty have been lately advanced to the highest pitch of Honour should conceal those things which seem so necessary to me for enlarging the Bounds of your Dominion and advancing your Reputation amongst Foreign Nations For although by establishing good and wholsome Laws by the due administration of Justice and by the settlement of peace at home you may live safely and securely yet certainly you will have but little regard to your Honour unless you look abroad and consider how you may extend the limits of your Empire and revenge the Injuries done to you by your Enemies for this Opinion hath been constantly received by all Princes whatsoever that the eminence of Kingly Dignity doth consist not so much in the Nobility of their Birth the enjoyment of Pleasures the abundance of all things the Wealth of their Subjects and the Peace of their Kingdoms as in the extent of their Dominion the multitude of their Subjects and the number of their Towns And though the Realms of England and Ireland which are devolv'd upon you from a long series of your Ancestors may sufficiently furnish you with all these yet they are very small if compar'd with the spacious Kingdom of France which in number of People the Wealth of its Cities in strong Garrisons and fortified Towns exceeds all the Kingdoms in the World containing as the French themselves report above Eighty Provinces exceeding populous One hundred and eight Bishops Sees above One thousand Convents and Thirteen thousand Parishes All which descending to your Highness by right of Inheritance from Edward the Third your Great Grandfather are unjustly detain'd by Charles the Sixth commonly call'd King of France to say nothing of those Injuries which are daily offer'd your Subjects in Normandy Gascogne Aquitain and the Provinces of Anjou and Maine which your Ancestors long ago possess'd by another kind of Title and with the consent of the French themselves And that they may have some colour for this Injustice they obtrude upon you the Salick Law made by Pharamond the first King of the Francs by which Law they say it is provided That no Woman shall succeed in Salick Land affirming by a fallacious Interpretation that by the Salick Land is meant the Kingdom of France and by this Cheat they would debar the Female Line of their right of Succession and defraud them of their Inheritance Now the very Title of the Law does sufficiently evince the novelty of this Interpretation For it is affirmed by most of the Writers of that Nation that Pharamond was only Duke of Franconia in Germany that he never pass'd the Rhine nor ever came near the Confines of France but that Four hundred years after his death when Charles the Great had conquer'd the Saxons and brought them over to Christianity some of his Soldiers passing the Rhine setled their Habitations upon the River Sala who from thence were call'd Salick Francs in that part of Germany which is now call'd Misnia and that being very much offended at the immodest behaviour of the German Women they made a Law by which they excluded that Sex from inheriting any part of the Salick Land So that this Constitution is absurdly ascrib'd to Pharamond which had its original from a People that sprung up four hundred years after him and can no more concern the French than it doth the Belgians who at that time were contain'd within the bounds of France or any other Neighbouring Nation But suppose that it did oblige the French yet even then it relates only to private Inheritances and not to publick Right of Government or the Succession of the Kingdom and therefore whenever the French Kings disputed the Title with one another they never made any account of this Law but when they contended with Foreign Princes they then alledg'd it that by this means they might exclude them from the Government For Pepin who depriv'd the Race of Pharamond of the Kingdom by deposing Childeric claim'd the Cromn as next Heir to Blithild Daughter to Clothaire the First which Title was confirm'd by Pope Zachary and by the consent of the People of France When his Posterity had reign'd for Two hundred years Hugh Capet put by Charles Duke of Lorrain who was the only surviving Heir of the Line of Pepin and Charles the Great pretending himself to be lineally descended from Lingarda the Daughter of Charlemain who was Grandson to Charles the Great by which Title he obtain'd the Crown His Grandson Lewis the Tenth who was canoniz'd for a Saint and whom all we Christians honour as such being not very well satisfied with the right of his Grandfather Capet out of a religious scruple would have declined the Government had he not call'd to mind that his Grandmother Queen Isabel was next Heir to Ermingarda Daughter and Heir of Charles of Lorrain whom Capet had impiously depriv'd both of his Life and Kingdom From him all these later Kings of France and this Charles the Sixth who now reigns are descended and all these obtain'd the Kingdom in right of Female Succession which by the Salick Law they would now debar you of and would fain terrify you with this Bugbear which they themselves securely contemn Nor can that be properly call'd a Law which has no shew of equity or justice in it nay which contradicts all Laws both Divine and Humane but ought rather to be term'd a masque or shadow of a Law For by the Civil Laws of the Romans which are approv'd by the consent of all Nations Women are admitted to inherit equally with Men and the distinction of Agnation and Cognation is taken away upon very good grounds for they that introduc'd it seem'd to have laid the blame upon Nature for producing some Women as well as Men and Women suffer through the fault of their Parents in being born of that Sex and not of the Male. These Laws were afterwards admitted by the Sicilians Neapolitans Navarrois Spaniards Portuguese Scots and to say nothing of our selves by almost all Nations by the Constitutions of all which Women for want of Male-heirs are admitted to the Government and herein they all follow the prescription of that Divine Law which God Almighty gave the Jews by Moses in the Twenty seventh Chapter of Numbers If a man dye and have no Son the Inheritance shall
were engag'd with the French who are in strict conjunction with the Scots by an ancient and even natural Alliance that is between the two Nations and therefore that it would be very hazardous to invade the French before England was secur'd from the Scots at home To this Speech of the Earl's reply'd John Duke of Exeter a Man of great Wisdom and Learning which he had acquir'd in the Universities of Italy whither he was sent by his Father who design'd him for the Church He very eloquently maintained That the French ought first to be invaded upon whose aid the Scots relying infested the English That if they were subdued the Scots would come in of themselves according to this Aphorism of the Physicians That the Remedy must be first applied to the Cause of the Disease and that in order to the healing a Wound effectually the peccant Humour must first of all be purg'd For from whence said he do the Scots draw the first rudiments either of Learning or Arms but from their Education in France How can the Scotch Nobility be maintain'd if those Pensions should fail which they use to receive from France or if that Kingdom should be subdued with what Nation will the Scots maintain any Commerce or from whom will they implore Assistance Not from Denmark that King is allied to you by marriage with your Sister not from Portugal or Castile both those Princes are your Cousin-Germans not from Italy that is too remote not from Germany or Hungary they are both in league with us so that the Scots will submit to you of themselves when the French are conquer'd as the Tree necessarily withers when the Sap fails He also shew'd in the Instances of Malcolm and David Bruce that the Scots never invaded England but when the English were at war with France and therefore he propos'd that the Earl of Westmorland should be sent with some choice Troops to hinder them from attempting any thing in the King's absence He concluded that the Conquest of France would be a rich and plentiful reward of their Victory in comparison of which that of Scotland was but poor and inconsiderable The King and the Nobility were so much inclin'd in favour of this Opinion but especially the Dukes of Clarence Bedford and Glocester the King's Brethren who were enflam'd with the desire of acquiring Honur and Renown in the War with France by the Example of their Ancestors that when it came to be voted after the usual manner they all concurred in their Opinion with the Archbishop and cried out confusedly in the House War War with France By this means the Archbishop obtain'd great commendation of Posterity for his Wisdom who by this Counsel of his promoted a very successful War and averted a very great Calamity from the Church The King having dissolv'd the Parliament with great diligence provided his Army and Navy and made all other necessary preparations for such a War designing to invade France the next Year In the beginning of which that he might proceed according to the Law of Nations he sent Ambassadors into France the Bishops of Durham and Norwich to demand the Kingdom of King Charles who receiv'd them civilly and told them that he would shortly send Ambassadors into England to return an Answer to their Demands The Fleet and Army being ready for this Expedition and the Soldiers being order'd to rendezvouz at Southampton in order to embark on Board the Fleet The King in his Journy thither staid some time at Winchester where the French Ambassadors came to him who were the Earl of Vendosme William Bouratier Archbishop of Bourges Peter Fremell Bishop of Lisieux and Walter Cole Secretary to the King The Archbishop of Bourges made an Eloquent Oration in the name of the rest in which after he had largely and floridly describ'd the Miseries of War and the Advantages of Peace he offer'd the King in marriage the Lady Catharine King Charle's Daughter if he would desist from the War promising for her Dowry a great Sum of Money and some part of those Provinces which the King demanded by right of Inheritance The King only answer'd at that time that he would consider of the Conditions which they propos'd and the next day sitting on his Throne and attended with a great number of the Nobility the Ambassadors being call'd in he told them that the Conditions which they offer'd were such as he could not accept of with honour and calling Henry Archbishop of Canterbury he commanded him to give a fuller Anser to the Archbishop of Bourges Oration which he did to this effect That the King as soon as he came to the Crown thought nothing of greater importance than to maintain peace as well at home amongst his own Subjects as abroad with Foreign Princes For which cause he had call'd a Parliament in which having setled his Affairs at home he had sent Ambassadors into France to claim his right and to demand that part of the Kingdom of France which the Kings of England had held for some Ages by a lawful possession But seeing his Ambassadors had brought back no Answer from King Charles that he had levied an Army and provided all things necessary for the War and that he was now ready to pass over into France and revenge the wrong they had done him when he perceiv'd they made no account of his Right Nevertheless that he might testify to all the World how averse he was from shedding Christian Blood by the mutual Butchery of War that he would remit something of his Right that he would disband his Army and establish a Peace between the two Nations by marriage with Catharine upon condition that they would restore to him the Dutchies of Aquitain and Anjou and the other Dominions which his Ancestors enjoy'd in France neither forcibly nor clandestinely nor precariously That unless these Conditions were accepted the King would immediately enter France with his Army and lay it waste with Fire and Sword nor would he ever desist from slaughter and revenge till he had reduc'd it to his obedience and had recover'd the Dominion transmitted to him by right of Inheritance from his Predecessors And lastly That he call'd God Almighty both for a Witness and Avenger of his Cause whose Majesty he trusted would be propitious to so just a War When the Archbishop had done speaking the King interpos'd and with his Royal Word confirm'd all that he had deliver'd in more copious and Rhetorical Terms To which when the Archbishop of Bourges began to reply with reproachful Language and to reflect upon the King with more freedom than consisted with the Character of an Ambassador the King only reprimanded him for the liberty which he took and commanded the Ambassadors to depart the Kingdom under safe Conduct The King soon after follow'd them setting sail from Southampton with his whole Army on the 13 th of
August And at his first arrival in Normondy he took Harflew a very strong Town after a Month's siege the Winter coming on he march'd from thence towards Calais and having pass'd the Seine and being provok'd and set upon in his march by the French he defeated them in a pitcht Battel near Agincourt on the 25 th of October It is certain that the English never fought with greater success than in this Battel for of the French Ten thousand were slain with the loss of Two hundred only on our side as the French Writers themselves have recorded it and the Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon with a great many of the Nobility of France were taken Prisoners and brought over into England Whilst the King was in France by his command the Archbishop of Canterbury order'd all the Clergy of that Diocess to be in Arms lest the French should in the King's absence make any attempt upon the Coast of Kent which lay expos'd to their Invasion after which he appointed a Synod of his Province to be held at London on the 28 th of November The first day of their meeting was taken up in Religious Solemnities For after Mass which was celebrated in the Morning by the Archbishop on the High Altar in St. Paul's William Lyndewood Chancellor of Canterbury preach'd before the whole Body of the Clergy which was assembled in S. Mary's Chappel in that Cathedral upon these words of the Prophet Jeremy cap. 6. v. 16. Stand ye in the ways and see The following days the Bishops and Abbots met in St. Mary's Chappel and the Priors Deans Archdeacons and Proctors of the several Diocesses withdrew into the Chapter-house where they consulted separately about the Affairs of the Church from whence they are generally call'd the Upper and Lower House of Convocation In this Synod two Tenths were granted to the King for the War with France out of all Ecclesiastical Revenues and Benefices that us'd to pay Tenths one of them to be paid at St. Martin's day next following and the other on the same day the next Year On the 2 d of December the Archbishop dissolv'd the Synod after that at the King's desire and with the consent of both Houses he had appointed the days of St. George St. David St. Cedda and St. Winifred to be observ'd as Holidays This Decree is still to be seen amongst the English Constitutions The next Year he held another Synod at London on the first of April to consult with the Bishops and other Prelates about sending Delegates to the Council at Constance For Christendom was still divided between three Popes John the Twenty third who exercis'd the Pontifical Function at Rome Gregory the Twelfth at Ariminum and Benedict the Thirteenth at Avignon For both Gregory and Benedict had refus'd to submit to the Sentence pronounced against them by the Council of Pisa But John being sollicited by all the Christian Princes to put an end to the Schism had two years before this appointed a General Council of all Christendom to be held at Constance in Germany though it were with great reluctancy and unwillingness fearing that the Council would deprive him of the Papacy which afterwards happened as we shall hereafter shew The Archbishop being cited by the Pope's Bull to Constance had sent thither two years ago as his Proxies Robert Apulton Canon of York and John Forst Canon of Lincoln to assist in his Name at the Council and at the same time the Earl of Warwick the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford with the Abbot of Westminster and the Prior of Worcester were sent thither also as Delegates from the King and the Body of the Clergy whose number being diminish'd by the death of Robert Hallum Bishop of Salisbury and Robert Mascal Bishop of Hereford who died at Constance and because the Deputies of other Nations appear'd at the Council in greater numbers therefore in this Synod Richard Clifford Bishop of London and twelve Doctors together with the Chancellors of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge were chosen for this Employment and Two pence in the Pound out of the Livings and Revenues of the Clergy was allow'd them for their Expences About this time the Emperor Sigismond came first into France and afterwards into England to endeavour by his mediation to establish Peace as well in the Church by deposing the contumacious Popes as betwixt the two Kings of England and France by putting an end to the War At his request the King press'd the Archbishop and the Synod to dispatch their Delegates to Constance with what speed they could In this Synod also it was decreed That the Goods of Persons deceas'd should be deposited in the hands of a Trustee till their Will should be exhibited and prov'd that Administration should not be granted to their Executors till they had made a true Inventory of the Goods and that they should meddle only with those Goods that were contain'd in the Inventory it was further added according to the Circumstances of those Times that no more than Five Shillings should be demanded for the Registring or Probate of Wills and lastly to gratify the King it was order'd that the Clergy should bring in the Tenth which by a Decree of the former Synod was to be paid at the Feast of St. Martin six Months sooner But Sigismond labour'd to no purpose to compose the Differences between the French and the English For whilst a Treaty of Peace was carried on with the French Ambassadors who came over into England with the Emperor News was brought out of France that Harfleu was besieg'd by the French and that Four hundred English were slain in a Battel lately fought with John Earl of Armagnac the King was so incens'd at this Defeat that from that time he was wholly averse from the least mention of Peace and would have gone over forthwith into France if he had not been dissuaded from it by the Emperor wherefore he sent his Brother John Duke of Bedford with a Fleet and Army into Normandy and having presented Sigismond with the Order of the Garter and made a League with him after he had magnificently entertain'd him in England for four Months about the end of August he conducted him as far as Calais being attended with a very splendid Retinue and a numerous Fleet. The Emperor went from thence to Constance to assist at the Council but the King staid there some time to order his Affairs in France and the Archbibishop when the Synod was broke up came thither out of England While the King was at Calais there came to him John Duke of Burgundy the Archbishop of Rhemes and other Ambassadors sent from Charles King of France to sue for Peace at a very unseasonable time when the King upon the late Injuries receiv'd of the French was wholly intent upon preparations for
War lest he who the last Year was Conqueror in the Battel of Agincourt should now upon the account of his late Losses seem not to give but to receive Conditions of Peace Wherefore having setled his Affairs in France he return'd soon after into England and held a Parliament at Westminster of which he easily obtain'd a supply of Men and Money for the service of the War with France the next Year At the same time the Archbishop came back from Calais and by the King's Command call'd a Synod at London on the 9 th of November in which at the request of Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester the Earl Marshal and Henry Ware who from Chancellor of Canterbury had some time before been made Keeper of the Privy Seal who for that purpose were sent thither by the King he prevail'd with them to grant the King two Tenths for his Expedition into France There was nothing else done in that Synod but on the Days of John of Beverley and of Crispin and Crispinian Martyrs on which the Battel of Agincourt hapned were made Holidays The King having commanded the Nobility to attend him and having levied a choice Army and equip't his Fleet sail'd over into Normandy on the 1 st of August 1417. leaving John Duke of Bedford to govern the Kingdom in his absence When he was gone the Archbishop commanded all the Bishops of his Province to cause solemn Processions to be made to all Churches and Chappels for the safety of the King and the success of his Arms. The same Year by a signal Example of his Justice and Courage he shew'd how much all People whatsoever in that Age stood in awe of the Authority of the Church For on Easterday the Lord Strange with the Lady Elizabeth his Wife and a great Train of Servants attending them coming to St. Dunstan's Church to Vespers and meeting Sir John Trussel there with whom he had an ancient Quarrel his Servants drew their Swords in the Church wounded Sir John his Son and some others of his Family and kill'd one Thomas Petwardy a Citizen of London who to accommodate the matter between them had thrust himself into the Scuffle The Matter being brought before the Archbishop he interdicted the Church which had been polluted with Blood the Authors and Accomplices of the Crime were publickly excommunicated and curs'd before the People at Paul's Cross and the Archbishop sitting as Judge in St. Paul's Church after he had examined into the Fact impos'd this Penance on the Lord Strange and his Lady who fell on their knees before him and humbly begg'd pardon of the Church That their Servants in their Shirts and Drawers only and he and his Wife with Tapers in their hands should go through the great Street of the City from St. Paul's to St. Dunstan's all which was accordingly perform'd with great solemnity and when the Archbishop purified St. Dunstan's Church the Lady Strange fill'd the Vessels with Water they were also commanded to offer each of them a Pyx and Altarcloath In the mean time the matter was hotly debated in the Council of Constance about taking away the Schism in the Church by the creation of a new Pope and restraining those Persons who with a great deal of liberty inveigh'd against the Pride of the Popes the Luxury of the Clergy the lazy Lives of the Monks and the innumerable Corruptions of the Church of Rome Of these John Wickliff was accounted the chief who in the Reign of Edward the Third and Richard the Second by his publick Lectures at Oxford and afterwards by his Books which he put out drew to his Party a great many not only of the Students of that University but also of the Nobility and common People By him the Seeds of sound Doctrine were dispers'd among other Christian Nations and particularly among the Bohemians who embrac'd his Tenets so readily that they had already in a manner renounced the Pope To put a stop to their progress John Wickliff was pronounced a Heretick by a Decree of the Council and it was further ordained that his Memory should be accurs'd that his Bones should be taken out of his Grave and burnt and that all those who maintain'd his Opinions should be prosecuted as guilty of Heresy Then they proceeded to the Bohemians and having likewise condemned their Opinions John Huss and Hierome of Prague were adjudg'd Arch-hereticks and condemn'd to the Flames The death of these two Persons brought a great deal of infamy upon the Emperor Sigismond and the whole Council for being cited to Constance they came thither under the security of the publick Faith which Sigismond had engag'd to Ladislaus King of Bohemia for their safe return Which being so shamefully violated the Bohemians were so incens'd that having made John Zisca a valiant Commander their General they afterwards brought the Emperor into very great Straits But the Council to take away the infamy of this Action decreed that Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks having first consulted Panormitanus and Ludovicus Romanus two Lawyers of great repute who deliver'd this as their Opinion as did also some others whom the Fathers of the Council could sway by their Authority Notwithstanding the more Modern Lawyers were of a contrary Opinion and the Papists themselves were so asham'd of this Decree that they did not offer to violate the publick Faith given to Luther at the Dyet of Worms and afterwards to the Protestants which came to the Council of Trent For what can be more absurd or indeed more impious than that Christians should make no account of their word which was always esteem'd sacred even by the Heathens themselves After these things the Council was wholly intent upon composing the Differences between the Popes For when the Emperor Sigismond was return'd out of England several hainous Crimes were alledg'd against John the Twenty third because he had not laid down the Papacy as he had solemnly promis'd whereupon he fled privately and in disguise from Constance into Austria but being pursued by the Emperor he was taken in the Habit of a Fencer or a Huntsman and brought before the Council by whom he was committed to Prison and some of the chief Men out of every Nation there present being deputed to examine into his Actions he was accused before them of Adultery Incest Witchcraft Murther and other horrid Crimes particularly of Simony that being first made Cardinal and afterwards Pope through Bribery he had set to sale Livings Dignities Bishopricks and Cardinalships Orders Indulgences and all other things belonging to the Church all which being prov'd by Witnesses by the Sentence of the Council he was divested of the Papacy and condemned to Imprisonment There remain'd yet Gregory the Twelfth and Benedict the Thirteenth Gregory when he saw that he must submit sent Charles Malatesta Prince of Ariminum as his
Legate to Constance with a large Commission in which full power was granted him to lay down the Pontificate in his Name Whereupon the Legate putting on the Pontifical Robes and sitting in the Papal Chair as representing the Person of Gregory read his Commission publickly and resign'd the Papacy Benedict also being deserted by Ferdinand King of Arragon who had hitherto obey'd him by the Sentence of the Council was divested of the Popedom And that these Depositions of the Popes might appear to be lawful it was determin'd by a Decree of the Council that a General Council doth derive its Power immediately from Christ and that the Pope is subordinate to it After this they consulted about chusing a new Pope and it was agreed upon by the Council that six men out of each Nation should be deputed to go into the Conclave with the Cardinals and elect a Pope Now all things were manag'd in the Council by the Suffrages of five Nations the Germans the Italians the English the French and the Spaniards for it was in this Council that the English were first allow'd to be a Nation Out of them were chosen the Bishops of London Bath Worcester and Litchfield with the Abbot and Dean of York The third day after their entrance into the Conclave the Bishop of London leading the way with these words I Richard Bishop of London come to my Lord Cardinal Colonna all the rest follow'd his Example and chose Otho Colonna a Roman Prince and Cardinal of St. George of the Golden Fleece on the 11 th of November which being St. Martin's day the Pope took the Name of Martin the Fifth This Decree of the Council of Constance concerning the power of a General Council extreamly troubled the succeeding Popes insomuch that it was repealed by Leo the Tenth in the last Lateran Council since which a great many of the Canonists in their Commentaries and the Popish Divines in their long Disputations have disallow'd it either out of flattery to the Popes or else out of fear as having lost that liberty of speaking and writing which every one enjoy'd at the time of the Council of Constance when there was no Pope For Peter Ancharanus who was Advocate of the Council Baldus and Panormitanus gave it openly as their Opinion at that time That the Pope was subordinate to a Council and might be depos'd by it following herein the Authority of the Gloss of Archdiaconus and Geminianus who had deliver'd the same before in their Writings with whom Felinus and other more modern Authors do agree who approve the Council of Constance and maintain the same Opinion Nor is the Power of a Council restrain'd within such narrow limits that immediately upon the creation of a Pope it loses its Authority and can make no Decrees without the consent of the new Pope as Philip Decius imagined who is therefore deservedly censur'd by Charles Molinaeus and Panormitanus further adds That if the Pope dye or be depos'd in the time of a Council that then the power of Election is in the Council and not in the Cardinals alledging this Instance of the Council of Constance in which Martin the Fifth was chosen by the Cardinals and others to whom that Power was delegated by the Council But though this Decree was establish'd at that time in this Council of Constance yet it was afterwards of no force in the Council of Trent in which the Ambition of the Cardinals prevail'd who upon the death of Paul the Third who died in the time of the Council posted from Trent to Rome to create a new Pope But the Council of Constance by vertue of their Supream Authority in the beginning of their Session gave Commission under the Seals of the several Nations to Henry Bishop of Winchester and John Bishop of Litchfield to gather the Moneys due to the Chamber of Rome in England The Election of Martin the Fifth caus'd an incredible joy all over Christendom for every one thought that by this means the Peace of the Church would be re-establish'd The first notice of it in England was given by the Archbishop to the Synod and was presently divulged by Thanksgivings and solemn Processions This Synod was appointed by the Archbishop to be held at London on the 26 th of November upon a Command from the King by Letters out of France Thither came Thomas Bishop of Durham Lord Chancellour of England Thomas Beaufort Duke of Exeter Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmorland being sent from the Regent John Duke of Bedford to desire of the Clergy a supply of Money for the King who was then carrying on the War successfully in France which being seconded by the Request of the Archbishop they granted two Tenths In this Synod also Robert Gilbert Doctor of Divinity and Warden of Merton College in a long and eloquent Oration having first prais'd the University of Oxford laid before them the miserable Condition of the Students there who after many years spent in the study of the Sciences were not call'd thence to receive any reward of their Labours but were suffer'd to grow old in the University His Example was follow'd by Thomas Kington Doctor of Law and Advocate of the Arches who pleaded the same Cause for the University of Cambridge they both intreated in behalf of both Universities that by a Decree of the Synod some care might be taken to prefer them Whereupon it was decreed That all Livings whose yearly income amounted to sixty Marks should by the Patrons be given only to Doctors of Divinity Law or Physick those that were worth fifty Marks a year only to Licentiates in those Faculties or Batchelors of Divinity and those which did not exceed forty Marks yearly only to Masters of Arts or Batchelors of Law This related to those Benefices to which was annex'd the Cure of Souls The same Order almost was taken in those which are call'd Sinecures according to their respective Values It was further added That this Decree should not extend to those who had taken Degrees by some particular Grace But because it was provided by the Statutes of both Universities that the Students of Divinity should take no Degree in that Faculty till they had commenc'd Masters of Arts and that no Student of Canon Law should be created Doctor except he had studied the Civil Law this Condition was added to the Decree in favour of the Monks and Canon Lawyers that it should not be in force unless those Statutes were repeal'd For which purpose Thomas Felde Dean of Hereford and Thomas Lentwardyn Chancellor of St. Paul's in London were sent by the Synod to Oxford to treat about this Affair with the Masters of Arts by whose Suffrages the University is govern'd This was also signified to the Masters of Arts of Cambridge by Letters from the
at Troyes just as the King was departing thence to go against the Dauphin who was the only Enemy he had now remaining In the beginning of July the King march'd toward Sens and having taken Montereau his next Attempt was upon Melun which after a Siege of four Months was surrender'd to him in the beginning of November There were present at this Siege with King Henry Charles King of France James King of Scotland Philip Duke of Burgundy William Duke of Bavaria with several other Princes the Archbishop also continued all the while in the Camp and after the surrender of the Place attended the King with his Father-in law and both the Queens to Paris from whence he return'd into England about the end of November In the beginning of February 1421. the King having left the management of his Affairs in France to Humprhy Duke of Glocester and Philip Duke of Burgundy came over into England with Queen Catharine where he was receiv'd with incredible applause and universal demonstrations of joy and by the Archbishop's command Processions were made to all Churches and Chappels for four days together Soon after his arrival in England he desir'd Money for the War with France of the Parliament assembled at Westminster during whose Session the Queen was solemnly crown'd with great splendor by the Archbishop of Canterbury who about this time call'd a Synod at London and obtain'd of them a Tenth for the service of the King which was granted upon some Conditions which were put in by William Lyndewood in the name of the Proctors for the Clergy They were these That the King's Purveyors should not meddle with the Goods of the Clergy that they should not be committed to Prison but upon manifest conviction of Theft or Murther that for all other Crimes they should only find Sureties for their appearance at their Trial but should not be imprison'd and that it should be Felony to geld a Priest all which the King confirm'd in this Parliament Beside the Bishops and other Prelates there were call d to the Synod by the Archbishop's Mandate John Castell Chancellor of Oxford and John Rykynghall Chancellor of Cambridge both Doctors of Divinity who in two eloquent Speeches requested in behalf of both Universities that the Decree made in the Synod four Years before about conferring Benefices upon those only who had taken Degrees in the Universities according to the value of the several Livings and the dignity of the Degrees might now be published with the addition of the Clause formerly put in that by repealing those Statutes of the Universities Monks might be admitted to Degrees in Divinity before they were Masters of Arts and Priests might commence Doctors of Canon Law though they had not studied the Civil Law which the Masters of Arts of both Vniversities having chang'd their minds had at length consented to Moreover to restrain the Avarice of Bishops and Archdeacons it was Decreed That no Bishop should take more than Twelve Shillings for Institution nor an Archdeacon for Induction and that Orders should be given gratis Also Simon Terraminus one of the Pope's Receivers in a handsome Speech desir'd Money of the Synod for Pope Martin but they gave no ear to him conceiving that the Tenths Annates and other Perquisites which were paid yearly into the Pope's Exchequer were more than sufficient to supply his Necessities The Archbishop having dissolv'd the Synod employ'd his care upon that Jurisdiction which he had hitherto exercis'd in France that so the same Peace which had reconcil'd the two Kingdoms might also unite both the Churches To which end he recall'd those Judges which he had plac'd in most of those Diocesses that were conquer'd by the King and by his Letters commanded all the People of France that for the future they should obey their Bishops and the Ordinaries of the Places in which they liv'd After this the King having receiv'd news of the death of his Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence who was slain in a Battel lately fought with the Forces of the Dauphin in Anjou hastned into France leaving the Queen big with Child who on the 8 th of December was deliver'd of a Son at Windsor who was Christen'd by the Archbishop with great Solemnity and nam'd Henry His Godfathers were John Duke of Bedford Regent of England and Henry Bishop of Winchester the King's Uncle and his Godmother was Jaqueline Countess of Holland Afterwards when he came to the Crown he us'd to call the Archbishop Godfather and always paid him a great deal of respect In the beginning of April 1422. the Queen being recover'd of her lying in was conducted into France to the King by the Duke of Bedford and Humphry Duke of Glocester was left Regent in England The time was now at hand in which another General Council was to be held according to the Decree of the Council of Constance by which it was ordain'd that at the end of five years a Council should be call'd seven years after that another and so every ten years constantly It was now the fifth year since the dissolution of the Council of Constance whereupon this Year Pope Martin pitch'd upon Pavia for the place of their Session In England the Archbishop call'd a Synod of the Province of Canterbury at London on the 4 th of August in which many Persons out of the whole Body of Bishops Prelates and Doctors were nominated who were to be referr'd to the King's approbation and it was concluded that the Archbishop should signify their Names by Letters to the King who should chuse whom he pleas'd out of them to represent the English Nation at the Council of Pavia and that there should be allow'd for their Expences Three pence in the Pound out of all Benefices that paid Tenths and Eight pence out of those that did not come under that Tax But this Affair came to nothing For Alfonsus King of Arragon having a quarrel against Pope Martin because at his instigation Joan Queen of Naples had put him by and appointed Lewis of Anjou her Successor in the Kingdom sent his Ambassadors to Pavia who with Gifts and Promises promoted the Interest of Benedict the Thirteenth who was still alive and acted as Pope at Panischola whereupon Pope Martin presently dissolv'd the Council which had been begun at Pavia and from thence by reason of the Plague was remov'd to Siena and appointed another to be held seven years after at Basil In the Synod at London one William White a Priest and one Henry Webb of Worcester were accus'd of Heresy the first for preaching publickly without a Licence who was therefore forc'd to recant before the Synod and the other for saying Mass without being in Orders who was sentenc'd to be whipp'd in three of the chief Cities London Worcester and Bath Also one William Taylor a Master of Arts was call'd in question for spreading
Cowrte wow it so be that many lych at London to pursue to my Lord your brother your Chaunceler and your Counseil for to have leve and letters of passage Werfore Soverain Lord my Lord your brother charged me write to you and in as miche as your letter forseid was direct to me to wite in wat wise we shol governe us herafter for if ye have resteyned our holy faders letters or written to him it is unknowen to us unto this time Like it therfore gracious Lord to write to my Lord your brother in wat maner wise this matier schal be governed hereafter Forthermore gracious Lord of trowth that I am bound to you be my ligeaunse and also to quite me to God the chirch of your lond of the wich God and ye gracious Lord have maked me governor howeth to open to you this matier that suyeth of the wich I have herd pribily but now it is more opend and in such wise that credence shold bee yive to by reson that is to seyne that my brother of Winchester shold be maked a Cardinal if ye wold give your asent therto and that he shold have his Bishoprich in comende for terme of his life and therto have a stat and sent to your rengme of Yngland as a legat a latere to the wich manier of legacie non hath be acustumed to be named but Cardinals and that legacie also to ocupie thorgh all your obeysaunce saunce and all the time of his life Sovereyn Lord and most Christien Prince what instanse schall be maad to your Hignesse for this matier I wot not but blessyd be Almightie God undir your worthie protection your Chirche of Yngland is at this day I dare boldly say the moost Honorable Chirche Christien as wee l as debin servise as honest living therof governed after streit lawes and holy constitutions that be maad of hem withowten any gret erorbitaunses or any thing that migt torne to by shlaundre of your forseid Chirch or of your lond and if any trespases of mannys frelte falleth we may be coretid and punished by the Ordinaries there as the caas falleth But wat that this offis of legacie to be ocupied in the forme aforseid and suich comendis of Bishopriches not used in your holy Aunsetres time here afore wold extend to or gendre ageines the good governanse of your subgets in your by wisdom I trist to God ye will consider And forasmich as ye schal be enformid what the office of suych manier of legacie extendith to and appyly your Clerhys have not in minde for it hath shelde be seyn and have not alle here bookys with hent pleynly to enforme you in this time of your grete labor I send you a scrowe writen with inne this letter conteyning that is expressed in the Popis lawe and fully concludyd be Doctors And over that what he may have in special of the Popis grace no man wot for it stond in his wille to dispose as hym good liheth And be inspection of lawes and cronicles was there never no Legat a latere sent in to no loud and specially in to your rengme of Yngland withowte great and notable cause And thei whan thei came after thei had done her legacie abiden but lytul wyle not over a yer and summe a quarter or two monethes as the nedes requeryd And yit over that he was tretyd with or he cant into the lond whon he schold have exercise of his power and how myche schold be put in erecucion An aventure after he had be reseyved he whold have used it to largely to greet oppression of your peple Wherefore moost Cristien Prince and Sovereyn Lord as your trewe Preest whom it hath lyked you to sette in so hy astaat the wych with owte your gracious Lordship and supportation I know my self insufficient to ocupie beseche you in the moost humble wyse that I can devise or thenke that ye wile this matier take tendirly at herte and see the staat of the Chirche be meyntenid and susteyuid so that everich of the Ministers theroffe hold hem content with her owne part for trewly he that hath leest hath inow to rekene fore And that your poore pepul be not pyled nor oppressyd with diverse eractious and unacustumed thorgh wych thei schold be the more feble to refresche you owre liege Lord in time of nede and when it lyketh you to clepe up on hem and alle plees and sklaundre cese in your Chirche Towchinge oure holy fadir the Popis Ambassiat that late cam in to your lond I wot wel my Lord your brother wryteth to you pleynly and also of odir governance of your lond the wych blessed be God stond in good quiet pees and reste withowte any grete ryotis or debatys and al your trewe peple have her herys opyn to here good tydinges of you and continuely pray for your prosperite and al yowrys the mych Almighty God graunte for his mercy Amen wryten at Lambyth vi day of March. Your Prest H. C. Indorsed Au Roy nostre Souverein S. The King was so mov'd with this Letter of the Archbishop's that he commanded the Bishop of Winchester not to take upon him the Cardinalship and protested several times that he had rather see him wear the Crown than the Cardinal's Cap. During the King's Life the Bishop desisted but now relying upon the Infancy of the King and the Favour of his Nephew the Duke of Bedford he attempted it again and was created Cardinal by the Pope with the Title of Priest of S. Eusebius which easily occasion'd their mistake who instead of Henry Bishop of Winchester relate that Henry Archbishop of Canterbury was made Cardinal of S. Eusebius who was a Man of such Piety and Moderation that he was never known to court a Preferment by which being engag'd in the Interests of the Pope he must necessarily have swerv'd from that Loyalty to his Prince which he had always preserv'd entire and untainted For he was a most vigorous Defender of the King's Authority and the Rights of the Kingdom against the Ambition of the Popes and the Oppressions of the Court of Rome by which at this very time he drew upon himself the heavy displeasure of Martin the Fifth For the University of Oxford by Letters bearing date the 24 th of July this Year interceded for him with Pope Martin in which after they had given him a very extraordinary Character calling him the mirror of Life the light of Manners a Person most dear to the People and Clergy a golden Candlestick set up in the Church of England they besought him that he would not suffer the Credit of so eminent a Prelate to be blasted by the secret Calumnies of Detractors to which purpose also in the Parliament at Westminster the House of Commons petition'd the King to send an Ambassador forthwith to the Court of Rome to intercede with the
Pope in behalf of the Archbishop who had incurr'd his displeasure for opposing the excessive Power of the Court of Rome And indeed it was but reasonable that he who for promoting the common good of all and maintaining the Honour of the Kingdom so little dreaded the Pope's Anger should be defended by the publick Authority But the Bishop of Winchester beside his Title of Cardinal had the power of Legate in England conferr'd upon him by the Pope with a very large Commission or as they commonly term'd it a Faculty which Power he exercis'd with so great Avarice and got together such a prodigious Wealth that he was generally styl'd the Rich Cardinal The Year after this he return'd into England and having open'd his Commission in the presence of Humphry Duke of Glocester the Protector and many of the Bishops and Nobility Richard Caudray who was appointed Proctor for the King by the Duke of Glocester and the Privy Council expresly declar'd That by a particular Prerogative of the Kings of England which they had enjoy'd ever since the memory of man no Legate from the Pope could come into England without the King's leave and therefore if the Cardinal of Winchester by vertue of his Legantine Office should act any thing contrary to this Right of the King 's that he in the King's Name did interpose and disown all his Authority Whereupon the Cardinal promis'd openly before the Duke of Glocester and all that were present that he would not exercise his Office of Legate without the King's leave and that he would act nothing in it that might any ways infringe or derogate from the Rights Immunities and Privileges of the King or Kingdom Now upon his being made Cardinal and Legate he was oblig'd to lay down his Place of Lord Chancellor Laid down the Office of Chancellor as obliged which he did the Year before in the Parliament at Westminster he ought also to have been removed from the Privy Council but in respect of the Nobility of his Birth and his near alliance to the King by a particular favour he was allow'd to keep his Place there except when any But kept his Place in the Council with exception matter was to be debated between the King and the Pope for then it was expresly concluded that he should not be present which Limitation was confirm'd y Rot. Parliam ann 8 H. 6. the next Year by Act of Parliament and order'd to be entred in the Journals of the Privy Council Now the chief Reason that mov'd the Pope to create the Bishop of Winchester a Cardinal was that he might employ him in the War that he design'd The Pope rais'd imm against the Bohemians Who had pull'd down the Monasteries c. against the Bohemians who having embrac'd the Doctrine of Wickliff had pull'd down the Monasteries and Images and having abolished almost all the Rites and Ceremonies of the Romish Church had openly revolted from the Government of the Pope He therefore The Cardinal made General in the Bohemian War c. made him his General in the Bohemain War and appointed him Legate in Hungary Bohemia and all Germany with a far larger Commission by which He could pardon Rapes on Nuns c. he was impower'd to pardon Rapes committed upon Nuns to dispense with Marriages contracted within the fourth degree of Consanguinity with the Age of Persons to be admitted to Orders and Benefices with Interdicts and many other things which were contrary to the Constitutions of the Canon Law He was to demand a Tenth of the English Clergy for the War he was also order'd to demand a Tenth of the English Clergy for the Service of this War For this cause the Archbishop being sollicited by the Pope's Bull and being also press'd by Letters from the King to consider of raising Money for carrying on the War in France call'd a Synod at London which began on the 5 th of July In their first Session at the request of the Archbishop of York Lord Chancellor and Walter Hungerford Lord Treasurer they granted the King half In the next Synod half a Tenth is given the King a Tenth The Synod was afterwards prorogu'd by reason of the excessive heat of the Summer to St. Martin's day in November following and then again to the 29 th of October the next Year at which time the Archbishop of York was sent to them again from the King together with the Duke of Norfolk the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Salisbury th e Lords Cromwell Tiptoft and Hungerford at whose desire a Tenth and a half And in another a Tenth and an half was granted and solemn Processions were order'd to be made for the success of the Duke of Bedford who went on Duke of Bedford had besieg'd Orleans prosperously and had now besieg'd Orleans a noble City upon the River Loyre These Concessions of Tenths which were granted so readily by the z 8 H. 6. c. 1. Synod were rewarded by an Act made in the Parliament holden at this time at Westminster by which The same Priviledge was granted to the Clergy which the Members of the House of Commons do enjoy when they are chosen to serve in Parliament For those Grants the Members of the Synod c. were freed from Arrests which was that neither they nor their Servants should be arrested while they were assembled in Convocation nor in their journy thither But Conzo Zuolanus the Pope's Nuntio came often to the Synod and pleaded in behalf of the Pope but to no purpose The Pope's Nuntio prevail'd not in the Synod When he could not obtain of them a Supply for the War with the Bohemians which he had sollicited in a long and pressing Oration he produc'd the For shewing his Letters for a Tenth Pope's Letters before the Synod in which he signified that he had impos'd a Tenth upon the Kingdom of England for the support of the Bohemian War which so incensed the whole Synod that they absolutely denied to grant a Tenth However at the importunity of the Pope He was denied but got 8 d. per Mark from Livings With a Salvâ praerogativâ Regiâ they gave him Eight pence in every Mark out of all Benefices according to their respective values provided that this grant were not contrary to the King's Prerogative and the Laws of the Land After this John Jourdelay John Galle Robert Heggley Ralph Mungyn Thomas Garenter all men in Orders with several others were brought before the Synod who were accus'd of Heresy for holding divers corrupt Opinions concerning the Sacrament of the Altar the Adoration of Images Religious Pilgrimages and the Invocation of Saints for maintaining that the Pope was Antichrist and not God's Heresy in holding the Pope to be Antichrist c. Vicegerent that the Divine Oracles were contain'd only in the Scriptures and not in the Legends or Lives of the
There had been begun some time ago at Oxford by the Munificence chiefly of the Duke of Glocester a lofty and magnificent Structure the upper part of which was design'd for a Library and the lower for the publick Divinity Laid out a great Sum on the Structure begun by the Duke of Glocester Schools To this Work the Archbishop gave a great Sum of Money himself and was very earnest in solliciting all the Bishops and Peers who came to the Parliament at Westminster to contribute something toward it all which is gratefully acknowledg'd by the University in their t Epist Acad. Oxon. 26. Letters to him And Two hundred Marks to the publick Chest of the University He also gave Two hundred Marks to the publick Chest of the University which he order'd to be kept by three Masters of Arts two Regents and one Non-regent who were to be chosen yearly and were bound by an Oath to the faithful discharge of that Trust out With the Method of its disposal of which the University might borrow for the publick use Five Pounds every particular College Five Marks a Master of Arts Forty Shillings a Licentiate or Batchelour Two Marks and an Undergraduate One with this Condition That every one should deposite a sufficient Pawn which if the Money were not repaid within a Month was to be forfeited Besides the Decree mentioned concerning graduated Dignitaries He also did the University a signal piece of service by that Decree which we mention'd before concerning the bestowing Benefices upon those only that had taken Degrees which was made by the Synod at his intercession For they esteem'd it as a singular kindness and often u Epist Acad. Oxon 1. 124 125 143 144. in Archiu return'd him thanks upon this account with the highest expressions of gratitude for before this Constitution was made Men though they had attain'd to the knowledge of all Sciences spent their whole Life in the University These and many other Favours conferr'd by him upon the University are honourably mention'd by them in their Letters and that the memory of them might remain for ever it was ordain'd by a x Stat. cist Chich in Archiv publick Decree that his Name should be register'd His Name decreed to be Registred among the Benefactors of Oxford University among their Benefactors and read every Year in the Publick Schools by the Chaplain of the University and that a solemn Mass should be said for him on the Anniversary of his Death All this was justly due to him who had increas'd the glory of the University by Having founded two Colleges c. the soundation of two Colleges and by so many publick Benefactions beside his private Charities to many poor Students to whom he allow'd yearly Stipends as appears out of his private Accounts He adorned the Cathedral of Canterbury Repaired Christ's Church there building and furnishing a Library c. Beside this he very much adorn'd his Cathedral Church of Canterbury he there laid out a great deal of Money in repairing Christ's Church and building a Library and Steeple he also gave a great many Jewels and Ornaments to that Church and furnish'd the Library with many valuable Books in all kinds of Learning which are all reckon'd up in a publick Instrument made by the Prior and Monks of Canterbury and describ'd among the publick Acts of that Church in which they promise on their part that his Body should be laid in the Tomb that he had caus'd to be built on the North side of the Chancel and that no one beside should ever be buried in that place which they and their Successors would take care to see perform'd He also gave very liberally toward Gave liberally towards the building of Croydon Church and Rochester Bridge the building of Croydon Church and Rochester Bridge I omit the rest of his Benefactions lest the enumeration of every smaller Deed of Charity should seem to detract from the glory of his more Illustrious Actions Thus having left the Monuments of his Piety and Liberality in all Places being worn out with Age he departed this Life on the 12 th of April in the His Death Apr. 12. 1443. and magnificent Burial Year 1443. His Body was laid in the Tomb which he had built himself as we said before in the upper part of which is his Statue very handsomly cut in White Marble and on the side of it this Epitaph is written Hic jacet HENRICUS CHICHELE Legum Doctor quondam Cancellarius Sarum qui anno septimo Henrici IV. Regis ad Gregorium Papam XII in ambasciata transmissus in civitate Senensi per manus ejusdem Papae in Menevensem Episcopum consecratus est Hic etiam Henricus anno secundo Henrici quinti Regis in hac sancta Ecclesia in Archiepiscopum postulatus à Joanne Papa XXIII ad eandem translatus est qui obiit anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo quadragesimo tertio mensis Aprilis die XII Here lies HENRY CHICHELE Doctor of Laws and sometime Chancellor of Salisbury who in the Seventh Year of King Henry the Fourth was sent Ambassador to Pope Gregory the XIIth and was consecrated Bishop of S. David's by the hands of the Pope in the City of Siena The said Henry in the Second Year of King Henry the Fifth was demanded for Archbishop in this Holy Church and translated to it by Pope John the Twenty third He died in the Year of our Lord 1443. on the 12 th of April Soon after which a Fatal Change in England Soon after his death follow'd a very deplorable Turn in the State of this Kingdom For Queen Margaret a Woman of a Masculine Spirit by the assistance and Counsels of William Pole Duke of Suffolk got the Government of the King and the whole management Which came to be governed by Queen Margaret Whence the Kingdom was divided and the People oppressed The French also under a Female Revolt to King Charles Normandy then Aquitain lost after 300 years possession of the Kingdom into her own hands upon which the Nobility was divided into Factions and drew along with them the rest of the People who were oppress'd with Exactions The French also who were under the English Dominion being encouraged by our Divisions revolted to King Charles and first we lost Normandy and then all Aquitain which we had held ever since the time of King Henry the Second almost Three hundred years The Kingdom was embroil'd in Civil Dissentions within and labour'd under a Foreign War without For the Kentish men under Jack Cade Jack Cade 's Insurrection took Arms and rais'd an Insurrection the French invaded the Coast of Kent on one side and the Scots on the other ravaged the Northern Borders and to compleat all our Miseries the Family The French invade Kent and the Scots the Borders The Civil War from the House of York in which King Henry was imprison'd exil'd
not to be restrain'd by a new Pope 85 And that on the Pope's death a new Election belongs to the Council Ib. Yet during that of Trent the Cardinals chose Paul the Third Ib. That of Constance gave order about t h M due by England to Rome 86 The Election of Pope Martin was mightily liked Ib. London Synod grants the King two Tenths 87 By a Decree therein Students of both Universities were provided for Ib. Which was opposed and laid aside 89 Pope Martin at pleasure fill'd the Episcopal Sees in England Ib. Whose Clergy were quiet during the Council of Constance Ib. Martin first claim'd an universal Right of Presentation 90 In two years made thirteen Bishops in the See of Canterbury Ib. His Appropriations censur'd Ib. The English neglected in the Grants of the Roman Dignities 91 Martin afterwards agreed to some redress Ib. In uniting Parishes Ib. And for a power to Bishops therein Ib. For avoiding the Unions made in time of the Schism Ib. For recalling Dispensations for nonresidence Ib. For lessening the Number of Cardinals and for their equal promotion Ib. The King required that Pope not to meddle with his Presentations 92 That no French be preferred in Aquitain c. Ib. That Irish Livings be given to those that understand English Ib. That the Bishops there promote the English Speech only Ib. That French be not preferr'd to Monasteries in England Ib. That the Pope supply the King with some of the English Mony Ib. The Pope not answering favourably 't was declared the King would take his course 93 The French and Germans declare against the Pope's Provisions Ib. The former revived the Laws to restrain him Ib. That if he were refractory they 'd disown him Ib. The Pope's Interdict of the Church of Lyons remov'd by the Parliament of Paris Ib. An Appeal from the King to the Pope High Treason Ib. The Oppress'd Germans not redress'd 94 The King besieges Roan the Capital City of Normandy Ib. Proposal of a Treaty betwixt England and France Ib. From our King were sent the Archbishop and Earl of Warwick 95 And Cardinal Ursini as Mediator from the Pope Ib. The Commissioners did not conclude Ib. Our King demanded a Million of Crowns Normandy Aquitain and Ponthieu Dowry with his Mistress Ib. The French straitned refused all Terms Ib. Roan holds out obstinately 96 Where 't is said an Apple was sold for 3 s. a Dog for 10 S. Ib. The Citizens helpless their King being Lunatick and the Kingdom in a Civil War Ib. Upon suit made they surrenderd paying 365000 Crowns 97 Here the King setled his Exchequer and Courts for the Affair of Normandy Ib. Took Meudon and Pontoise by storm and others by surrender Ib Half a Tenth granted the King in a Synod where Walker a Priest convicted of Witchcraft for which he abjured and some of Wickliff's Followers recanted 98 99 Processions for the King's Success with whom the Duke of Burgundy made a private League who then had King Queen and Daughter of France in 's power 100 Our King at Troyes marries the said Daughter Catharine on agreement himself should be Regent and their Children succeed to the Crown of France Ib. These Conditions ratified the Archbishop goes to France to congratulate the King 100 101 Who goes against the Dauphin his only Enemy Ib. Took Montereau Ib. Melun surrender'd 102 The King returns to England Ib. Processions for four days Ib. Queen Catharine Crowned Ib. The Synod gives a Tenth on condition that it should be Felony to geld a Priest Ib. Moved to publish a late Decree with a Clause in favour of Monks and Priests Ib. Decreed a Bishop take only 12 s. for Institution and an Archdeacon for Induction 104 Pope Martin denied Money besides the Tenths c. in order to unite the two Churches of France and England Ib. The Archbishop recalls the Judges from the Conquests and commanded the French to obey their Ordinaries 105 The King hastens to France on his Brother's death Ib. His Son Henry born at Windsor Ib. The Queen recovered goes to France Ib. Pavia chosen by Pope Martin for a General Council according to that of Constance 106 A Provincial Synod at London Ib. Whence Delegates were designed Ib. But through Benedict the Thirteenth's Interest the Pavian Council is dissolved called to Siena and seven years after to Basil 107 H. Webb for preaching without Orders whipp'd in three principal Cities Ib. William Taylor 's honest Principles condemned as impious 108 King Henry the Fifth dies of a Fever at Bois de Vinciennes 109 For which his Father-in-law pining away died with grief within twenty days 110 The King's Body buried at Westminster Ib. His Brothers were left his Son Henry's Guardians Ib. Great loss of a King so vertuous so generally and princely qualified of singular good fortune and esteem thereupon Ib. Duke of Glocester calls a Parliament 111 The hopes the Archbishop conceived of young King Henry Ib. Three Reasons for calling the Parliament viz. to assign the King Governors and consult about the Peace and for the defence of the Realm 112 Jethro 's Advice Ib. The Duke of Glocester confirm'd Protector and the Archbishop named First of the Council 113 But he retired to his Function Ib. Founded a College at Higham Ferrers Ib. And a large Hospital 114 The Considerable Revenues of which were augmented by his Brothers Robert and William Ib. A Synod held by him at London Ib. The Dauphin crown'd King of France at Poictiers Ib. Whereupon preparation was made for War 115 The Regent of France and Duke of Burgundy oppose the Dauphin Ib. The former sent for Supplies from England Ib. The Bishop of Winchester moves for Money in the Synod Ib. Which now wants Henry the Fifth 116 As Henry the Sixth is like to go without their Money the Clergy's Estates being already so much drained and Livings fallen so low Ib. Being also alledged that the power of granting Tenths was taken away Ib. The Bishop succeeded no better in the Lower House and so the Synod was adjourned 116 117 At the next Sessions half a Tenth was granted by the Higher House on condition the Proctors consented but refused by the Lower House Ib. The Synod dissolved Ib. At the next half a Tenth's given with much ado 118 Hoke and Drayton's Heresy and Russell denies personal Tythes to be Jure Divino 118 119 In his absence proclaimed an Heretick and prosecuted at Rome 119 120 Afterwards he abjured his Error in England 120 H. Beaufort Bishop of Winchester an open Enemy to the Lord Protector 121 Great Parties on each side appear in the Streets of London Ib. The Archbishop interposed Ib. They then laid down their Arms 122 The Bishop of Winchester accuses the Protector to the Duke of Bedford Ib. Who hastens into England Ib. Calls a Parliament Ib. Finds out the causes of the Quarrel and inclines them to the arbitration of the Archbishop and Duke of Exeter c. 123 Their Reconciliation confirm'd by the
Votes of the whole Parliament which granted Money for Levying Men Ib. And half a Tenth granted in the Synod 124 Bishop of Winchester made Cardinal Ib. The Cap with a Legacy for England had been promised him by John the Twenty third Ib. But the Archbishop had shewn that the Pope's Legates derogated from the Royal Dignity c. Ib. Which he did in a Letter to the King 125 Wherein there is a Specimen of the English Language at that time Ib. No Suit to be made to the Pope after Election till the Pope has wrote to the King and has got an Answer 126 A Pope's Legate in England durante vitâ without Precedent 128 The Doctrine and Discipline of the Church dispensable by the Ordinaries c. not Legates Ib. The Archbishop sends a Minute of the Legate's Office or Instructions to the King 129 Such Legacies are extraordinary and not without great and notable cause and no resident above two Months at most Ib. The Instructions to be express and limited Ib. He deprecates the Oppressions and cormorant Exactions of the Legates 130 Upon this Letter the King forbad the Bishop of Winchester the Cardinal 's Cap. 131 After the King's death he is created Cardinal 132 For whom our Pious Henry Archbishop is mistaken in Antiquit. Britan. Ib. A vigorous Defender of the King's Authority Ib. Whence he incurr'd the displeasure of Pope Martin the Fifth Ib. The Archbishop's Character from Oxford 133 Great Intercession made for him Ib. Bishop of Winchester is Legate in England with a Faculty Ib. So exercis'd the Power that he was stiled the Rich Cardinal 134 The Cardinal opposed by R. Caudray the King's Proctor Ib. Promises not to exercise his Office without the King's leave Ib. Laid down the Office of Chancellor as obliged But kept his Place in the Council with exception 135 The Pope rais'd him against the Bohemians who had pull'd down the Monasteries c. 136 The Cardinal made General in the Bohemian War c. Ib. He could pardon Rapes on Nuns c. Ib. He was to demand a Tenth of the English Clergy for the War Ib. In the next Synod half a Tenth is given the King 137 And in another a Tenth and an half Ib. Duke of Bedford had besieg'd Orleans Ib. For those Grants the Members of the Synod c. were freed from Arrests 138 The Pope's Nuntio prevail'd not in the Synod Ib. For shewing his Letters for a Tenth he was denied but got 8 d. per Mark from Livings with a Salvâ praerogativâ Regiâ Ib. Heresy in holding the Pope to be Antichrist c. 139 Some recanted others were imprison'd Ib. Joan Dertford by means of her Answer acquitted Ib. The Ordinaries charg'd to persecute the Wicklevists and Lollards Ib. And Process ordered to be form'd against them 140 Pope Martin troubled that he obtain'd not the Tenths Ib. That his Bull was opposed at York Ib. That his Legate was imprisoned Ib. He expostulated with the Duke of Bedford Ib. The Pope is diverted with the prospect of the Council of Basil 141 Wherefore Delegates are chosen in a Synod at London with 2 d. per l. Charges Ib. Their Instructions did run against Pluralities and Non-residence c. Ib. The Synod gave the King a Tenth for the Siege of Orleans 141 142 Many other Towns revolted Ib. And many English slain at Patau Ib. The Synod decreed just Weights Ib. Popes generally afraid of Councils Ib. Martin appoints a President 143 The Pope dies before he took his Place Ib. Eugenius the Fourth succeeds him and continues the President who was his Legate Ib. The Pope adjudged subject to the Council c. 144 By their supreme Authority the Council makes a Legate of Avignon c. Ib. The Pope alarm'd removes the Council to Bologne Ib. Is opposed Ib. Delegates from London Synod to the Council of Basil and others to the Pope Ib. Half a Tenth given the King 145 William Lyndewood Keeper of the Privy Seal writ excellent Commentaries on the English Constitutions 145 146 And was stiled the Light of the Law Ib. Complaint in the Synod against the Vicars General c. Ib. Decreed that a Judge of a Spiritual Court must have some degree of the Law Ib. Archbishop of York as Cardinal claim'd precedence of Canterbury 147 The Archbishop of Canterbury on the contrary by ancient Prerogative Ib. Referred to the Pope Ib. The Arguments for Canterbury urgent Ib. Overborn in the Cardinal's favour 148 A Synod call'd at London on occasion of the difference between the Pope and Council 149 The Pope is summoned to Basil Ib. Of which London Synod consults 150 And what Pope they should obey if another be set up Ib. Alledged 1st that the Pope might dissolve a Council and if another be set up the Synod is to obey Eugenius Ib. By which they resent a Decree made at Basil transferring Votes from the Nations to a few Delegates Which was protested against on the place 150 151 Eight new Delegates nominated Ib. King Charles crown'd at Rhemes Ib. A new Army against France designed 152 Money desired of the Synod Ib. After a denial they gave three quarters of a Tenth Ib. The Grievances of the Church at that time 153 The Archbishop zealous to rescue her from the Oppressions of the Lawyers Ib. By reason of the Plague the Synod dissolved Ib. The Duke of Burgundy revolts to the French and Bedford dies 154 The former occasion'd the ill success of the Treaty at Arras Ib. The English driven out of Paris c. Ib. And generally the French surrender'd to Charles 155 A new English Army set sail for Calais Ib. The Clergy grant a Tenth Ib. The Archbishop built a stately Edifice at Oxford 156 Gave it to the Monks of St. Bernard Ib. Seiz'd in Henry the Eighth's time 157 Purchased by Thomas White Merchant who founded there St. John the Baptist's College Ib. From whence came many Reformers Ib. The Archbishop chose another place for a College Ib. The Edict of the Council of Basil against the Pope backt by the Emperor 158 The Council's Translation revoked Ib. Ambassadors to the Council from Greece and Constantinople where the Emperor and Patriarch designed to be present if the Council would secure them and defray their Charges Ib. Which was agreed Ib. But on Sigismond's death the Pope removes the Council to Ferrara whether he summon'd the Bishops from England 159 This opposed by the Council Ib. King Charles of France puts forth the Pragmatical Sanction against Annates c. 160 Which curb'd the Pope's Power there till the time of Lewis the Twelfth Ib. The English generally sided with the Pope Ib. King Henry sent Ambassadors to Ferrara Ib. But their allowance was disputed Ib. The Pope gives away the Bishoprick of Ely in Commendam 161 The Archbishop in Synod opposes the Affair which was frustrated by the Survivorship of the then Bishop Ib. Propos'd in Synod to renew a Decree that those not in Orders should not be beneficed
the King two Tenths By a Decree therein Students of both Universities were provided for Which was opposed and laid aside Pope Martin at pleasure fill'd the Episcopal Sees in England Whose Clergy were quiet during the Council of Constance Martin first claim'd an universal Right of Presentation In two years made thirteen Bishops in the See of Canterbury His Appropriation censur'd The English neglected in the Grants of the Roman Dignities Martin afterwards agreed to some redress In uniting Parishes And for a power to Bishops therein For avoiding the Unions made in time of the Schism For recalling Dispensations for nonresidence For Lessening the Number of Cardinals and for their equal promotion The King required that Pope not to meddle with his Presentations That no French be preferred in Aquitain c. That Irish Livings be given to those that understand English That the Bishops there promote the English Speech only That French be not preser'd to Monasteries in England That the Pope supply the King with some of the English Money The Pope not answering favourably 'T was declared the King would take his course The French and Germans declare against the Pope's Provisions The former revived the Laws to restrain him That if he were refractory they 'd disown him The Pope's Interdict of the Church of Lyons remov'd by the Parliament of Paris An Appeal from the King to the Pope High Treason h Carol. Molinae de Monar Fran. n. 145. The Oppress'd Germans not redress'd i In Epistolis passim The King besieges Roan the Capital City of Normandy Proposal of a Treaty betwixt England and France From our King were sent the Archbishop and Earl of Warwick k Enguerr de Monstrell cap. 200. And Cardinal Ursini as Mediator from the Pope The Commissioners did not conclude Our King demanded a Million of Crowns Normandy Aquitain and Ponthieu Dowry with his Mistress The French straitned refused all Terms Roan holds out obstinately Where 't is said an Apple was sold for 3 s. a Dog for 10 s. The Citizens helpless their King being Lunatick and the Kingdom in a Civil War l Enguerr de Monstrell cap. 202. Upon 〈◊〉 made they surrenderd paying 365000 Crowns Here the King setled his Exchequer and Courts for the Affairs of Normandy Took Meudon and Pontoise by storm And others by surrender Half a Tenth granted the King in a Synod where Walker a Priest convicted of Witchcraft for Which he abjured And some of Wicklyff's Followers recanted Processions for the King's Success with whom Duke of Burgundy made a private League Who then had King Queen and Daughter of France in 's power Our King at Troyes marries the said Daughter Catharine On agreement himself should be Regent and their Children succeed to the Crown of France These Conditions ratified The Archbishop goes to France to congratulate the King Who goes against the Dauphin his only Enemy Took Montereau Melun surrender'd The King returns to England Processions for four days Queen Catharine Crowned The Synod gives a Tenth On condition That it should be Felony to geld a Priest Moved to publish a late Decree with a Clause in favour of Monks and Priests Decreed a Bishop take only 12 s. for Institution and an Archdeacon for Induction Pope Martin denied Money besides the Tenths c. In order to unite the two Churches of France and England The Archbishop recalls the Judges from the Conquests And commanded the French to obey their Ordinaries The King hastens to France on his Brother's death His Son Henry born at Windsor The Queen recovered goes to France m Sess 39. Pavia chosen by Pope Martin for a General Council according to that of Constance A Provincial Synod at London Whence Delegates were designed But through Benedict the Thirteenth's Interest the Pavian Council is dissolved Called to Siena And seven years after to Basil H. Webb for preaching without Orders whipp'd in three principal Cities William Taylor 's honest Principles condemned as impious King Henry the Fifth dies of a Fever at Bois de Vinciennes For which his Father-in law pining away died with grief within twenty days The King's Body buried at Westminster His Brothers were left his Son Henry's Guardians Great loss of a King so vertuous So generally and princely qualified Of singular good fortune and esteem thereupon Duke of Glocester calls a Parliament n Rotul Parlia Ann. 1. H. 6. The hopes the Archbishop conceived of young King Henry Three Reasons for calling the Parliament viz. to assign the King Governors and consult about the Peace and for the defence of the Realm Jethro's Advice The Duke of Glocester confirmed Protector and the Archbishop named First of the Council But he retired to his Function Founded a College at Higham Ferrers And a large Hospital The Considerable Revenues of which were augmented by his Brothers Robert and William A Synod held by him at London The Dauphin crown'd King of France at Poictiers Whereupon preparation was made for War The Regent of France and Duke of Burgundy oppose the Dauphin The former sent for Supplies from England The Bishop of Winchester moves for Money in the Synod Which now wants Henry the Fifth As Henry the Sixth is like to go without their Money The Clergy's Estates being already so much drained And Livings fallen so low Being also alledged that the power of granting Tenths was taken away The Bishop succeeded no better in the Lower House and so The Synod was adjourned At the next Sessions half a Tenth was granted by the Higher House on condition the Proctors consented But refused by the Lower House The Synod dissolved o C. Quoniam v. provinciam de decim At the next Half a Tenth's given with much ado Hoke and Drayton's Heresy and Russell denies personal Tythes to be Jure Divino In his absence proclaimed an Heretick p Liter Academ Oxon. in Archiv ep 20. And prosecuted at Rome Afterwards he abjured his Error in England H Beaufort Bishop of Winchester an open Enemy to the Lord Protector Great Parties on each side Appear in the Streets of London The Archbishop interposed They then laid down their Arms. The Bishop of Winchester accuses the Protector to the Duke of Bedford Who hastens into England Calls a Parliament Finds out the causes of the Quarrel And inclines them to the arbitration of q Rotul Parliam an 4. H. 6. The Archbishop and Duke of Exeter c. Their Reconciliation confirm'd by the Votes of the whole Parliament Which granted Money for Levying Men. And Half a Tenth granted in the Synod Bishop of Winchester made Cardinal The Cap with a Legacy for England had been promised him by John the Twenty third But the Archbishop had shewn that the Pope's Legates derogated from the Royal Dignity c. Which he did in a Letter to the King Wherein there is a Specimen of the English Language at that time No Suit to be made to the Pope after Election till the Pope has wrote to the King and has got an Answer A Pope's Legate in England durante vitâ without Precedent The Doctrine and Discipline of the Church dispensable by the Ordinaries c. not Legates The Archbâ—shop sends a Minute of the Legate's Office or Instructions to the King Such Legacies are extraordinary and not without great and notable cause and no resident above two Months at most The Instructions to be express and limited He deprecates the Oppressions and cormorant Exactions of the Legates Upon this Letter the King forbad the Bishop of Winchester the Cardinal 's Cap. r Polychron in Hen. 5. After the King's death he is created Cardinal Å¿ Antiq. Britan. in Henr. Chich. For whom our pious Henry Archbishop was mistaken A Vigorous Defender of the King's Authority Whence he incurr'd the displeasure of Pope Martin the Fifth t Epist Academ Oxon 36. in Archiv The Archbishop's Character from Oxford u Rotul Parliam an 6 H. 6. Great Intercession mads for him Bishop of Winchester is Legate in England with a Faculty So exercis'd the Power that he was stiled the Rich Cardinal x Joan. Foxius in Martyrolog sub H. 5. The Cardinal opposed by R. Caudray the King's Proctor Promises not to exercise his Office without the King's leave * Eodem jure semper usi sunt Gallire Reges quorum injussu Legatis Pontificum nunquam licuit Galliam ingredi aut mandata promulgare Sicuti clarissimus Advocatus Regius Ludovicus Servinus coram Senatu Parisiensi Turonibus tum sedente demonstrabat cum Ann. MDXC Cardinalis Cajetanus ad Henricum IV. Galliae Regem Legatus mitteretur †L. Servâ—n aux playdoier vol. 4.
but came to no conclusion For the French shew'd up and down the Picture of Catharine King Charles's Daughter very curiously drawn whom they propos'd in Marriage to King Henry but the English demanding for her Dowry a Million of Crowns together with Normandy Aquitain and the County of Ponthieu independent of the Sovereignty of France the French at length openly refus'd all Terms of accord conceiving that King Charles was not capable of transacting any thing having lately lost his Senses nor the Dauphin who acted in right of another and not for himself nor the Duke of Burgundy who had no power to alienate the Dominions of the Kingdom of France All this while the People of Roan held out very obstinately though they were reduc'd to the greatest Extremities For after six Months siege in which Six thousand Men perished partly by the Sword and partly by Famine those that remain'd were forc'd to feed upon the most loathsome Animals as Dogs Horses and Mice and they were reduc'd to so great a scarcity of all things that as it is reported an Apple was sold for Three Shillings and a Dog for Ten nor could they any longer hope for Relief for King Charles was not well in his Wits and the Princes were engag'd in a Civil War in which all France was involv'd being divided between Charles the Dauphin and John Duke of Burgundy Wherefore two of the Nobility two of the Clergy and two of the Citizens with a Herald were sent out of the Town who falling down at the King's Feet humbly sued for Peace The King sent them to the Archbishop's Tent to whom he had given power together with the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury the Lord Fitz-hugh Sir Walter Hungerford Sir Gilbert Vmfrevil and Sir John Robsert to treat with the Besieged about the Conditions of Surrender The Articles being agreed on which were That the Inhabitants should be safe both in their Persons and their Fortunes and that they should pay 365000 Crowns they deliver'd up the Town This was in the beginning of the Year 1419. and on the 19 th of January the King entred the Town with his Army in a triumphant manner and having fortified it with some new Works he setled there his Exchequer and the principal Court of Judicature for all matters relating to the Province of Normandy After this he conquer'd the rest of Normandy in a little time For first he took Meudon and then Pontoise by storm The other Towns being terrified by the example of that of Roan surrender'd of their own accord The Archbishop of Canterbury staid some time with the King at Roan being entertain'd in a Convent of Preaching Fryers there and afterwards attended him in his Camp at Meudon and Pontoise serving him both in the quality of a Confessor and a Counsellor and did not leave him till the end of August At which time he return d into England that he might hold a Synod and take care of the Government of his Province This Synod was appointed to be held at London on the 30 th of October that the Clergy might consult about granting a supply of Money to the King who was carrying on the War in France with success which the King had given in charge to the Archbishop at his departure out of France and again very lately by Letters The Synod granted half a Tenth upon all Livings and it was also agreed that those that held Chappels or Chantries or that receiv'd Stipends for saying Mass should pay to the King 6 s. 8 d. each but withal a publick Protestation was made by William Lyndewood in the name of the Proctors for the Clergy that this Concession should be no prejudice to them hereafter nor be made a Precedent for succeeding Ages There was brought before this Synod one Richard Walker a Priest in the Diocess of Worcester who was accus'd of Witchcraft and several Books Waxen Images Stones and other Instruments of Charms and Conjuration were produc'd which were afterwards own'd by him and burnt at Paul's Cross John Welles Bishop of Landaff preaching a Sermon upon the Occasion He himself having done solemn Penance in a publick Procession abjur'd that wicked Art After this some Persons were accus'd before the Synod for embracing the Tenets of John Wicklyff who were forc'd to recant and thus the Synod broke up The Archbishop afterwards order'd Processions to be made to all Churches for the King's success in France who at this time by the Providence of God began to conceive some hopes of reducing the Kingdom of France without bloodshed through the Divisions of the French For Philip Duke of Burgundy in revenge of his Father's death whom Charles the Dauphin had treacherously slain at Montereau under pretence of conserring with him made a private League with King Henry by his Ambassadors and promis'd him the Lady Catharine in marriage with all other assistances for the prosecution of his Conquests He only desir'd him to come in person to Troyes and there conclude a Peace publickly with King Charles The Duke of Burgundy had at that time in his power King Charles Queen Isabel and their Daughter Catharine with Paris the chief City of the Kingdom and the whole management of the Government for Isabel who hated the Dauphin had put him by and advanc'd the Duke of Burgundy to the Regency The King that he might not let slip so fair an opportunity of managing all things to his own advantage and being much taken with the great Beauty of the Lady Catharine came with all speed to Troyes where he receiv'd her in marriage at the hands of Charles and Isabel upon these Terms That King Henry during the life of Charles his Father-in-law should have the Government of France with the Title of Regent after whose death he or his Children begotten of the Lady Catharine should succeed in the Kingdom and that the Dauphin should be look'd upon as disinherited and a publick Enemy To these Conditions the Princes and Nobles of France who were there present in great number gave their assent and with the Duke of Burgundy who first took the Oath swore Allegiance to King Henry for they conceiv'd a greater esteem of his Wisdom and Courage when they saw him present amongst them than they had done before from the bare admiration of his Actions at a distance It was toward the end of May 1420. when the Nuptials were solemnized at Troyes the News of which being brought into England the excess of joy wherewith it was universally receiv'd almost lessen'd the belief of the truth of it The Archbishop of Canterbury having left the Office of Vicar general to John Prior of Canterbury and that of Auditor to William Lyndewood on the 10 th of June took shipping at Winchelsea and sail'd over into France to congratulate the King upon his late Marriage and by his Counsels to confirm his new Government He arriv'd
Ib. Wherein the King concurred and obtain'd it Ib. The Council begun at Ferrara by occasion of the Plague removed to Florence 162 Where the Greeks present submitted in Opinion to the Latines Ib. Which so offended the Greek Church that after their death they were not allow'd Christian Burial Ib. The Council of Basil maintain'd its Authority Ib. Deposed the Pope Ib. The English going to Ferrara 163 And by the Deputies of four other Nations Felix the Fifth elected Pope Ib. A defence of the Council at Basil Ib. The high Character of Lodovic Romanus 164 In the next Age the Council of Basil is condemned 166 A Synod call'd at London where the Statute of Praemunire is reckon'd a lamentable Church-Grievance in so far as a Suit in an Ecclesiastical Court is construed a suing in Rome 166 167 They petition the King to limit the Penalties to those who sue in a Foreign Court strictly taken Ib. The King promises them impunity till a Parliament be called 168 This Answer procured the King a Tenth Ib. The Archbishop pray'd the King to suffer his College almost finished to be founded in his Royal Name 169 Letters Patent accordingly granted Ib. The Chappel consecrated Ib. A Warden of the College made and twenty choice Fellows with power to elect twenty more for Divinity and Sciences and the Civil and Canon Law 170 Wherefore the Archbishop called the College All Souls c. Ib. Prescribed them Statutes Ib. Was very liberal to Oxford and Canterbury Church 171 Laid out a great Sum on the Structure begun by the Duke of Glocester and two hundred Marks to the publick Chest of the University 171 172 With the Method of its disposal besides the Decree mentioned concerning graduated Dignitaries Ib. His Name decreed to be Registred among the Benefactors of Oxford University 173 Having founded two Colleges c. Ib. He adorned the Cathedral of Canterbury 174 Repaired Christ's Church there building and furnishing a Library c. Ib. Gave liberally towards the building of Croydon Church and Rochester Bridge Ib. His Death Ap. 12. 1443. and magnificent Burtal 175 Soon after which a Fatal Change in England 176 Which came to be governed by Queen Margaret Ib. Whence the Kingdom was divided and the People oppressed Ib. The French also under a Female Revolt to King Charles Ib. Normandy then Aquitain lost after 300 years possession Ib. Jack Cade 's Insurrection 177 The French invade Kent and the Scots the Borders Ib. The Civil War from the House of York in which King Henry was imprison'd exil'd depriv'd of Crown and Life by Edward the Fourth Ib. Our Chichele's Wisdom supported the Kingdom Ib. From the Calamities of which he was by his happy Fate delivered Ib. FINIS ERRATA of Moment are these Two PAge 27. line 2. for Bulrush Spears r. Poisons or Medicines P. 35. l. 14. for Master of the Horse r Constable Others less material are left to the Candor of the Reader Born at Higham Ferrars in Northamptonshire Made Fellow of New-College Oxford by William of Wyckam Went to live with Medeford Bishop of Sarum Made Archdeacon of Sarum 1402. 1404. Then Chancellor of the same Parson of Odyham And chief Executor to his Benefactor Sent Ambassador by H. 4. to Pope Greg. the 12th a In nemore unionis cap. 31. By whom made Bishop of St. David's 1408. Accordingly took the Canonical Oath in England 1409. Sent Delegate to the General Council at Pisa Held to Reconcile the Competitors for the Popedom Boniface the Eighth deposed Clement the Fifth Elected Pope Who with six Successors all French Resided at Avignon for seventy Years b Dell'inferno Canto 19. del Paradiso Canto 27. c Nella terza parte sonetto 8 9 10 epist 20. Most of them hated by the Italians for their Nation or vitious Lives The Clementines added to the Canon Law Pope Gregory returned to Rome Was succeeded by Urban the Sixth For whose Rigor and Pride Clement the Sixth was set up against him Urban for preferring the Base and fomenting of Wars called Turbanus a perverse and most cruel Pope Clement not far short of Him in wickedness Urban succeeded Boniface the Ninth and Clement by Benedict the Third Both worse than the former Boniface more Politician than Grammarian Impos'd the Tax of Annates on the clergy Suffered Bishopricks to be sold by Auction Sold the same Livings twice to several Chapmen Yet made the Purchaser swear he came fairly by it Made poor Petitiâ—â—â—rs pay a Floren apiece Enquired after Gâ—…s in the time of Divine Service Had no comfort when dying but in Money Defended by the Lawyers d Jo. Andr. Ancharan Cardin. Dd ad c. 1. de Simon Felin in c. ex parte n. 1. de off deleg e Theod. Niem lib. 2. de Schism cap. 32. But opposed by the Divines f Thom. 2. 2. qu. 100. art 2. ibi Cajetan omnes Navarr in manual c. 23. n. 108. Paul Anglic. in Speculo Aureo g Panor in repetit c. extirpandae sect Cj ia vero n. 53. de Praeben in c. 1. de Simon Barâ—… t. ad c. cum pridem de pact Barthol Ugolin de Simon Tab. 1. cap. 3. sect 5. Benedict the like spiritual Robber h Bald. ad c. quia propter de elect i Bald. ad c. olim de rescript Boniface compared to an Ox Benedict to a wild Beast The Cardinal's Oath upon Boniface's death to resign if chosen Boniface sueceeded by Innocent the Seventh who broke his Oath A great Canonist debaucht and covetous On his death the Oath repeated with Imprecations Gregory the Twelfth succeeded Who treated with Benedict for the Church's peace k Anton. de Butr. ad cap. quod ad consultationem n. 3. de Sent. re jud And for a Resignation by them both at Savona Sends to Charles the Sixth of France about the same Affair Gregory harshly treated his Ambassadors at their return Drew back and shuffled Then plainly refused to stand to the Agreement Hearing Benedict was come to Savona he comes to Siena To whom Chichele was one of the Ambassadors from England and there made Bishop of St. David's Pope Gregory goes to Lucca Refuses to go to Savona Trinkles with Benedict is for his Hypocrisy called Errorius The Cardinals displeas'd for his promoting Condelmarius His own Party fly to Pisa They appeal from him to Christ a general Council and the next Pope This justified by Panormitan l Abb. ad c. Inquisitioni n 5. de Sent. Excom m Ancharan Cons 181. Card. Zabar Cons 150. Anton. de Butr. ad c. 1. n. 10. de Constit Both Popes accused of Perjury by the best Canonists The Cardinal 's leaving the Pope grateful to the Christian Princes The Kings of England and France withdrew their Obedience from both the Popes n Dec. in Consil pro Authoritate Concilii supra Papam ☞ At the Request of the Cardinal's Letters English Money with-held o Bald. add c. olim de rescript The French King withdraws Obedience to