taken away and setled in the King his Heirs and Successors And no longer since than 21 Iac. c. 30. York-house in the Strand was by special Act of Parliament by way of Exchange taken from the Archbishop of York and setled on King Iames his Heirs Successors and Assigns and after that on the Duke of Buckingham upon pretext that it was for the benefit of the Archbishops By all which Acts and Presidents it is most evident that our Kings Parliaments and Temporal Lords may not only seise sequester the Temporal Lands Goods Estates of Bishops and Church-men in cases of Delinquency and Contumacy but likewise substract alienate and sell them to supply the necessities of the King and Kingdom in times of war and extreme necessity without Sacriledge or Impiety which should cause our present Archbishops Bishops and Cathedralment to carry themselves with greater Loyalty and Dutifullnesse towards his Sacred Majesty with greater humility sobriety meeknesse and respect towards the Temporal Lords Commons and People than their Predecessors have done and make them very carefull of giving just offence or provocation to all or any of them especially at this present juncture of our Ecclesiastical and Civil Officers in so hopefull a way of future Settlement if their pride avarice ambition or indiscretion do not interrupt them 7ly That Archbishops Bishops Deans and Chapters themselves by their common consent may lawfully alienate sell and give away not only their Lands and Possession which were never solemnly consecrated but even their very consecrated Chalices Vestments and Ornaments of their Churches themselves though more peculiarly consecrated by Episcopal benedictions more immediately devoted to Gods service than their Lands and other Temporalties and that in cases of publick necessity or charity as to relieve the Poor in time of famine to redeem Captives to ransom their lawfull Kings to support their decayed Patrons and Benefactors to defend their native Country against invading Enemies or Christians against Infidels to prevent a greater mischief and for the benefit of the Church in general as sundry antient Councils and the Popish Canonists themselves have resolved Yea by the Popes consent without any of these Causes our Archbishops and Bishops might alienate sell morgage give away and dispose of the Lands belonging to their Bishopricks as the express clause in their Oath to the Pope not to do it without the Popes council and consent imports When our King Richard the first was most injuriously taken in his return from the Holy Land and for a whole year and three months space kept Prisoner by the Emperour of Germany and at last put unto a ransom of one hundred thousand pounds of Silver after the weight of Colen Anno 1093 the Kings Collectors being unable to levy so great a masse of moneys thereupon Majores quidem Ecclesiae thesauros ab antiquis congestos temporibus Ecclesiae Parochiales argenteos calices praemiserunt the Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Priors of all Conventual Churches gave the fourth part of their annual Rents and other inferiour Clergy-men the Tenth of their Tithes and the Cistercian Monks all their Wools towards his speedy ransom Yea the Chronicle of Brompton and others inform us that the Kings Collectors wanting monies after a double exaction of what they could scrape together from all parts Postrenis ut nulla vacaret occasio ad vasa sacra et utensilia Ecclesiae ventum est Ieaque per omnem Anglica regni latitudinem sacri Calices exactoribus regiis traduntur vel paulo infra pondus redimuntur Vasa etiam alia Cruces Praelatorum anuâ—â— cum auro de Sanctorum fereâ—ris abraâ—o sunt conflaia Nec erat hoc secundum Patrum decreta illicitum cum urgenâ—tisimus necessiiatis arâ—â—enlus instaret Nec ulla erat distinâ—â—â—o in this necessity Clerici Laici secularis religiosi rustici urbani sâ—à omnes indifferenter juxtà substantiae suae vires vel redditum quantitatem pro redemptione Regia portionem suam solvere cogebantur Privilegia Praerogativae Iunnunitates Ecclesiarunt tunc silebant penitus et vacabant Omnis enim dignitas libertas os suam oppilabat Cisterciensis quoque ordinis Monachi qui ab omni exactione Regie hactenus immunes extiterant tantò magis tunc onerati suerant quantò minus antea publici oneris senserant gravitatem Exacti quoque conctilanam suarum ovium resignarunt And should not our Bishops and Cathedral men now for and towards his Majesties most glorious redemption and his three whole Kingdoms ransom from near twelve years exile and captivity and for the future settlement of our Churches Kingdoms in sound and lasting peace in pursuance of his Majesties most gracious Declarations and Engagements at Breda and the Generals Parliaments Engagements before his happy return into England to give competent satisfaction to Purchasers of their Lands not only part with their antient Treasures Chalices Miters Crosiers Church Ornaments Copes but likewise with their late alienated Temporalties and Revenues for competent terms of years of lives reserving the antient or an improved rent rather than violate the publick saith peace of the King Kingdom Parliament oppugn his Majesties royal Commands the Lords Commons Parliaments Souldiers and Peoples desires by unreasonable demands or indiscreet covetous and violent proceedings against Purchasors and Tenants which may indanger if not demerit the forfeiture reseisure and new sales of all their Lands and Temporal Revenues in case of obstinacy and dis-satisfaction herein The rather because our Bishops by the Laws of England before the Statute of 1. Iac. c. 3. and other restraining Acts might with the consent of their Deans and Chapters not only lawfully lease their Lands for how many years or lives they pleased but likewise alien and sell the Inheritance thereof or charge them with what Rent-charges they pleased especially by the Kings consent as the grant of a Rent-charge out of the Glebe of a Parsonage by the Patron or Ordinary in time of vacancy or of the Parson Patron and Ordinary joyntly to a Layman shall bind the Successours in perpetuity as is evident by the Statutes of 37 H. 8. c. 16. 1 Jac. c. 3. 33 H. 8. c. 31. Littleton sect 648. Cooks 1. Institutes f. 343 344 44 45. and many other Lawbooks Not to adde many Presidents to those forecited in so clear a case it is registred by Bishop Godwin of Iohn Vâ—sly Bishop of Exeter in King Edward the 6th his Reign That of all the Bishops of the Land he was esteemed the best Courtier being better liked for his civil Behaviour than his Learning which in the end turned not so much to his credit as to the spoyle of his Church for of twenty two Lordships and Manors which his Predecessors had left unto him of a goodly yearly Revenue he left but three and them also leased out and where he found 13. Houses and Palaces too many by 12. for any one Apostolical Bishop well
If then it were neither Sacâ—iledge Impiety nor Injustice in these Parliaments and our Kings to take away sell alienate these Lands and Revenue of Priors Monks Monasteries and divert them from their primitive uses as our Bishops Dean and Chapters must grant as well as others or else renounce resign most of the Temporalties Rents Appropriations and Revenue they now enjoy originally belonging to Monasteries then by the self-same reason it can be no Sacriledge impiety or injustice for the King Lords Commons and Parliament upon the like grounds and considerations to take away sell alienate the temporal Land of Bishops Deans and Chapters if they offend or obstinately refuse to give the late Purchasers of them competent satisfaction for the Kingdoms Peace and Tranquility upon their commands and votes 9ly That is evident by our Histories Records Leager-books that all or most of the Manors Lands Tenements in England and Wales now in the possession of the King Queen Nobility Gentry and Commons of England have heretofore in some Age or other been solemnly consecrated devoted and given by their Ancestors to some Cathedral or Collegiate Church Abby Pâ—ioâ—y Nunnery Cell religious House or other or else by art fraud monyes vested in and setled on them in perpetuity as the Churches Patrimony Yet notwithstanding they have been alienated substracted or taken wholy from them in successive Ages and the inheritances of them setled in our Kings Nobles Gentry and Yeomanry without any scruple of Consciences or real or imported guilt of Sacriledge From whence it inevitably followeth That is the greatest part of all the Temporalties Lands and Revenues which our Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters Prebends Abbots Priors Monks Templars Hospitallers and other Ecclesiastical or religious persons formerly enjoyed by as good right title in Law Conscience as those now or any of them yet enjoy them might be lawfully alienated or justly taken from them by our Kings Parliaments and Temporal Lords and may be still detained from them by the Purchasers of them their Heirs or Assigns without Sacriledge Impiety or Injustice Then by the self same reason the Lands and Temporalties they lately possessed or yet possess may upon any publick necessity or just occasion be alienated sold and taken from them by our Kings Parliaments Lords and Common without the guilt of Sacriledge or Impiety so as there be a competent maintenance left for the Evangelical Ministers Bishops and Pastors of Parochial Churches for the instruction edification and salvation of the Peoples souls committed to their charge There being the self-same reason of Sacriledge and no Sacrilege in alienating substracting selling detaining the major part of their Lands temporalties as of the Minor Or else if it be real Sacriledge to alienate sell detain any parcels of Lands or Temporalties formerly given by our antient Parliaments to others or vested in the Church or Church-men then all our Kings Parliaments Nobles Commons must be actually guilty of these sins and as far forth obliged in Justice Conscience to make full restitution of all church-Church-lands whatsoever formerly alienated or substracted as the late Purchasers of Bishops and Cathedral Lands and then the whole Kingdom or farre greatest part thereof must henceforth become the Churches and Church-mens Patrimony and our Kings Nobles Gentry Commonalty of all degrees their mere Homagers Vassals Farmers and Tenants at sufferance the antiquity of former alienations sales of church-Church-lands by our Ancestors if Sacrilegious and Impious rather aggravating than extenuating the Crime but no wayes justifying the Legality thereof it being a Maxime in our Law Quod ab initio non valet tractu temporis non convalescit and a Principle in Divinity that the older any sin is and the longer persevered in the more execrable and fit to be repented redressed and that Heirs Assignees and Successors are obliged to make restitution of sacrilegious Rapines as well as the immediate Authors of them 10ly That the Dispensation and Indulgence of Pope Iulius the 3d. himself Cardinal Pole Archbishop of Canterbury his Legate upon the Petition of all the Bishops and Clergy of England though Papists and the memorable Act of the whole Parliament of 1 2 Philip Mary c. 8. reciting them and confirming all alienations seisures sales of the Lands Manors Rents Revenues Goods as well of Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters Prebends Cathedrals as of Abbots Priors Monks and other Religious Persons and Monasteries made by our Kings or Parliaments to the Crown and the Purchasers of all and every of them and their Heirs from the twentyeth year of King Henry the 8th till the first of Queen Mary during their revolt and pretended scisme from the Church of Rome and of all Ordinations Presentations Ecclesiastical Sentences and Proceedings for the publick peace benefit tranquility of the Church and Realm of England and satisfaction of Purchasors may for ever silence our Prelates and Cathedral mens loud cryes against the sacriledge of the late Sellers and Buyers of Bishops and other Cathedral mens Lands and enduce them to give the Purchasors of them full satisfaction by confirming their sales for a competent time For which end I shall transcribe so much of that memorable Act as concerns our present case and condition We the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled representing the whole body of this Realm reduced received by your Majesties intercession to the unity of Christs Church and the obedience of the Sea Apolike of Rome and the Popes holyness governing the same make most humble suite unto your Majesties to be likewise means and intercessours that all occassions of contention hatred grudge suspition and trouble both outwardly and inwardly in mens Consciences which might arise amongst us by reason of disobedience may by authority of the Popes holyness and by ministration of the same unto us by the most reverend Father in God the Lord Cardinal Poole by dispensation toleration or permission respectively as the case shall require be abolished and taken away and by authoritie sufficient these Articles following and generally all others when any occasion shall so require may be provided for and confirmed First that all Bishopricks Cathedral Churches Hospitals Colleges Schools and other such foundations now continuing made by authority of Parliament or otherwise established according to the order of the Laws of this Realm sithens this scisme may be confirmed and continued for ever Item that mariages made infra gradus prohibitos consanguinitatis affinitatis cognationis spiritualis or which might be made void propter impedimentum publicae bonestatis justitiae or for any other cause prohibited by the Canons only may be confirmed and children born of those mariages declared legittimate so as those mariages were made according to the Laws of the Realm for the time being and be not directly against the laws of God nor in such case as the Sea Apostolike hath not used to dispence withall That institutions of
A SEASONABLE VINDICATION OF THE Supream Authority and Jurisdiction OF CHRISTIAN KINGS LORDS PARLIAMENTS As well over the Possessions as Persons of Delinquent Prelates and Churchmen OR An Antient Disputation of the famous Bohemian Martyr John Hus in justification of John Wickliffs 17. Article Proving by 43. Arguments taken out of Fathers Canonists School-men the Supream Authority and Jurisdiction of Princes Parliaments temporal Lords and other Lay-men who have endowed the Church with Temporalties to take away and alien the Temporal Lands and Possessions of Delinquent Bishops Abbots and Church-men by way of medicine or punishment without any Sacrilege Impiety or Injustice Transcribed out of the printed Works of Iohn Hus and Mr. Iohn Fox his Acts and Monuments printed London 1641. Vol. 1. p. 585 c. With an Additional Appendix thereunto of Proofs and Domestick Presidents in all ages usefull for present and future times By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of Lincolns Inne Acts 1. 20. Let his habitation be desolate and no man dwell therein and his Bishoprick let another take Bernard De Consideratione ad Eugenium l. 3. Parvi dejectique animi est de Subditis non profectum quaerere Subditorum sed quaestum propriū in summo praesertim Pontifice nihil turpius London Printed by T. Childe and L. Parry and are to be sold by Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain 1660. To the most Illustrious MONARCH Charles the II. BY THE Singular Grace and Wonder-working Providence of Almighty God of England Scotland France and Ireland KING Defender of the true Christian Faith and Supreme Governor over all Ecclesiastical Persons as well as Temporal throughout his Dominions Most Gracious Soveraign I Humbly crave license to prostrate at your Royal feet a learned Disputation of the famous Bohemian Martyr John Hus in defence of our renowned John Wickliffs 17. Article largely evidencing the Supream Authority of Christian Kings and Temporal Lords over the Temporalties and Persons of Delinquent Prelates and Churchmen backed with an Additional Appendix hastily compiled in the midst of my other distracting publike Imployments in few hours space not unseasonable or unworthy publike Consideration in relation to ancient and late alienations of Abbots Bishops Cathedral lands now under your Majesties and your Parliaments Deliberation in order to their Purchasers satisfaction for the prevention of future Animosities suits establishment of Cordial Unity Amity between all Your Subjects after their many years sad Intestine bloudy Schisms and Discords The sole Occasion of this Publication was the many late Petitions of Purchasers and others complaining of some Bishops Churchmens covetousness or averseness to give them such competent satisfaction for their Purchases by new Leases or otherwise as Your Majesties Royal Declarations the Commons-House Votes and Your Noble Generals Engagements in order to Your Highnesse most joyfull peaceable Restitution to Your Throne induced them to expect and of their violent or vexatious proceedings contrary to Your Gracious Proclamation and Commission The principal design of it is to Vindicate Your Majesties ancient Soveraign Jurisdiction with the Legal power of your Parliaments temporal Lords over the Possessions and Persons of the greatest Prelates in cases of Delinquency War or Publike Necessity and the Lawfulness of seising alienating their Temporalties imprisoning banishing executing their persons for Criminal Offences and Contempts of which they have been frequently guilty without any Sacrilege or Impiety The contemplation whereof I presume will henceforth perpetually bind them to their good behaviours both towards Your Majesty your Parliaments and People and engage them to a charitable sober religious use of all their Temporal endowments to a most heavenly humble world-contemning Conversation a diligent faithfull discharge of their Episcopal function by daily constant preaching fasting praying and administration of the Sacraments to the Souls committed to their pastoral charge and to an aemulous imitation of our pious primitive Archbishops and Bishops Wilfrid Aydan Ceadda and others of whom Venerable Beda and Gervasius Dorobernensis render us this account Non Equitando sed pedibus ambulando verbum Dei instantissime praedicabant Tota tunc fuit sollicitudo Doctoribus illis Deo servire non seculo tota cura cordis excolendi non ventris Nulla causa fuit sacerdotibus Dei vicos adeundi nisi ut praedicarent vel baptizarent vel animas curarent Cuncta quae sibi à Regibus vel divitibus seculi donabantur mox pauperibus qui occurrerent erogate gaudebant In tantum erant ab omni peste Avaritiae castigati ut nemo territoria vel possessiones ad construenda Monasteria à potestatibus seculi nisi coactus acceperet All their Oblations and revenues were equally divided into 4. parts The 1. for the sustentation of the Bishop and his family not in a pompous Lordly splendor but sober and Christian hospitality The 2. for the maintenance of his Clergy or Chapter The 3. for the relief of the Poor The 4. for the repair of Churches and if any surplusage remained it was bestowed in alms and other pious uses not spent in Luxury or worldly pomp No part of it was treasured up in the Bishops own purse to enrich himself or Leased to or bestowed on his wife children kenred servants or Courtiers as in later ages as real Sacrilege as any now declaimed against Their Angelical and Evangelical Conversations purchased them such veneration and high esteem among all sorts of people Ut ubicunque Clericus aliquis adveniret gaudentèr ab omnibus tanquam Dei famulus exciperetur Etiam si in itinere pergens inveniretur occurrebant flexa cervice vel manu signari vel ore illius se benedici gaudebant verbis quoque horum exhortatoriis diligenter auditum praebebant Et si quis Sacerdotum in vicum fortè deveniret mox congregati in unum vicani Uerbum vitae ab illo expetere et operibus implere curabant Such an Episcopal life as these then led in our Bishops and Clergy now without future contests which of them shall be the Greatest Richest Highest but best holyest humblest would speedily reconcile both them their Purchasors and Opponents yea produce such a reverend estimation and entertainment of their Persons and Ministry in the Laity as Your Majesty by your most pious Declarations Proclamations Speeches and unwearied Endeavours have exhorted and conjured them unto that so all your Subjects may henceforth live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty under Your most just and gracious Government Which as it ought to be their daily prayer so it is their bounden duty and will be the only means of their future felicity Let those everlasting Arms of the Eternal God riding upon the heavens for Your help which have so miraculously protected supported restored Your Royal Majesty to Your Kingdoms and thrust out the Enemy from before You without sword or spear for ever embrace defend
given unto the Church of Christ by the devotion of the Faithfull the power and authority of the Secular power reserved lest there might happen any confusion Forsomuch as God himself cannot allow any disordered thing Whereupon oftentimes the worldly Princes do grant the bare use of the Church and oftentimes use and power to exercise Justice which the Clergy cannot exercise by any Ecclesiastical Minister or any other person of the Clergy Notwithstanding they may have certain Lay-persons Ministers unto that office But in such sort saith he that they do acknowledge the power which they have to come from the Secular Prince or Ruler and that they do understand thâ—ir Possessions can never be alienate away from the Kings power but if that necessity or reason do require the same Possessions in all such case of necessity do owe him obeysance and service For like as the Kings power ought not to turn away the defence or safegard which he oweth unto other so likewise the Possessions obtained and possessed by the Clergy according to the duty and homage which is due unto the Patronage of the Kings power cannot by right be denyed Thus much writes Hugo with whom Iohn Hus concludes his Disputation Mat. 5. 39 40. But I say unto you that you resist not evil And if any man will sue thee at the Law and take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also Phil 3. 8 17 18 19 20. Yea doubtless I count all things but lâ—sse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things But our conversation is in heaven Col. 3. 1 2 c. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God Set your affection on things above not on things on the earth for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience A supplemental Appendix to the premised Disputation of John Hus irrefragibly evidencing the Supream Iurisdiction of our Kings Lords and Parliaments not only over the Persons Liberties Lives of our Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Church-men in cases of High Treason Rebellion Disobedience Contumacy and Disloyalty but likewise over their Temporal Lands and Estates to seise and confiscate them without Sacriledge or Injustice HAving presented the Readers with the memorable Disputation of this famous learned Bohemian Marty Iohn Hus in justification of our English Apostle and prime Assertor of the Reformed Religion we now profess whose Doctrine spread it self into Bohemia Germany and other parts to the subversion of the Popes and Prelates usurped Authority over Kings Popery by degrees It will not be unseasonable by way of Appendix to subjoyn some memorable domestick Evidences Presidents in all Ages to justifie their opinions in point of practise Not with the least intention to deprive the faithfull painfull Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel or any true Evangelical Bishops of the antient Glebes Tithes Dues belonging to their respective Parochial Churches or of that liberal competent Maintenance or double Honor which belongs unto them by a divine right and common natural Justice for their labour in the work of the Ministry which I have publickly and largely asserted But only to vindicate the just Prerogative of our Kings and Jurisdiction of the Temporal Lords and Commons in Parliament over the Persons and superfluous large Temporal Mannors Lands and Possessions of delinquent Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Deans Chapters Monks and other religious Persons which are not of Divine or Apostolical but mere Humane institution and not absolutely necessary to the being of the Church of Christ as true Evangelical Bishops and Ministers are whose principle office and duty is frequently to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments not to domineer over their people or suspend them from the Lords supper Mat. 28. 19. 20. Mar. 16. 15. 1 Cor. 5. 7 18 21 c. 9. 14 to 19. 2 Tim. 4. 2 5. Rom. 10. 19 20. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. To this end I shall desire our Archbps. Bps. and other Cathedralists to consider 1. That Gratian the Canonist Peter Lombard the School-man with most other Canonists and Scholmen in their Glosses or Commentaries on their Texts Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury Mr. Iohn Fox William Harrison Richard Grafton Iohn Speed and no lesse than thirty more of our antient Historians and other Authors quoted by Archbishop Vsher for this purpose affirm That the antient Britains before their conversion to Christianity had 28. Flamines and 3. Archflamines in this our Island to whom the other Priests were subject having distinct Cities Sees Diocesses and Temples wherein they resided and exercised their Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions that King Lucius upon his conversion to Christianity about the year of our Lord 175. by Pope Elutherius his direction took away their Sees Lands and Temples from them and placed 28. Bishops and 3. Archbishops in their steads turning their Sees into Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and their Temples into Cathedral Churches Yea Gratian himself Distinctio 21. and the Glossers on him resolve That the distinction among Priests whence some are stiled Priests simply others Archpriests others Choral Bishops others Bishops others Archbishops or Metropolitans others Primates others Chief Priests WAS PRINCIPALLY INTRODVCED BY THE GENTILS not the Apostles or Primitive Christians who called their Flamines some simple Flamines others Arch-flamines others Proto-flamines If then these their Hierarchical orders were originally derived from they succeeded the Pagan Flamines Arch-flamins Proto-Flamins in their Sees Jurisdictions Temporalties and Cathedrals which King Lucius took from them without sacriledge or impietie then by the like reason and president our Kings or Temporal Lords and Commons in Parliament may devest our peccant Prelates of their Sees Temporalties Cathedrals convert them to other uses for the publik ease and benefit of the Kingdom when they see just cause being originally dedicated to these Flamines Arch-flamines Proto-flamines and their Pagan Gods 2ly That admit these former Authors relations touching Flamines Arch-flamines and King Lucius erecting Bishops and Arch-bishops in their Sees to be false and fabulous as Bishop Iewel Bishop Godwin Bishop Vsher Doctor Suteliffe and Sir Henry Spelman repute them yet it is agreed by all that the primitive
Archbishoprick at Litckfield took away six Bishopricks formerly subject to the See of Canterbury and detained the Lands above thirty years till at last restored by the judgement of two or three Parliamentary Great Councils after many Petitions and Complaints upon full hearing and examination Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury for refusing to Crown King William the Conqueror and holding the Bishoprick of Winchester in Commendam with his Archbishoprick together with many other Bishops and Abbots was deprived by the Kings procurement and kept Prisoner at VVinchester during his life receiving only a small allowance out of the Exchequer to support him dying in Prison his Bishoprick remained void two years space in the Kings hands no lesse than twenty five Manors being taken away from it till recovered by â— ansraue his Successor in a famous Council of the Noble and Elders of England held at Penindene King VVilliam Rufus banished Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury out of the Realm for Treason against him and his Soveraign Power and seised his Temporalties till his death after which King Henry the first recalling him he most trayterously and obstinately oppugned the Kings Prerogative of investing Bishops in their Bishopricks by a Ring and Pastoral-slast and refusing to do homage to the King or to consecrate any Bishops who received Investitures from him or did Homage to him for which he was banished for three years out of the Realm all his Temporalties and Goods moveable and immoveable seised into the Kings hands with the Temporalties Goods of those Bishops who renounced their Investistures by the Kings donation by Anselmes perswasion King Stephen seised all the Goods and Temporalties of Theobuld Archbishop of Canterbury and banished him the Realm for departing out of England to Rome upon the Popes summons contrary to his expresse royal Prohibition and for interdicting the King and whole Realm After which being restored to his Archbishoprick by the other Bishops mediation his Goods and Temporalties were again consiscated and seised into the Kings hands Anno 1152. for refusing to Crown Eustace King Stephens Son he forced to flye the Realm which he caused to be infested with fire sword and bloudy wars Thomas Bâ—cket Archbishop of Canterbury an infamous perjured Traytor to and Rebel against King Henry the second his advancer and indulgent Soveraign grand Oppugner of his Royal Prerogatives and of the Customs of the Realm contrary to the Oath and Recognition of himself and all the Bishops Clergy and Temporal Lords in the famous Great Council of Clarindon endeavouring totally to exempt the Clergy from all Temporal power jurisdiction and judicature for the most detestable Crimes and Murders had all his Goods and Moveables by judgment of the Bishops and Peers condemned and confiscated to the King his Temporalties seised into the hands all his Moneys Jewels Plate confiscated together with all the Clergy-men goods who adhered to him all his Kindred Man Woman and Child secured and afterwards banished the Realm together with himself for sundry years and was at last slain in the Cathedral Church at Canterbury for his manifold Treasons Rebellions against the King to the great disturbauce both of the Churches and Kingdoms peace King Iohn An. 1205. seised upon all Archbp. Huberts Lands and Possessions after his death for his manifold Contempts and Oppositions against his Royal authoritie and resolutions during his life Stephen Langhton his next Successor in the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury for his manifold Treasons and Rebellions against King John had all his Temporalties and Goods seised by the King and was suspended from his Archbishoprick and threatned to be deprived of it by the Pope Archbishop Boniface being commanded by King Henry the third to relinquish his Archbishoprick and depart the Realm by reason of the grievous Complaints both of the Clergy and Commonalty against him thereupon selled his Woods leased out his Lands extorted what moneys he could from his Tenants and carried all with him in to Savoy where he dyed King Edward the first Anno 1301. put Robert Winchelsie Archbishop of Canterbury with all the other Bishops and Clergy out of his Protection and the Parliament House and seised the Archbishops Temporalties Goods Debts After which divers High Treasons and Rebellious Conspiracies were laid to his Charge by the King who thereupon the second time seised all his Temporalties and Goods moveable and immoveable appealed him to the Pope banished him the Realm forbidding any of his Subjects under grievous penalties to harbour him and seised all the Lands of the Monks of Canterbury and banished them the Realm for furnishing this Arch-traytor secretly with necessaries King Edward the second caused all the Goods of Iohn Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury to be seised and his Temporalties to be sequestred into his hands whiles Bishop of Winchester for taking that Bishoprick by Provision from the Pope against his Royal command After which being advanced to Canterbury by King Edward the third he was soon after accused of Treason Treachery and Conspiracy with the French and Pope against the King whose designs against them he crossed all he could whereupon the King resolved to commit him Prisoner to the Tower of London whither he sent the Bishop of Chichesier then Lord Chancellor and the Bishop of Lichfiâ—ld then L. Treasurer Prisoners for the like offences Wherupon this Archbp. flying to Canterbury and there standing on his Gard refused to render himself carrying himself very insolently and rebelliously against the King both in his Sermons and Excommunication saying That he had received no honor nor advancement from the King but ONLY FROM GOD and that he would give an account of his Actions in no. Court and to no Person but in Parliament Whereupon a Parliament was summoned and divers hainous Crimes charged against him by the King which the King after great suit and intreaty pardoned Simon Langham Archbishop of Canterbury Chancellor of England Anno 1371. was put from his Office his Temporalties seised and stripped of all his Archiepiscopal ensigns for receiving from Pope Vrban the Cardinalship of St. Sixtus without King Edward the third his privity who was highly offended with him for it Anno 1386. Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury in the insurrection of Iack Straw was beheaded on Tower-Hill his Head fixed on a Poll and set on London Bridge as a Traytor and Enemy to the King and People King Rich. the 2d highly offended with Will. Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury for receiving his Archbishoprick by provision from the Pope against the Law and his Prerogative Royal and for other Misdemeanours commanded all his Goods and Temporalties to be seised and forced the Archbishop himself to hide his Head for fear of imprisonment till he made his peace with him Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury was impeached and condemned of High Treason against the King in the Parliament of 21 Rich. 2. by judgement of Parliament for which he was
against the Kings Prerogative the King was so highly offended with him as he had just cause that he presently banished him the Realm and seised his Temporalties Giles de Bruse Bishop of Hereford for siding with the Barons in their wars against King Iohn and consenting to the Interdict had all his â—oods and Temporalties seised and was banished the Kingdom by King Iohn Peter de Eveblancks 42. Bishop of Hereford for his intollerable Oppressions Treacheries and Exorbitances was arrested by the Barons in the year 1263. in his own Cathedral Church where they seised upon his Goods divided his Treasure amongst their Souldiers before his face and then imprisoned him a long time in Ordley Castle as a mere Pest and Traytor both to Church and State Adam de Orlton or Tarleton the 46. Bishop of Hereford was arrested of High Treason for aiding the Mortymers with men and armes against King Edward the second and being indicted and brought to the Kings-bench Bar at Westminster to be arraigned for this Treason the Archbishops of Canterbury York and Dublin accompanied with their Suffragan Bishops came forcibly with their Crofiers rescued took him away from the Bar and protected him from the Kings Justice but the Indictment being found true upon proof his Temporalties were thereupon seised into the Kings hands till by this Bishops instigation he was deposed from the Crown and soon after murdered by his advice When Queen Isabel and her Son Prince Edward were with their Army at Oxford this Bishop steps up into the Pulpit and there taking these words for his Text My Head grieved me he made a long Discourse to prove That an Evil Head not otherwise to be cured must be taken away applying it to King Edw. the 2 d. that he ought to be deposed and afterwards he counselled the Queen to depose make him away which being effected at Berkley Castle by thrusting a hot Spit into his fundament none then appeared so earnest a Prosecutor of these Murderers as this Traitorous Bishop who set them on work to whom when many of his own Letters were produced and shewed concerning this most traytorous inhuman Act he eluded them by sophistical interpretations and utterly denyed he was any way consenting thereunto when as in truth he was the chief occasion and adviser thereof Iohn Trevenant the 51. Bishop of Hereford was one of the prime Actors in the deposition of King Richard the second and setting up King Henry the 4th in his Throne for which he demerited not only a sequestration of his Temporalties but a Decollation though he escaped both Charles Booth Bishop of Hereford was excepted out of the General pardon of the Praemunire granted by King Henry the 8th to the Clergy in Parliament 22 H. 8. c. 15. for which his Goods and Temporalties were confiscated to the King Agelrick Bishop of the South-Saxons since Chichester was deprived by VVilliam the Conqueror Anno 1078. with sundry other Bishops and Abbots in the Councils of VVinchester and VVindsor for their Treasons and Conspiracies against him and afterwards imprisoned Thomas Rushock the 20th Bishop of Chichester a lewd pernicious Prelate Anno 1388. was banished the Court as a Traytor and pernicious Counsellor to King Richard the second his Lands and Goods confiscated himself banished and deprived of his Bishoprick by Act of Parliament and had suffered death too as a Traytor but that his Guiltiness made him fly before he could be apprehended Richard Sampson the 37th Bishop of Chichester Anno 21 H. 8. was committed Prisoner to the Tower for relieving certain trayterous Persons who denyed the Kings Supremacy George Day Bishop of Chichester Octob. 10. 1551. was deprived of his Bishoprick for denying the Kings Supremacy maintaining the Popes and other Misdemeanours and his Temporalties seised Iohn Christopherson Bishop of Chichester was deprived of his Bishoprick by Act of Parliament 1 Eliz. for denying the Queens Supremacy and to take the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich a Martial Prelate more imployed in the Field than in the Pulpit and the Popes General against the Flemmings Anno 1385. had all his Temporalties seised into the Kings hands for two years for raising an Army and passing the Seas without and against King Richard the second his command and was likewise questioned fined and ransoned in Parliament for his misdemeanours in that military imployment Alexander Bishop of Norwich being elected by the Monks against the Kings consent Anno 1406. had his Temporalties kept from him by the King and his Person imprisoned at Windsor almost a year Richard Nyx Bishop of Norwich in the 25 of H. 8. was attainted in a Praemunire put out of the Kings protection his Person imprisoned his Lands Goods and Chattels seised and forfeited to the King for citing the Maior of Thetford into his Spiritual Court and forcing him to revoke a Presentment upon Oath contrary to Law Hugh Novant Bishop of Chester or Coventry and Litchfield as some stile him for conspiring with the King of France and Earl Iohn against his Soveraign King Richard the first to detain him still in Prison and plotting all the Mischief he could for the destruction of the King and Kingdom was in a Grand Parliamentary Council held at Nottingham about the year 1198. adjudged to Ecclesiastical censures and the seisure of his Temporalties as a Bishop and also to banishment and a Fine of 5000 Marks by the Temporal Lords as an Officer to the King VValter Langton Bishop of Chester by King Edward the second his command was arrested by the Constable of the Tower and imprisoned above two years space in several Castles his Lands and Temporalties seised into the Kings hands his Goods confiscated and after that compelled to answer to divers hainous Crimes whereof he was accused Cutbert Scot Bishop of Chester for his disobedience to Queen Elizabeth was committed Prisoner to the Fleet and displaced Edilred King of Mâ—rcia for some just displeasure against Putta Bp. of Rochester burned his Church and City and forced him to desert his Bishoprick to which he would never afterwards return Godwin Bishop of Rochester was for many months besieged in his City of Rochester by King Ethelred for some contempts against this King who would not raise his Siege upon any intreaty till the Bishop had submitted himself and likewise paid him an hundred pounds Fine Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester was grievously questioned in Parliament by the House of Commons Anno 25 H. 8. for saying That all their doings against the Clergy was for lack of Faith after which he was indicted and condemned of High Treason for countenancing the Revelations of Elizabeth Barton and denying to acknowledge the Kings Supremacy over Ecclesiastical Persons and Causes for which Treason be was executed upon Tower-hill though a Bishop and new-made Cardinal June 21. 1535. and his Head set upon London Bridge Edmond
de Bromfield the 48th Bishop of Landaff was for a long time committed Prisoner to the Tower his Temporalties seised and Goods confiscated by King Richard the second for procuring and bringing in the Popes Bulls of Provision contrary to his own Oath and the Laws of the Land to make himself Abbot of Bury Richard Bishop of Bangor siding against King Iohn his Soveraign with Lâ—olin Prince of VVales was taken Prisoner by the King in his own Cathedral Church and put to a ransom of 200. Hawks Roger Young Bishop of Bangor was imprisoned two or three years for his disobedience against King Henry the 4th and confederating with that Rebel Owen Glendor Arthur Bishop of Bangor was attainted in a Praemunire in the 36. year of King Henry the 8th for suing for the right of Patronage and Tithes of the Church of Langeyneiin in his Spiritual Court which belonged only to the Kings Temporal Courts for which he was put out of the Kings protection his Goods confiscated Temporalties seized and his Person adjudged to be imprisoned according to the Statute he sold away 5. fair Bells out of the Steeple of his Cathedral Giso Bishop of Bath and Wells had many conflicts with King Herald who forced him to fly the Realm and seized his Temporalties all his Reign Ioceline Bishop of Bath and Wells joyned with Archbishop Langhton and other Bishops in excommunicating his Soveraign King Iohn and interdicting the Kingdom for which offences his Temporalties were seized his Goods confiscated himself forced to fly and banished the Realm for five years space Robert Stillington Bishop of Bath and Wells for siding with the bloudy Usurper Richard the third at whose Coronation he was specially employed and for yielding assistance to Lambert the Counterfeit Earl of Warwick and other Treacheries was publickly accused of High Treason against King Henry the 7th and also arrested of High Treason in the University of Oxford whether he fled for Sanctuary imprisoned in the Castle of Windsor till his death Anno 1491. and his Goods and Temporalties seized William Barlow Bishop of Bath and Wells was attainted in a Praemunire by which his Temporalties and Goods were forfeited to the King Gilbert Bourne the 47. Bishop of Bath and Wells for denying the Queens Supremacy and refusing the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance to her 1 Eliz. was deprived of his Bishoprick And to mention no more Presidents in so plain a Case August 4. 1641. Walter Bishop of Winchester Robert Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Godfry Bishop of Glocester Ioseph Bishop of Exeter Iohn Bishop of Asaph George Bishop of Hereford Matthew Bishop of Ely William Bishop of Bangor Robert Bishop of Bristol Iohn Bishop of Rochester Iohn Bishop of Peterborough Roger Bishop of Landaffe and William Bishop of Bath and Wells were all of them joyntly and 2. of them particularly impeached by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament for several high Crimes and Misdemeanors contrary to the Kings Prerogative the Fundamental Laws of the Land the Rights of Parliament the Property and Liberty of the Subject and matters tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence After which most of them with the Archbishops of Canterbury and York were committed Prisoners to the Tower their Goods and Temporalties sequestred and sold by sundry Ordinances of Parliament If any out of Ignorance or Prejudice should deem all these proceedings against the Persons and Temporalties of our Archbishops and Bishops from age to age illegal unjust or sacrilegious let them peruse the Statutes of 1 E. 3. c. 2. 14 E. 3. c. 3. 25 E. 3. c. 6. 2 R. 2. c. 7. 13 R. 2. Stat. 2. c. 8. 43. 16 R. 2. c. 5. 6 H. 4. c. 7. And the year books of 20 E. 2 Fitz. Corone 237. 16 E. 3. and 14 E. 3. Fitz. Quare non admisit 3 7 8 11 21 E. 3. 3 30 60. Book Contempts 5. 19. 22 E. 3. 22 26. Ass. 19. Brook Forfeiture 82. 106. 29 E. 3. 42. Fitz. Execution 159. 38. Ass. 22. Grant 1. 38 E. 3. 12. 46 E. 3. Praemunire 1. 10 H. 4. 6. 14 H. 4. 14. 8 H. 6. 3. 9 E. 4. 28. 27 H. 8. 14. 22 Brook Exigent 3 Stamford l. 2. c. 45. Cook 5. Report f. 12 13. 8. Report f. 68. Cooks 3. Institutes c. 36. 54. Sir Iohn Davis Reports f. 84. the case of Praemunire Upon perusal of all which it will most evidently appear that both our Parliaments and Judges have frequently declared resolved that both their Persons may lawfully be attached imprisoned banished executed their Temporalties seized and Goods confiscated to the King for their Offences Contempts Rebellions both by the Common and Statute Laws of England and therefore by like reason their Lands may be alienated and taken from them for their offences or abuses of them without sin sacrilege or injustice by our Kings and Parliaments beyond all contradiction as they have been from time to time both by the Emperors of Rome Greece Germany the Kings and Kingdoms of France Spain Hungary Italy Denmark Sweden Poland Scotland and Ireland as well as England 6ly That as the Lands and Temporalties of Bishops Abbots Cathedrals by their very first Charters of Endowments and Foundations were alwaies lyable to these 3. Temporal charges and Secular services though dedicated to God and his Church to wit Military Expeditions and Charges of War for the defence of the King and Kingdom the building and repairing of Castles and Bridges commonly expressed in antient Charters under this exception Exceptis Expeditione Pontis Arcis constrictione vel necessariis defensionilus Arcium quae nulli unquam possint laxari So if the Bishops and Abbots upon the Kings writs of Summons refused to send in their Proportions of Horse and Armes according to the Number of the Knights sees they held by and perform these Services to our Kings in times of War or Danger or denied to grant competent Aydes and Subsidies to our Kings when demanded their Temporalties Lands Goods Movables were usually seized into the Kings hands for this Contempt as is evident by Claus. 4â— H. 3. m. 3. 6. Dorso the presidents of Archbishop Winchelsie and other Bishops forecited p. 52 53 c. So our Kings in times of War have frequently seized upon Archbishops Bishops and Church-mens Lands and given them to their Commanders and Souldiers witnesse the presidents of King Osfa and Kenulphus of old who took away sundry Mannors and Lands from the Archbishops of Canterbury which they partly divided amongst their Captains and Souldiers and partly retained to themselves with other presidents since And not only so but the Knights Citizens Burgesses and sundry Lords in successive Parliaments even in times of Popery have often pressed our Kings to take away sell and alienate the great superfluous Mannors Lands Temporalties of Bishops Abbots and Church-men for easing the Kingdom and people from Taxes and maintaining of Earls Nobles
Knights and other Military men to ayd our Kings in their Wars and have actually taken away divers Mannors Lands and Tenements from our Archbishops Bishops and Cathedrals as well as from Abbots Priors Monasteries and given them to our Kings or such as they should appoint The House of Commons in two several Parliaments held in the years of our Lord 1403. and 1404. under King Henry the 4th when this King wanted and demanded aydes and monies from them to carry on his Wars against the Welch-men at home and the French with other Enemies abroad counselled and pressed the King to seize upon the Lands of the Bishops Abbots and Spiritualtie to supply his wants with their Temporalties and Superfluities Whereupon there grew a great contest in the Parliament between the Clergy and Laity the Speaker of the Commons House and the Knights affirming That they had often served the King in his Wars not only with their Goods but also with their Persons in very great Dangers and Ieopardies whiles the Prelates and Spiritualty sate idle at home and helped the King nothing at all Whereupon the Bishops and Clergy to preserve their Temporalties from being taken away in these two Parliaments readily gave the King a Tenth in the first of these Parliaments and a Tenth and an half in the second After this the Knights and Commons in the year 1410. presented this Petition to King Henry the 4th and the Lords in Parliament To our Most Excellent Lord the King and all the Nobles in this present Parliament assembled all your faithfull Commons humbly demonstrate and truly affirm that our Lord the King might have out of the Temporal Possessions Lands and Tenements which are occupied and proudly leudly and unprofitably spent consumed and wasted by the Bishops Abbots and Priors within this Realm so much in value as would suffice to sustain in food 15. Earles 1500. Knights 6200. Esquires and 102. Hospitals more then now be Pressing the King and Lords to take away these Temporalties which they proudly and unprofitably consumed and to imploy them on other publick uses But by the subtilty and potency of the Bishops Abbots and Clergy from whom the King demanded a Tenth to be annually granted to him during his life wherein they were ready to gratifie him they preserved their Temporalties for that present Yet afterwards the Commons in Parliament Anno 1414. renewed this their old Petition to King Henry the 5th and the Lords to seise upon the Bishops and Abbots Temporalties shewing how many Earls Knights and Esquires they would maintain exhibiting a Bill to that purpose Hereupon the Bishops and Abbots whom it touched very near much fearing the issue determined to assay all wayes to put by and overthrow this Bill minding rather to bow than break agreeing first to offer the King a great sum of mony to put by his demand and afterwards intituling the King to sundry Provinces and the whole Realm of France in this Parliament and stirring up the King and Nobles to regain the same by force of armes Towards the recovering and regaining of which antient Right and Inheritance they granted the King in their Convocation such a sum of mony as by Spiritual persons never was to any Prince though the whole Christian world before these times given and advanced By which policy and grant they preserved their Temporalties from being taken away from them by that Parliament Yet some of their Manors and Temporalties were parted with to the King and Lords to purchase their peace after every of these Parliaments In the Parliament of King Henry the 8th in the 22d year of his Reign there were sundry Bills exhibited in Parliament against the abuses of the Bishops and Clergy and many hot contests between the Commons and Prelates who at the last brought them within the compasse of a Praemunire in this Parliament to the confiscation of all their Goods Temporalties and imprisonment of their Persons for submitting to Cardinal Wolsie his Power legatine from the Pope contrary to the Laws of the Realm and the Kings Prerogative Whereupon upon the Bishops and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury proferred to give the King the sum of one hundred thousand pounds and those of the Provinces of York eighteen thousand pounds more and likewise agreed to give the King the Title of THE SUPREAME HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEXT UNDER CHRIST which they would never do before to take off the forfeiture of the Praemunire Which the King accepting of granted all the Bishops and Clergy a General Pardon in Parliament out of which Iohn Archbishop of Dublin and the Bishop of Hereford with six more Clergy-men only were excepted and soon after this Parliament many of the Bishops Temporalties and Manors were granted by them to the King by their special conveyances besides others of them leased or granted to Courtiers great Officers and Favourites to preserve the remainder of them In the Parliament of 37 H. 8. by a special Act of Parliament printed in our Statutes at large under a feined pretext of Exchanges and other Recompences the Manor of Rippon in Yorkshire together with 69. other Manors there named their members and appurtenances were alienated and taken away from the Archbishoprick and Archbishop of York nine Manors one Castle with sundry Parks and Rectories belonging to the Archbishoprick to Canterbury the Manors of Chelmesford and Crondon with the Park of Crondon and all their Members Rights and Appurtenances were alienated and taken quite away from the Archbishops of Canterbury and Bishops of London and their Successors and by these Bishops Indentures and this Act of Parliament setled on the King his Heirs and Successors for ever as well against the said Archbishops and Bishop of London and their respective Successors as against the respective Deans and Chapters of York Canterbury London and their Successours and every of them any Law Custom Statute or other thing to the contrary hereof had or made notwithstanding as in and by the said Act worthy perusal is more at large recorded Besides these the City of Bath the Manors Markford Chedder Chew Claverton Compton Dando Compton Panel Congesbury Clanmore Everchurch Hâ—riton Kineston Lâ—dâ—ord Pucklechurch Wellington Westerleigh VVatton VVecke VVile Yatton with sundry other Farmes Tenements Hundreds and Appropriations have been alienated by and taken from the Bishoprick of Bath and VVills the Manors of Sherburn Sunning and sundry others from the Bp. of Salisbury and sundry other Manors Lands Tenements Farmes from the Bishops of VVinchester Lincoln Ely Chichester Norwich Exeter Hereford Coventry and Litchfield Durham Carlisle before and since 37. Henry the 8th And had not the Statute of 1 Lac. c. 3. restrained the Alienations of Bishops Lands and Revenues they had long ere this had no Lands or Rents at all to dispose of In the Parliament of 7 E. 6. by a special Act of Parliament the Bishoprick of Durham with all the Lands and Hereditaments thereof were
furnished he left only one House bare and unfurnished yet charged with sundry fees and annuities whereby this Bishoprick which sometime was accounted one of the best became in Temporal Lands one of the meanest If then our Bishops and Cathedral men themselves may thus alienate sell charge exchange their Temporal Lands and Possessions or lease them out to their Wives Children Kindred Courtiers Friends without Sacrilege or Impiety No doubt the King Temporal Lords and Commons in Parliament may much more alienate lease charge them upon any publick necessity for the Kingdoms ease peace settlement after so many years Wars and Revolutions without any Sacrilege or Injustice all circumstances duly considered 8ly That the Lands formerly given to Abbies Priories Monastries Templers Hospitalers and other Religious Orders were dedicated to God and the Church with greater Ceremonies and Solemnities ratified by more Charters Confirmations of our Kings and Parliamentary Councils and by more solemn Anathemaes Curses Excommunications then any Lands setled on Bishops Deans Chapters or Cathedrals as the Charters themselves yet extant and our Histories resolve beyond dispute Yet our Kings in all ages before and since the Conquest have not only seized their Temporalties in times of War but likewise detained them in their own hands to their own use and given them to their Officers Captains and Souldiers by way of pay or recompence for their salaries and that both before and since the Conquest as the Emperors of Germany and Kings of France Spain Hungary Poland Denmark Sweden Russia have frequently done and that of late years too as well as antiently by the Iesuits perswasion who affirm it to be lawfull and Iustas esse causas Monasteriorum fundationes in meliores usuâ— convertendi jam Pontifex Caesar Episcopi Principes judicarunt et verbis et factis Data sunt Monasteria in Belli sumptus data multa Episcopis data ad seminaria data Parochiis as Alphonsus de Vargas Relatio de Stratagem Iesuiticum c. 49. relates their words which he amplifies from c. 43 to 54. I shall instance only in some few Domestick presidents Beored King of the Mercians in the years of Christ 870. and 871 when the invading barbarous Danes plundered sacked burnt sundry Monasteries and the Mannors belonging to them putting the Monks and Abbots they met with to the Sword as well as others without discrimination seized upon divers Monasteries and their Lands retaining most of them in his own hands and giving the residue of them to his Commanders and Souldiers for the better maintenance of his Wars and Forces against the Danes for defence of the Kingdom and People against their invasions thus recorded by Ingulphus Abbot of Croyland Bâ—orredus autem Rex Merciorum hoc intermedio cum Britonibus occupatus qui crebris eruptionibus Occidentalem partem Regni sui Merciae inquietabant audiensque Danos plagam ejus Orientalem plaga miserabili percussisse venit Londonias contracto maximo exercitu pertransiens per Regni sui plagas Orientales totam Heliensem insulam fisco suo applicavit procedensque in patriam Girniorum omnes terras de Medeshamstedensi monasterio in manum suam cepit scilicet quicquid inter Stanford Huntingdon Wischect dicto monasterio dudum pertinuerat remotiores vero terras sparsim per patriam jacentes stipendiariis militibus exercitus sui assignavit id secit de terris monasterii S. Pegae de Reifirâ— quasdam sibi retinuit quasdam militibus suis dedit id fecit etiam de terris monasterii Gutblaci de Croyland quasdam stipendiariis militibus distribuit quasdam sibi confiscavit Et licet venerabilis pater Godriâ—us saepius repetendo penes Regem Ministros suos multos sudores consumeret chartas donatorum Regumque confirmationes una cum suo proprio chirographo saepissime offenderet nihil semper nisi vacua verba reportans demum de negotii sui proposito penitus desperabat Cernens itaque malitiam temporis nimiam malitiam Regis terrarum cupidissimam statuit tandem secum hujusmodi Regias donationes surdo tempore petransire ac usque melâ—ora tempora succederent deinceps sub silentio dissimulare laetus nimium exultans quod totam circumjacentem insulam liberam ab omni exactione Regali absolutam multum specialius sibi quam multis aliis monasteriis tunc contigerat Regia gratia concessisset Recesserunt ergo illo tempore de dicto monasterio Croyland usque ad praesentem diem non redierunt illae possessiones scilicet manerium de Spalding datum Adelwulpho Comiti cum omnibus pertinentiis suis manerium de Deping datum Langfero militi panetario Reg cum omnibus pertinentiis suis manerium de Croxâ—on datum Fâ—rnodo militi vexillario Regis cum omnibus pertinentiis suis manerium de Kirsoton Kunerby in Lindefie cum omnibus pertinentiis datum Comiti Turgoto Bufenhaâ—e vero Halington tunc fisco appropriata postea per industriam Domini Turketuli Abbatis Croyland donationem piissimi Regis Edrad restauratoris dicto monasterio fuerant restituta Similiter omnes caeterae teriae aliquando Croylandiae pertinentes quas Rex Bâ—orredus cisco suo assumpserat scilicet Quarpelade Suâ—turton Langtoft Baston Repingale Nirfby Draiton Chirning Glaphtorn Adington Standon Badby per gratiam inclyti Regis Edredi diligentiam Abbatis Turketuli Croylandiae who redeemed them with very great sums of money whith he mentions p. 878 879. reddebantur Transiens tunc Rex Bâ—orredus cum sito exercitu in Lyndesâ—e latissimas terras monasterio de Bardney dudum pertinentes fisco suo accepit immotas vero in diversis patriis divisas jacentes militibus suis dedit Besides the same Ingulphus records that in the 6. year of King Edward the Confessor though a great Patron of Abbots Monks and Monasteries Anno Dom. 1048. Wulgat Abbot of Pegeland by sundry sutes in the Kings Courts of Justice not only lost the site of his Monastery but after that all the Mannors and Lands formerly given thereunto after the Abbot of Burge hath recovered the former site of the Monastery and enforced him to rebuild the Abby in another place Illo in tempore venerabilis pater Dominus Wulgatus Abbas Pegelandiae diutissimam calumniam passus ab Abbatibus Burgi Elfino Aâ—wino Leofrico Abbatiae suae sedem amittens tandem succubuit proh nesas totum situm monasterii sui judicio regalis curiae perdidit Tantum tunc potuit super justitiam pecunia contra veritatem versutia in curia Regis Hardecnuti Comitis Godwini potentia Cumque praedictus Abbas Wulgatus amisso situ monasterii sui juxta proximi fluvii crepidineâ— Weland nomine in suo manerio magis vicino de Northamburgt fundamenta novi monasterii jecisset illuc Abbatiam suam transferre disponeret Ecclesiamque ac dormitorium cum caeteris claustralibus officinis adjutus multorum
otherwise and understanding that the whole full and most gracious intent mind and determination of your most excellent Majestyes be that all and every person and persons bodies politick and corporate their heirs successour and assignes and every of them shall have keep retain and enjoy all and every their estates rights possessions and interests that they and every of them now hath or hereafter shall have of and in all and every the Mannors Graunges Messuages Lands Tenements Tithes Pentions Portions Advousons Nominations Patronages Annuities Rents Revertions Services Hundreds Wapentakes Liberties Franchises and other the possessions and hereditaments of the said Monasteries Abbies Priories Nunneries Commaundries Deaneries Colleges Prebends Hospitals houses of Fryers Chantries Rectories Vicareges Churches Chaples Archbishopricks Bishopricks and other Religious or Ecclesiastical houses or places or of any of them within this Realm or the Dominions of the same by such Laws and Statutes as were in force before the first day of this present Parliament and by other lawfull conveyance to them thereof made That it may be therefore enacted by the authority of this present Parliament that as well your Majesty our Soveraign Lady your heirs and successors as also all and every other person and persons bodies politick and corporate their heirs successors and assigns now having or that hereafter shall have hold or enjoy any of the scites of the said late Monasteries and other the Religious or Ecclesiastical houses or places and all the said Mannors Graunges Messuages Lands Tenements Tithes Pentions Portions Glibe-lands Advousons Nominations Patronages Annuities Rents Revertions Services Hundreds Wapentakes Liberties Franchises Profits Commodities and other the possessions and hereditaments of the said late Monasteries Abbies Priories Nunneries Commaundries Deaneries Colleges Prebends Hospitals houses of Fryers Rectories Vicariges Chauntries Churches Chapels Archbishopricks Bishopricks and other Religious and Ecclesiastical houses and places or any of them of what name nature or kind soever they be shall have hold posâ—ede retein keep and enjoy all and every the said Scites Manuors Graunges Messuages Lands Tenements Possessions Profits Commodities and other Hereditaments according to such Interests and Estates as they and every of them now have or hold or hereafter shall have or hold of and in the same by due order and course of the laws and Statutes of this Realm which now be or were standing in force before the first day of this present Parliament in manner and form as they should have done if this Act had never been had â—e made This Act or any thing herein conteined to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Saving to you our said Soveraign Lady your heirs and successors and every of them and to all and every other person and persons Subjects of this Realm and bodies politick and corporate and to their heirs and successors and to the heirs and successors of all and every of them other then such whose right title or interest is bounded or taken away undone or extinct by any Act of Parliament heretofore made or otherwise all such right title claim possession interests rents annuities commodities commons offices fees leases liveries livings pentions portions debts duties and other profits which they or any of them lawfully have or of right ought to have or might have had in of or to any of the premisses or in of or to any part or parcel thereof in such like manner form and condition to all intents respects constructions and purposes as if this Act had never been had he made And that it may be further enacted by authority aforesaid that all and every Article Clause Sentence and Proviso contained or specified in any Act or Acts of Parliament concerning or touching the assurance or conveyance of any the said Monasteries Priories Nunnerie Commaundries Deaneries Prebends Colleges Chantries Hospitals houses of Fryers Rectories Vicariges Churches Chaples Archbishopricks Bishopricks and other Religious and Ecclesiastical houses and places or any of them in any wise concerning any Mannors Lands Tenements Profits Commodities Hereditaments or other the things before specified to the said King Henry the 8th or King Edward the 6th or either of them or any other person or persons or body politick or corporate and every of them and all and every Writing Deed and Instrument concerning the assurance of any the same shall stand remain and be in as good force effect and strength and shall be pleaded and taken advantage of to all intents constructions and purposes as the same should might or could have been by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm in case this present Act had never been had ne made And that all Feostaments Fines Surrenders Forfeitures Assurances Conveyances Estates and Interests in any wise conveyed had or made to our said late Sovereign Lord King Henry the 8th or to our said late Sovereign Lord King Edward the 6th or either of them or to any other person or persons bodies politick or corporate or to any of them by Deed or Deeds Act or Acts of Parliament or otherwise of any of the Sites Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions Profits Commodities or Hereditaments of any of the said Archbishopricks Bishopricks late Monasteries Priories Nunneries Commaundries Deaneries houses of Fryers Colleges Chantries Hospitals Prebends free Chaples or of any Mannors Lands Tenements Revertions Services Tithes Pensions Portions Annuities or of any other Hereditaments of by or from any Ecclesiastical or Spiritual person or persons or by or from any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical corporation or body politick shall be as good and available in the Law to all Intents Constructions and Purposes as they were by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm standing in force before the first day of this present Parliament And that the same may and shall be pleaded alleged and taken advantage of in such sort and to such effect as they should could or might have been by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm standing in force before the said first day of this present Parliament And that all and every Clause and Article of saving conteined in all and every the said Acts and Statutes shall stand remain and be in such force strength and effect as they were before the said first day of this present Parliament any thing conteined in this present Act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And that it may be in like manner enacted by authority aforesaid that whosoever shall by any processe obteined out of any Ecclesiastical Court within this Realm or without or by pretence of any Spiritual Jurisdiction or otherwise contrary to the Laws of this Realm inquiet or molest any person or persons or body politick for any of the said Mannors Lands Tenements Hereditaments or things above specified contrary to the words sentences and meaning of this Act shall incur the danger of the Act of Fraemunire made in the 16. year of King Richard the 2d and shall suffer and incur the forfeitures and pains contained in the same To which
whom Christ answered Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry and â—â—ose that were with him how he entred into the house of the Lord and did eat the shew bread which it was not lawfull for him neither for them that were with him to eat but only for the Priests This story is written in the first Book of the Kings and 21. chapter And the commandement in the 12. chapter of Deuteronomy Whereby it appeareth that it is lawfull in time of necessity to use any thing be it never so much consecrate Otherwise children by giving their moveables to the consecration of any Temple should not be bound to help their parents which is contrary and against the Gospel of St. Matthew in the 16. chapt whereas our Saviour sharply rebuked the Pharisees that for their own traditions they did transgresse the commandement of God Item Titus and Vespasian secular Princes had power given them of God twenty four years after the Lords ascension to take away the Temporalities from the Priests which had offended against the Lords holy one and thereby also bereft them of their lives and it seemeth unto many they did and might worthily do the same according to Gods good will and pleasure Then forsomuch as our Priests in these daies may transgresse and offend as much and rather more against the Lords anointed it followeth that by the pleasure of God the secular Lords may likewise punish them for their offence Our Saviour being King of kings and high Bishop with his Disciples did give tribute unto Caesar as it appeareth in the 17. chapt of St. Matthews Gospel and commanded the Scribes and Pharisees to give the like unto Caesar St. Matthew 22. Whereby he gave example unto all Priests that would come after him to render tribute unto their Kings whereupon blessed St. Ambrose in his 4. book upon these words in the 5. of St. Luke Cast cuâ— your nets writeth thus There is another kind of fishing amongst the Apostles after which manner the Lord commanded Peter only to fish saying Cast out thy hook and that fish which cometh first up take him And then unto the purpose he saith It is truly a great and spiritual document whereby all Christian men are taught that they ought to be subject unto the higher powers and that no man ought to think that the Lawe of a King here on earth are to be broken For if the Son of God did pay tribute who art thou so great a man that thinkest thou oughtest not to pay tribute He payed tribute which had no possessions and thou which daily seekest after the lucre of the world why doest thou not acknowledge the obedience and duty of the world Why doest thou through the arrogancy of thy mind exalt thy self above the world when at through thine own miserable covetousnesse thou art subject unto the world Thus writeth St. Ambrose and it is put in the 11. caus qu. 1. Magnum quidem He also writeth upon these words in Luke 20. Shew me a penny whose Image hath it if Christ had not the Image of Caesar why did he pay any tribute He gave it not of his own but rendred unto the world that which was the worlds and if thou wilt not be in danger of Caesar possesse not those things which are the worlds for if thou hast riches thou art in danger of Caesar. Wherefore if thou wilt owe nothing unto any earthly King forsake all those things and follow Christ. If then all Ecclesiastical Ministers having riches ought to be under the subjection of Kings and give unto them tribute it followeth that Kings may lawfully by the authority which is given them take away their temporalities from them Hereupon St. Paul acknowledging himself to be under the Jurisdiction of the Emperor appealed unto Caesar as it appeareth Acts 25. I stand saith he at Caesars Judgement seat there I ought to be judged Whereupon in the 8. Distinction chapter Quo jure St. Ambrose allegeth that all things are lawfull unto the Emperor and all things under his power For the Confirmation whereof it is said Daniel 2. chapter The God of heaven hath given unto thee a Kingdom Strength Empire and Glory and all places wherein the children of men do dwell and hath given into thy power the beasts of the field and fowles of the air and set all things under thy subjection Also in the 11. question and 1 he saith if the Emperor require tribute we do not deny that the Lands of the Church shall pay tribute if the Emperor have need of our lands he hath power to challenge them let him take them if he will I do not give them unto the Emperor neither do I deny them This writeth St. Ambrose expresly declaring that the secular Lord hath power at his pleasure to take away the Lands of the Church and so consequently the secular Lords have power at their own pleasures to take away the Temporal goods from the Ecclesiastical Ministers when they do offend Item St. Augustine writeth If thou saiest what have we to do with the Emperor But now as I said we speak of mans Law The Apostles would be obedient unto Kings and honour them saying Reverence your Kings and do not say what have I to do with the King What hast thou then to do with possessions By the Kings Law thy possessions are possessed Thou hast said what have I to do with the King but do not say what have thy possessions to do with the King For then hast thou renounced the Laws of men whereby thou diddest possesse thy Lands Thus writeth St. Augustine in his 8. distinction by whose words it is manifest that the King hath power over the Church goods and consequently may take them away from the Clergy transgressing or offending Item in his three and thirtieth Epistle unto Boniface he saith What sober man will say unto our Kings Care not you in your Kingdom by whom the Church of the Lord is maintained or by whom it is oppressed it pertaineth not unto you who will be either a religious man or who will be a Church robber Unto whom it may be thus answered Doth it not pertain unto us in our Kingdom who will either live a chast life or who will be an unchast whoremonger Behold this holy man sheweth here how that it is the duty of Kings to punish such as are robbers of Churches and consequently the proud Clergy when as they do offend Item he writeth in the 33. caus quest 7. Si de Rebus The secular Lords may lawfully take away the Temporal goods from hereticks and forsomuch it is a case greatly possible that many of the Clergy are users of Simony and thereby hereticks therefore the secular Lords may very lawfully take away their temporalities from them For what unworthy thing is it saith St. Augustine if the Catholicks do possesse according unto the will of the Lord
am not so silly as to be ignorant that you are made Dispencers but to edification not to destruction Amongst Dispensators or Dispensers it is required that a man be found faithfull when Necessity urgeth a Dispensation is excusable when Profit inviteth it the Dispensation is laudible but this Profit must be publick and common and not private and particular for where neither of these two are it is not a faithfull Dispensation but a cruel Dissipation From the words of this Saint it is manifest that priviledging or exempting is not a faithfull Dispensation but a cruel Dissipation If Clergy-men be exempted let their sin be never so enormous to from being corrected by any but the Pope only For what is the profit of the Church that Clergy-men should be wanton and rampant as Bulls and like untamed Horses neigh unto their Neighbours wives unless in such grievous exorbitancies some yoak or curb be imposed upon them by the Princes For Priviledging Dispensation or Exemption ought not to be an Authority to them for the committing of sin for St. Augustin in his fourth Book intituled Authority Quaest. 23. saith That he who sinneth sinneth not by the Authority but against the Authority of the Law Again the addition of temporal Goods is commonly not so near to the last necessity of salvation by corporal punishment as the taking away of the Abuse is near to the last necessity of the perpetual Salvation both of Soul and Body As it is a work of greater mercy to take away a Sword from a Mad-man that would kill himself than to give a Sword to a persecuted man to defend himself from one that doth endeavour to kill him for it is worse for a man to be killed by himself than by another for the first is damnable the second just or meritorious And to this sence is that of Saint Augustin 5. Quaest. 5. Not every one who spareth is a Friend nor every one who scourgeth is an Enemy for the wounds of a Friends are better than the fraudulent kisses of an enemy it is better to love with security than to deceive with lenity And to the same purpose is that which followeth It is safer to take Bread from a hungry man if having abundance of Bread he neglecteth Iustice than to give Bread to a hungry person that being seduced he may acquiesce in Injustice And again He who binds a Mad-man and he who awakens and rouzeth up a Lethargick-man is a friend to them both although he is troublesom to them Thus for Saint Augustine by whose example if Lords Temporal are bound to give charitable Gifts to the Clergy that they may be the better incouraged to the performance of their Duties they are also bound by the same law of Almes to take away the said Gifts from those that do abuse them least by suffering the abuse they destroy their own Souls And hence it is that amongst all the sins to which the Superiours of our Kingdom of Bohemia are most obnoxious the greatest are Blind zeal False mercy and a Consentanious omission either by negligence or which is above all most horrible when mony i received for giving consent unto a Crime and the Enemy of Christ is unjustly defended by the Almes given to the Clergy Whereupon St. Augustine in his 3. Epist. to Macedonia writeth We more mercifully do draw back than give to such Persons for he doth him no good who helpeth a man but rather doth pervert him and oppresse him Whereupon it is to be admired why a Clergy-man who hath a thorn in his foot will suffer a Lay-man to pull it out that he might walk the better and will not suffer him when Riches do choak his affections to take them away from him that so walking uprightly in the footsteps of Christ he might save his Soul unless peradventure he would show thereby that he loveth the soal of his Foot better than he doth his Soul For if he loved his Soul better he would then with joy sustain the plunder of his Temporals for so those Christians did to whom the Apostle writeth Heb. 10. you took joyfully the spoyling of your Goods knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a more enduring substance And since our Saviour having no fault in himself did humbly and willingly endure the losse of his Garments and a most bitter and ignominious Death the example of our Saviour and the consciousness of his own Guilt should move every Clergy-man even patiently to endure the taking away of his Goods But if a Clergy man doth so grievously murmur against the taking away of the mammon of Iniquity how would he endure reproach and blows and spittle and martyrdom and Death it self for the Name of Christ Such a Clergy-man never thinketh of that in St. Ambrose concerning the contempt of the world In which he hath these words O most wretched man with what a fraud art thou circumvented with what a grief art thou deceived with what a snare art thou captivated who fearest that thy wordly possessions should be taken from thee and hast no fear in the mean time of losing of that most excellent Creature thy own Soul Again God permitteth Ecclesiastical persons so exorbitantly to offend that they may deserve to be plundered of their possessions neither doth he cause the plundering of them but by setting Temporal Lords on work to see such an Execution thorowly performed This Article therefore is true But peradventure it will be objected That by the addition of this Particle that it is in their lawfull Power so to do according to their own arbitration the whole strength of the Instance above-mentioned is taken away Nevertheless according to the five Rules of Logick and Metaphysicks it is manifest and plainly consequent that if the King and Temporal Lords cannot do so according to their own Arbitrement it must be so because that Arbitrement is either a Power Judicial or a Judicial Act of the same Power and grant what may be granted If the Temporal Lords could not act so according to that Power or such an Act it would follow that they have no power to act any thing at all For if they ought to expect the Arbitration of the Bishop of Rome or of the Archbishops and all the Clergy of this Kingdom the chief Power would reside in the Clerks only and the great Prelates and Bishops of the Kingdom and so our King should not be King of Bohemia neither any of the Peers of the Land or Lords Temporal should have any visible Power which must wholly and necessarily be reduced to the Clergy and by consequence the Clergy it self should be secularly over the King which is directly against the Law of Christ Luke 22. where our Saviour saith That the Kings of the Gentiles do exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors But you shall not be so On which place Saint Bernard writing to the
of Iohn King first Bishop there was kept vacant ten years An. 1568. after Henry Curwin the second Bishop it was kept void twenty one years together An. 1592. after Iohn Vnderhill the third Bishop it continued void 11. years so little want was there of a Bishop in that poor See An. 1559. the new created Bishoprick of Gloucester after Iames Brooks the third Bishop his death was kept vacant three years An. 1578. as long after Edmond Cheyney An. 1538. the new erected Bishoprick of Bristoll after Paul Bresh the first Bishop was kept vacant four years An. 1578. three years after Richard Cheyney which See continued void otherwise than by Commendam thirty one years together An. 1593. it continued vacant ten years together So little need was there of a Bishop in this See An. 1397. the Bishoprick of St. Davids after Iohn Gilberts death was vacant four years An. 1592. after Marmaduke Middleton almost two years An. 1133. the Bishoprick of Landaffe upon Vrbans decease was kept void six years An. 1183. after Nicholas ap Georgant five years An. 1240. after Elias de Raynor above four years An. 1287 after VVilliam de Brews nine years An. 1213. the Bishoprick of Bangor after Robert of Shrewstury was kept vacant two years An. 1374. as long after Iohn Gilbert An. 1378. after Iohn Swassham twenty years An. 1266. after Amanus the first Bishop of Rangor that See was vacant two years An. 1313. after Lewâ—lin six years An. 1406 after Iohn Trevour five years An. 1439. after Robert five years An. 1017. after Aldbanus of Durham that See continued void above three years An. 1096. as long after VVilliam Carlapho An. 1140. after Geoffry Rusus above five years An. 1207. after Philip of Poytiers above ten years An. 1226. above two years the King threatning the Covent that they should have no Bishop in seven years An. 1237. after Richard Pâ—ore two years till Ethelmate his half Brother whom he commended to the Monks election should be of age An 1505. after William Severus two years An. 1587. after Richard Barnes almost two years An. 1577. the Bishoprick of Chester was kept vacant two years If then all our Bishopricks in several ages to omit the long vacancies of later times have been thus kept void 2,3,4,5 6,7,8,10,15,20 30. years or more together at divers times to omit all annual vacancies without any prejudice to the Church or State and with very great benefit to the Kings of England who enjoyed the Temporalties in the mean time then certainly Diocaesan Bishops are no such necessary Creatures of divine institution in the Church of Christ as some esteem them but that they may be spared and their Lands Temporalties sold or leased as well as thus seised by our Kings without Sacriledge or Injustice when as no Parish Churches can spare or want their Parochial Ministers who are of Gods institution above six months at most After which if the Patron present not in the interim an able and sufficient Clerk the Ordinary by the Canon Common-law may collate and sequester the profits in the mean time only to defray the officiating of the Cure which must be at no time intermitted or neglected because of Divine institution and so absolutely necessary both for the Peoples instruction and salvation which these long vacancies prove Diocaesan Bishops are not 4ly That as our Bishops Abbots Priors did originally for some hundreds of years receive their actual Investitures into their Churches Temporalties from the King alone per Annulum Baculum by a Ring and Pastoral staff delivered to them in nature of a Livery and seilin extorted from our Kings by the violence and tyranny of Pope Vrban and Pascal the 2. and Treason of Archbishop Anselme against the Right of the Crown and Custom of the Realm so they did likewise hold all their Baronies and Temporalties from swear Fealty and do Liege Homage to our Kings for the same as their Supream Liege Lords like other Barons and were as far forth responsible for them to the Kings Iustices and Ministers as Lay-Barons and Tenants were which they all acknowledged in their Recognition to King Henry the second in the Council of Clarindon as our Histories assure us and were lyable to forfeit them for their Treasons Rebellions Disloyalties and Contempts against the King and his Crown as well as Lay-men our Kings being alike Soveraign Lords and Kings to them as well as other Subjects and Tenauts and that Iure Domini as their Supreme Landlords and Patrons from by and under whom alone they held their Temporalties 5ly That the Kings of England as Supream Heads and Governours under Christ of the Church of England have in all ages enjoyed and exercised a Soveraign Power and Jurisdiction over all Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters Abbots Priors and other Ecclesiastical Persons in all Causes whatsoever as well as over their Temporal Subjects to visit reform order correct restrain amend punish all their Errors Heresies Offences Contempts Enormities Treasons Rebellions against their Persons Crowns Dignities and Royal Authority punishable by any Spiritual Ecclesiastical or Temporal Authority or Iurisdiction and to punish their Persons by imprisonments banishments death scisure sequestration confiscation of their Temporalties Bishoppricks real and personal Goods and Estates as is enacted by the several Statutes against Provisors and the express Statutes of 25 H. 8. c. 19 21. 26 H. 8. c. 1 3. 27 H. 8. c. 10. 28 H. 6. c. 7. 10. 31 H. 8. c. 14. 32 H. 8. c. 22 24 26. 33 H. 8. c. 29. 34 35 H. 8. c. 17 19. 37 H. 8. c. 17. 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. 13 Eliz. c. 12. and other Acts The several Writs De Excommunicato capiendo De Excommunicato deliberando De Cautions admittenda Quare impedit Quare incumbravit Quare non admisit Quod Episcopus admittat Ne admittas Ne exeas Reguum Vi Iacca removenda and especially by the several Writs of Prohibition and ad Iura Regia and Capias pro contemptu wherewith our Records and Law-books are full fraught I shall only recite some memorable Presidents of our Kings and Parliaments proceedings against our Archbps. Bishops in seising their temporalties confiscating their Estates banishing them the Realm suspending from and depriving them of their Bishopricks yea in imprisoning executing their Persons for their rebellions Treasons Conspiracies Contempts against them and their Royal Prerogatives in former ages worthy their and our most serious consideration and remembrance To begin with our Archbishops about the year of Christ 765. Offa King of Mercians being highly offended with Iambertus or Lambert as some stile him Archbishop of Canterbury for his oppositions against him seised and took away all his Temporalties within his Kingdom detaining some of them to himself and giving the rest of them to his Souldiers and Courtiers and moreover by the Popes consent erected a new
ordered to be banished the Realm his Temporalties seised his Lands and Goods forfeited Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury was committed Prisoner and impeached convicted of High Treason against Queen Mary for aiding the Usurper Queen Iane against her and his Goods and Temporalties seised Edmond Grindon Archbishop of Canterbury falling into Queen Elizabeths displeasure was suspended from his Archiepiscopacy by her order till his death Archbishop Abbot for killing his Keeper by Chance-medly in shooting at a Back was suspended from his Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction by King Charles the first for sundry years and his Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction power delegated to others And Will. Laud the last Archbishop of that See in the Parliament of 16 Caroli was impeached of sundry High Treasons and high Misdemeanours against the King and Kingdom by the Commons of England and Scots Commissioners for which he was upon full Tryal and Hearing imprisoned atttainted condemned and beheaded on Tower-hill his Goods and Temporalties sequestred seised sold by Judgment and Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament To these numerous Presidents of the Archbishops of Canterbury I shall annex some paralel ones of the Archbishops of York VVilfred Archbishop of York for his Treason in favouring and aiding the rebellious Danes and perswading Queen Ermenburga to desert her Husband the King was by King Egfreds prosecution twice condemned and deprived of his Archbishoprick in two several Councils his Temporalties and Goods seised his Person imprisoned his Archbishoprick divided into two or three more Bishopricks and himself exiled some write for ten others for eight years together till at last with much importunity many Letters from the Pope others he was restored to his See Wolstan Archbp. of York for his hamous Treason in deserting his natural Christian King Edgar against his Oath Allegiance Piety Function Christianity and adhering to the invading heathen Danes who wasted the Country and endeavoured to rout out the Christian Religion and for murdering divers Citizens of Hertford was deprived of his Bishoprick and imprisoned by the King for a year and at last murdered himself Turstan Archbishop of York for receiving his consecration from the Pope at the Council of Rhemes against King Henry the first his expresse command and his own Oath and Faith to the King was banish'd the Realm his Temporalties seised by the King for five years space and he hardly permitted to return into England after many mediations and menaces of the Pope in his behalf Geoffry Plantaginet Archbishop of York for breaking his Oath with King Richard the first was kept from his Temporalties and imprisoned by William Longchamp After this Anno 1194. upon several complaints against him in Parliament for hindering the Kings Officers to gather a Tax in his Diocesse and sundry contempts against King Iohn his Lands and Goods were seised and returned into the Kings Exchequer by the Sherift of York-shire by the Kings command for which he excommuniting the Sheriff was suspended his Bishoprick and forced to pay a Fine of 1000 l. for his restitution After which for excommunicating those who collected a Tax for the King he was banished the Realm and his Temporalties seised for above five years time the See being kept void above ten years space in the Kings hand when he was first made Archbishop Thomas Corbrig Archbishop of York for obeying and preferring the Popes commands before the Kings in admitting the Popes Clerk to the Chapel of St. Sepulchres in York and rejecting the Kings about the year 1300. had for this his contempt three Baronies antiently belonging and annexed to his Archbishoprick taken away and kept from him by King Edward the first during the Archbishops life without restitution Alexander Nevil Archbishop of York was attainted of High Treason in the Parliament of XI King Richard the second his Temporalties and Estate seised and his Person adjudged to perpetual imprisonment in Rochester Castle who flying the Realm Pope Vrban made him Archbishop of St. Andrews in Scotland but the Scots refusing to own his Papal Authority he was stripped of both Archbishopricks and forced to live a poor Parish-Priest in Lovain till his death Richard Scroop Archbishop of York was condemned and beheaded for High Treason against King Henry the fourth and all his Temporalties Monies Goods seised and consiscated to the King An. 1405. George Nevil Archbp. of York Brother to Henry Nevil the Great Earl of Warwick a perfideous Traytor both to King Edward the 6th and Edward the 4th in the year 1472. was arrested of High Treason at VVindsor by King Edward the 4th all his Plate Money and other movable Goods to the value of 20000 l. seised for the King together with a Miter of inestimable value by reason of the many rich stones adorning it which the King broke and made a Crown thereof for himself the profits temporalties of hi-Bishoprick were taken into the Kings hands for above 4. years space and himself long imprisoned at Calis Guisnes for his Treason against the King Cardinal Thomas Wolsie Archbishop of York a most insolent proud ambitious covetous Prelate for his manifold misdemeanours Oppressions and high crimes against the King kingdom people and Kings royal Prerogative was first attainted in a Praemunire An. 21 H. 8. whereupon the K. seised all his Goods and took away the Great Seal from him After which the Lords and Parliament exhibited sundry Articles of High Treason and other Misdemenours against him Upon which by the Kings command he was arrested at Cawood of High Treason by the Earl of Northumberland in November 1536. his Plate Goods and Temporalties seised himself caried Prisoner towards London with intent to bring him to the Tower to be further proceeded against to a void which infamy he poysoned himself with a strong Purgation whereof he died at Leycester Abby after which the King seised all his Lands and Manors though a Cardinal and Archbishop To these Presidents of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York I shall annex the like of some other inferiour Bishops William de sancta Maria Bishop of London for interdicting the whole Realm and excommunicating King Iohn together with Edward Bishop of Ely and Maugerus Bishop of VVorcester who concurred with him in this interdict and excommunication to gratifie the Pope had all their Goods and Temporalties seised upon by the King Anno 1201. their Castles demolished and themselves banished the Realm for five years space Fulco Basset Bishop of London a great Stickler for the Pope against King Henry the third whom he oft affronted â—â—â—â—essed the King and Pope might take away his Bishoprick his Miter and Crosier but not his Helmet and Sword wherein he most gloried and consided Henry Sandwich Bishop of London against his corporal Oath of Fealty and Homage to King Henry the third was a prime Stickler in the Barons wars against this King and Promoter of the Articles of Oxford in the forty
till September 11. An. 1100. at which time the King received him into his favour and restored him to his Bishoprick After which he fell again into the Kings displeasure and dyed of grief that he could not clear himself of the Rebellion charged against him which he was summoned to answer In the year of our Lord 1101. K. Henry the first upon the innumerable complaints to him made against Ranulph Flambard Bishop of Durham by the Vote of a whole Parliamentary Council clapt him up Prisoner in the Tower of London for a most notable Oppressor Extortioner Rebel Traytor prepared to act any wickednesse who was likewise created by VVilliam Rufus both Chancellor and Treasurer of England This Bishop afterwards escaping into Normandy perswaded Duke Robert to invade the Realm to the great disturbance thereof and effusion of much Christian bloud After which having purchased his peace with large Gifts â—et the K. exacted from him great sums seised on all his Goods Bishoprick Edgar King of Scots about the year 1100. gave the Town of Berwick to the Bishop of Durham but because he afterwards wrought Treason against him he lost the Gift the King thereupon resuming the Town into his own hands Hugh Pusar Bishop of Durham who purchased the Earldom of Northumberland of King Richard the first for giving a rude sawcy answer to King Henry the second had his Castle of Durham seised into the Kings hands Anno 1184. and otherwise was afflicted by him Anthony Beak or Bek Bishop of Durham excommunicating the Prior and Monks of Durham notwithstanding their Appeal to the Pope and King and going to Rome without the Kings License King Edward the first thereupon seised his Temporalties and Liberties and appointed a new Chancellour new Justices and other Officers of Durham During this his disgrace this King for his conâ—empts took away three Manors and the Church of Symondbury from the Bishoprick with divers other Lands He being with other Bishops put out of the Kings protection for denying to grant him an ayde he and they were forced to make their peace with large Gifts the grant of the fifth part of thier Ecclesiastical Goods and Revenues for one year After the death of Lewis Beaumont the Monks of Durham electing a Monk of their own for their Bishop the Archbp. of York consecrating him without the Kings License the King thereupon refused to restore his Temporalties to him and caused Richard de Bury without any election of the Monk or Chapter to be made and consecrated Bishop in his place whereupon the Monk retired into the Monastery Cuthert Tonstall Bishop of Durham for his disobedience to King Edward the 6th was committed Prisoner to the Tower of London Decemb. 20. 1551. where he continued all his Reign the King being so highly offended with him that in 7 E. 6. by a special Act of Parliament the Bishoprick of Durham was dissolved and all the Lands and Hereditaments thereof given to the King his Heirs and Successors though afterwards the Bishop and Bishoprick were restored by Queen Mary but in 1 Elizabeth this Bishop was deprived of his Bishoprick by Act of Parliament for refusing the Oath of Supremacy and opposing the Queens proceedings and committed Prisoner to Lambeth Our learned Martyr William Tyndal writing of this Bishop Tonstall observes That the cause why he left the Bishoprick of London for Durham was only covetousness and ambition Neither addes he is it possible naturally that there should be any good Bishop so long as the Bishopricks be nothing save wordly pomp and honour superfluous abundance of all manner of Riches and Liberty to do what a man list unpunished things which only the evil desire and good men abhor Roger the great rich Bishop of Salisbury who contrary to his Oath Duty and Allegiance to King Henry the first his Advancer and Maud his Daughter set up and made Stephen a Usurper King thereby involving the Kingdom in intestine bloudy wars and feuds all his Reign by a divine retaliation of his Perjury and Treachery had his Person imprisoned his 2. newly repaiâ—ed Castles of Shâ—rborn and Malmesbury with his stately new built Castle of Devises and all his ammunition and treasures in them seised upon with the â—astles of his Nephews and Creatures Nigellus Bp. of Ely Alexander Bp. of Lincoln for real or pretended offences which Castles K. Stephen refused to restore or to be judgd by the Bishops or their Canons in the Council of Winchester sommoned by the Popes Legate to debate the legality of their seisure by the King and to restore them to the Bishops which the King would by no means give his consent to do the Archbp. of Rhoan justifying the lawfulness of these Castles seisure in the Council as well as the Kings Lawyers Richard Milford Bishop of Salisbury was by order of the Barons in Parliament in XI R. 2. removed from the Court and imprisoned in the Castle of Bristol as a pernicious Whisperer Flatterer evil Counseller Traytor to the King and Kingdom William Ayscoth Bishop of Salisbury Confessor to King Henry 6. by his oppressions ill dealing and consenting to the yielding up of Anjou and Mayen to the hands of the French King so far incensed the Nobles and vulgar Rabble his Tenants too against him that in the insurrection of Iack Cade June 29. 1450. some of these Bishops Tenants coming to Edâ—ndon in VVilishire whiles he was there saying Masse seised upon him even in the Church drew him from the Altar arrayed in his Pontifical Massing Vestments carried him to the top of a Hill not far off and there whiles he was kneeling on his Knees cleft his Head in two stript him naked to the skin and renting his bloudy shirt into several pieces took every man a rag to keep it as a monument of this their exploit Which though tumultuous and illegal in them was yet a just judgement of God upon himself for opreâ—sing his Tenants and other publick misdemeanours Anno. 873. Alfred Bishop of Leicester was deprived of his Bishoprick for his misdemeanours by King Elfred Vlâ— Bishop of Lincoln was banished the Realm and hardly escaped with his life together with Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and VVilliam Bishop of London by Edward the Confessor by the advise of his Nobles assembled in a Parliamentary Council for giving this good King wicked Counsel an incensing him against the English causing the King to infringe his good Laws and not to administer upright Justice to his People which he promised to reform upon their banishment Alexander Bishop of Lincoln was banished the Land forced to fly into Scotland and deprived of his Bishoprick Anno 1070. for opposing VVilliam the Conquerour as an Invador of the Church and ravishers of Ecclesiastical things the Norman Conquerors making bold with all the Money Chattels Charters they could find in any Monastery which they diligently searched by the Kings command who
fidelium Eleemosyuls reaedificare non segniter insudaret Fernotus miles Dominus de Bosworth dictum manerium de Northburt datum fuisse de progenitoribus ejus monasterio sanctae Pegae monachis ibidem Deo servientibus ex Abbatis propriis chirographis patenter ostendit Unde consequenter allegavit quod cum Deo sanctae Pegae Abbas Wulgatus monachi sui à modo ibidem non servirent dictum manerium à modo non haberent Acceptatum est hoc à Regis justitiario confestim adjudicatum est dictum manerium de Northburt cum omnibus suis pertinentiis praedicto militi Fernoto tanquam jus suum haereditarium de monachis Ecclesiae sanctae Pegae alienatum perpetuò sublatum Quod cum per universum Regnum citius fuisset cognitum scilicet Abbatem de Peikirk prius amisisse monasterium suum consequenter manerium ad monasterium quondam pertinens similiter Edmerus miles Dominus de Holbrok calumniam movit contra eundem Abbatem monachos suos de manerio suo de Makley Horsingus de Wathe calumniatus est pro manerio suo de Badington Siwardus Comes de manerio suo de Bernack Hugolonus thesaurarius de manerio de Helieston alii plures de aliis maneriis dicto monasterio dudum pertinentibus omnes eadem ratione in dicta causa contra monachos obtinuerunt tam de maneriis quam de monasterio suo dictus Abbas de Peikirk monachi sui nequiter ac crudeliter ejecti sunt ut nunquam alicui veniat damnum solum Cum itaque Abbas Wulgatus conventus suus monachi scilicet 18. sic de monasterio destituti vagabundi in proximo dispergendi in omnem ventum pro extrema miseria fluctuarent misertus eorum piissimus rex Edwardus omnes in suam curiam suscepit usquequo eis provideret suam capellam ac aulam quotidie frequentare imperavit If then Lands formerly dedicated to God and Monasterial Churches may thus be taken away and recovered from them by Law without sacriledge or injustice they may by like reason upon most occasions be alienated and taken from them by the King Parliament and Temporal Lords Gualther Mapes and Mr. Cambden out of him inform us that in King Edward the Confessors reign Godwin Earl of Kent having a design to gain the Manor of Barkley in Gloucester-shire to himself belonging to a Nunnery there situated where the Castle now stands passing by the Nonnery left his Nephew a very beautifull and elegant young man in the Nunnery who lodged therein so long under pretext of sickness that with his costly Gifts Beauty and Courtship he so far corrupted the chastity of the Abbesse and Nuns who attended him by turns that he begat and left them all great with childe and turned these lambs into Wolves After which posting thence to Earl Godwin and acquainting him therewith he thereupon informing the King that the Abbesse and all the Nuns were prâ—stituted Strumpets and great with Childe the King issued a Commission to enquire thereof and finding it to be true the Nuns were cast out and the Manor given to Earl Godwin who begged it of the King from whom it came to the Barons of Barkly who have enjoyed it as the Head of their Barony for any Generations without any Sacriledge or Impiety By the Common law of England our Kings in all Ages by their Prerogative Royal in times of war danger and upon sundry other occasions have seised the Lands Benefices Rents Revenues Monies Goods of Priors Abbots Monks and other Ecclesiastical Persons who were aliens to their own uses without Sacriledge or Impiety as is evident by the Fine Rolls of 23 E. 1. m. 1 2. claus 23 E. 1. dors 4. cl 24 E. 1. m. 11. claus 25 E. 1. dors 12 20 22. claus 20 E. 2. dors 9. Rot. Fin. 20 E. 2. m. 9. Rot. Fin. 14 E. 3. m. 11 12 18 19 20 c. cl 15 lâ— 3. pars 3. dors 6. Rot Fin. 16 E. 3. m. 26. cl 19 E. 3. pars 1. m. 17. Rot. Fin. â—3 E. 3. m. 26. and sundry other 〈◊〉 and Claâ—sâ— Roll in tâ—â— Tower â—y sundry Parliament lâ—oâ—ls and our lâ—â—wâ—ooks too And upon the Commons Petition in the Parliament of 2. H. 4. the Prior aliens Lands weâ—e not only â—eiâ—ed into the Kings hands but likewise sold and aheaâ—red into Lay-mens hands to maintain the wars against the French and Welshmen To preâ—eâ—mit all particular seisuâ—es alienations sale substractions of Abbots Priors Monasteries and Religions Persons Lands mentioned in our Histories and Record the respective Parliaments of 27 H. 8. 31 H. 8. c. 1â— 37 H. 8. c. â—1 E. c. 14 by several Acts collected by Rastall Title Monasteryes upon Mr. Fish his supplication of Beggars several Petitions and Complaints of the Commons and Inquisition taken upon oath and returned into the Exchequer of the Sodomitical adulterous incontinent vitious lives of Abbots Monks Nuns and other religious Persons remaining on Record in the Exchequer published at large by Iohn Speed in his History Weaver and others totally suppressed all Monasteries Prioâ—ies Nunneries Cells and other religious Houses and setled the inheritance of all their Lands Rents Revenues Possessions whatsoever in the Crown of England and that without any sacriledge impiety or injustice never since resumed nor ever likely to be restored to them in succeeding Ages being for the most part alienated sold and distributed by our Kings into the hands of the Nobility Gentry Commonalty and Corporation of the Kingdom and into the hands of all or most of the Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters Prebends Colleges in England Ireland who repute it neither Sin nor Sacriledge in themselves to receive detain enjoy these Monastical Lands and Possessions out of whose spoyle the Bishopricks Deans and Chapters of Glocester Châ—tâ—r Oxford Peterborough and Westminster it self were first erected by Parliaments and Statutes of 31 H. 8. c. 15.33 H. 8. c. 31 34 35 H 8. c. 12 15 17. and the Letters Patents of King Henry the eight under his Great Seal translating the Conventual Churches of Bristol Glocester Oxford Peterborough and VVestminster into Cathedral Churches and Sees of Bishops and the Abbots Priors Covents of these Churches into Bishops Deans Chapters limiting the bounds of their Diocesse taken out of other antient Bishopricks and granting them all their Episcopal and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction as derived only from our Kings the Supream heads of the Church of England under Christ and to be exercised only in their Names Stiles Rights steeds by these Bishops and their Officers as the Statutes of 26 H. 8. c. 1. 37 H. 8. c. 16 17. 1 Edw. 6. c. 2. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. and their very Patents resolve us not by any real or adherent Divine Episcopal Jurisdiction derived to them immediately from Christ himself
Act I shall annex Pope Iulius his Letters and Reasons sent to Queen Mary Anno 1554. for the granting of the forecited Dispensation which occasioned this Statute That all such as by just Title according to the Laws or Statutes of this Realm for the time being have any Possessions Lands or Tenements lately belonging to Monasteries Priories Bishopricks Colleges Chantries Obits c. whether they have purchased them for their money or are come to possesse them by gift grant exchange or by any other legal means whatsoever may retain and keep the same in their Possessions and have the same ratified and established unto them by the confirmation and dispensation of the Sea Apostolick Causes and Reasons why such Dispensations may be justly granted with honour and conscience 1. The State of the Crown of this Kingdom cannot well be sustained to govern and rule with honour if such Possessions be taken from it for at this day the greatest part of the Possessions of the Crown consisteth of such Lands and Possessions 2. Very many men have with their monies bought and purchased great portions of those Lands from the most Excellent Kings Henry the VIII and Edward the VI. who by their Letters Patents have warranted the same of which Lands and Possessions if the Owners should now be dis-possessed the King should be bound to repay unto them all their money which would arise to such an huge Masse that it would be a very hard matter for the Crown to restore it 3. The Nobles and Gentry of this Realm most of whom have sold and alienated their antient inheritances to buy these new cannot live according to their degrees if these Possessions should be taken from them 4. The Purchasors or Owners of such Lands and Possessions in as much as they came to them by just Title according to the Ordinance of the Kings of this Kingdom have held and do still hold a good and justifiable course in obtaining of them 5. The enjoying of such Lands and Possessions is so common unto every state and condition of Men Cities Colleges and Incorporations that if the same be taken from them there will necessarily follow thereupon throughout the Kingdom a sudden change and confusion of all Orders and Degrees 6. Seeing the Goods and Possessions of the Church even by the authority of the Canon Laws may be aliened for the redemption of Captives and that the same may be done by that Church only to whom such Possessions do belong It is fit and reasonable that such Dispensations should be granted for continuing of possession already gotten for so great a good of publick concord and unity of the Church and preservation of this State as well in body as in soul. The consideration of this Statute Letter and Reasons of the Pope himself and our Popish Prelates Clergy in Queen Maries daies may perswade our present Prelates and Cathedral men to the like Moderation Candor and Ingenuity for the satisfaction of the King Parliament Purchasors and preservation of the Kingdoms Churches Tranquility now and hereafter Finally because there is now an extraordinary great clamour against Sacriledge in most Pulpits new Pamphlets and in the Commons House it self by many who understand not truly and thoroughly what Sacriledge is I shall for a close of this Appendix inform them 1. That the word Sacriledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is only once and no more used in sacred writ Rom. 2. 22. What the Apostle there means by committing Sacriledge and what this Sin should be both old and new Expositors do very much disagree I shall render them an account of 10. several opinions of Expositors concerning it who comment on this Text neither of them suiting with that which now alone is declamed against as the sole and only Sacriledge 1. Origen Ambrose and some others interpret Sacrilege The Iews violating of Christ the true Temple of God by crucifying him with their sins stealing him out of the Scripture and denying Christ MAGNO SACRILEGIO 2ly Chysostome Theodulus Theophylact Peter Martyr Dr. Willet expound it to be the Iews sparing of Idols and using of things consecrated to idolatry out of covetousness to their own private commodity which by the Law of God they should have destroyed which Calvin and Gualter mislike not And Peter Martyr thence infers Potest quidem Respublica Magistratus noster ea quae superstitiosa sunt auferre et corum pretia in usus pios et bonos convertere without any Sacriledge 3ly Gorhan defines this Sacriledge to be the giving of divine worship unto Idolls 4ly Calvin and Piscator expound it to be the contempt of the Divine Majesty 5ly Haymo informs us that Spiritual sacrilege est sacrorum verborum prevaricatio the praevarication of Gods word but according to the Letter he defines it Sacrarum rerum surtum verbi gratia Quisquis de the sauro Ecclesiae vel de substantia Dei familiarium aliquid occulte abstrahit Sacrilegium perpetrat which extends only to Goods not Lands with whom Lyranus the Syriack interpretation some Popish Commentators accord 6ly Peter Martyr and Lucas Osiander interpret it to be the buying and selling of the Priests Office Orders Benefices Bishopricks as many have done and still do who are really guilty of Sacrilege as well as Symony 7ly Paraeus and others expound it of polluting Gods Service with Iewish and humane inventions 8ly Grynaeus understands it of arrogating to their own merits that which was peculiar to the grace of God 9ly Peter Martyr applyes it to Fly his Sons and such other Priests who violently took away and appropriated to themselves the things offered and consecrated unto God 10ly Primasius Bishop of Vtica in Africk St. Augustine Disciple flourishing in the year 440. in his Commentary on this Text resolves SACRILEGIVMEST QUOD PROPRIE IN DEVM COMMITTITVR QVASI VIOLATIO VEL PRAEVARICATIO MANDATORVM Adding that the Apostle in the next words Per praevaricationem legis Deum inhonoras EXPOSVIT SACRILEGIVM Rhemigius and Haym◠concur in substance with him And indeed this definition of Sacriledge that it is the breach or violation of the sacred law of God is most agreeable to the Apostles meaning and proper etymology of the word Hence Laurentius de Pinue a great Canonist and Angelus de Clavafio in his Summa Angelica Sacrilegium derive and define Sacrilegium quasi Sacrae legis lesio a more proper etymology than that of Innocentius the Pope quasi Sacriledium Now none of all these antient or modern Expositors define Sacrilege to be a taking away alienating or selling the Lands of Bishops Deans Abbots Priors Cathedrals Covents or Chapters never intended by the Apostle in those primitive times of the Gospel when the Apostles themselves and Evangelical Bishops in and immediately after their Age had neither Silver nor Gold nor Temporal Lands or Possessions to take away plunder steal or alienate as is evident by Acts 3. 5 6.
Priests Monks overmuch freequented of late and former times as well in England as in forein parts Now all these Sacrileges as they have no real ground or foundation in Gods word tending only to secure the persons goods of Prelates Church men and other Ecclesiastical persons and all kinds of Traytors Malefactors Debtors Bankrupts Cheates flying unto them and their Churches for Sanctuary and hiding their Goods within their precincts to protect them from the Kings and Civil Magistrates power Laws Officers Executions as our own Histories Statutes and Law-books resolve in the several cases of Thomas Bâ—cket Archbishop of Canterbury Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent Iohn Saâ—age and sundry others See 50 E. 3. c. 6. 2 R. 2. c. 3. 21 H. 8. c. 2 7.4 H 8. c. 2. 26 H 8. c. 13. 28 H. 8. c. 7 13. 32 H. 8. c. 12 15. 2 E. 6 c. 2 13. 1 and 2 Philip and Mary c. 4. 1 Mary c. 6. 5 Eliz. c. 10 14 19 20. 13 Eliz. c. 7. 14 Eliz. c. 5. 18â— Eliz. c. 3. Kelway f. 91 188 190 1 H. 7 10 23 29. Stamford l. 2. c. 38 39. Brook and Ash Title Sanctuary So the bare alienation or ablation of Bishops Abbots and Cathedral mens Lands by our Kings Parliaments or Clergy men themselves fall neither within the words nor intention of any of these Sacrileges extending only to sacred persons Goods and Chattels not to the sale of Mannors Landâ— Tenements Rents Temporalties of Church-men which is no Sacrilege either within the Canonists or Scholemens definition or division of Sacrilege 4ly That Hostiensis and other Canonists cited by him inform us That whoever doth any injury to Ecclesiastical persons commits Sacrilege and not only so but that it is Sacrilege for any man to question or dispute the Judgement or Decrees of the Pâ—pe or to transgresse dis-respect any publick Laws not to yield due reverence to the Popes or Bishops Canons to violate an Holy-day to imploy a Jew in any Office or to oppresse any pious Place or Hospital under the Patronage or Protection of the Church But these things I presume our Bishops and Cathedral men themselves will ingenuously confesse to be no Sacrilege at all notwithstanding the Popish Canonists and Schole mens resolutions And by like reason the Kings or Parliaments alienation or ablation of their supefluous or abused Church-Land Temporalties must prove no real Sacrilege though some Popes Popish Canonists and Scholemen have concluded it to be so 5ly That Alexander Alensis and others resolve That it is Sacrilege for any Lay-Men with their Families Cattle and Goods to be received or enter into Churches Chaples or Churchyards or to eat drink and lodge in them in times of Peace But if they do it in times of War and Necessity to preserve themselves against the Enemies in cases of eminent danger as they did frequently during the Danish and Norman Invasions and during our Civil Wars then it is no Sacrilege at all Vbi est hujusmodi necessitas non est Sacrilegium If then the case of eminent danger necessity and War will make that to be no Sacrilege in this case which otherwise would have been Sacrilege Then by the self-same reason the Kings or Parliaments ablations sales of the Lands of Bishops Deanes Chapters Abbots Priors in times of War and publick Necessity to defray the vast debts and expences of the Kingdom will prove to be no Sacrilege at all by the definition of Popish Scholemen of old yea of some late Iesuits both in Germany and Spain as well as of Iohn Wickliff Iohn Hus and other fore-cited Protestant Divines and Martyrs concurring in Judgement with them FINIS ERRATA at the Pâ—esâ—e P. 3. l. 3.25 r. 43. p. 26. l. 6. Almes â— Charâ—â— p. 33. l. â—◠〈◊〉 r. praises p. 36. l. 9. r. this is p. 4â— l. 28. Successors 〈◊〉 l. 19. Plancta p. 49. l. 19. dominii p. 50. l. 7. â—aica p. 62. l. 31. excommunicate p. 63. l. 5. Lord. p. 65. l. 11. Monks p. 84. l. 4. Officers r affairs p 91. l. 9. most r. just p. 93. l. 16. iuherent p. 94. l. 15. impated p. 100. l. 2. praesenti l. 26. relaxandi p. 101. l. 16. minus l. 29. consentientes r. 101. l. spiritualis p. 57. l. 38. Edward 6. r. Henry p. 63. l 1. r. Nâ—â—â— Margin p. 48. l. 19. r. l. â— l 20. r. Anselm Glessarum Hunagium * Quem dabis mihi de numero EpiscoporuÌ„ qui non plus invigilet subdâ—â—orum evacuandis marsupiis quam vitus extirpandis Ubi est qui orando flectat iram Ubi est qui praedicet annum acceptibilem Domino Pauci admodum sunt qui non quae sua sunt quaerunt Diligunt munera nec possint pariter deligere Christum qui a manus dederunt mammonae Bernard Sermo 77. super Cantica ‖ See Grotius de Jure Bell. l. 3. c. 10. a Acts 5. 42. c. 20 21 28 1 Cor. 9. 14 to 24. 2 Tim. 4. 1. 2. Rom. 15. 18. 19 20. Mar. 16. 16. a Eccles Hist Gentis Auglorum l. 3. c. 4. 28. l. 4. c. 3. b Actus Pontisicum Cant. col 1636 1637. c Beda Eccles. Hist. l. 1. c. 27. Spelman Concil p. 96. Surius Concil Tom. 1. p. 359. d Spalato de Repub. Eccl. l. 9 c. 7. 2. 36. Bernard super Cantica Sermo 77. Goncio ad clerum in concilio Rhemensi e Gervasius Dorob actus Pontif. Cant. col 1636 1637. Beda f Lu. 22 24 25 26. Vidos omnem ecclesiasticum zelum fervere sola pro dignitate tuenda Honori totum datur sanctitati nihil aut parum Bern. de consid ad Eugenium l. 4. c. 2. g 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. h Deut 33. 26 27. [a] Iohn Fox Acts Monuments London 1641. Vol. 1. p. 563 564. 565 566 587. * Fox Acts Monuments Vol. 1. p. 595. c An allegory upon the Paschal lamb A Protestation whereby he giveth light unto the Reader how the proposition aforesaid is to be understood and addeth that the goods of the clergy are not utterly to be taken away but in case they doe abuse the same Nabuchodonozor Ioas. Ezechias David Case of necessity Titus and Vespasian The example of Christ paying of tribute St. Ambrose his mind Christ commanded tribute to be paid unto the Emperor Paul appealed to the Emperor St. Ambrose there in the 8. distinct Daniel 2. St. Augustine Magistrates keepers of both Laws The duty of Kings to punish the Clergy Matthew 21. Wisedom 11. An objection of the desire of other mens goods St. Augustine 14. quest 4. 1 Cor. 3. The clergy subject unto the Emperor and King by means of their possessions Paschasius in 〈…〉 cap. 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 the Clergy Gregory writeth to the French Queen Wicked Priests the destruction of the people St. Gregory to the French King * Beneficium propter affictum When and how the title of any gift is lâ—st It is lawfull for the civil rulers to correct the Clergy * Who were very poor and had no Lands nor