recumbere dignus suit exempla sectamur Nunquid reuerendissimum patrem nostrum Columbam eius successores viros à Deo dilectos diuâ—nis pagâ—â—â—s contraria sapuisse aut egisse credendum est In this disputation or dialogue two things may bee obserued first that at this time the authority of the Bishop of Rome was of no estimation in these Ilands next that the Primitiue Churches of Briâ—tany and Ireland were instituted according to the forme and discipline of the East Churches and not of the West and planted by the disciples of Iohn and not of Peter Thus much for the time of the Brittons The Pope had no iurisdiction in England in the time of the Saxons For the Saxons though King Ina gaue the Peter pence to the Pope partly as Almes and partly in recompence of a house erected in Rome for entertainment of English pilgrimes yet it is certaine that Alfred and Athelstane Edgar and Edmund Canutus and Edward the Consessor and diuers other Kings of the Saxon race did giue all the Bishopricks in England Per annulum baculum without any other ceremony as the Emperour and the French King and other Christian Princes were wont to doe They made also seuerall lawes for the gouernment of the Church Among others Saint Edward begins his lawes with his protestation that it is his Princely charge Vt populum Domini super omnia sanctam Ecclesiam regat guberâ—et And King Edgar in his Oration to his English Cleargie Egâ— saieth hee Constantini vos Petri gladium habetis iungamus dextras gladium gladio copulemus vt ciâ—ciantur extra Castra leprosi purgetur sanctuarium Domini So as the Kings of England with their owne Cleargie did gouerne the Church and therein sought no ayd of the Court of Rome And the troth is that though the Pope had then long hands yet hee did extend them so farre as England bycause they were full of businesse neerer home in drawing the Emperour and the French King vnder his yoke The first vsurpatioÌ„ of the Pope vpon the crowne began in the time of king William the CoÌ„querour But vppon the conquest made by the Norman hee apprehended the first occasion to vsurpe vppon the liberties of the Crowne of England For the Conquâ—rour came in with the Popes Banner and vnder it wonne the battaile which gott him the garland and therefore the Pope presumed hee might boldly plucke some flowers from it being partly gained by his countenance and blessing Heerevppon hee sent two Legates into England which were admitted and receaued by the Conquerour With them hee called a Synod of the Clergie and deposed old Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury bycause he had not purchased his Pal in the Court of Rome hee displaced many Bishops and Abbots to place his Normans in their Romes By sending Legates into England And amongst the the rest it is to bee noted that the King hauing earnestly moued Wolstan Bishop of Worcester being then very aged to giue vp his staffe his answere was that hee would giue vp his staffe onely to him of whome hee first receaued the same Inter Epist Lanfr Archiepiscopi Cant. M. S. in Archiâ— Robert Coâ—â—on Eq. Aur. And so the old man went to Sanit Edwards Tombe and there offred vp his staffe and Ring with these words Of thee O holy Edward I receaued my staffe and my Ring and to thee I doe now surrender the same againe which pâ—oues that before the Norman Conquest the King did inuest his Bishops per annulum baculum as I said before In the time of William Ruffus the Pope atteÌ„pted to draw appeales to Rome but prâ—uailed not Thus wee see by the admission of the Popes Legates the first step or entrie made into his vsurped iurisdiction in England Albeit the King still retained the absolute power of inuesting Bishops and seemed onely to vse the aduise and assistance of the Legates in Ecclesiasticall matters for that no decâ—ee passed or was put in execution without his Royall assent therevnto Besides how farre forth hee submitted himselfe to the Pope it appeareth by a short Epistle which hee wrote to Gregory the. 7. in this forme Excellentissimo sanctae Ecclesiae Pastori Gregâ—rio gratia Dei anglorum Rex Dux Normannorum Willielmus salutem cum Aâ—…icitia Hubertus Legatus tâ—us Religiose Pater ad me veâ—iens ex tua parte me admonuit vt tibi successoribus tuis fidâ—lâ—tatem facerem de pecunia quam antecessores mei ad Romanâ—â— Ecclesiam â—â—â—…ere solebant melius cogiâ—arem Vnum admisi alterum non admisâ— fidelitatem facere nolui nec volo quia â—â—c ego promisi ncc antecessores â—â—os antecessoribus tuis id secrsse comperio Pecuâ—ia tribus ferè annis in Gallijs me agente negligentur collecta est nunc vâ—ro diâ—ina misericordia me in Regnum meum reuersâ— quod Collectum est per praefatum Legatum mittetur quod reliquum est per Legatos Lanâ—ranci Archichiscopi â—â—delis nostri cum opportunum fuerit transmittetur c. But in the time of his next successor King William Rufus they attempted to passe one degree farther that is to drawe appeales to the Court of Rome For Anselme being made Archbishop of Cauterbury and being at some difference with the King besought his leaue to goe to Rome vnder pretence of fetching his Pall. The King knowing hee would appeale to the Pope denied him leaue to goe and withall told him that none of his Bishops ought to bee subiect to the Pope but the Pope himselfe ought to bee subiect to the Emperour and that the King of England had the same absolute liberties in his Dominions as the Emperour had in the Empyre And that it was an auncient custome and lawe in England vsed time out of minde before the Conquest that none might appeale to the Pope without the Kings leaue and that hee that breaketh this lawe or custome doth violate the Crowne and dignitie Royall and hee that violates my Crowne saieth hee is mine enemie and a traytor How answere you this quoth the King Christ himselfe answeres you saith the Archbishop Tu es Petrus super hanc petram c. Wherewith the King was nothing satisfied And therevppon Anselme departing out of the Realme without licence the King seised his temporalities and became so exasperate and implacable towards the Bishop as hee kept him in perpetuall exile during his Raigne albeit great intercession were made for his returne as well by the Pope as the King of France In the time of king HeÌ„ry the first the Pope vsurpeth the donation of Bishopricks c. In the time of the next King Henr 1. though hee were a learned and a prudent Prince yet they sought to gaine a further point vppon him and to plucke a flower from his Crowne of greater value namely the patronage and donation of Bishoprickes and all other benefices Ecclesiasticall For Anselme being reuok't
change en cest point per reason quant il est endow a luy ses successors perpetualment Et ceo fuit le substance des arguments ex vtraque parte fait en cest Case Car nul Idgement est vncor 〈◊〉 one en ceo I Atturney generall Bolton Recorder de Dublin Oliuer Eustace â—e Ciuilian suero â—t a Counsell le oâ—e Clark del Roy William Talbot â—ames Briuer Iohn Haly Doctor del Ciuil ley ove les defendants Hill 4. Iacobi The Case of Praemunire or The Conuiction and Attainder of Robert Lalor Priest being endited vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap 5. Of what quality credit Robert Lalor was THis Robert Lalor being a Natiue of this Kingdome receaued his Orders of priesthood aboue 30 years since at the haÌ„ds of one Richard Brady to whome the Pope had giuen the title of Bishop of Kilmore in Vâ—ster for the space of twenty yeares together his authority and credit was not 〈◊〉 within the Prouince of Leinster Hee had also made his name knowen in the Court of Rome held intelligence with the Cardinall who was Protector of this nation by meanes whereof hee obtained the title and iurisdiction of Vicar generall of the Sea Apostolike within the Archbyshopricke of Dublin and the Pyshopricks of Kildare and Fernes This pretended iurisdiction extending welny ouer all the Prouince of â—einster hee exercised boldly and securely many yeares together vntill the proclamation was published whereby all Iesuites and Priests ordained by forreine authority were commaunded to depart out of this kingdome by a certaine time prefixed After which time hee began to lurke to change his name howbeit at last he was apprehended in Dublin and committed to prison in the Castle there His apprehension and first examsnation Vppon his first examination taken by the Lord Deputie himselfe hee acknowledged that hee was a Priest and ordained by a popish Titulari Bishop that hee had accepted the title and Office of the Popes Vicar generall in the. 3. Dioceses before named and had exercised spirituall iurisdiction in foro conscientia and in sundry other points hee maintained and iusti fied the Popes authority onely hee said hee was of opinion that the Pope had no power to excommunicate or depose his Maiestie because the King is not of the Popes Religion His first in â—â—…ment conuiction The next terme after hee was indicted vppon the statute of 2. Eliz. enacted in this Realme against such as should wilfullie and aduisedly maintaine and vphould the iurisdiction of any foreine Prince or Prelat in any Causes Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this Realme By which statute the first offence of that kind is punished with losse of goods and one yeares imprisonment the second offence incurreth the penaltie of the Praemunire And the third offence is made high Treason Vppon this Indictment hee was arrained conuicted and condemned and so rested in prison during the next two Tearmes without any further question His second examination He then made peticion vnto the Lord Deputie to be set at libertie wherevppon his Lordship caused him to be examined by Sir Olliuer Seint Iohn Sir Iames Fullerton Sit Iefferie Fenton the Atturney Solicitor generall At first he made some euasiue and indirect aunsweres but at last voluntarily and freely he made this ensuing acknowledgement or confession which being set downe in writing word for word as hee made it was aduisedly read by him and subscribed with his owne hand and with the hands of those who tooke his examination and afterwards hee confirmed it by his oath before the Lord Deputie and Connsell The confession or acknowledgement of Robert Lalor Priest made the 22. of December 1606. His confession or acknowledgement FIrst hee doth acknowledge that hee is not a lawfull Vicar generall in the Dioceses of Dublin Kildare and Fernes and thinketh in his conscience that hee cannot lawfully take vppon him the said Office Item hee doth acknowledge our Soueraigne Lord King Iames that now is to bee his lawfull cheefe and Supreme gouernour in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and that hee â—is bound in conscience to obey him in all the said causes and that neither the Pope nor any other forreine Prelate Prince or Potentate hath any power to controll the King in any cause Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this kingdome or any of his Maiesties Dominions Item he doth in his conscience beleeue that all Bishops ordained and made by the Kings authority within any of his Dominions are lawfull Bishops and that no Bishop made by the Pope or by any authority deriued from the Pope within the Kings Dominions hath any power or authority to impugne disanull or controll any Act done by any Bishop made by his Maiesties authority as aforesaid Item he professeth himselfe willing and ready to obey the King as a good and obedient Subiect ought to doe in all his lawfull commaundements either concerning his function of priesthood or any other duty belonging to a good subiect After this confession made the State heere had no purpose to proceed against him seuerely either for his contempt of the proclamation or offence against the law So as hee had more liberty then before and many of his friends had accesse vnto him who telling him what thy heard of his confession hee protested vnto them that hee had onely acknowledged the Kings Ciuill and Temporall power without any confession or admittance of his authority in spirituall causes This being reported vnto the Lord Deputie by sundry gentlemen who gaue faith vnto what hee said his Lordship thought sitt that since hee had incurred the paine of Praemunire by exercising Episcopall iurisdiction as Vicar generall to the Pope that hee should bee attainted of that offence as well to make him an example to others of his profession for almost in euerie Dioces of this kingdome there is a Titulary Bishop ordained by the Pope as also that at the time of his triall a iust occasion might bee taken to publish the confession and acknowledgment which hee had voluntarily made signed and confirmed by oath before the Lord Deputie and Counsell who haue likewise subscribed their names as witnesles thereof The inditement of Lalor vpon the statut of 16 Rich. 2. Heerevppon in Hillary Tearme 4 Iacobi an inditement was framed against him in the Kings Bench vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap. 5. containing these seuerall points 1 That he had receaued a Bull or Breefe purchased or procured in the Court of Rome which Bull or Breeue did touch or concerne the Kings Crowne and dignitie Royall conteining a Commission of Authoritie from the Pope of Rome vnto Richard Brady and Dauid Magragh to constitute a Vicar generall for the Sea of Rome by the name of the Sea Apostolike in the seuerall Dioceses of Dublin Kildare and Fernes within this Kingdome of Ireland 2 That by pretext or collour of that Bull or
authoritas ibi non est parendi necessitas ne unposeses leyes al primes peremptoriment sur touts gents fans distinction mes offer eux timide precario Et pur ceo primermeâ—t il causast certeine rules desâ—re collect pur le government del Clergy tantum queux il appell Decreta 〈◊〉 nemi leges vel statuta Ceux Decrees fueront publish en l'an 1150. que fuit durant le Raigne del Roy Stephen pur ceo ou le Seignior Cooke ad noate en le Preface al. 8. part de ses Reports quod Rogorus Bacon frater ille per quam eruditus in libro de impedimentis sapientiae dicit Rex quidem Stephanus allatis legibus Italiae in Angliam publico edicto prohibuit ne ab aliquo detinerentâ—r fuit probablement coniecture que ceo est destre entend de ceux Decrees queux fueront adonques novelmeÌ„t compile publish Uncor ceux Decrees esteant receave observe per le Clergy des Western Esglises tantum car le East Church ne vnques receavoit ascuns de ses rules ou Canons Kellawayes Rep. 7. Henr. 8. fol. 184. l'Evesque de Rome attempt auxi de trahir le Liaty al obedience de ses ordinances per degrees a cest intent primerment il propound certein rules ou ordinances pur abstinence ou iours de fasting destre observe per le Laity cibien que per le Clergy queux fueront sur le primer institution appell per vn gentle parol Rogationes come Marsilius Pat. libr. Defensor pacis part 2. cap. 23. ad observe inde come semble le semaigne de abstinence prochein devant le feast de Penthecost fuit appell le Rogation weeke cest temps de abstinence esteant appoint al comencement per tiel Ordinance que fuit appell Rogatio nemi praeceptum vol statutum Quant les lay homes de lour devotion avoent receave obey ceux ordinances d'abstinence donques l'Euesque de Rome passoit ousteâ— de vna praesumptione ad aliam transiuit Romanus Pontifex come Marsil Pat. la dit fesoit plusors rescripts orders per nomen Decreâ—alium queux fueront publish en l'An 1230. que fuit Anno 14. Henr. 3. aut eo circiter vid. Matth. Paris histor magn 403. ceux fueront faiâ— de lier tout le laytie cybien Soueraigne Princes come lour subiects en tiels choses queux concernont lour civill teÌ„porall estates Come que nul lay home averoit le donation del Ecclesiasticall benefice que nul lay home marrioit deins certein degrees ouster les degrees limitt per la Leuiticall ley que touts enfants nees devant espousels serront adiudge apres les espousels legitimate capable de temporall enheritance que touts Clerks serront exempt de secular power auters de mesine le nature Mes ceux Decretalls esteant publish ne fueront entirement absolutement receave obey en aicun part de Christendome mes solement en le temporall Territory del Pape que est appell per les Canoâ—isis Patria obedientiae Mes del auter part plusors de ceux Canons fueront tout ousterment reiect disobey en France Engleterre auters Christian Realmes queux sont appell patriae consuetudinariae Come le Canon que prohibuit le donation des benefices per manum laicam fuit toutsfoits disobey en France en Engleterre le realme de Naples divers auters Countries Common-weales Et le Canon de fairles enfanâ—s legâ—timate queux sont nees devant espousels fuiâ— specialment reiect en Engleterre quant en le Parliament tenus al Merton omnes Comites Barones vna voco responderuÌ„t nolumus leges Angliae mutari quae huc vsque vsitatae sunt c. Et le Canon que exempt Clerks de secular power ne fuit vnques pleinment observe en ascun part de Christendome Kellaway 7 Henr. 8. 181. b. que est vn infallible argument que ceux ordinances navoent lour force per ascun authority que le Court de Rome ad de imposer leyes sur touts nations sans â—our consent Mes per l'approbation vsage del people que ceux ad receave vse Car per mesine le reason que ils puissoâ—t 〈◊〉 er vn Canon ils puissont reiecter touts les auters vid. Bodin lib. 1. de Rep. cap. 8. on il dit que les Royes de France sur erection de â—onts Universities la â—nt declare en lour Charters que ils voylent receaver le profession del Ciuill Canon leyes pur vser a lour discretion nemi desire oblige per ceux leyes Mes quant a ceux Canons queux fueront receave accept vse en ascun Christian Realme ou common-weale ceux per tiel acceptation vsage ont obtaine le force de leyes en tiel particular Realme ou slate sont deveigne part des Ecclesiasticall leyes de tiel Nation Et issint ceux que fueront embrace allow vse en Engleterre fueront fait per tiel allowance vsage part de les Ecclesiasticall leyes D'engleterre Per que l'interpretation dispensation ou execution de ceux Canons esteant devenus leyes D'engleterre apperteignoit solement al Roy D'engleterre ses Magestrates deins ses Dominions il ses magistrates avoent sole Irisdiction en tiels cases l'Evesque de Rome n'ad â—ien a fair en l'interpretation dispensation oâ— execution de ceux leyes en Engleterre coment que fueront primerment devise en le Court de Rome Nient plus que le cheefe Magesirate del Athens ou Lacedaemon puissoit claimer Irisdiction en l'auncient Citty de Rome pur ceo que les leyes de les 12. Tables fueront apprompt import de ceux Cittyes de Greece Et nient plus que le Maister del New Colledge en Oxford avera commaund ou Irisdiction en le Kings Colledge de Cambridge pur ceo que les private statutes per que le Kings Colledge est govern fueront pur le plus part borrow prise hors del liver de foundation del New Colledge en Oxford Et certes per cest reason l'Emperour puissoit claimer Irisdiction en Maritime causes deins les Dominions del Roy D'engleterre pur ceo que nous avomus de long temps receave admitt l'imperiall ley pur le determination de tiels causes vid. Cawdreys Case en le 5. part des Reports dele Seignior Cooke Kellawayes Reports 184. a. Uncor l'Evesque de Rome perceavant que plusors de ses Canons fueront receave vse per divers nations de Christendome per colour de ceo il claimoit d'aver Etclesiasticall Irisdiction en chescun Realme State ou ses Canons fueront receave misoit ses Legates ove severall commissions en severall realmes de Christendome de over determiner causes solonque ceux Canons queux Canons coment que le Pape ne ses ministers sur le primer venting vtterance
lastly they pray and require the King by way of Iustice to examine all the Lords in Parliament what they thought of these manifest wrongs and vsurpations and whether they would stand with the King in desence of his Royall liberties or no which the King did according to their petition and the Lords Spirituall and Temporall did all answere that these vsurpations of the Bishop of Rome were against the liberties of the Crowne and that they were all bound by their alleageance to stand with the King and to mantaine his honor and prerogatiue And therevppon it was enacted with a full consent of the three Estates that such as should purchase in the Court of Rome or elsewhere any Bulls or Processes or other things which might touch the King in his Crowne and dignitie Royall and such as should bring them into the Realme and such as should receaue them publish them or execute them they their Notaries Proctors Mantainors and Counsellors should bee all out of the Kings protection their lands and goods forfeited to the King their bodies attached if they might bee sound or else processe of Praemunire facias to bee awarded against them Vppon these motiues and with this affection and zeale of the people was the statute of 16. Rich 2 made wherevppon wee haue framed our inditement Now let vs looke higher and see whether the former lawes made by King Edw 3. and King Edw. 1. against the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome were not grounded vppon the like cause and reason The effect of the statut of 38. Edw. 3 cap. 1. The statute of 38. Edw. 3. cap. 1. expressing the mischiefes that did arise by Bâ—â—eues of citation which drewe the bodies of the people and by Bulls of prouision and reseruation of Ecclesiasticall benefices which drewe the wealth of the Realme to the Court of Rome doth declare that by these meanes the auncient lawes customes and franchises of the Realme were consounded the Crowne of our Soueraigne Lord the King deminished and his person falsely defamed the Treasure and riches of the land carried away the Subiects of the Realme molested and impouerished the benefices of holy Church wasted and distroyed Diuine seruice Hospitalitie Almesdeeds and other workes of Charitie neglected The statute of 27. Ed. 3. cap. 1. Againe 27 Edw 3 cap. 1. vppon the greeuous and clamorous complaint for that phrase is there vsed of the great men and Commons touching Citations and Prouisions it is enacted that the offendors shall forfeit their lands goods and Chattels and their bodies bee imprisoned and ransomed at the Kings will The statute of 25 Ed. 3. reciting the statute of 25. Ed. 1 But in the statute of 25. Edw. 3. wherein the first lawe against Prouisors made 25. Edw. 1. is recited there is a larger declaration of these inconueniences then in the two last Actes before mentioned For there all the Commons of the Realme doe greuously complaine that where the holy Church of England was first founded in estate of Prelacio by the Kings and Nobilitie of that Realme and by them endowed with great possessions and reuenewes in lands rents and Aduowsons to the end the people might bee informed in Religion Hospitality might bee kept and other works of Charitie might bee exercised within the Realme And whereas the King and other founders of the said Prelacies were the rightfull Patrons and Adowees thereof and vppon avoydance of such Ecclesiasticall promotions had power to aduance therevnto their kinsemen friends and other learned men of the birth of that Realme which being so aduanced became able and worthy persons to serue the King in Counsell and other places in the Common-weale The Bishop of Rome vsurping the Seigniory of such possessions and benefices did giue and graunt the same to Aliens which did neuer dwell in England and to Cardinals which might not dwell there as if hee were rightfull Patron of those benefices whereas by the lawe of England hee neuer had right to the Patronage thereof whereby in short time all the spirituall promotions in the Realme would bee ingrossed into the hands of Strangers Canonicall Elections of Prelats would be abolished workes of Charity would cease the founders true PatroÌ„s of Churches would be disenherited the Kings Counsell would bee weak'ned the whole kingdome impouerished the lawes rights of the Realme destroyed Vppon this complaint it was resolued in Parliament that these oppressions greeuances should not be suffted in any manner thereore it was enacted that the King his Subiects should thenceforth enioy thei rights of Patronage that free elections of Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates electiue should bee made according to the auncient graunts of the Kings progenitors other founders that no Bulls of Prouision should be put in execution but that the Prouisors should be attached fined ransomed at the Kings will withall imprisoned till they had renounced the benefits of their Bulls satisfied the partie greeued and giuen suerties not to committ the like offence againe These lawes made by such as did professe the Romish Religion Nowe Maister Lalor what thinke you of these things did you beleeue that such lawes as these had beene made against the Pope 200. 250. 300. yeares since was King Henr. 8. the first Prince that opposed the Popes vsurped authority were our Protestants the first Subiects that euer complained of the Court of Rome of what Religion thinke you were the propoundors and enactors of these lawes were they good Catholikes or good Subiects or what were they You will not say they were Protestants for you will not admitt the reformed Religion to bee so auncient as those times neither can you say they were vndutiefull for they stroue to vpohold their liege Lords Soueraignety Doubtelesse the people in those daies did generally embrace the vulgar errours and superstitions of the Romish Church and in that respect were Papists as well as you but they had not learned the newe doctrine of the Popes Supremacie and transcendent authority ouer Kings They did not beleeue hee had power to depose Princes and discharge Subiects of their alleageance to abrogate the fundamentall lawes of kingdomes and to impose his Canons as binding lawes vppon all nations without their consents they thought it a good point of Religion to bee good Subiects to honor their King to loue their country and to mantaine the lawes and liberties thereof howsoeuer in other points they did eâ—re and were mislead with the Church of Rome So as now Maister Lalor you haue no excuse no euasion but your conscience must condemne you as well as the lawe since the lawemakers in all ages and all religious Papists and Protestants doe condemne you vnlesse you thinke your selfe wifer then all the Bishops that were then in England or all the Iudges who in those daies were learned in the Ciuill and Canon lawes as well as in the Common lawes of England Lawes against Proâ—isors made in Ireland But you being