The yeare of our Lorde 1307. and the last yeare of the king the foresayde king Edwarde in his iourney marching towarde Scotland in the North fel sicke of the flixe which increased so ferueÌ„tly vpon hym that he dispaired of life Wherfore calling before him his Earles and Barons caused them to be sworne that they should crowne his sonne Edward in such conuenient time after his death as they might kepe the land to his vse til he were crowned That done he called before him his sonne Edwarde informing and lessoning him wyth wholesome preceptes charged him also with diuers poynts vpon his blessing first that he should be couâ—teous gentle vpright in iudgement faire spoken to all men constant in deede and word familiar with the good and especially to the miserable to be merciful After this he gaue him also in charge not to be to hastie in taking his crowne before he had reuenged his fathers iniuries stoutly against the Scots but that he shuld remaine in those parties to take with him hys fathers bones being well boiled from the flesh and so inclosed in some fit vessel shoulde carie them with him til he conquered all the Scots saying that so long as he had his fathers bones with him none should ouercome him Moreouer he willed and required him to loue his brother Thomas and Edmund also to cherish tender his mother Margaret the Quene Ouer besides he straitly charged him vpon his blessing as he would auoide his curse that he should in no case cal to him againe or sende for Peter Gaueston whych Peter Gaueston the king before had banished the realme for his naughty and wicked familiarity with hys sonne Edward and for his seducing of him with sinister counsaile For the which cause he banished both Peter Gaueston vtterly out of the realme and also put the sayd Edwarde hys sonne in prison And therefore so straitly charged hys sonne in no wise to sende for this Gaueston or to haue him in any case about him And finally because he had coÌ„ceined in himselfe a vow to haue returned hys owne person to the holy land which for his manifold warres wyth the Scots he could not performe therefore he had prepared 32000. poundes of siluer for the sending of certaine souldiours with hys hart vnto the holy laÌ„d Which thing he required of hys sonne to see accomplished So that the foresayde money vnder hys curse malediction be not employed to other vses But these iniunctions and preceptes the disobedient sonne did nothing obserue or keepe after the decease of his father Who forsaking and leauing of the warre with the Scots wyth all speede hasted him to his coronation Also contrary to the minde of his nobles against the precept of hys father he sent for the foresayde Peter Gaueston prodigally bestowed vpon him al that treasure which his father had bequested to the holy land He was moreouer a proud despiser of his peeres nobles And therefore raigned infortunately as by the sequele of the story heere folowing by the grace of Christ shal be declared Thus king Edwarde first of that name leauing behinde him 3. sonnes Thomas and Edmund by his third wife and Edward by his first wife whome he had sufficiently thus with precepts instructed departed this mortall life An. 1307. after hee had raigned neare 39. yeres Of whom this Epitaph was wrytten Dum viguit rex valuit tua magna potestas Fraus latuit pax magna fuit regnauit honestas In the time and raigne of thys king many other things happened which here I omit to speake of as the long discorde and strife betweene the Prior of Cant. and the Prior of Douer which continued aboue 4. yeres together with much wrangling vnquietnes betweene them Likewyse an other lyke coÌ„tention growing betwene Iohn Romain Archb. of York and the Archb. of Cant. vpon the occasion that when Iohn Archb. of York after his consecration returned from the Pope and comming to Douer contrary to the inhibition of Cant. passed through the middle of Kent with his crosse borne vp although the story reporteth that he had the kings consent therunto An. 1286. Item betwene Thomas Bishop of Hereford Iohn Pecham Archb. of Cant. fell an other wrangling matter in the time of thys king Which Byshop of Hereforde appealing from the Archb. to the Pope went vp to Rome and in his iourney died Who with lesse cost might haue taryed at home 1282. King Edward the second EDwarde the second of that name and sonne of Edward the first borne as is aforesaid at Carnaruan in Wales after the departure of his father entred the gouernment of the lande An. 1307. But was crowned not before the yeare next folowing An. 1308. by reason of the absence of Rob. Winchelsey who was banished by king Edward the first Wherupon the king thys present yere wryteth to the pope for the restitution of the sayd Archb. for that by an auncient law of the realme the coronation of the king coulde not otherwise proceede without the Archb. of Cant. Which Edward as he was personable in body and outwarde shape so in conditions and euill disposition much deformed As vnstedfast of woorde and light to disclose secretes of great counsaile Also refusing the companie of hys Lords men of honoure hee much haunted among villaines and vile personnages Geuen moreouer to ouermuche drinking and such vices as thereuppon be woont to ensue And as of his owne nature he was to the sayd vices disposed so was hee much worse by the counsaile and familiarity of certaine euill disposed persones as first of Peter or Pierse Gaueston before touched Then after hym of the two Spensers and other whose wanton counsaile hee followyng gaue hymselfe to the appetite and pleasure of his body nothing ordering hys common weale by sadnesse discretion and iustice which thyng caused first great variance betweene hym and his nobles so that shortly hee became to them odible and in ende was depriued of his kingdome In the first yeare hee tooke to wife Isabel daughter of Phillippe king of Fraunce wyth whome the yeare after hee was crowned at Westminster by the bishop of Winchester for that Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury was yet in exile not returned home Notwithstanding the Barons and Lords made first their request to the king to put Peter Gaueston from hym or els they would not consent to his coronation Whereupon he was enforced to graunt them at the next parliament to haue their requests accomplished and so was crowned In the meane season the foresayd Peter or Pierse bearing himselfe of the kings fauour bolde continued triumphing and setting at light all other states and nobles of the Realme so that hee ruled both the King and the Realme and all things went as he woulde Neither had the king any delight els or kept company with any but with him with him onely he brake all his minde
his speciall maintainers As yeares and time grew on king Edward the third which had reigned nowe about 51. yeares after the decease of prince Edwarde his sonne who departed the yeare before was stroken in great age in such feblenes withall that he was vnweldy through lacke of strēgth to gouerne the affairs of the realm Wherfore a parliament being called the yeare before his death it was there put vp by the knights other the burgesses of the Parliament because of the misgouernment of the realme by certain gredy persons about the king raking all to themselues without seing any iustice done that 12. sage and discrete Lordes and Pieres such as were free from note of all auarice shuld be placed as tutours about the Kyng to haue the doing and disposing vnder him 6. at one time and in their absence 6. at an other of matters pertinent to the publike regiment Here by the way I omit to speake of Alice Perris the wicked harlot which as the story geueth had bewitched the kings hart gouerned all and sate vpon canses herself through the diuelish help of a Frier Dominick who by the duke of Lancaster was caused to be take and was conuicted should haue suffred for the same had not the Archb. of Cant. and the Friers more regarding the liberty of their Churche then the punishing of vice reclaimed hym for their own prisoner This Alice Perrys notwithstanding she was banished by this Parliament from the king yet afterward she came againe left him not til at hys death shee tooke all his rings vpon his fingers and other iewels frō him and so fled away like an harlot But thys of her by the way These 12. gouernours by the parliament aforesayd being appoynted to haue the tuition of the king to attend to the publike affaires of the realme remained for a certaine space about him till afterward it so fel out that they being againe remoued all the regiment of the realme next vnder the King was committed to the Duke of Lancaster the kings sonne For as yet Richard the sonne of prince Edward lately departed was very yong and vnder age This Duke of Lancaster had in his heart of long time conceiued a certaine displeasure against the popish clergy whether for corrupt and impure doctrine ioyned with lyke abhominable excesse of life or for what some other cause it is not precisely expressed Onely by story the cause thereof may be gessed to rise by William Wickam bishop of Winchester The matter is thys The Bishop of Winchester as the saying went then was reported to affirme that the foresaid Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lācaster was not the sonne of king Edward nor of the Quene Who being in trauel at Gaūt had no sonne as he sayd but a daughter which the same time by lying vppon of the mother in the bedde was there smothered Whereupon the Quene fearing the kings displeasure caused a certaine manchilde of a woman of Flaunders borne the very same time to be conueyed and brought vnto her in stead of her daughter aforesayde And so brought vp the child whom she bare not who now is called duke of Lancaster And this said the Bishop did the Queene tell him lying in extremes on her death bed vnder seale of confession charging hym if the sayde Duke should euer aspire to get the crowne or if the kingdome by any meanes should fall vnto hym he then should manifest the same declare it to the worlde that the sayde Duke of Lancaster was no part of the kings bloud but a false heire of the king This slaunderous report of the wicked Byshop as it sauoureth of a contumelious lie so seemeth it to proceede of a subtile zeale toward the Popes religion meaning falshoode For that the foresayd Duke by fauouring of Wickliff declared hymselfe to be a professed enemy against the Popes profession Whych thing was then not vnknowen neyther vnmarked of the Prelates and Byshops then in Englande But the sequele of the story thus followed Thys slanderous vilany of the Byshops report being blased abroad and comming to the Dukes eare he therw t being not a litle discontented as no maruell was sought againe by what meanes he coulde to be reuenged of thys forenamed Bishop In conclusion the Duke hauing now al the gouernment of the realm vnder the king his father in hys own hand so pursued the byshop of Winchester that by acte of parliament he was condemned and depriued of al his temporal goods which goods wer assigned to prince Rich. of Burdeur the next inheritour of the crowne after the king and furthermore inhibited the said bishop not to approch nere to the court by 20. miles Further as touching thys bishop the story thus procedeth Not lōg after in the yeare of our Lord. 1377. a Parliament was called by the meanes of the Duke of Lancaster vpon certaine causes respects in which parliament great request and sute was made by the cleargy for the deliueraunce of the B. of Winchester At length whē a subsidie was asked in the kyngs name of the clergy and request also made in the kings behalfe for spedy expedition to be made for the dissoluing of the parliament the Archb. therfore accordingly conuented the bishops for the tractation thereof To whō the B. with great lamentation cōplained for lack of their felow and brother B. of Wint. Whose iniury said they did derogate to the liberties of the whole church And therfore denied to ioyne themselues in tractation of any such matters before al the members together were vnited with the head And seing the matter touched them altogether in common as well him as thē would not otherwise do And seemed moreouer to be moued against the Archb. for that he was not more stout in the cause but suffered him so to be cited of the duke The Archb. although hauing sufficient cause to excuse himselfe wherefore not to send for him as also he dyd because of the perils which might ensue therof yet being enforced persuaded therunto by the importunitie of the bishops directed downe his letters to the foresaid bishop of wintch willing hym to resort vnto the conuocation of the clergy Who being glad to obey the same was receyued with great ioy of the other bishops And at length by that meanes of Alice Perris the kings paramor aboue mētioned geuing to her a good quantity of mony the sayd Winchester was restored to his temporalities againe As the Bishops had thus sent for wintch the Duke in the meane time had sent for Iohn Wickliffe who as is saide was then the diuinity reader in Oxford and had cōmenced in sondry actes and disputations contrary to the forme and teaching of the Popes church in many things who also for the same had bene depriued of his benefice as hath bene afore touched The opinions which he began in Oxford first in his lectures and sermōs to entreat of and
to be sente to the King whome the Byshops had sente out as yee heard before to fight in Fraunce The records of which Parliament do thus say that on Twesday the xiiij day of December and the xxix day of the sayd Parliament Sir Iohn Oldcastle of Cowling in the Countie of Kent Knight being outlawed as is afore minded in the Kings bench and excommunicated before by the Archbishop of Canterbury for heresie was brought before the Lords and hauing heard his said conuictions aunswered not thereto in his excuse Upon which record and processe it was adiudged that he should be taken as a traytour to the King and the Realme that he should be carried to the Tower of London and from thence drawne thorough London vnto the new gallowes in S. Gyles without Temple barre and there to bee hanged and burned hanging ¶ The description of the cruell Martyrdome of Sir Iohn Oldcastle Lorde Cobham As touching the pretenced treason of this Lord Cobham falsely ascribed vnto him in his inditement rising vpon wrong suggestion and false surmise and aggrauated by rigour of words rather then vpon any ground of due probation sufficiently hath bene discoursed before in my defence of the saide Lorde Cobham against Alanus Copus page 575. where againe is to be noted as I saide before how by this appeareth that the Lorde Cobham was neuer executed by force of the inditement or outlawry because if he had he should then haue bene brought to the barre in the Kings bench and there the Iudges shoulde haue demaunded of him what he could haue said why hee shoulde not haue died and then not shewing sufficiente cause for the discharge or delay of execution the Iudges should haue awarded and geuen the iudgemente of treason which being not so it is cleare he was not executed vpon the Inditement Besides to proue that he was not executed vpon the Inditement and the outlawry the maner of the execution proueth it because it was neither the execution of a Traitour nor was the whole punishment thereof pronounced by the Iudge as by due order of lawe was requisite Finally as I said before heere I repeate againe that albeit the sayd Lord Cobham was attained of treason by the Act and that the King the Lords and the commons assented to the Act yet all that bindeth not in such sorte as if in deede he were no traytour that any man may not by search of the truth vtter and set forth sincerely and iustly the very true and certaine cause whereupon his execution did follow Which seemeth by all circumstances and firme arguments to rise principally of his Religion which first brought him in hatred of the Bishops the Bishops brought him in hatred of the King the hatred of the King brought him to his death and Martirdome And thus much for the death and execution of this worthy seruaunt of Christ Lord Cobham Moreouer in the records aboue mentioned it followeth how in the sayd Parliament after the Martirdome of this valiant Knight motion then was made that the Lord Powes might be thanked and rewarded according to the Proclamation made for his great trauaile taken in the apprehension of Sir Iohn Oldcastle Knight hereticke Thus stand the wordes of the recorde Where two things are to be noted First how Sir Iohn heere in the record is called not traitour but hereticke only Secondly marke how this brother of Iudas heere craueth hys reward for betraieng the innocent bloud Wherein it is not to be doubted but that his light fee and quid vultis mihi dare in this world will haue an heauie reward hereafter in the world to come vnlesse he repented c. Furthermore in the sayde Parliament Act. 17. it was enacted that the Church and all estates should enioy all their liberties which were not repealed or repealeable by the common lawe meaning belike the excluding of the iurisdiction of the Popes foreine power which hath alwaies by the common lawe bene excluded out of thys Realme In the same Parliament also a greeuous complainte was made by the Bishops no doubt against insurrections In the ende they suspected that they were the Lollards hereticks and traitours with a request that commissions might at all times be graunted to inquire of them Whereunto aunswere was made that the statutes therefore made should be executed c. Thus the Cleargy Tanquam leones rugientes ceased not to roare after Christian bloud And whosoeuer was else in fault still the Clergy cried crucifie Christ and deliuer vs Barrabas For then all horrible facts and mischieues if anye were done were imputed to the poore Lollards And now from our English matters to returne againe to the story of the Bohemians from whence wee haue a little digressed when as the newes of the barbarous cruelty exercised at Constance against Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage were noised in Boheme the nobles and gentlemen of Morauia and Boheme such as fauoured the cause of Iohn Hus gathering themselues together in the zeale of Christ first sent their letter vnto the Councell expostulating with them for the iniurie done to those godly men as is before expressed page 602. for the which letter they were all cited vp to the Councell Unto this letter Sigismund the Emperour maketh aunswere againe in the name of the whole Councell first excusing himselfe of Husses death which he saide was against his safeconduict and against his will Insomuch that he rose in anger from the Councell and departed out of Constance as is before remembred Secondly he requireth them to be quiet and to conforme themselues peaceably vnto the order of the Catholicke Church of Rome c. Also the Councell hearing or fearing some stirre to rise among the Bohemians did make lawes and Articles whereby to bridle them to the number of xxiiij FIrst that the King of Bohemia shall be sworne to giue obedience and to defend the liberties of the Churche of Rome That all Maisters Doctours and Priestes shall bee sworne to abiure the doctrine of Wickleffe and Husse in that Councell condemned That all they which being cited would not appeare should also be sworne to abiure and they whiche woulde not appeare contemning the censure of the keyes should haue processe against them and be punished That all such lay men as had defended the causes of Iohn Wickleffe and Iohn Husse should sweare to defend them no more and to approoue the doings of that Councell and the condemnation of Iohn Husse That all such seculare men as had spoiled the Cleargie should be sworne to restitution That Priestes being expelled from their benefices should be restored againe That all prophaners of Churches should bee punished after the Canonicall sanctions That such as had bene promoters in the Councell against Iohn Husse should be permitted safely to returne into Boheme againe and to enioy their benefices That the reliques and treasure taken out of the Church of Prage should be restored fully againe That the
Of this processe mention is made before pag. 465. 2. Conclusion Declaration Euery 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 is 〈…〉 the brea◠〈◊〉 uery such coâ— dition If the pope may take from the Friers to cause them keepe S. Fraunces rule may not the Emperour take from the pope to cause hym keepe Christes rule 3. Conclusion Declaration A priest admitted ought to preach though the prince bishop forbyd so that he preach the word 4. Conclusion Declaration 5. Conclusion Declaratioâ— Remission double 6. Conclusion Declaratioâ— Either there is purgatory or els the pope is cruel and vncharitable The Popes power can keepe none from bodely paine Ergo much lesse from spirituall If the Martyrs being dead be not assured froÌ„ grief of tarying much lesse caÌ„ they assoile other from paynes of purgatorie The Pope hath no power grounded vpon scripture to bring from pain of purgatory 7. Conclusion The Pope maketh him selfe euen with Christ Declaration The Bishop of Norwich Hea. Spenser the popes warriour set vp of the pope to slay his enemies page 428. The Pope contrarie to Christ. The pope againe prooued Antichrist 2. Swordes neuer giuen to the pope Two sortes of annoyntinges in Scripture A defection in Antichristes time Mention was made of this schedule before in the first dayes Acte pag. 471. The sentence giuen agaynst hym The appeale of W. Swinderby from the B. to the king and his counsayle * Some thyng there lacketh 〈◊〉 the copie The kyngs court aboue the Byshops court What is an heretike The Byshops law of condemnation full of heresies and errours The contrarietie betwene the pope Christ. The cause why Swinderby forsooke the pope A fruitful letter to the Lords Burgesies of the Parliament * Reckened Daniel 14. Psal. 119. Leuit. 26. The saythfull request of W. Swinderby The story of Walter Bruce a Britton Ex Registro Epis Herford Murdring harts lurking vnder louing wordes Articles denouÌ„ced against W. Brute by priests and Friers The first article 2. Article 3. Article 4. Article 5. Article 6. Article 7. Article Otherwise bloudie promoters These conclusions and articles of W. Swinderby here repeated obiected to Walt. Brute are to be founde before pag. 466. and 467. 1. Conclusion Infanâ—um facinussciâ— licet A perilous doore to open A foule falt fâ—rsooth Walter Pride promoters or rather a proud promoter The first instrumeÌ„t exhibited by certain Cha â—â—s of Herford against Walter Bruce B. of Herford vniustly condemned the articles of sir W. Swinderby Matters obiected against Walter Brute The P. Antichrist Witnesses against Wal-Brute Richard Lee Register writer hereof The forme of the second instrument Matters coâ—clusions ministred against Walter Brute This conclusion seemeth to be falsly collected as were before the articles of W. Swinderby This conclusion also is not â—ightly gathered Witnesses against W. Brute Benedict Come Register witnes and writer of this instrument against William Bruite Certaine exhibites of Walter Brute in wryting presented to the B. for his defence Walter Brute a Britone borne Protestation made No writer odoctor without his errour the Scripture onely excepted Errour in the Apostles Errour in the Doctours Errours and coÌ„trarieties amoÌ„g the popish wryters Brate modestly excuseth his learning The first case or 〈◊〉 position The second case or assertion The first conclusion The pope an idole of desolation sitting in the temple of God The pope if his lawes be contrarie to Christ is the pestiferous mountaine infecting the whole earth Ierem. 31. The Pope the sinfull captained Israel spoken of â—â—â—chiel 21. Antichrist described Ezech. 28. The Pope an idle shepheard Zach. 11. The beast horned lyke the lambe The Pope signifieth the beast ascending out of the earth Terrible scriptures against the Pope Apoc. 13. Rome Babylon Apoc. 17. 1290. dayes figured in Dan. 12. The fall of Babylon Apoc. 14. Esay 13. Ierem. 15. An other declaration of the same maner before alter a more ample tractation exhibited by Walterbrute to the B. They that so humblye iudge of themselues and do not so carelesly coÌ„tinue are of God Esay 6. Esay 29. Esay 2â— Libanus and Charmel two hils the one in Phoenicia fruitfull pleasants the other in the borders of Iewry barren vnpleasant which is Charmel Daniel 2. Daniel 1â— * In Signo Gemini Marke heere good Reader by this astronomicall coniunction of these two planets in Gemini hee meaneth couertly the schisme betweene the two Popes which lasted 39. yeares by the which coniunction his meaning is that God wold haue Antichrist to be disclosed and his church to be reformed By this perfection I suppose he meaneth the reformation of the church being out of the way Esay 11. The reueling of Antechrist The abhomination of desolation Luke 21. Destruction of the Iewes temple 1390. dayes in Daniel expounded For these 42. monethes looke page 397. Why rather at this time then any other the matter of Antichrist iâ— moued and why rather in this kingdome then in an other The first receiuing the faith in thys realme by the Britons Britaines by the speciall election of God called to fayth The callyng of the Gentiles to faith Apoc. 12. The woman fed in the desert 1260. dayes This place of the desert in the scripture seemeth here something hardly expounded Faith came into Britanny froÌ„ the East not from Italy or Rome A time 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 a time 〈◊〉 unded Persecution of Dioclesians â—â—â—â—walo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 page â—â— Aâ—â—â—nd to 〈◊〉 Welchâ—â—â— The strong â—â—â—th of the Britons Tales of Antichrist A false imagination of Antichrist The scripture Prophetes not rightly vnderstaÌ„deâ— touching Antichrist Touching these 42. monethes see aboue pag. 397. The old imagination touching Antichrist confuted Antichrist commeth not so grosely as the papists imagine Esay cap. 2. Esay 2. Esay 9. Zach. 9. Antichrist cannot come of the tribe of Dan. Daniel 9. The abhomination or Idoll of desolation standing in the holy place Antichrist to raigne onely 3. yeares and a halfe is false Looke before in the story of the x. first persecutions Apoc. 13. The beast in the 13. of the Apoc. expounded The purple beast in the Apoc meaneth Rome For these 42. moneths looke before pag. 397. Apoc. 1. Apocalips 9. The begâ—ning a 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 an t beggaâ— Friers 〈◊〉 of in the Apoc expâ—â—ded of A◠〈◊〉 look◠〈◊〉 pag. 41. Non conâ—â—dat Psaâ—â—rium cum cithara Whether Antichriâ—â— be already come The Pope proued Antichrist Annointing double in scripture Kinges and Priestes annointed The Popeâ— make themselues priests and kynges The Pope maketh himselfe christ The Pope commeth is the name of Christ. Popes proued principal Antichristes The pope an outward frend and a priui enemy to Christ. Whether the Pope doth maintayne any lawes against the lawes of Christ. The law of 〈◊〉 commaunded in the Gospel Iohn 13. Iohn 15. â— Pet. 4. â— Iacob 2. 1. Iohn 3. 1. Iohn 4. Rom. 13. 1. Cor. 5. Galatians 5. Ephes. 4. Ephes. 5. Philip. 1â— Colos. 3. Thes. 4. Many thinges obserued in
brethren Soone after a Sonne of wicked Edricus by the minde as appeared afterward of his father espied when king Edmond was at the draught with a speare some say with a long knife thrust him into the fundameÌ„t wherof the sayd Edmond shortlye after dyed after that he had raigned two yeres He left behinde him two sonnes Edmond and Edward whom Edricke the wicked Duke after the death of their father tooke from theyr mother not knowing yet of the death of Edmond her husband preseÌ„ted them to king Canutus saluting him in these words Aue Rex solus Thus Canutus after the death of Edmond Irenside was king alone of the whole realme of englaÌ„d And afterward by the aduise of his counsayle he sent the foresayd sonnes of Edmond IroÌ„side to his brother Suanus king of Sueueland to be slayne who abhorring that deed sent them to Salomon king of HuÌ„gary where Edmond being maried to the kings daughter dyed Edward was maried to Agatha daughter of his brother Henry the 4. Emperour When Canutus was stablished in the kingdom he called a parliamentat London where among other things there debated it was propounded to the bishops BaroÌ„s and Lordes of the parliament there present whether that in the compositioÌ„ made betwene Edmund and Canutus any speciall remembraunce was made for the children or brethren of Edmund for any partition of any part of the land Wherunto the english Lordes falsly â—latteryng with the foraine kyng and speaking against their own mynds as also against their natiue countrey aunswered and sayd nay Affirming moreouer with an oth for the kings pleasure that they to the vttermost of their powers would put of the bloud of Edmund in all that they might By reason of which answer and promise they thought many of theÌ„ to haue purchased with the king great fauour But by the iust retribution of God it chaunced farre otherwise For many of them or the most part such especially as Canutus did perceiue to be sworne before tyme to Edmund his heyres and also considering that they were natiue englishmen he mistrusted and disdained euer after In so much that some he exiled a great sort he beheaded some by Gods punishment died sodainly Among whom wicked Edricke also the traytour although with hys sugred wordes he continued a while in the kings fauour at leÌ„gth escaped not condigne reward for his deceiuable dealyng For as the history of IornaleÌ„sis recordeth as the king was in his palace beyond Thames this Edricke beyng belike accused or els suspected of the king before comming vnto him began to reckon vp his benefites labours bestowed for his sake First in forsaking and betraying Egelred then in slaying king Edmund his sonne with many such other deedes moe which all for his sake he had done Well saith the king thou hast here rightly iudged thy selfe and worthily thou shalt dye for slaying thy naturall Prince my sworne brother And so commaunded him to be bound immediately hand and foote to be thrown into Thames Some stories say that when he had saluted the king with Aue rex solus and shewed him the slaying of Edmund Canutus promising that he would make him therfore higher then all the lordes of the realme commaunded his head to be striken off to be set vpon London bridge and hys body to be cast in the towne ditche And thus with shame ended he his wretched life as al they commonly do which with like dissimulatioÌ„ seeke the destruction of their Prince and of their countrey This Canutus shortlye after the death of king Edmond by the counsayle of Edricke exiled Edmond being brother to King Edmund called Rex rusticorum the king of Choorâ—es But afterward he was reconciled agayne to the kinges fauour and lastly slayne by certayne of the Kinges Secretaryes or Seruauntes Also through the counsayle of the sayd Edricke and of Emma his wife he sent the two Sonnes of Edmond Ironside Edmond and Edward to his brother Suanus king of Denmark to be slaine as is aboue sayd In this meane time Suanus king of Denmarke brother to Canutus died Wherfore that land fel to Canutus which anon after sailed thether and tooke thereof possession And after he had set it in an order he retourned into England and maried Emma late wife before of Egelred and by her had a soÌ„ne called Herdeknight or Hardeknoutus Moreouer this Canutus assembled a Parliament at Oxford where it was agreed that Englishmen Danes should holde the lawes made by king Edgar because they were thought so good resonable aboue any other lawes Thus the Danes being in England began by little little to be Christen men And Canutus went to Rome so returning againe to England gouerned that lande the space of 20. yeares leauing after him two sonnes Harold Hardeknoutus which Hardeknoutus was made king of Denmarke in his fathers time Harold called Harefoote for his deliuernes and swiftnes sonne to Canutus by Elgina his first wife began his raigne ouer England an 1039. Of him is little left in memory for he raigned but 4. yeres saue that he banished his stepmother Emma tooke her goods iewels from her Hardeknoutus being king of Denmarke and second sonne to Canutus by his last wife Emma was next King of England In the time of these Danish kings there was one Godwyn an earle in England which had bene before in great fauour with Canutus for his actes done in Denmarke against the Northwegians and afterward maryed yâ— sister some say the daughter of Canutus This Godwyn was of a cruell and subtill wit as he declared no lesse by the two sonnes of king Egelred For when these two aforesaid whose names were Alfride and Edward came from NormaÌ„die into England to visit their mother Emma and brought with them a great company of Normands this Godwine hauing a daughter called Godith whome he thought to marry to Edward set him vp to be King to bring his purpose about vsed this practise that is to perswade king Hardeknoue the Lordes not to suffer those Normandes to be within the realme for ieoperdie but rather to punish them for example By which meanes he gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe wherefore he 〈◊〉 them on Guild downe and there most wretchedly murthered or rather Martyred the most number of the Normandes and that innocently For as Swanus before had tithed the Monkes of Canterburie so heâ— with the cruell coÌ„pany of english soldiors slew ix of the saide Normands and saued the x. And yet passing the furie of Swanus as not contented with that tiranny he tithed againe the sayde tithe and slew euery x. knight and that by cruel tormeÌ„t as winding their guts out of their bodies as writeth Ranulphus And among other put out the eyes of the elder brother Alfridus and sent him to an Abbey of Elie where he being fed wyth breade and water endured not
doings of whom you as a beardles boy of smal knowledge haue not rightly conceiued who in dede despising Princes comandements haue deserued euerlasting reward Wherby is to be noted what difference is to be sent betweene the hose of Princes then and the hose of seruingmen now There is a certaine Chronicle in olde English meter which among other matters speaking of William Rufus declareth him to be so sumptuous excessiue in poinpous apparel that he being not contented with a paire of hose of a lowe price which was iii. shillings caused a paire to be bought of a marke whereupon his chamberlaine procuring a paire much worse then the other before sayd That they costenid a marke and vnneth he them so bought Ye belamy quoth the king these are well bought Appendix Historiae After the tune of this king William the name of kings ceased in the country of Wales among the Britaines since king Ris. who in the raigne of this king the yeare of oure Lorde 1093. was slaine in Wales Ex continuatione Roger. Houeden King Henry the first HEnry first of that name the third sonne of W. Conquerour succeeding his brother Rufus began his raigne in England the yere of our Lord 1100. who tor his knowledge science in the 7. liberal arts was surnamed Clerke or bewclerke In whome may wel appeare howe knowledge and learning doth greatly conduce to the gouernement and administration of any realme or country At the beginning he reformed the state and condition of the clergie released the grieuous paiments reduced againe king Edwards laws with emendation therof he reformed the old and vntrue measures made a measure after the length of his arme he greatly abhorred excesse of meats drinks many things misused before his time he reformed and vsed to vanquish more by counsaile then by sworde Suche persons as were nice and wanton he secluded from hys court This man as appeareth litle fauoured the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome Soone after he was King he maried Matilde or Maude daughter of Malcolin king of Scots and of Margaret his wife daughter of Edward the Dutlaw as is before specified being a profesied Nunne in Winchester whom notwithstanding wont the popes dispensation he maried by the consent of Anselme By the which Maude he receaued 2. sonnes William and Richard 2. daughters Maude Mary which Maude afterward was maried to Henry the v. Emperour c. In the second yere of his reigne Robert his elder brother Duke of NormaÌ„dy who being occupied in the Christen warres against the Turkes and being elect as yee heard king of Hierusalem hearing of the death of Rufus refused the kingdom therof For the which as is thought he neuer sped wel after Thus the saide Robert leauing of the Lordes busines and returning into Normandy made there his preparation and came ouer into England with a great hoste to chalenge the Crowne But by mediation of the Lordes it was agreed that Robert shoulde haue yearely during his life iij. M. markes as was likewise promised him before by R. Rufus his brother And whether of them ouer liued the other to be others heyre And thus Robert departed again vnto NormaÌ„dy to the great discontentation of his Lords there But in few yeares after the forenamed tribute of iij. M. Markes through the meanes of Queene Maude was released to the King his brother In proces of time variance falling betwene king Henry and the sayd Robert his brother at length Robert in his warre was taken prisonner and brought ouer into England was put into the Castel of Cardise in Wales where he continued as prisoner while he liued In this time as about the iij. yeare of this king the hospitall of S. Bartholomewe in Smithfield was founded by meanes of a minstrell belonging to the King named Rayer And after was finished by Richard Whittyngton Alderman and Maior of London This place of Smithfield was at that day a lay stowe of all ordure or filth the place where the felones other transgressors of the kings lawes were put to execution Diuers strait lawes were by this king prouided especially against theeues and felones that who so were taken in that fault no money should saue him from hanging Item that who so did counterfait false money shoulde haue both his eyes and nether partes of his body cut off Item in the same Councell was decreed an order for Priestes to be sequestred from their wiues whych before were not forbidden according as the wordes of mine author doe purporte whose wordes be these Anselmus prohibuit vxores sacerdotibus Anglorum ante non prohibitas Quod quibusdam mundissimum visum est quibusdam periculosum ne dutrimundicias viribus maiores appeterent in immundicias horribâ—les ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent c. Hen. Hunt Item it was then decreed that Monkes and Priests should beare no rule ouer lay persons Item it was then decreed concerning broydering of heare and wearing of garments Item that the secrete 〈◊〉 act betwene a yong lad and a yong maid should not stand with other things mo concerning the excommunication of Sodomites c. In the storie of William RuÌ„fus before was declared how Anselmus Archbishop of Canterbury departing out of the realme went vnto the Pope who after the death of King William was sent for againe by the foresayde King Henrie and so returned againe and was at the Councell of the King at Westminster where the king in the presence of the Lordes as well temporall as spiritual ordeined and inuested 2. Bishops Roger Bishop of Salisburie Roger bishop of Hereford During which parliament or couÌ„cel of the king Anselmus in his conuocation deposed and displaced diuers Abbots and other Prelates from their roumes and dignitics eitherfor that they lawfully came not by them or vprightly did not administer the same After this councel and the other before set forth by Anselmus Herbert bishop of Norwich had much adoe with the priests of his diocesse For they would neither leaue their wiues nor yet geue ouer their benefices Whereupon hee wrote to Anselme the Archbishop for counsaile what was to be done therein Which Anselme required him as he did other mo the same time by wryting to perswade the people of Norfolke and Southfolke that as they professed Christianitie they shoulde subdue them as rebels against the church and vtterly to driue both them and their wiues out of the countrey placing Monkes in their rowmes as by the Epistles of the said Anselme doth appeare Whereof certaine parcels shall hereafter by the grace of Christ ensue for the better euidence of this and the other his actes aboue recited The like businesse also had Gerarde the Archbishop of Yorke in depriuing the priestes of his prouince from their wiues which thing with all his excommunications and thundrings he coulde hardly bring about Upon this ruffeling of
my predecessors before me were much both better and greater then I and of them euery one for his time although he did not extirpe and cut off all yet something they did plucke vp and correct which seemed aduerse repugnant against Gods honor For if they had taken altogether away no such occasion then had bene left for any man to raise 〈◊〉 fire of temptation now against vs as is nowe raised to proue vs with all that we being so proued with them might also be crowned with them being likewise partakers of praise and reward as we are of their labour and trauaile And though some of them haue bene slacke or exceeded in their duetie doing in that we are not bounde to follow their example Peter when he denied Christ we therfore rebuke him but whē he resisted the rage of Nero therin we cōmēd him And therfore because he could not finde in his cōscience to cōsent vnto that he ought in no wise to dissemble neither did he by reason thereof he lost his life By such like oppressions the church hath alwaies growne Our forefathers predecessors because they would not dissemble the name honor of Christ therfore they suffred And shall I to haue the fauour of one man suffer the honor of Christ to be supprest The nobles standing by hearing him thus speake were greatly agreeued with him noting in him both arrogancy wilfulnes in perturbing and refusing suche an honest offer of agreemēt But specially one among the rest was most agreeued who their openly protested that seing the Archbishop so refused the counsaile and request of both the kingdome he was not worthye to haue the helpe of eyther of them but as the kingdome of Englande had reiected so the kingdome of Fraunce shoulde not entertayne him Alanus Herbertus and certayne other of his Chaplaines that committed to story the doynges of Becket doe record whether truely or no I cannot say that the French king sending for him as one much sorrowing and lamenting the wordes that he had spoken at the cōming of Becket did prostrate hymselfe at his feete confessing his fault in geuing counsel to him in such a cause pertayning to the honor of God to relent therein to yeld to the pleasure of mā wherfore declaring his repentance he desired to be absolued thereof So that after this the French king and Becket were great frendes together in so much that kyng Henry sending to the king to entreate him and desire him that he would not support nor maintayn his enemy within his Realme the French king vtterly denyed the kinges requeste taking part rather with the Archbishop then with him Besides these quarrels and grudges betwixt the kyng and the Archbishop aboue mentioned there followed yet moreouer an other which was this Shortly after this cōmunication recited betweene the king and Becket the K. of England returning againe frō Normandy to England which was the yeare of our Lord 1170. and the 16. yeare of his raigne about Midsomer kept his court of Parliament at Westminster In the which Parliament he through the assent both of the Clergy and the Lordes temporall caused hys sonne Henry to be crowned king Which coronation was done by the hands of Robert Archb. of York with the assistāce of other bishops ministring to the same as Gilb. of Londō Goceline of Salisbury Hugo of Duresme and Gualter of Rochester By reason whereof Becket of Cant. beyng there neither mentioned nor called for took no little displeasure and so did Lodouike the French king hearing that Margaret hys daughter was not also crowned with her husband Whereupon he gathering a great army forthwith marched into Normādy But the matter was soone cōpassed by the king of England who sending hys sonne to him in Normandy intreated there and concluded peace with him promising that his sonne should be crowned agayne then hys daughter to be crowned also But the Archb. not ceasing his displeasure and emulatiō sent vnto the Pope complaining of these four bishops especially of the Archb. of Yorke who durst be so bold in his absence without his knowledge or his licence to intermedle to crowne the king being a matter proper and peculiar to his iurisdiction At the instaunce of whom the P. sent downe the sentnce of excommunication against the B. of London The other 3. bishops with the Archb. of York he suspended whose sentence and letters thereof for auoyding prolixitie I here omit Besides these foresayd bishops excommunicated diuers other clerks also of the court he cited to appeare before him by vertue of his large commission whiche he gate from the Pope to whō they were bound to obey by reason of their benefices And some he commanded in vertue of obediēce to appeare in payne of forfeting their order and benefices Of which whē neyther sort would appeare he cursed thē openly And also some lay men of the court the kings familiars some as intruders and violent withholders of Church goodes he accursed as Richard Lucy and Iocelin Balliot and Rafe Brocke which tooke bels and goods that belonged to the Church of Caunterburye and Hugh Sainctcleare and Thomas the sonne of Bernard and all that should hereafter take any church goodes without hys consent so that almost all the court was accursed eyther by the name or as pertakers This being done the Archb. of Yorke with the foresaid bishops resorted to the king with a greuous cōplaint declaring how miserably their case stood and what they had sustayned for fulfilling his commaundement The kyng hearing this was highly moued as no maruell was But what remedy The tyme of the ruine of the Pope was not yet come and what Prince then might withstand the iniurious violence of that Romish potestate In the meane season the Frenche King for his parte his clergy and courtiers stackt no occasion to incite and sollicite Alexander the Pope agaynst the king of England to excōmunicate him also seeking thereby and thinking to haue some vauntage agaynst the realme Neither was the king ignorant of thes which made him more ready to apply to some agreement of reconciliation At length cōmeth downe from the Pope two Legates the Archb. of Rhotomage and the Byshop of Nauerne with direction and full commission eyther to driue the king to be reconciled or to be interdicted by the popes cēsures out of the church The king vnderstanding himselfe to be in greater straites then he coulde auoyde at length through the mediation of the Frenche king and of other Prelates and great Princes was content to yeld to peace and reconciliation with the Archbishop whome he receaued both to hys fauour and also permitted and graunted him free returne to his Church agayne Concerning hys possessions and landes of the Churche of Canterburye although Becket made great labour therefore yet the king being then in Normandy would not graunt him before he should repayre to England to see how he would there agree with
therof should be displaced and the said Herrigetto perferred Yea also non obstante that the sayd Pope himselfe had before giuen his graunt to the king realme of England y◠one Italian should not succeede an other in any benefice there yet for all that the said Herrigetto vpon paine of excommunication to be placed therin Ex Paris fol. 240. And thus much hetherto of these matters through the occasion of the East churches and the Grecians to the entent all men that read these stories see the doings of this Westerne Bishop may consider what iust cause these Grecians had to seclude themselues from hys subiection and communion For what christian communion is to be ioyned with him which so contrary to Christ and his gospel seeketh for worldly dominion so cruelly persecuteth hys brethren so giuē to auarice so greedy in getting so iniurious in oppressing so insatiable in hys exactions so malitious in reuenging stirring vp warres depriuing kings deposing Emperours playing Rex in the Church of Christ so erronious in doctrine so abominably abusing excommunication so false of promise so corrupt in life so voyde of Gods feare and briefly so farre from all the parts of a true Euangelicall Bishop For what seemeth he to care for the soules of men which setteth in benefices boyes and outlādish Italians and further one Italian to succede an other which neither did know the language of the flocke nor once would abide to see their faces And who can blame y◠Grecians then for diffeuering themselues from such an oppressour and gyant against Christ. Whose wise example if this Realme had then folowed as they might certes our predecessours had bene rid of an infinite number of troubles iniuries oppressiōs warres commotions great trauails charges besides the sauing of innumerable thousand of poūds which the sayd bishop full falsely hath raked and transported out of thys Realme of ours But not to excede the bounds of my history because my purpose is not to stande vpon declamations nor to dilate common places I will passe ouer leauing the iudgement therof to the further examination of the reader For els if I lifted to prosecute this argument so far as mater would lead me truth peraduenture wold require me to say I durst not only say but could well proue the Pope court of Rome to be the only fountain principal cause I say not of muche misery heere in England but of all the publicke calamities and notorious mischiefes which haue happened these many yeres through all these West parts of christendome especially of all the lamentable ruine of the church which not only we but the Grecians also this day do suffer by the Turks and Saracens As whosoeuer wel considereth by reading of histories the course of times and vieweth with all the doings and acts passed by the said bishops of Rome together with the blinde leading of his doctrine shal see good cause not only to thinke but also to witnes the same Only one narratiō touching this argument and yet not transgressing the office of my historie I minde the Lorde willing to set before the Readers eyes which happened euen about this present time of thys king Henries reigne in the yere of our Lord. 1244. In the which yeare it chanced that Lewes the French king sonne to Quene Blanch fel very fore sicke lying in a swounde or in a traunce for certaine dayes in such sorte as few thought he would haue liued some said he was gon already Amongst other there was with him hys mother who sorowing bitterly for her sonne and giuen somewhat as cōmonly the maner of women is to superstitiō went brought foorth a peece of the holy crosse wyth the crowne and the speare which peece of the holy crosse Baldwynus Emperour of Constantinople whome the Grecians had deposed a litle before for holding with the bishop of Rome had sold to the French king for a great summe of mony and blessed him wyth the same also laid the crowne the spear to his body making a vow wtal in the person of her sonne that if the Lorde would visite him with health and release him of that infirmitie he should be croysed or marked with the crosse to visit his sepulchre and there solemnly to render thankes in the lande which he had sanctified wyth his bloud Thus as she with the B. of Parys and other there present were praying beholde the king which was supposed of some to be dead began with a sigh to pluck to his arms and legges and so stretching himselfe began to speake geuing thankes to God who from an high had visited him called him from the danger of death Which as the kings mother with others there toke to be a great miracle wrought by the vertue of the holy crosie so the king amending more and more as soone as he was well recouered receaued solemnely the badge of the crosse vowing for a freewil sacrifice vnto God that he if the counsaile of his realme would suffer him would in hys owne person visite the holy land forgettyng belyke the rule of true Christianitie where Christ teacheth vs otherwise in the gospel saying That neither in this mount nor in Samaria nor at Ierusalem the Lord will be worshipped but seeketh true worshippers which shall worship him in truth and veritie c. An. 1244. Pariens fol. 182. After thys was great preparaunce and muche a do in Fraunce toward the setting foorth to the holy land For after the K. first began to be croysed the most part of the nobles of Fraunce with diuers Archbishops and Byshops with Earles and Barons and Barons and gentlemen to a mighty number receaued also the crosse vppon their sleeues Amongst whom was the Earle Atrebacensis the kings brother the Duke of Burgundy the Duke of Brabant the Countesse of Flaunders wyth her two sonnes the Earle of Britaine with his sonne the Earle of Barrēsis Earle of Swesson Earle of S. Paul Earle of Druis Earle Retel with many noble persons mo Neither lacked here whatsoeuer the Pope could do to set forward this holy busines in sending his Legates and Friers into Fraunce to stirre the people to folow the king to contribute to his iourny Wherupon was graunted to the King to gather of the vniuersall church of France by the popes authoritie the tenth part of all their goods for 3. yeares space together vpon thys condition that the king likewise wold graunt to the Pope the 20. part for so many yeares after to be gathered of the sayd Church of Fraunce Which was agreed An. 1246. Ex Mat Parisiens fol. 204 b. Shortly after thys in the yeare of our Lorde 1247. followed a Parliament in Fraunce where the king with his nobles being present there was declared how the king of Tartarians or Turkes hearing of the viage of the French king writeth a letter to him requiring that he wil become hys
Margaret the daughter of our progenitour Henry the third at our Citty of Yorke in the feast of Christmas at whiche tyme the sayd Alexander dyd hys homage to our sayd progenitour who reigned in this Realme 56. yeares And thereford betweene the homage made by the sayd Alexander king of Scotland and the homage done by Alexander sonne to the sayd king of Scots to vs at our coronation at Westminster there was about 50. yeares At which tyme the said Alexander kyng of Scottes repayred to the sayd feast of our coronation and there did he his duety as is aforesayd ¶ Besides these letters of the king the Lordes temporall also in the name of the whole communaltie and Parliment wrote an other letter to the pope answering to that where as the pope arrogated to hym to be iudge for the title of the realme of Scotland whiche the king of England claymed to hymselfe whiche letter I thought also here to annexe contayning as in the wordes of the same here foloweth to be read and seene * The Lordes temporall and the whole Baronie of England to the Pope THe holy mother Churche by whose ministery the Catholicke fee is gouerned in her deedes as we throughly beleeue and holde proceedeth with that ripenes in iudgement that she will be hurtfull to none but like a mother would euery mans right to be kept vnbroken as well in other as in her selfe Whereas therefore in a generall Parliament called at Lincoln of late by our most dread Lord Edward by the grace of God the noble kyng of England the same our Lorde caused certayne letters receaued from you to be read openly and to be declared seriously afore vs about certayne businesses touching the condition state of the realme of Scotland We did not a little muse and maruaile with our selues hearing the meaninges concerning the same so wondrous and straunge as the like we haue not heard at any time before For we know most holy father and it is well knowne as well in this realm of England as also not vnknowne to other persons besides that from the first beginning of the Realme of England the certayne and direct gouernement of the Realme of Scotland in all temporall causes from tyme to tyme belonged to the kynges of the same Realme of England and Realme of Scotland as well in the times both of the Brittaines as also of Englishmen Yea rather the same Realme of Scotland of olde tyme was in see to the Auncetours of our foresayd Lordes Kynges of England yea and to hymselfe Furthermore the Kynges of Scottes and the Realme haue not bene vnder any other then the kynges of England and the Kinges of England haue answered or ought to aunswere for theyr rightes in the foresayd Realme or for any hys temporalities afore anye Iudge Ecclesiasticall or secular by reason of free preheminence of the state of hys royall dignitie and custome kept without breach at all tymes Wherefore after treatie had and dilligent deliberation of the contentes in your foresayd letters this was the common agreeing and consent with one mynde and shall be without fayle in tyme to come by Gods grace that our foresayd Lord the Kyng ought by no meanes to aunswere in iudgement in any case or shoulde bring hys foresayd rightes into doubt nor ought not to send any proctors or messengers to your presence specially seeing that the premisses tend manifestly to the disheriting of the right of the Crowne of Englande and the playne ouerthrow of the state of the sayd Realme and also hurt of the liberties customes and lawes of our fathers For the keeping and defence of whiche we are bounde by the duety of the othe made And we will mayntayne them with all power and will defend them by Gods helpe with all strength And farther we will not suffer our foresayd Lord the king to doe or by anye meanes to attempt the premisses being so unacustomed vnwont and not heard of afore Wherefore we reuerently and humbly beseech your holines that ye would suffer the same our Lord king of Englande who among other Princes of the worlde sheweth himselfe Catholicke and deuour to the Romishe Churche quietly to enioye hys rightes liberties ' customes and lawes aforesayde without all empayring and trouble and let them continue vntouched In witnesse whereof we haue set our seales to these presentes aswell for vs as for the whole communaltie of the foresayd Réalme of England Dated at Lincolne in the yeare of our Sauiour 1031. anno Edwardi primi 28. The yeare following which was from Christ an 1303. the sayd Pope Boniface the eight of that name taking displeasure with Phillip the Frenche king did excite king Edward of Englad to warre against him promising hun great ayd thereunto But he as mine author sayth little trusting the Popes false vnstable affection toward him well proued before put him of with delayes Ex Rob. Auesb. wherupon the French king fearing the power of king Edward whom the Pope had set agaynst hys friendship restored vnto him agayn Wascone which he wrongfully had in his hands deteined Concerning this variaunce here mentioned between the Pope and the French kyng how it begā first and to what end it fell out the sequell hereof Christ willing shall declare after that first I haue finished the discourse begon betweene England and Scotland In the yeare 1303. the foresayd Willa Waleys which had done so many displeasures to the king before continuing still in his rebellion gathered great multitudes of the Scottes to wtstand the king til at length the yeare following he was taken and sent vp to Londō and there executed for the same After which thinges done the king thē held his Parliament at Westminster whether came out of Scotland the Bishop of S. Andrewes Robert Bruse aboue mentioned Earle of Dunbarre Earle of Acles and Syr Iohn comming with diuers other The which volūtarily were sworne to be true to the king of England and to keep the land of Scotland to his vse agaynst at persons But shortly after the sayd Robert Bruse who as is sayd maried the second daughter of Earle Dauid forgetting his othe before made vnto the king within a yeare or two after this by the counsell of the Abbot of Stone and Bishop of S. Andrewes sent vp vnto Pope Clement the 5. for a dispensation of his othe made unsinuating to him that King Edward vexed and greued the realme of Scotland wrōgfully Whereupon the pope wrote vnto the king to leaue of such doinges Notwithstanding whiche inhibition of the Pope the king prosecuting hys owne right after he had the vnderstanding of the doings of the Scots of the mischiefe of Robert Bruys who had slayne with hys owne handes Syr Iohn Comyng for not consenting with him and other Lordes at hys Parliament areared his power strength of men preparing himselfe toward Scotlād where he ioyning with the said Syr Robert and all the power of Scotland in a
gouernement of both the states as well secular as also ecclesiasticall The king therfore not suffering the excessiue proceedinges of Pope Clement the 5. aboue specified directeth his letters mandatory to the Prelates and Barons of the realme of Fraūce to connēt assemble themselues together at Paris about the beginning of December the yeare aboue prefixed The tenor of which letters of the king directed to the Prelates followeth in this forme and maner ¶ The Sommons of a Parliament by Philip the French king PHilip by the grace of God king of Fraunce to our welbeloued Bishop of Eduens greeting and salutation Reuerend Father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greete you well The more sight and knowledge you haue in diuinitye and the holye Scriptures of God with the practise and experience of other good qualityes and vertues you know the better a great deale how that the Clergy and layty of this our Realme as members of one body ought to cleaue and sticke together and how by theyr helping hand vnity and peace should bee maynetayned of all and the contrary eschued and auoyded euery state contēting it selfe not incroching one vpon another And because we are aduertised how that our Barons and officers as well in time past as of late haue diuersly in diuers poyntes iniuried you as semblably you and yours in many causes haue wrongfullye damaged them by occasion wherof the knot of vnitie and concord which ought to haue florished among you is quite loosed and vndone To the end therefore by Gods grace some good reformation and redresse may be had herein We most studious of vnity and concord requere you and by these our letters commaūd you to appeare personally before vs at Paris the 15. day of Decēber next ensuing the dare hereof and there before vs to make relation of such wrong as ye haue receiued at the laities hāds And wee likewise straightly charge and commaund you our Barons Bailiffes and officers not to fayle but to make your personall appearaunces before vs the day and place aboue written there to exhibite before vs a bill of such complayntes wherewith you burden our Prelats and Clergy with their officials that we with our counsell consulting thereupon with due regard may see redresse therin wherby perpetuall loue and charity may euer hereafter raigne and remayne among them for euer Geuen at Paris the first day of September an 1329. At the day in the letters aboue specified the Prelates and Clergy assembled themselues before the King at hys palace in Paris that is to witte The L. Baturicen the L. of Auxitan the L. Turonen the L. Rothom and the L. Senon all Archbishops The L. Beluaren the L. Cathalan the L. Laudun the L. of Paris the L. Nousonon the L. Carnoten the L. Constan the L. Andegauen the L. Pictauen the L. Melden the L. of Cameracen the L. of S. Feri the L. Brioce the L. of Cabition the L. of Eduen all Byshops Where after due reuerence done vnto the Kinges grace there sitting in his owne person wyth his Barons and counsell about him a certayne noble and wise person Lord Peter de Cugnerijs being one of the kinges counsell rose vp and openly in the Parliament house spake in the kinges behalfe on this wise taking for hys Theame Reddite quae sunt Caesaris Caesari quae sunt Dei Deo which is to say geue and render vnto Cesar whiche is his and vnto God which is Gods which he uery artificially prosecuted and applyed deuiding it into 2. partes First that obedience and reuerence is due vnto the king Secondly that there ought to be a difference betweene the iurisdiction of the clergy and laity so that spirituall matters should be defined and ordered by the Prelats and spirituall men and temporall causes ruled and determined by the king his Barons and temporall men Which all he proued by many reasōs both of fact and law as more fully appeareth beneath in the answere of the Byshop of Eduen finally he concluded that the Clergy ought onely to deale and haue to doe with spirituall matters in defence whereof the kings highnes would stand their good Lord and maintayner His Oration being ended he repeated certayn wordes in the French toung which imported that the kinges will and pleasure was in some poyntes to renew the temporall state and iurisdiction therewith exhibited a certaine bill in French whereof also he gaue a copy to the Prelates contayning certaine pointes and articles vnder writtē the contentes wherof he affirmed not to appertaine to the order iurisdiction of the spiritualty but onely to the temporalty complayning that the Clergy had wrōgfully proceeded in y◠same But notwithstanding the premisses for all this his complaint he sayd that y◠Prelates should haue time to consult and deliberate thereupō with the king The copy of which articles with answers ensuing vpon the same and the grieuaunces of the kingdome of Fraunce wrought by the clergy and exhibited to the king hereafter foloweth 1. First the cognition of causes reall whether they touch possession or their propriety or not by commō law apperteineth to y◠iurisdicion temporall But the Prelates wyth their officials to y◠end to infringe the tēporall iurisdiction take vpon them the determination of such causes reall especially concerning possession and all other interdictes 2. Item when a temporall man is sued by any Clerke or spirituall man for the possession of his land obtayning an adiornament of the secular power in the cause of nouite or otherwise The prelates officials stopping hereby the tēporall iurisdiction at the instaunce of the Clerke calleth by proces before them both the secular iudge and the party inhibiting them to proceed any farther in the cause vnder payne of excommunication and forfeiture of a certayne summe 3. Item although the secular iudge haue the cognition of all lay mens matters except in spirituall causes yet wil y◠Bishops Officials at the instaunce of any partye call such before them And if the tēporall mē do except against their iurisdiction alleadging the incompitency of the iudge or els if they require the cause to be remitted to them vnder whom they are as the right iudges yet doth the Officials refuse this to do yea and by excommunication compell the parties to proceed before them 4. Item the Byshoppes Officials at the instaunce of the clerks alledging that they are iniuried in matters of inheritance by a lay man call by proces the laity And if it be alledged that those causes stand vpō reality being so indeed for that consideration the cause to be remitted to the tēporall law This notwithstanding the Officials prohibit them vnder payne of excommunication or some great forfeit not to proceed but before them 5. Item the Bishops Officials take vpon them to heare the plea of such contractes as either be conceiued in writings or made by word of mouth in the temporall law
and Emperor especially constituted the said lawe And likewise to speake of custome it hath bene known frō time out of mind the same to haue belonged to the church of Fraunce He therefore which shal go about to violate this lawe committeth sacrilege 11. q. 1. ca. 1. 2. And let not the kings maiestie maruell if that in this most noble Realme of Fraunce thys prerogatiue be due vnto the Churche As when hereby his power and nobilitie is beutified Anth. vt iud sine quoquo suffra fi in principio Col 2. Besides this our soueraigne Lorde and King at what time hee was crowned was sworne by the Euangelists to keepe and obserue thys Canonicall priuiledge of the Churche Further the Barons who in a manner are all sworne to the Churche swore fidelity to the same by which oth of fidelity they are bound to keepe these liberties and rights of the Churche When therfore euery oth which tendeth not to the perdition of the soule is to be kept a fortiori that oth which is taken in the fauor of the church is much more to be obserued c. Si vero extra de iure iurando 22. quaest 4. c vlt. Besides thys blessed Ludouicke Phillip of Arragon Phillip the faire Ludouicke Carolus the great Phillip confirmed these priuiledges customes and liberties of the Church which all were sworne at their coronations as before c. These things considered who can aduise the kings maiesty with out damning of his owne soule contrary to these liberties graunted and so confirmed to the Church To whom belōgeth great reward whosoeuer bestoweth any thing vpon the Churche Antho. de non alie at permut re ecc § si minis col 3. neyther maketh it against vs where it is sayde that there are two swordes c. Neyther yet the distinction betwene the Byshoppricke and kingdome Because it is true that there are two swordes the power wherof is left to the churches hand although the execution of the material sword is committed to the temporal and secular men Matth. 26. where Christ saith to Peter conuert and put vp thy sword into the place But as touching the distinction betwixt the Byshopricke and kingdom in deede it is true asmuch as appertaineth to the end to the execution of bloud but not concerning the beginning subiect for that in one subiect both the powers are may be and ought to be as is before prooued To that poynt where it is said that Christ payed tribute it is answered that not therfore he payd it because he ought or was bounde thereunto because it is certainly true that the sonnes of the king as hee was ought not to pay but this he did to auoide offence yea also the Clergy is not boūd hereunto Esdrae 1. vlt. Wherfore such things do not inferre a consequence Neither yet maketh that against vs where it is sayd that the king our soueraigne Lord maister can not abdicate from himselfe this right especially for that he was sworne thereunto at the time of his coronation c. for it is aunswered that he may wel abdicate the same And howe doth he abdicate the same from hymselfe which be geueth and bestoweth to God the Church The land is the Lords And doubtles to geue is nothing els but to tender to God and the church their owne for then by that reason the gift giuē to the church by Cōstantine is naught and nothing woorth which is false and this is proued xvi dist ca. Const. Wherby it appeareth that an Emperour and king may alienate things of the empire ff de legatis i. l. apud Iulianum § vlt. nor yet heereby the Empire or kingdome is damaged for that the thing returneth to the pristinat state ff de pactis l. vnus § pactus 35. dist ab exordio Furthermore by this reason propounded all the kings of France which euer were and especially blessed Ludouike shuld be spotted for if that were true as God forbid then al they were persured and died in mortal sinne which is to too absurde Last of all it hurteth not where it is sayd that such things are inprescriptible It is true in deede they cannot of subiects or otherwise then of the Church be prescribed but in this cause we talke not of subiects Also seeing they may be alieuated they may be prescribed especially the kinges thus consenting who confirmed the same so long a time which excludeth all right both fiscal and ecclesiastical The prelates therefore al with one consent agreeth affirmeth to the same as a verity to be maintained and defended Beseeching the kings maiestie their Lorde both for hys soule health and peace of the Church to maintaine the same and keeping the liberties of the Church Desiring hym to consider what commoditie daily he receiueth by the Churche and that hys Churche neuer failed him yet when hee had neede of the laitie shewing the daungers and examples of them who did to the contrary Further hee beseeched hys highnesse to way howe entierly hys Lord the Pope doeth and hath loued his person and realme Affirming that neuer any placed in the seat of Peter loued better his realme then he doth Alledging the text of Eccl. 6. where it is sayd Stande in the multitude of the Priests and beleeue them with thy heart After this in the sayd Session The foresayde Byshop of Eduen prolocutour inferred many things beside answered particularly to the articles aboue specified and exhibited by the Lord Peter in wryting to the king and parliament Which because they touch more the subtiltie of the law and stiles of the courtes then are necessary to this our history and because we would not burdē the volume with all conteining no great profite in them we haue heere of purpose for breuities sake omitted them passing to the next sitting which was the next friday next after following the same as ensueth The next Friday after thys the Prelates assembled at Uicenas before the Kyng to heare theyr answere where the foresaid Lorde Peter of Lugner being prolocutour for the king spake on this wise taking for hys theame I am peace vnto you do not feare c. which he prosecuted monished that they shoulde not be troubled in any thyng that there had bene spoken For that the intent and minde of the soueraigne Lorde their king was to keepe the rites of the Church and Prelates which they had by law and by good and reasonable custome Where betweene the first and second conclusion he went about to prooue that the cognition of ciuill causes ought not to appertaine to the Church For that such things were temporal and ought to pertaine to the temporaltie as spirituall things to the spiritualtie And besides his other reasons hee alleaged the 86 dist declaring for a truth that for this intent first the clarks crowns were shauen in signe that they shuld be free frō all worldlinesse and forsake
conferred all his counsailes This as it seemed straunge vnto the Lordes and Earles so it inflamed their indignation so much against this Peter that through the exciting of the Nobles the Byshops of the land did proceede in excommunication against the said Gauerston vnlesse he departed the land Upon the occasion whereof the King the same first yeare of his raigne being greeued wyth the Byshoppes wryteth to the Pope complaining that they had proceeded to excommunication of the sayde Peter vnlesse he departed the realme within a time certaine The which letter of the king what answere againe the king had from the pope I finde not set down in storie Ouer and besides it befell in the said first yeare of the king that the Byshoppricke of Yorke being vacant the king gaue the office of the treasour to one of his owne clearkes wherof the pope hauing intelligence wryteth to the King commaunding him to call backe the same gift and with all citeth vp to Rome the sayd clearke there to answere the matter to a nephewe of one of his Cardinals vpon whom he had bestowed the sayd dignitie whereunto the king maketh answere Quod citationes huiusmodi illorum executio c.. i. That if such citations and the execution of the same should procede to the impeachement of our kingly iurisdiction and to the preiudice of our lawful inheritance and the honor of our crowne especially of the deciding of suche matters which principally concerne our estate should be prosequuted in any other place then within thys our Realme by any manner of wayes c. Certes although we our selues would winke thereat or through sufferaunce permit matters so to passe our hands yet the states and nobles of our kingdom who vpon allegeance are obliged and sworne to the protection and defence of the dignitie of the crowne of England will in no wise suffer our right and the lawes of the lande so to be violated Besides this the foresaid pope wrote to the king complaining that by certaine councellours of king Edwarde his father lying sicke vtterly ignoraunt thereof a certaine restraint was geuen out charging his nuncios and Legates whō he had sent for the gathering of the first fruites of the benefices vacant wythin the realme not hereafter to entermeddle therewith c. whereunto the king maketh answere Gidelicet Pater Sanctis Datum fuit vobis intelligi c. In English thus Most holy Father it hath ben geuen you to vnderstand otherwise then the truth of the matter is for most true it is in dede that the foresaide inhibition was ratified by good acte of Parliament holden at Karlin vpon certain causes concerning the execution of such collections the said our father not onely being not ignorant but also witting willing and of his owne meere knowledge agreeing to the same in the presence not only of his owne Erles Barons and states and commons of the Realme but also your legates and liegers being called thereunto Item vpon other letters brought from the Pope to the king for the enstalling of one Peter de Subaudia his kinseman into the Bishoppricke of Worcester being then vacant and withall requiring that if the sayd Peter would not accept thereof the election shoulde be referred to the Priour and Couent of the same place The king therewith grieued maketh answere by his letters to the Pope and sundry his Cardinals Quod cum electiones de futuris prelatis in ecclesiis Cathedral c. That for so much as elections of prelates to be placed in cathedral churches within his kingdome are not to be attempted without his licence first had and obtained c. Therefore he coulde not abide that any such straunge and vnaccustomed reseruations should or could take place in his Realme without manifest preiudice of his kingly estate requiring further that hee woulde not cause any suche nouelties to be brought in into hys kingdome contrary to that which hys auncestors before him haue accustom ed to doe Thus the time proceeded at length the Parliament appoynted came An. 1310. which was the fourth of thys kings raigne The articles were drawne by the nobles to be exhibited to the king which articles were the same conteined In magna charta and de foresta aboue specified wyth such other articles as his father had charged him with before to wit that he should remoue frō him and his Court all aliens and peruerse counsellours And that all the matters of the common wealth should be debated by common counsaile of the Lordes both temporall and spirituall and that he should stirre no warre out of England in any other foreine realme without the common assent of the same c. The king perceiuing their intent to be as it was in deede to sonder Peter Gaueston from his cōpany and seeing no other remedy but nedes must yeld and graūt his consent agreed that the said Gaueston shuld be banished into Ireland And so the Parliament breaking vp the Lordes returned to their owne well appeased although of the other articles they could not speede yet that they had driuen Peter Gaueston out of the Realme at this time it did suffice them Thys Peter Gaueston was a certaine Gentlemans sonne of Wasconie whom being young king Edward the first for the good seruice his father had done hym in hys warres receiued to his Court and placed hym with hys sonne Edwarde nowe raigning Who in processe of time growing vp with him incēsed and prouoked him to much outrage and wantōnesse By whose occasion first he began in his fathers dayes to breake the parke of Walter bishop of Chester then Chancelour of England and after executor to the king For the which so doing the king as is partly touched before imprisoned his sonne and condemned this Peter to perpetuall banishment Notwithstanding the young king after the death of his father as yee haue heard sent for this Gaueston againe And with all so persecuted this foresayd Bishop that he clapt him in the tower and seised vpon al his goods Moreouer caused most strait inquisition to be made vppon him for guiding his office wherein if the least crime might haue ben found it would haue cost him his life And thus much of Peter Gaueston and of his origine Now to the matter The king thus separated from his old compere that is from the companie of Peter Gaueston nowe exiled into Ireland continued in great mourning and pensiuenesse seeking by all meanes possible howe to call him home againe and conferring with such as were about hym vpon the same Who did insinuate to the king that for somuch as the Earle of Glocester was a man well loued and fauored in all the realme if a marriage might be wrought betwixt his sister and Peter Gaueston It might be a meane both for him to obtaine more frendship and for the king to haue his desire To make short Peter Gaueston in all hast was sent for the marriage through the kings procuring
of our right deare Lord and king and all the Realme with all our might and strength to keepe and mayntayne the Realme as all good people ought for to do Vpon that we pray you and desire you that ye woulde be helping to vs for the health and profite of the Realme and we haue had none aunswere of you nor knowe not your will in that parte Wherefore we send to you agayne and pray you charge you that ye beat you so against vs that ye haue nor make no cause vs to greue but that ye be to vs helping in all the wayes that you may And were ye well in certaine that we and also those that commeth with vs into this realme nothing for to done but that shall be pleasing to God and common profite to al the Realme Not els but for to destroy the Spensers enemyes to the Realme as ye well know Wherefore we pray and charge you in the fayth that ye owe to our Lord the king to the Crowne and to vs and vpon all that ye may forfeite that if Hugh Spenser both the father and the sonne our enemies come within your power that ye do thē hastely to be take fastly kept til we haue ordeined for them our will And as ye desire profite and honour of vs and of the Realme Vnderstanding well if it be so that ye doe our desire and prayer we shall the more be beholden to you And also we shall doe you profite and worship if that ye send vs hastely worde agayne of our will Geuen at Baldocke the sixt day of October These foresayd letters being published and perused the Bishop of Exceter to whom as ye heard was committed the rule of the City sent to the Maior for theyr keyes of the gates vsing so sharpe wordes in the kinges name y◠variaunce began to kindle betwene him and the Cittizens so farre forth that the commons in theyr rage tooke the foresayd Byshop and beheaded him and two of his housholde at that Stādard in Cheape Then the king went to Bristow and ordayned sir Hugh Spēser the father there to keep the Castle and the towne and the king with Hugh Spencer the sonne and Syr Robert Baldocke Chauncellour the Earle of Arundell went into Wales And the Queene so pursued them that first they tooke the towne yelded vp to her Then they tooke syr Hugh Spenser the father whom being drawn and torne they at last hanged vp at Bristow in chaynes of yron As the king was thus flying y◠queene caused to be proclaymed through her army that the Kyng should come and appeare and so to receaue his kingdome agayne if he woulde be conformable to his liege subiectes Who when he did not appeare Prince Edward his sonne was proclaymed high keeper of the Realme In the meane tyme Henry Earle of Lancaster brother to the good Earle Thomas which before was beheaded also Lord William Souch and M. Upphowell were sent by the Queene into Wales to pursue the king there tooke him and sent him to the Castell of Kenelworth And tooke Hugh Spenser the sonne and Sir Robert Baldock Chauncellour and sir Iohn Earle of Arundell brought them all to the towne of Hereford And anone after Hugh Spenser the sonne was drawn and hanged on a gallowes fiftye foote highe and after beheaded and quartered whose quarters were sent into 4. quarters of the Realme Syr Iohn of Arundel was beheaded sir Robert Baldock was put in Newgate at London where shortly after he pyned away and dyed among the theeues This done a Parliament was assembled at London from whence message was sent to the Kyng that if he would resigne vp his Crowne hys sonne shoulde haue it after him If not an other shold take it to whom the lot would geue it Wherevpon the king being constrayned to yelde vp his Crowne to hys sonne was kept in prison and after had to Barkley where he is sayd to take great repentance After this message beyng sent and the king halfe condescending thereunto the Parliament notwithstanding prosecuting and goyng forward there was a bill exhibited and put vp contayning certayne articles agaynst the sayd Kyng then in prison in the Castle of Barkley touching his misbehauiour and imprudent gouerning of the realme whiche bill openly before all the Lordes and commons by the speaker of the Parliament house was read After long consultation thereof amongest themselues touching those articles and also for the better and more circumspect gouernment of the Realme from that tyme forth it was consulted and agreed vppon by the Lordes spirituall and temporall and commons there assembled that they sayd Edward was a man not meete to be their Kyng nor from that tyme forth anye more to beare the Crowne royall or title of a Kyng But that Edward hys eldest sonne who there in the same court of high Parliament was present as he was rightfull heyre and inheritor therunto so should he be crowned king therof in hys fathers steade with these conditions thereunto annexed That he should take wise sage and true Counsellers vnto him That the Realme might be better and more circumspectly gouerned then before in the tyme of Edward his father it was That the old King his Father should be honourably prouided for and kept so long as he liued according as vnto his estate it appertayned c. These and other things thus finished and ended the Parliament breaketh vp and all thinges necessary to the coronation of a Prince appertayning were in speedy wise prepared whereof more hereafter Christ willing shal be specified In the meane tyme as touching the king whiche was yet in prison it is thought by some writers that the next yeare following by the meanes of syr Roger Mortimer he was miserably slayne with a spit as is sayd being thrust vp into his body and was buryed at Gloucester after he had raigned xix yeares In the time and raigne of this King the Colledge of Cambridge called Michaell house was founded and builded by Syr Henry Stantō Knight to the vse and increase of learning a thing in a common wealth very profitable And necessary to be had the want and need wherof many sondry times is sooner felt in this realme of ours and other Realmes abroad then is the discommoditie therof of most men commonly vnderstoode About the same time also was Nicholaus de Lyra which wrote the ordinary glose of the Bible Also Gulielmus Oceham a worthy diuine and of a right sincere iudgement as the times then would either geue or suffer In the tractation of this kings history before was declared what grudge did kindle in the harts of the Barons agaynst the king for reuoking such actes and customes as had bene before in the Parliament established both for Peter Gauestō for that two Spensers Also what seuere punishment the king did execute vppon them for the same in suche cruell and rigorous sorte that as he spared
great default at prouisions commyng from Rome wherby straungers were enabled wtin this realme to enioy ecclesiastical dignities shew diuers inconueniences ensuing thereby namely the decay of daily almose the transporting of the treasure to nourish the kings enemies the discouering of the secrets of the realme the disabling and impouerishing of the clerkes within this realme They also shew how the pope had in most couert wyse graunted to two new Cardinalles wythin thys Realme and namely to Cardinall Peragotz aboue ten thousand markes of yerely taxes They therfore required the kyng and nobles to finde some remedy for that they neuer could ne would any longer beare those straunge oppressions or els to helpe them to expell out of thys realme the Popes power by force Hereupon the King Lords and commōs sent for the act made at Carliel in the 35. yere of king Edward y◠first vpon the lyke complaint thereby forbidding that any thyng shoulde be attempted or brought into the Realme whych should tend to the blemishing of the kings prerogatiue or to the preiudice of hys Lords or commons And so at thys time the statute called the acte of prouision was made by common consent whych generally forbiddeth the brynging in of any Bulles or such trinkets from the Court of Rome or the vsing enioying or allowing of any such bil processe instrument or such ware as therby at large doth appeare Whereof sufficiently is touched before pag. 353. The penalty of whych statute afterwarde followed in the next parliament An. Reg. Ed. 18. tit 32. the whych penalty was this the transgressors thereof to lie in perpetuall prison or to be foriured the land And that al iustices of assize gaile deliuery and yer and determiner may determine the same Required withall that the same act of prouision should continue for euer Item that the sayd 18. yeare of the raigne of king Edward tit 34. it was moreouer propoūded that if any archbyshop or any person religious or other doe not present wtin 4. monthes some able clerke to any dignitie where any person hath obtayned from Rome any prouision Bul c. but surcease the same that then the Kyng may present some able clerke Item propounded in the sayd Parliament an 18. Reg. Ed 3. that if any Byshop elect shall refuse to take any suche byshoprikes other then by such Bull that then such elect shal not enter ne enioy hys temporalties without his speciall licence Also that the king shall dispose all such benefices and dignities of such aliens his enemies as remain in the coūtrey of hys enemyes and employ the profites therof to the defence of the realme Moreouer propounded that commissioners be sent to all the kings portes to apprehend all such persons as shal bring in any such instrument frō Rome and to bring them forthwyth before the counsaile to answere thereto Propounded farthermore that the Deanry of Yorke which is to be recouered by iudgemēt in the kyngs court may be bestowed vpon some able man within the realme who will maintaine the same agaynst hym meanyng the Cardinall who holdeth the same by prouision frō Rome being the enemy to the king and to the realm and that the profites may be emploied to the defence of the realme The kynges aunswere To all whych petitions aunswere was made in forme followyng It is agreed by the King Earles Barons Iustices other wise men of the Realme that the petitions aforesayd be made in sufficient forme of law according to the petitions aforesayd ¶ Note in thys answere of the kyng good reader that at the graunt hereof the consent of the byshops is neyther named nor expressed with the other Lords of the Parliament and yet the Parliament standeth in hys full force notwythstanding Notes of the Parliament holden in the 20. yeare of king Edward 3. TO passe farther in the 20. yeare of the kings reigne in the Parliament holden the same yere it was propoūded that all alien Monkes should auoyde the Realme by the day of S. Michael and that theyr liuings shuld be disposed to young English scholers The liuings of these the king tooke to hys handes Item that the king may take the profites of all others strangers liuings as Cardinals and others during their liues The profites of whō were also in the kings hands That such aliens enemies as be aduanced to liuyngs here in England being in their owne countreys shomakers tailers or chamberlaines to Cardinals shuld depart before Michaelmas and theyr liuynges disposed to poore English scholers The lyuings also of these remayned in the kings handes The commons denied to pay any paiment to any cardinals lying in Fraunce to entreat of war or peace which also was graunted of the kings part as reasonable Item propounded and fully agreed that the yearely aduauncement of two thousand markes graunted by the pope to two Cardinals out of the prouinces of Canterb. and Yorke should be restrained and suche as shall pursue therfore to be out of the law Lykewise enacted and agreed that no Englysh man should take any thing in ferme of any Alien religious ne buy any of their goods nor be of theyr counsaile on payne of perpetuall imprysonment Enacted further that no person should bryng into the realme to any Byshop or other any Bul or any other letters from Rome or from any Alien vnlesse he shewe the same to the Chauncelour or warden of the Cinque ports vpon losse of all he hath Finally in the end of the said Parliament the bishops were commaunded before the next conuocation to certify into the Chancery the names of such Aliens of their benefices and the values of the same Notes of the 25. yeare of kyng Edward the third THe Parliament of the 25. yeare was begon the 6. day of February the 25. yeare of king Edwarde 3. In the which parliament beside other matters mo was propoūded that remedy might be had against the popes reseruations by which brocage and meanes the pope receiued the first fruits of all Ecclesiastical dignities A more consumption to the Realme then all the kings warres Also the like remedy myght be had against suche as in the Court of Rome presume to vndoe any iudgement geuen in the kinges courte as if they enforced to vndoe the lawes of the realme Wherunto it was answered that there was sufficient remedy prouided by law Notes of the 38. yeare of king Edward the third IN the Parliament holden at Westminster the 38. yeare of Edward 3. in the vtaues of Hillary Symon Byshop of Ely being Lorde Chauncelour it was required by the kings owne mouth declared to the whole estates How daily citations false suggestions were made to the pope for matters determinable in his courtes wtin the Realme and for procuring prouisions to Ecclesiasticall dignities to the great defacing of the ancient lawes to the spoyling of his crowne to the daily conueying away of the
treasure to the wasting of ecclesiastical liuings to the withdrawing of diuine seruice almose hospitalitie and other acceptable workes and to the daily increase of all mischiefes Wherfore in person and by hys owne month the king required the whole estate to prouide here of due remedy To be noted finally in thys parliament of the 38. yere that the Acte of prouisors brought in thys parliament although in the printed copy cap. 1.2.3.4 doth agree with the recorde in maner yet in the saide recordes vnprinted are moe biting wordes against the Pope a mysterie not to be knowen of all men Notes of the 40. yeare of king Edward the third IT followeth moreouer in the sayd Acts of king Edward the 3. and in the 40. yere of his raigne an other Parliament was called at Westminster the 3. of May. An. 1366. the Bishop of Ely being Lord Chauncelour and speaker Who in the 2. day of the sayd assembly in the presence of the King Lordes and commons declared howe the day before generally they vnderstoode the cause of thys their assembly and now more particularly shuld vnderstand the same specially howe that the king vnderstode y◠the Pope for the homage which K. Iohn made to the sea of Rome for the Realmes of Englād Ireland and for the tribute by him granted ment by proces to cite the king of Rome to aunswere thereto Wherein the king required their aduises what were best for him to do if any such thing were attempted The Byshops by their selues required respite of answere vntill the next day So did the Lordes commons euery of them by their selues The same next day the whole estates reassembled together by common consent enacted in effect following vz. For asmuch as neither K. Iohn nor any other kyng coulde bring his realme people in such thraldome subiection but by common assent of Parliament the whyche was not done and therefore done against his othe at hys coronation besides many other causes If therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by processe or other matter in deede That the king shall his subiects should withall their force and power resist the same Here moreouer is not to be omitted howe in the sayd present Parliament the Uniuersities of Oxford Cambridge on the one side and the Friers of the foure orders mēdicants in the said vniuersities on the other side Made long complaintes the one against the other to the kyng in Parliament and in the ende submitted themselues to the kings order After which the king vpon full digesting of the whole matter by assent of Parliament tooke order that as well the Chancelour scholers as the friers of those orders in the sayd Uniuersities should in al graces and other schole exercises vse eche other in frendly wise wythout any rumor as before That none of those orders shoulde receyue any scholers into theyr sayde orders being vnder the age of 18. yeares That the said Friers shall take no aduantage ne procure Bulles or other processe from Rome against the said vniuersities or procede therein And that the kyng haue power to redresse all controuersies betweene them from thence foorth And the offenders to be punished at the pleasure of the King and of the counsaile Notes of the 50. yeare of king Edward the third IN processe of the foresayd Actes and Rolles it followeth more that in the 50. yeare of the reigne of king Edward the 3. the yeare of our Lorde 1376. an other great Parliament was assembled at Westminster the xxiiij of Aprill Where Syr Iohn Knyuet being Lorde Chauncelour of England a certaine long Bill was put vp against the vsurpatiōs of the Pope as being the cause of all y◠plagues murrions famine and pouerty of the realme so as thereby was not left the third person or other cōmodity within the realme that lately was 2. That the taxes payed to the Pope of Rome for Ecclesiasticall dignities doe amount to fiue fold as much as the taxe of al profites as apperteine to the king by the yeare of his whole Realme And that for some one Byshoprike or other dignitie the Pope by way of translation and death hath 3.4 or 5. seuerall taxes 3. That the brokers of that sinfull Citie for money promote many caitifes being altogether vnlearned and vnworthy to a 1000. markes lyuing by yeare where the learned and worthy can hardly obteine 20. marks wherelearning decayeth 4. That aliens enemyes to this land who neuer saw ne care not to se their parishioners haue those liuings wherby they despise Gods seruice conuey away the treasure and are worse then Iewes or Sarasens 5. Also it was put vp in the said Bill to be considered that the lawes of the church would such liuings to be bestowed for charitie onely without praying or paying 6. That reason woulde that liuings geuen of deuotion should be bestowed in hospitality 7. That God had committed his sheepe to the Pope to be pastured and not shoren or shauen 8. That lay patrones perceiuing the couetousnes and simony of the pope do therby learne to sell their benefices to beasts none otherwise then Christ was sold to the Iewes 9. That there is none so rich a Prince in Christendome that hath the fourth part of so much treasure as the Pope hath out of this realme for churches most sinfully 10. Ouer and besides in the sayd Bill repeting againe the tendering zeale for the honor of the Church was declared and particularly named all the plagues whych haue iustly fallen vpon this realme for suffering the same church to be so defaced wyth declaration that it will daily encrease wythout redresse 11. Wherupon with much persuasion this was desired to helpe to reedifie the same and the rather for that this was the yeare of Iubiley the 50. yeare of the kynges reigne the yeare of ioy and gladnesse then the whych there could be no greater 12. The meanes howe to begyn this was to wryte 2. letters to the Pope the one in Latine vnder the kyngs scale the other in French vnder the seales of the nobles importing their particularities requiring redres of the which letter of the Lordes the effect may be seene in a like letter mentioned before pag. 479. 13. And for a further accomplishment hereof to enact that no money were caried foorth of the realme by letter of Lūbardy or otherwise or paine of forfaiture and imprisonment and to enact the articles hereafter ensuing 14. The king hath heretofore by statute prouided sufficiēt remedy and otherwise pursueth the same with the holy father the Pope so mindeth to do from time to time vntill he hath obteined aswel for the matters before as for the articles ensuing being in a maner all one 15. That the popes collector other straungers the kings enemies and onely lyger spies for English dignities and disclosing of the secretes of the realme may be
touched 16. That the same collectour being also receauour of the popes pence keepeth a house in London with clerkes and officers therto as it were one of the kings soleÌ„ne courtes transporting yearely to the Pope xx M. markes and most commonly more 17. That Cardinals other aliens remaining at Rome wherof one Cardinall is Deane of Yorke an other of Salisbury an other of Lyncoln an other archdeacon of Canterbury an other Archdeacon of Duresme an other archdeacon of Suffolk an other Archdeacon of York an other prebendary of Thame Nassington an other prebendary of Buckes in the Church of Yorke Haue diuers of the best dignities of England haue sent ouer to them yerely xx M. marks ouer and aboue that whych English brokers lying there haue 18. That the Pope to raunsome the Frenchmenne the kings enemyes who defond Lumbardy from hym doeth alwaies at his pleasure leuie a subsidy of the whole Clergie of England 19. That the Pope for more gaine maketh sundry translations of all the Byshoprickes and other dignities wythin the Realme 20. That the popes collector hath this yeare taken to hys dic the first fruits of all benefices by collatioÌ„ or prouision 21. To renue all the statutes against prouisors froÌ„ Rome sith that the Pope reserueth all the benefices of the worlde for hys owne proper gift hath thys yere created 12. new Cardinals so as nowe there are thirty where was wont to be but 12. and all those Cardinals except 2. or 3. are the kings enemies 22. That the Pope in tyme wil geue the temporall mannors of those dignities to the kings enemies sith he so daily vsurpeth vpon the Realme and the kings regalities 23. That all houses and corporatioÌ„s of religion who vnto the kings raigne nowe had free election of heades the Pope hath encroched the same to hymselfe 24. That in all legacies from the Pope whatsoeuer the English clergie beareth the charge of the legates and all for the goodnesse of our money 25. And so it appeareth that if the money of the Realme were as plentiful as euer it was the Collectors aforesaid wyth the Proctors of Cardinals would soone conuey the same 26. For remedy heereof it may be prouided that no suche Collector or Proctor doe remayne in Englande on payne of lyfe and member And that no Englysh man on the like payne become any such Collector or Proctor or remayne at Rome 27. For better information hereof and namely touchyng the Popes Collector for that the whole clergy beyng obedient to him dare not displease hym It were good that syr Iohn Strensale parsone of S. Botulphes in Holborne may be sent to come before the Lordes and commons of this Parliament who beyng straightly charged can declare much more for that hee serued the same Collector in house 5. yeares ¶ And thus much of this bil touching the popes matters wherby it may appere not to be for nought that hath bene vpon vs reported by the Italians and other straungers which vsed to call English men good Asses for they beare all burdens that be layd vpon them Item in the said parliament it was prouided also that such order as is made in London against the horrible vice of vsury may be obserued throughout the whole realme The commons of the dioces of Yorke complaine of the outragious taking of the Byshop and his clarkes for admission of priestes to their benefices To these recordes of the parliament aboue prefixed of the 50. yere of thys king Edward we will adioyne also other notes collected out of the parliament in the yere next following which was 51. and last yeare of this kings life and raigne An. 1377. the 27. of Ianuary Although in the printed boke these statutes are said to be made at the parliament holden as aboue in the 50. yeare whych is muche mistaken and ought to be referred to the 51. yere as by the recordes of the sayd yere manifestly doth appeare In which Parliament the Byshop of S. Dauids being Lord Chauncelour making a long oration taking his theame out of S. Paul Libenter suffertis insipientes c. Declaring in the sayde Oration many thyngs as first in shewing the ioyfull newes of the olde kings recouerye then declaring the loue of God toward the king and realme in chastising hym wyth sickenesse Afterwarde shewyng the blessing of God vpon the king in seeing hys childreÌ„s children Then by a similitude of the head members exhorting the people as members to coÌ„forme themselues to the goodnesse of the head Lastly hee turned his matter to the Lordes and the rest declaring the cause of that assembly that for somuch as the Frenche kyng had allyed hymselfe wyth the Spanyardes and Scottes the kyngs enemyes whych had prepared great powers conspiring to blot out the English tonge and name the king therefore was willyng to haue therein their faithfull counsaile This being declared by the Bishop Sir Robert Ashton the kings chamberlaine declaring that he was to moone them from the king for the profit of the realme the whych wordes percaâ—e lay not in the Byshops mouth for that it touched the Pope vz. By protesting first that the Kyng was ready to do al that ought to be done for the pope But for that diuers vsurpations were done by the Pope to the Kyng hys crowne and Realme as by particular billes in thys parliament should be shewed he required of them to seeke redresse In thys present parliament petition was made by the commons that al prouisors of things from Rome their ministers should be out of the kyngs protection Whereunto the kyng aunswered that the Pope had promysed redresse whych if hee did not the lawes then should stand It was also in that Parliament required that euery person of what sexe soeuer being professed of any religion continuing the habite of 15. yeares may vpon the triail of the same in any of the kings courts be in law vtterly forbarred of al inheritaunce albeit he haue dispenâ—ation from the pope Against which dispensation is the chief grudge whereunto the king and the lordes answered saying that they would prouide Item in the sayde Parliament was propounded that the statute of prouisors made at any time may be executed and that remedy may be had agaynst such Cardinalles as haue wythin the prouinces of Caunterbury and Yorke purchased reseruations wyth the clause of Anteferri to the value of xx or xxx thousande Scures of golde agaynst the Popes Collector who was wont to be an Englishman and now is a mere French residing at London conueieth yearely to the Pope xx M. markes or xx M. pounde who thys yeare gathereth the first fruites whatsoeuer Alledging the meanes to meete wyth these reseruations and nouelries as to commaund all straungers to depart the Realme during the warres that no English man to become their farmour or to send to them any mony without speciall licence on payne to be out
of the kings protection whereunto was aunswered by the kyng that the statutes and ordinaunces therefore made should be obserued In these rolles and recordes of such Parliamentes as was in thys kings time continued diuers other thynges are to be noted muche worthy to be marked and not to be suppressed in silence Wherein the Reader may learne and vnderstand the state of the kings iurisdiction here wythin this realme not to be straightned in those daies although the Pope then seemed to be in his chief ruffe as afterward since in other kings dayes was seene As may appeare in the parliament of the 15. yeare of thys king Edward the 3. and in the 24. article of the sayde Parliament where it is to be read that the kings officers and temporall Iustices did then both punish vsurers an◠impeached the officers of the Church for bribery and for taking mony for temporall paine probate of willes solemnitie of Mariage c. al the pretensed liberties of the popish church to the contrary notwythstanding Furthermore in the Parliament of the 25. yeare appeareth that the liberties of the clergie and their exemptions in claiming the deliuerance of men by their booke vnder th◠name of Clerks stode then in litle force as appeared by one Hauketyne Honby knight who for imprisonning one of the kings subiectes till hee made fine of 20. li. was therefore executed notwithstanding the liberty of the Clergie whych by his booke would haue saued hym but could not The like also appeared by iudgement geuen agaynst a priest at Notingham for killing of hys maister And likewise by hanging certaine monks of Combe Ex Parliam An. 23. Ed. 3. Item in the Parliament of the 15. yeare by apprehending of I. Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury and hys arrainment concerning which his arrainment all things were committed to sir William of Kildisby Besides these truthes and notes of the kings Parliaments wherin may appeare y◠toward procedings of this king of all his commons against the pretensed church of Rome Thys is moreouer to be added to the commendation of the king how in the volumes of the actes rolles of the king appeareth That the sayd king Edward the 3. sent also Iohn Wickleffe reader then of the Diuinitie lector in Oxford wyth certaine other Lords Ambassadors ouer into the parts of Italy to treat wyth the Popes Legates concerning affaires betwixt the King and the Pope with ful cōmission the tenor whereof here foloweth expressed REX vniuersis ad quorum notitiam presentes literae peruenerint c. In English thus The King to all and singuler to whome these presentes shall come greeting Know ye that we reposing assured confidence in the fidelitie and wisdome of the reuerend father Iohn Bishoppe of Bangor and other our louing and faithful subiects M. Iohn Wickliffe reader of the diuinitie lecture M. Iohn Gunter Deane of Segobyen and M. Symon Moulton doctor of the lawe Syr William Burton Knight M Iohn Belknappe M. Iohn Honnington haue directed them as our Ambassadors and special Commissioners to the partes beyond the seas Geuing to the sayde our Ambassadors and Commissioners to sixe or fiue of them of whome I will that the sayde Bishop shal be one full power and aucthoritie wyth commaundement speciall to treat and consult mildely and charitably with the Legates and Ambassadors of the L. Pope touching certaine affaires Where upon of late we sent heretofore the sayd Bishop and M. William Vghtred monke of Duresme and M. Iohn Shepie to the see Apostolicall And hereof to make ful relation of all things done and past in the sayd assembly that all such things which may tend to the honor of holy Church and the aduauncement of our crowne and this our realme may by the assistaunce of God and the wisedome of the see Apostolicall bee brought to good effect and accomplished accordingly Witnes our selues c. at London dated the 26. day of Iuly in the 48. yeare of our raigne By the which it is to be noted what good wil the king then bare to the sayd Wickleffe and what smal regarde he had to the sinfull sea of Rome Of the whych Iohn wickleff because we are now approched to his time remaineth consequently for our story to entreat of so as we haue heere to fore done of other lyke valiant souldiours of Christes Church before him ¶ Iohn Wickliffe AFter all these heretofore recited by whome as ye haue heard it pleased the Lord something to worke against the Byshop of Rome to weaken the pernitious superstition of the Friers Nowe remayneth consequently following the course of yeares orderly to enter into the story and tractation of Iohn Wickleffe our countreyman and other moe of his time and same countrey whom the Lord wyth the like zeale and power of spirit raysed vp here in England to detect more fully and amply the poison of the Popes doctrine false religion set vp by the Fryers In whose opinions and assertiōs albeit some blemishes perhaps may be noted yet such blemishes they be whych rather declare him to be a mā that might erre then which directly did fight against Christ our Sauiour as the Popes procedings and the friers did And what doctor or learned man hath ben from the prime age of the church so perfect so absolutely sure in whome no opinyon hath sometyme swarued awry And yet be the sayd articles of hys neither in number so many nor yet so grosse in themselues and so cardinall as those Cardinal ennemies of Christ perchance doe geue them out to be if his bookes whō they abolished were remaining to be conferred with those blemishes which they haue wrasted to the worste as euill will neuer sayde the best This is certaine and can not be denied but that he being the publike Reader of Diuinitie in the Universitie of Oxford was for the rude time wherein he liued famously reputed for a great clerke a deepe scholeman no lesse expert in all kinde of philosophie The which doth not onely appeare by his owne most famous and learned wrytings and monuments but also by the confession of Walden hys most cruel bitter enemy Who in a certain Epistle wrytten vnto pope Martin the fift sayth that he was wonderfully astonyshed at his most strong arguments wyth the places of authority whych hee had gathered wyth the vehemency and force of hys reasons c. And thus much out of Walden It appeareth by such as haue obserued the order and course of tunes that this wickleffe florished about the yeare of our Lord. 1371. Edward the third raigning in England for thus we doe finde in the Chronicles of Caxton In the yere of our Lord 1371. sayeth he Edward the third king of England in his Parliamēt was against the Popes clergy He willingly harkned and gaue eare to the voices and tales of heretickes wyth certaine of his counsel conceiuing and folowing sinister opinions against the Clergy
maner of sinnes and we promise vnto thee thy part of the reward of all iust men and of euerlasting saluation And as many priuileges as are graunted to them that go to fight for the holy land we graunt vnto thee of all the prayers benefites of the church the vniuersall Synode as also of the holy Catholicke Church we make thee partaker of This couragious or rather outragious bishop armed thus with the Popes authority and prompt with his priuilegies in the yeare aforesayd 1283. about the time of leÌ„t came to the Parliament where great consultation contention almost no lesse schisme was about the voiage of this Popish Bishop in the Parliament theÌ„ was betwene the Popes themselues In the which Parliament many there were which thought it not safe to commit the kings people subiectes vnto a rude and vnskilfull Priest So great was the diuersity of iudgements in that behalfe that the voiage of the sayd Bishop was protracted vnto the saterday aâ—ore Passion Sonday In the which Sonday was song the solemne Antheme Ecce crucem Domini fugite partes aduersae That is Beholde the crosse of the Lord Flye away all you aduersaries After which Sonday the partyes so agreed amongest themselues by common decree that the Bishop should set forward in his voiage hauing to him geuen the fiften which was graunted to the king in the Parliament before Which thinges thus concluded in the Parliament this warlike Bishop preparing before all thinges in a readinesse set forwarde in his Pope holye iourney Who about the moneth of May being come to Canterbury and there tarying for the winde in the Monastery of S. Augustin receiued a writ from the king that he should returne to the king and to know further of hys pleasure The Bishop fearing that if he turned agayne to the king his iourny should be stayd and so all his labor preparance lost with great derision and shame vnto him thought better to commit himselfe to fortune with that litle army he had then by tarying to be made a ridicle to his aduersaryes Wherfore he sent word backe agayne to the king that he was now ready prepared well forward on his iourny And that it was not expedient now to protract the time for any kinde of talke which peraduenture should be to no maner of purpose and that it was more conuenient for him to hasten in his iournay to Gods glory also to the honor of the king And thus he calling his men vnto him entred forthwith the seas went to Calis where he wayting a few dayes for the rest of his army after the receipt of them tooke his iourny first to the towne of Grauenidge which he besieged so desparatly without any preparaunce of engines of warre or counsell or of politicke men skilfull in such affayres that he seemed rather to flye vpon them then to inuade them At lenth through the superstition of our men trusting vpon the Popes absolution he so harishly approched the walles and inuaded the enemies that a great number of them were pitiously slayn with shot wild fire till at the end the inhabiters being oppressed and vanquished our men entred the town with their Bishop where they at his commaundement destroiyng both man woman and childe left not one aliue of all them which remayned in the whole town Sicque crucis beneficio factum vt crucis hostes ita delerentur quòd vâ—us ex eis non remansit That is And so it came to passe by the vertue of the crosse that our men croysed so preuayled against the enemies of the crosse that not one of them remained aliue Ex Chron. Mon. D. Albani From Grauenidg this warlike Bishop set forward to Dunkyrke where not long after the Frenchmen meeting with him ioyned with them in battell in which battell if the story be true 12. thousand of the Frenchmen were slain in the chase and of our men but seuen onely missing It would require a long tractatioÌ„ here to discourse all thing done in these popish warres Also it would be no lesse ridiculous to view behold the glorious temerity of this new vpstart captain But certes lameÌ„table it is to see the pitifull slaughter murther of Christs people by the meanes of thâ—se pitilesse Popes during these warres in FrauÌ„ce As when the Bishop comming froÌ„ Dunkirke to the siege of Ypres a great number of Englishmen there were lost and much mony consumed and yet nothing done effect to the great shame and ignominy of the Bishop Agayne after the siege of Ypres thus with shame broke vp the sayd bishop proceeding with a small power to fight with the freÌ„ch kinges caâ—â—e contrary to the counsell of his captaynes which counted him rash vnskilfull in his attempt was fayne to breake company with them whereby part of the army weÌ„t vnto Burburgh the bishop with his part returned to Grauenidg which both townes shortly after were besieged by the french army to the great losse both of the English and French men In fine when the Byshop could keepe Grauenidg no longer the sayd Bishop with his croysies crossing the seas came home agayne as wise as he weÌ„t thus making an end of this Pontificall war we will returne agayne from whence we digressed to the story and matter of Iohn Wickliffe Which Iohn Wickliffe returning againe within short space either froÌ„ his banishment or from some other place where he was secretly kept repayred to his parish of lutterworth where he was parson there quietly departing this mortall life slept in peace in the Lord in the begynning of the yeare 1384. vpon Siluesters day Here is to be noted the great prouideÌ„ce of the Lord in this man as in diuers other whom the Lord so long preserued in such rages of so many enemies froÌ„ all their handes euen to his olde age For so it appeareth by Thomas Walden writing agaynst him in his tomes entituled De Sacramentis contra Wicleuum that he was well aged before he departed by that which the foresayd Walden writeth of him in the Epiloge speaking of Wickliffe in these wordes Ita vt cano placeret quod iuueni complacebat c. That is so that the same thing plesed him in his old age which dyd please him being young Whereby seemeth that Wickliffe liued till he was an olde man by this report Such a Lord is God that whom he will haue kept nothing can hurt This Wickliffe had written diuers and sundry workes the which in the yeare of our Lord 1410. were burnt at Oxford the Abbot of Shrewsbury being then Commissary and sent to ouersee that matter And not onelye in England but in Boheme likewise the bookes of the sayde Wickliffe were set on fire by one Subincus Archbishop of Prage who made diligent inquisition for the same and burned them The number of the volumes whiche he is sayd to haue burned most excellently written and richly adorned with bosses of
the names of them that were murthered wyth the names also of their tormentours And named moreouer time and place where and when they were murthered and where they were buryed Hee affirmed further that they were Sodomites and traitours both to the kyng and the realme with many other crimes which mine authour for tediousnes leaueth of to recite And for the more confutation of the said friers the Londiners caused the sayd Bill to be openly set vp at S. Paules Churche doore in London Which was there red and copied out of very many Thys was doue in the yeare of our Lord 1387. and in the 10. yere of King Richarde seconde Ex Chron. Monachi Albanensis Cuius est exordium Anno gratiae millesimo c. Thus it may appeare by this and other aboue recited how the Gospel of Christ preached by Iohn Wickleffe and others began to spread fructifie abroad in London and other places of the realme and more would haue done no dont had not William Courtney the Archbishop other Prelates with the king set them so forceably with myght maine to gainstand the course therof Albeit as is sayde before I finde none which yet were put to death therfore during the raigne of this king Richard the second Wherby it is to be thought of this king that although he caÌ„not be vtterly excused for molesting the godly innocent preachers of that time as by his brieues letters afore mentioned may appeare yet neither was hee so cruell against them as other that came after him And that which he dyd seemed to procede by the instigation of the Pope and other Byshops rather then either by the consent of his Parliament or aduise of his couÌ„sail about him or els by his own nature For as the decrees of that parliament in all his time were constant in stopping out the Popes prouisions in bridling his authority as we shall see Christ willing anone so the nature of the king was not altogether so fiersly set if that he following the guiding thereof had not stand so much in feare of the Bishop of Rome and his Prelates by whose importune letters calling on he was coÌ„tinually urged to do contrary to that which both right required wil perhaps in him desired But howsoeuer the doings of this king are to be excused or not vndouted it is that Queene Anne hys wife most rightly deserueth singulare commendation who at the same time liuing with the kyng had the gospels of Christ in English with 4. doctours vpon the same This Anne was a Bohemian borne and sister to Wincelaus K. of Boheme before who was maryed to king Richarde about the 5. some say the 6. yeare of hys reigne and continued with hym the space of 11. yeres By the occasion whereof it may seeme not vnprobable that the Bohemians comming in wyth her or resorting into thys realme after her perused and receiued heere the bookes of Iohn Wickleffe which afterward they conueied into Bohemia wherof partly mention is made before pag. 464. The said vertuous Queene Anne after shee had liued with king Richarde about 11. yeares in the 17. yeare of hys reigne changed this mortall life and was buried at Westminster At whose funeral Thomas Arundel then Archb. of Yorke and Lorde Chauncelour made the Sermon In which Sermon as remaineth in the library of Worceter recorded he entreating of the commendation of her sayde these wordes that it was more ioy of her then of any woman that euer hee knewe For notwithstanding that shee was an alien borne she had in English all the 4. gospels with the Doctours vpon them affirming moreouer and testifying the she had sent the same vnto him to examine And he sayde they were good and true And further wyth many wordes of praise did greatly commend her in that she being so great a Lady also an alien would study so lowly so vertuous bookes And he blamed in that sermon sharply the negligence of the Prelates other men In so much that some sayd he would on the morow leaue vp the office of Chauncelour and forsake the world geue him to fulfil his pastoral office for that he had seene and read in those bookes And then it had bene the best Sermon that euer they heard Haec ex libro Wygo In the whiche Sermon of Thomas Arundell three poynts are to be considered first the laudable vse of those olde times receaued to haue the Scripture and Doctours in our vulgare English toung Secondly the vertuous exercise and also example of thys godly Lady who had these bookes not for a shew hanging at her girdle but also seemeth by this Sermon to be a studious occupier of the same The third thing to be noted is what fruit the sayde Thomas Archbyshoppe declared also himselfe to receiue at the hearing and reading of the same bookes of hers in the English toung Notwythstanding the â—ame Thomas Arundel after this Sermone and promise made became the most cruell enemy that might be against English bookes and the authors therof as foloweth after in his story to be seene For shortly after the death of Queene Anne the same yere the king being then in IrelaÌ„d this Thomas Arundel Archb. of Yorke and Byshop of London Rob. Braybrocke whether sent by the Archb. of Cant. and the clergy or whether going of their owne accorde crossed the seas to Ireland to desire the king in all spedy wise to returne and help the faith and church of Christ against such as holding of Wickleffes teaching went about as they sayde to subuect at their procedings and to destroy the canonical sanctions of their holy mother church At whose complaint the king hearing the one part speake and â—ot aduising the other was in such forte incensed that incontinent leauing all his affaires incomplete he spedde his returne towarde England Where he kept his Christians at Dublin in the which meane time in the beginning of the next yere following which was Anno. 1395. A Parliament was called at Westminster by the commaundement of the Kyng In which parliament certaine Articles or Conclusions were put vp by them of the Gospell side to the number of 12. Which Conclusions moreouer were fastened vp vpon the church doore of S. Paule in London and also at Westminster The copie of which Conclusions with the words and contents thereof here vnder ensueth ¶ The booke of Conclusions or Reformations exhibited to the Parliament holden at London and set vp at Paules doore and other places in the 18. yeare of the raigne of king Richard the 2. in the yere of our Lord. 1395. THe first conclusion when as the Church of Englande began first to dote in teÌ„poralities after her stepmother the great church of Rome the churches were authorised by appropriations faith hope and charitie began in diuers places to vanish and flie away from our Churche for so much as pride with her most
Item in the same Parliament was put vp by publike petion that the popes collector should be commaunded to auoyd the Realme within 40. dayes or els to be taken as the kinges enemy and that euery such collector from henceforth may be an Englishman and sworn to execute the statutes made in this Parliament Moreouer in the sayd Parliament the yere abouesayd of the king the 26. of Ianuary M. Iohn Mandour Clark was charged openly in the parliament that he should not passe ne send ouer to Rome ne attempt or doe any thinge there touching the Archdeaconry of Durham in preiudice of the king or of hys lawes or of the party presented thereto by the king on perill that might ensue The next yeare following whiche was the 14. of thys kinges raigne it was enacted first touching the staplers that after the feast of the Epiphany next ensuing that the staple should be remoued from Calice into England in suche places as are contayned in the statute made in 27. Edw. 3. the which statute should be fully executed and further that euery Alien that bringeth merchaundise into the Realme should finde sufficient surety to buy and cary awaye commodities of the Realme to halfe the value of his sayd merchaundise Item in the same parliament petition was made that agaynst the horrible vice of vsury then termed shifts practised as well by the clergie as laitie the order made by Iohn Notte late Mayor of Londō might be executed throughout the Realme Moreouer in the 15. yeare of the raigne of the foresayde king it was accorded for that syr W. Brian knight had purchased from Rome a Bull directed from the Archbshop of Cant and Yorke to excommunicate suche as had broken vp his house and had taken away diuers letters priuilegies and charters The same Bull being red in the parliament house was adiudged preiudicial to the kings crown and in derogation of the lawes for the whiche hee was by the king and assent of the Lordes committed to the Tower there to remayne at the kinges will and pleasure In the sayd Parliament also W. Archb. of Canterbury maketh his protestation in the open parliament saying that the pope ought not to excommunicate any bishop or to entermeddle for or touching anye presentment to anye ecclesiasticall dignitie recorded in any the kinges courtes He further protested that the pope ought to make no translation to any Byshopricke within the realme against the kinges will for that the same was to the destruction of the realme and crowne of England whiche hath alway bene so free as the same hath had none earthly soueraigne but onely subiecte to God in all thinges touching regalties and to none other The which protestation he prayd might be entred In the 17. yeare of the raygne of the king aforesayd it was desired that remedy might be had agaynst suche religious persons as caused their villains or vnderlinges to mary free women inheritable wherby the lands came to those religious mens handes by collusion Item that sufficient persons might be presented to benefices who may dwell on the same so as theyr stocke for want therof do not perish Item that remedy might be had agaynst the Abbotes of Colchester and Abinton who in the townes of Colchester and Colnham clayme to haue sanctuary To come to the parliament holden in the 20. yeare of this kinges raigne we finde moreouer in the sayd rolles how that the Archb. of Cant. and York for themselues and the clergy of their prouinces declared to the king in open parliamēt that forasmuch as they were sworn to the pope and see of Rome if any thing were in the parliament attempted in restraynt of the same they woulde in no wise assent therto but verily withstand the same the which theyr protestation they require to be enrolled Upon the petition of the begging Friers there at large it was enacted that none of that order shoulde passe ouer the seas without licence of his soueraigne nor that he shoulde take vppon him no order of M. of Diuinitie vnlesse he were first apposed in his Chapter prouinciall on payne to be put out of the kinges protection Item that the kings officers for making arests or attachementes in Churchyardes are therefore excommunicated wherof remedy was required In the yeare of the same kinges raygne 21. the Parliment being holden at Westminster we find how the commons in full Parliament accused Thomas Arundell archbishop of Caunterbury for that he as Chauncellor procured and as chiefe doer executed the same commission made trayterously in the tenth yeare of the king And also that he the sayd Archbishop procured the Duke of Gloucester and the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke to encroth to themselues royall power and to iudge to death Simon de Burley and sir Iohn Berners without the kings assent Wheron the Commons required that the same archbish might rest vnder safe keeping wherunto for that the same impeachementes touched so great a person they would be aduised Item the 25. day of September the Commons prayed the king to geue iudgement agaynst the sayd Archbishop according to his desertes The king aunswered that priuately the sayd Archbishop had confessed to him howe he mistooke himselfe in the sayd Commission and therefore submitted himselfe to the kings mercy Wherfore the king Lordes and sir Thomas Percy proctor for the clergie adiudged the facte of the sayd Archbishop to be treason and hymselfe a traytour and therfore it was ordered that the sayd Archbishoppe shoulde be banished his temporalties seased his landes and goodes forfeyted as well in vse as in possession The king further prescribed that the sayd Archbishop shoulde take hys passing on Friday within 6. weekes of Michaelmas at Douer towardes the parts of Fraunce Thus hauing hitherto sufficiently touched and comprehended such thinges as haue happened in the raygne of this king necessary for the Church to knowe by course of story we come nowe to the 22. yeare of King Richardes raygne which is the yeare of our Lord 1399. In the which yeare happened the strange and also lamentable deposing of this king Richard the second aforesayd from hys kingly scepter Straunge for that the like example hathe not often bene seene in seates royall Lamentable for that it cannot be but grieuous to any good mans hart to see him eyther so to deserue if he were iustly deposed or if he were vuiustly depriued to see the kingly title there not able to hold his right wher by force it is compelled to geue place to might As concerning the order and processe of whose deposing for that it neither is greatly pertinent to my argument and is sufficiently contayned in Robert Fabian and in the kinges recordes in the Chronicle of S. Albons and in other histories at large it were here tedious and superfluous to entermedle with repeting therof What were the conditions and properties of this king partly before hath bene
touched In whome as some good vertues may be noted so also some vices may seeme to be mixed withall But especially this that he starting out of the steps of hys progenitors ceased to take part with them whiche tooke part with the gospell Wherupon it so fell not by the blind wheele of fortune but by the secret hand of him which directeth all estates that as he first began to forsake that mayntayning of the Gospell of God so the Lord began to forsake him And where the protection of God beginneth to fayle there can lack no causes to be charged withall whom God once giueth ouer to mans punishmeÌ„t So that to me considering the whole life and trade of this prince among all other causes alledged in storyes agaynst him none seemeth so much to be wayed of vs or more hurtfull to hym then this forsaking of the Lord and his word Although to such as list more to be certified in other causes concurring withall many and sondry defectes in that king may appeare in storyes to the number of 33. articles alledged or forced rather agaynst him In whiche as I cannot deny but that he was worthy of much blame so to be displaced therefore from his regall seate and rightfull state of the crowne it may be thought perhaps the causes not to be so rare so material in a prince which either could or els would haue serued had not he geuen ouer before to serue the Lord and hys word chusing rather to serue the humour of the Pope and bloudy Prelates theÌ„ to further the Lords proceedings in preaching of hys word And theÌ„ as I sayd how can enemies lack wher God standeth not to friend or what cause can be so little whiche is not able inough to cast downe where the Lords arme is shortned to sustayne Wherefore it is a poynt of principall wisedome in a Prince not to forget that as he standeth alwayes in neede of God hys helping hand so alwayes he haue the discipline and feare of him before hys eyes according to the counsayle of the godly King Dauid Psal. 2. And thus much touching the time and race of this K. Richard with the tragical story of his deposing The order and maner whereof purposely I pretermit onely contented briefly to lay together a fewe speciall thinges done before his fall suche as may be sufficient in a briefe somme both to satisfie the Reader inquisitiue of suche storyes and also to forwarne other Princes to beware the lyke daungers In suche as wryte the life and Actes of this Prince thus I read of him reported that he was much inclined to the fauouring and aduancing of certayne persons about him ruled all by theyr counsell whiche were theÌ„ greatly abhorred and hated in the realme The names of whome were Rob. Ueer Erle of Oxford whoÌ„ the king had made Duke of Ireland Alexander Neuile Archbishop of York Michiel Delapoole Earle of Suffolke Robert Trisiliam Lord chiefe Iustice Nicholas Brembre with other These men being hated and disdayned of diuers of the nobles and of the commons the king also by fauouring them was lesse fauoured hymselfe In so much that the Duke of Gloucester named Thomas Woodstock the kings Uncle with the Erle of Warwicke and Earle of Darby stoode vp in armes against those counsaylors and abusers as they named them of the king In so much that the king for feare was constrayned agaynst hys minde to remoue out of his court Alexander Neuile Archb. of Yorke Iohn Foorde Byshop of Duresme Fryer Thomas Rushoke Bishop of Chichester the kinges confessor with the Lord Haringworth Lord Burnell and Bemond Lord Ueer and diuers other And furthermore in the Parliament the same yeare following Robert Trisilian the Iustice was hanged and drawne Also Nicholas Brembre Knight Iames Salisbury also and Iames Barnese both Knights Ioh. Bewchampe the kinges Steward and Iohn Blake Esquire in like maner All these by the counsayle of the Lordes beyng cast in the parliament agaynst the kyngs mind did suffer which was in the 11 of his raign he being yet vnder gouernours but consequently after the same the king clayming his own liberty being come to the age of 20. began to take more vpon him And this was one thinge that stirred vp the kinges stomacke agaynst the Nobles Ex Chron. Alban 2. An other thing that styred hym vp as much against the Londiners was this for that he would haue borowed of them a M. pound and they denied him to their double triple disauantage as after ensued vpon it Ibidem An other occasion besides this betwene the king and the Londoners happened thus by reason of one of the Byshop of Salisburies seruauntes named Roman and a Bakers man who then carying a basket of horsebread in Fletstreet the foresayd Roman tooke a horselose out of the basket The Baker asking why he did so the Byshops lusty yeomcu turned backe agayne and brake his head whereupon the neighbors came out and would haue arested this Roman but he escaped away vnto the Byshops house Then the Constable would haue had him out but the Bishops men shut fast the gates that they shoulde not approche Thus much people gathered together threatning to brust open the gates and fire the house vnlesse they had the foresayd party to them brought out Wherby much adoe there was till at length the Mayor and Sheriffes came and quieted the rage of the commons sent euery man home to his house charging theÌ„ to keepe peace Here as yet was no great harme done but if the bishoppe for his part had beene quyet and had not styrred the coles of debate which were well slaked already all had bene ended without further perturbation But thâ— stomacke of the Byshop not yet digested although hys mâ—n had done the wrong hauing no great cause so to do whose name was Iohn Waltam being then Treasourer of England went to Thomas Arundell archbish the same time of Yorke and Lord Chauncellour of England to complayne of the Londoners Where is to be noted or rather reueled by the way a priuy mistery which although be not in this story touched of the writers yet it touched the hartes of the bishops not a little For the Londoners at that time were notoriously knowne to be fauourers of wickliffes side as partly before this is to be seene and in the story of S. Albones more playnly doth appeare where the author of the sayd history writing vpon the 15. yeare of King Richardes raygne reporteth in these wordes of the Londoners that they were Male creduli in deum traditiones auitas Lollardorum sustentatores religiosoruÌ„ detractores de cimaruÌ„ deteÌ„tores coÌ„munis vulgi depauperatores c. that is not right beleuers in God nor in the traditions of their forefathers susteyters of the Lollardes deprauers of religious men withholders of tythes and impouerishers of the common people c. Thus the Londoners being noted and
of an Accolite Also we Thomas Archb. aforesayd by assent counsel and authority whych vppon thee the foresayd William we haue an Exorcist pretensed in the habite of an Exorcist or holy water clarke being an hereticke twise fallen and by our sentence as is aforesayd condemned we doe degrade depose thee from the order of an Exorcist and in token of thys thy degradation and actuall deposition we take from the booke of coniurations and doe depriue thee of all and singular dignity of an Exorcist Also we Thomas Archbish. aforesayd by assent counsaile and authority as is aboue sayd doe degrade depose thee the foresayde William reader pretensed clothed in the habit of a reader an hereticke twise fallen and by our sentence as is aforesayd condēned from the order of a reader And in token of this thy degradation and actuall deposition we take from thee the booke of the deuine sections that is the booke of the Church legende and doe depriue thee of all and singular maner of dignity of such a reader Item we Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury aforesayd by authority counsaile and assent the which we haue as is aforesaid do degrade and put thee foresayd William Sawtre sexten pretensed in the habite of a sexten and wearing a surplice being an hereticke twise fallen by our sentence difinitiue condemned as aforesaid from the order of a Sexten And in token of thys thy degradation and actuall deposition for the causes aforesayd we take from thee the keyes of the Church doore and thy surplice and doe depriue thee of all and singular maner of commodityes of a doore keeper And also by the authority of omnipotent God the father the sonne and holy ghost and by our authority counsaile assent of our whole councel prouinciall aboue written we do degrade thee and depose thee being heere personally present before vs from orders benefices priuilegies and habite in the church and for thy pertinacie incorrigible we doe disgrade thee before the secular Court of the hygh Constable and marshal of England here being personally present and do depose thee from all and singular clerkely honours and dignities whatsoeuer by these wrytings Also in token of thy degradation and deposition here actually wee haue caused thy crowne and ecclesiastical tonsure in our presence to be rased away vtterly to be abolished lyke vnto the forme of a seculare lay man and here doe put vpon the head of thee the foresayd William the cap of a lay secular person beseeching the court aforesaid that they wil receaue fauourably the sayde William vnto them thus recommitted Thus William Sawtre the seruaunt of Christ being vtterly thrust out of the Popes kingdome and metamorphosed from a clerke to a secular lay man was committed as ye haue heard vnto the secular power Which so done the Byshops yet not heerewith contented cease not to call vpō the king to cause him to be brought forth to spedy execution Whereupon the king ready inough and to much to gratify the cleargy and to retaine their fauours directeth out a terrible decree against the said William Sawtre and sent it to the Maior and Sheriffes of London to be put in execution the tenour wherof here vnder emueth ¶ The decree of the king against William Sawtre THe decree of our soueraigne Lord the king his counsel in the Parliament against a certaine new sprong vp hereticke To the Maior Sheriffs of London c. Where as the reuerend father Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolicke sea by the assent consent counsell of other byshops and his brethren Suffraganes and also of all the whole Clergy within his prouince or dioces gathered together in his prouincial counsel the due order of the law being obserued in al poynts in this behalfe hath pronounced and declared by his definitiue sentence W. Sautre somtime chaplain to be fallen again into his most dānable heresy the which before time the sayde W. had abiured thereupon to be a most manifest heretike and therfore hath decreed that he should be disgraded hath for the same cause really disgraded him frō al prerogatiue priuilege of the clergie decreing to leaue him vnto the secular power and hath really so left him according to the lawes canonicall sanctions set forth in this behalfe and also that our holy mother the Church hath no further to do in the premisses We therfore being zelous in religion and reuerent louers of the catholike fayth willing and minding to mainteine defend the holy church the lawes liberties of the same to roote al such errours heresies out of our kingdome of Englād with cōdigne punishmēt to correct punish all heretiques or such as be cōuict Prouided alwaies that both according to the lawe of God mā and the canonical institutions in this behalfe accustomed that such hereticks conuict condēned in forme aforesaid ought to be burned with fire We command you as straigtly as we may or can firmely enioyning you that you do cause the said Williā being in your custody in some publike or opē place within the liberties of your citie aforesaid the cause aforesaid being published vnto the people to be put into the fire and there in the same fire really to be burned to the great horrour of his offence and the manifest example of other Christians Faile not in the execution hereof vpon the perill that will fall thereupon Teste rege apud Westmonast 26. Februar an regni sui ¶ The burning of William Sawtre Thus it may appeare how kinges and princes haue bin blinded and abused by the false Prelates of the Church in so much that they haue bene their slaues and butchers to slay Christes poore innocent members See therefore what danger it is for Princes not to haue knowledge and vnderstanding themselues but to be led by other mens eies specially trusting to such guides who through hipocrisie both deceiue them through crueltie deuour the people As king Henry the fourth who was the deposer of king Richard was the first of all English kings that began the vnmercifull burning of Christes saints for standing against the Pope so was this William Sawtre the true and faithfull martyr of Christ the first of all them in Wickliffes time which I find to be burned in the raigne of the foresaid king which was in the yeare of our Lord. 1400. After the martyrdome of this godly man the rest of the same company began to keepe themselues more closely for feare of the king who was altogether bent to hold with the Popes prelacy Such was the raigne of this Prince that to the godly he was euer terrible in his actions immesurable to few men hartely beloued but Princes neuer lacke flatterers about them Neither was the time of his raigne very quiet but full of trouble of bloud and misery Such was their desire of K.
and protesting before the face of the people that his comming into the Realme in the absence of the king was for none other cause but that he might in humble sort with the loue and fauour of the king and all the Lords spirituall and temporall haue and enioy his lawfull inheritance descending vnto him of right after the death of his father which thing as it pleased all men so cried they Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord But how this blessing afterwards turned into cursing shall appeare in that which followeth and also ye shall vnderstand his horrible and wicked conspiracie against his soueraigne Lord king Richard and diuers other Lords as well spirituall as temporall besides that his manifest periurie shal wel be known and that he remaineth not only foresworne and periured but also excommunicate for that he conspired against his soueraigne Lord our king Wherefore we pronounce him by these presents as well periured as excommunicate 3. Thirdly we depose c. against the said Lord Henry that he the said Lord HeÌ„ry immediatly after his entry into England by crasty and subtile policie caused to be proclaimed openly throughout the Realme that no tenths of the Clergy fiftenes of the people sealing vp of cloth diminution of wooll impost of wine nor other extortioÌ„s or exactions whatsoeuer should hereafter be required or exacted hoping by this meanes to purchase vnto him the voice and fauour of the prelates spiritual the Lords temporall the Marchants comminaltie of the whole Realme After this he tooke by force the kings Castels and fortresses spoiled and deuoured his goodes wheresoeuer he found it crieng hauocke hauocke The kings maiestie subiects as well spirituall as temporal he spoiled and robbed some he tooke captiue and imprisoned them and some he slew put to miserable death wherof many were Bishops prelates Priests and religious men Whereby it is manifest that the said Lord Henry is not only periured in promising swearing that there should be hereafter no more exactioÌ„s paiments or extortions within the realme but also excommunicate for the violence and iniurie done to Prelats and Priests Wherefore by these presents we pronounce him as afore as well periured as excommunicate 4. Fourthly we depose c. against the said Lord Henry that he hearing of the Kings returne from Ireland into Wales rose vp against his soueraigne Lord the king with many thousands of armed men marching forward with al his power towards the Castle of Flint in Wales where he tooke the king held him prisoner and so led him captiue as a traitor vnto Leicester from whence he tooke his iourney towards London misusing the king by the way both he and his with many iniuries and opprobrious coÌ„tumelies and scoffes And in the end committed him to the Tower of London and held a Parliament the king being absent in prison wherein for feare of death he compelled the king to yeeld and resigne vnto him all his right title of the kingdome and crowne of England After which resignation being made the said Lord Henry standing vp in the Parliament house stoutly and proudly before them al said aâ—â—â—med that the kingdome of EnglaÌ„d and crowne of the same with al therunto belonging did pertaine vnto him at that present as of very right and to none other for that the said king Richard by his owne deede was depriued for euer of all the right title interest that euer he had hath or may haue in the same And thus at length by right and wrong he exalted himselfe vnto yâ— throne of the kingdome since which time our commoÌ„ weale neuer florished nor prospered but altogether hath bene void of vertue for that the spiritualtie was so oppressed exercise and warlike practises hath not bin mainteined charitie is waxed cold couetousnes and miserie hath takeÌ„ place finally mercy is taken away vengeance supplieth the rcome Wherby it doth appeare as before is said that yâ— said Lord HeÌ„ry is not only periured false by vsurping the kingdome and dominion belonging to another but also excommunicate for the apprehending vniust imprisoning and depriuing his soueraigne Lord the king of his roiall crowne and dignitie Wherefore as in the articles before we pronounce the said Lord Henry to be excommunicate 5. Fiftly we depose c. against the said Lord Henry that he the same Lord Henry with the rest of his fauourers complices heaping mischief vpon mischief haue coÌ„mitted and brought to passe a most wicked and mischieuous fact yea such as hath not bene heard of at any time before For after that they had taken and imprisoned the king and deposed him by open iniurie against all humane nature yet not coÌ„teÌ„t with this they brought him to Poinfret Castle and there imprisoned him where xv daies nights they vexed him with continuall hunger thirst and cold and finally berest him of life with such a kind of death as neuer before that time was knowen in England but by Gods prouidence it is come to light Who euer heard of such a deed or who euer saw the like of him Wherefore O England arise stand vp auenge the cause the death and iniurie of thy king and prince which if thou do not take this for certaintie that the righteous God will destroy thee by strange inuasions and foreigne power and auenge himselfe on thee for this so horrible an act Whereby doth appeare not only his periurie but also his excommunication most execrable so that as before we pronounce the said Henry not only periured but also excommunicate 6. Sixtly we depose c. against the sayd Lord Henry that after he had attained to the crowne and scepter of the kingdome he caused forthwith to be apprehended diuers Lords spirituall Bishops Abbots Priors and religious men of all orders whom he arested imprisoned bound and against all order brought them before the secular iudges to be examined not sparing the Bishops whose bodies were annointed with sacred oyle nor priests nor religious men but commanded them to be coÌ„demned hanged and beheaded by the temporall law and iudgement notwithstanding the priuiledge of the Church and holie orders which he ought to haue reuerenced and worshipped it he had bin a true and lawfull king for the first and chiefest othe in the coronation of a lawfull king is to defend and keepe inuiolate the liberties and rights of the Church and not to deliuer anie Priest or religious man into the hands of the secular power except for heresie onely and that after his degradation according to the order of the Church Contrary vnto all this hath he done so that it is manifest by this article as afore in the rest that he is both periured and excommunicate 7. Seuenthly we depose c. against the said Lord Henry that not onely he caused to be put to death the Lords spirituall and other Religious men but also diuers of the Lords
peragendo poenam eis pro eorum demeritis iniuâ—gendam iuratos absoluit in forma iuris nunciata eis eorum cuilibet pro modo culpae poena salutari videlicet quòd die dominica tunc proximè sequente praedicti poeniteÌ„tes nudi capita pedes processionem apud ecclesiam collegiatam de Wengham faciendam cum singulis saccis super humeris suis palam portantes plenis videlicet foeno stramine ita quòd stramen foenum huiusmodi ad ora saccorum patentium intuentibus prominerent lentis incessibus procederent humiliter deuote In English IGnorance the mother of error so much hath blinded and deceiued certaine persons to witte Hugh Penny Iohn Forstall Iohn Boy Ihon Wanderton Will. Haywarde and Iohn White tenaunts of the Lord of Wengham that against the comming of the aforesayde Archbishop to hys palace of Canterbury on Palmes Sonday euen the yeare of our Lord 1390 Where they being warned by the baillife to conuey and cary hay strawe and other littour to the aforesayd palace as they were bounde by the tenor of theyr landes which they hold of the sea of Canterbury refusing and disdaining to doe their due seruice as they were accustomed brought their straw and other littor not in cartes and waines openly sufficiently but by peece meale and closely in bagges or sackes in contempt of their Lord and derogation of the right and title of the sea of Canterbury Wherupon they being ascited presented before the archb sitting in iudgement at hys manour of Statewood yelded and submitted themselues to hys Lordshyppes pleasure humbly crauing pardon of their trespasse Then the aforesayd archbishop absolued the aboue named Hugh Penny c. they swearing to obey the lawes and ordinance of holy church and to do the punishment that shuld be appoynted them for their desertes that is that they going laysurely before the procession euery one of them should cary openly on hys shoulder his bagge stuffed with hay and strawe so that the sayd hay and strawe should appeare hanging out the mouthes of the sackes being open * Notes of certaine Parliament matters passed in this kings dayes To proceede now further in the raigne of this king to intreat also some thing of his parliamentes as we haue done of other before first we wil beginne with the Parliament holden in the first yere of hys comming in Moreouer forsomuch as our Catholike papistes will not beleue yet the coÌ„trary but that the iurisdiction of their father the pope hath euer extended throughout all the world as well here in England as in other places here therefore speaking of the Parliaments holden in this kings dayes concerning thys matter I refer them to the Parliament of the sayd king Henry in his first yere holden and to the 27. article of the same Where they may reade in the 10. obiection laid against K. Richard in plaine words how that for asmuch as the crowne of this realme of England and the iurisdiction belonging to the same as also the whole realme it selfe at all times lately past hath ben at such libertie and enioyed such prerogatiue that neyther the Pope nor any other out of the same kingdome ought to intrude himselfe nor intermedle therein it was therefore obiected vnto the forenamed king Richarde the 2. for procuring the letters Apostolical from the Pope to the confirming and coroborating of certaine statutes of hys and that hys censures myght be prosecuted against the breakers thereof Whyche seemed then to the Parliament to tend against the crowne and regall dignitie as also against the statutes liberties of the said thys our realme of England Act. Parl. An. 1. Reg. Henrici 4. Act 27. Furthermore in the second yeare of the saide king thys was in the Parliament required that all such persones as shal be arested by force of the statute made against the Lollardes in the 2. yeare of Henry 4. may be bailed and freely make their purgation That they be arested by none other then by the Sheriffes or such like officers neither that any hauocke be made of their goods The king granted to take aduise therein In the 8. yeare moreouer of thys kings raigne it was likewise propounded in the Parliament that all suche persons as shall procure or sue in the court of Rome any processe touching any benefice collation or presentation of the same shal incurre the paine of the statute of prouisors made in the 13. yeare of Richard 2. whereunto the king granted that the statutes herefore prouided should be obserued Item in the sayde Parliament there it was put vp by petition that the king might enioy halfe the profits of euery parsons benefice who is not resident thereon Therunto the king aunswered that the ordinaries should do theyr duties therein or els he would prouide further remedie to stay their pluralities Item in the sayde Parliament it was required that none do sue to the court of Rome for any benefice but only in the kings courtes ¶ In the next yere folowing which was the 9. of this Kyng an other petition of the Commons was put vp in Parliament against the court of Rome whych I thought good here to expresse as foloweth The Commons do beseeche that forasmuch as diuers prouisors of the benefices of holy Church dwelling in the Court of Rome through their singular couetounes now newly imagined to destroy those that haue bene long time incumbents in diuers their benefics of holy church peaceably some of them by the title of the king some by title ordinary and by the title of other true patroÌ„s therof by coulor of prouisions collations and other grauntes made to the sayd prouisors by the Apostoil of the sayd benefices do pursue processes in the said court by citation made beyond the sea without any citations made within the Realme in deede against the same incumbents whereby many of the said incumbents through such priuy crafty processes and sentences of priuation and inhabilitation haue lost theyr benefices and others put in the places of the saide incumbents before the publication of the same senteÌ„ces they not knowing any thing and many are in great hassarde to lose theyr benefices through such processes to theyr perpetuall destruction and mischiefe and forasmuch as thys mischiefe cannot be holpen wythout an especiall remedy be had by parliament Pleaseth it the king to consider the great mischiefe and daunger that may so come vnto diuers hys subiects without their knowledge through such citations out of the realme and therupon to ordaine by the aduise of the Lords of this present Parliament that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie vnto any benefice of any such incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabilitation wherof the processe is not founded vpon citation made wythin the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all theyr benefices vntil it be prooued by due enquest in the court of the
King that the citations whereupon such priuations inhabilitations are graunted were made within the Realme and that if such Ordinaries or such presented or others doe pursue the contrary that then they and theyr procurators fautours and counsellours doe incurre the paines contained in the statute made against prouisors in the 13. yere of the raigne of the late Richard king of England the second by processes to be made as is declared in the statute made against suche prouisors in the 27. yeare of the raigne of king Edward predecessour to our Lorde the king that nowe is any royall licences or grauntes in any maner to the contrary notwithstanding and that all other statutes made against prouisors and not repealed before this present Parliament be in their full force and be firmly kept in all poyntes That the kings counsell haue power by authoritye of Parliament in case that any man finde himselfe griened in particular that he may pursue and that the said counsel by the aduise of the iustices do right vnto the parties This to endure vntil the next parliament reseruing alwayes vnto the king his prerogatiue and libertie Item that no Popes collector thenceforth should leuy any money within the realme for first fruites of any ecclesiasticall dignitie vnder payne of incurring the statute of prouisions Besides in the sayd Parliament holden the 11. yeare of this king is to be noted how the commōs of the land put vp a Bill vnto the kyng to take the temporall landes out from spirituall mens handes or possession The effecte of which Bill was that the temporalities disordinately wasted by men of the Churche might suffice to finde to the K. xv Earles xv C. Knightes vi M. CC. Esquires and a C. houses of almose to the reliefe of poore people moe then at those dayes were wythin England And ouer all these foresayd charges the king might put yearely in his cofers xx M. pounde Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerely rent iii. M. marke and euery Knight C. marke and iiii plough landes Euery Esquier xl marke by yeare with ii plough landes euery house of almose C. marke wyth ouersight of two true seculars vnto euery house And also with prouision that euery towneship should keepe all pore people of their owne dwellers whych might not labour for theyr liuing with condition that if moe fell in a towne then the towne might maintaine than the said almes houses to relieue such towneships And for to beare these charges they alledged by theyr sayd bil that the temporalties being in the possession of spiritual men amounted to iii. C. and xxii M. marke by yeare Wherof they affirmed to be in the see of Cant. with the abbaies of Christes church of S. Augustines Shrewsbury Coggeshale and S. Osus xx M. marke by yere In the see of Yorke and Abbeyes there xx M. marke In the see of Winchester and abbeys there xx M. marke In the see of London with abbeys and other houses there xx M. marke In the see of Lincolne wyth the abbeys of Peterborowe Ramsey and other xx M. marke In the see of Norwych with the abbeys of Bury and other xx M. marke In the see of Ely Spalding and other xx M. marke In the see of Bathe wyth the abbey of Okinborne and other xx M. marke In the see of Worcester wyth the abbeys of Euisham Abingdon other xx M. marke In the see of Chester with the precinct of the same with the sees of s. Dauid of Salisbury and Exceter wyth their precinctes xx M. marke The abbeis of Rauens or Reuans of Fountains of Bernons and diuers other to the number of v. moe xx M. marke The abbeys of Leicester Walthan Gosborne Merton Ticetir Osney and other vnto the number of vi mo xx M. marke The abbeys of Douers Batil Lewys Couentry Dauentre Tourney xx M. marke The abbais of Northhampton Thortō Bristow Killingworth Winchcombe Nailes Parchissor Frideswide Notly and Grimmisby xx M. marke The which foresaid sommes amount to the full of iii. c. M. marke And for the odde of xxii M. marke they apointed Hardford Rochester Huntingdō Swineshed Crowland Malmesbury Burton Teukesbury Dunstable Shirborne Taunton and Biland And ouer this they alleaged by the sayde bill that ouer and aboue the said summe of iii. C. and xxii M. marke diuers houses of religion in England possessed as many tēporalties as might suffice to find yerely xv M. priests and clerks euery priest to be allowed for his stipend vii marke by the yeare To the which Bill no answer was made but that the king of this matter wold take deliberation aduisement and wyth that answer ended so that no further labor was made These things thus hitherto discoursed touching suche actes and matters as haue bene incident in the lyfe time of this king followeth next the 13. yeare of his raigne In the which yeare the sayd king Henry the 4. after that hee had sent a little before a certaine company of captaines souldiours to aide the duke of Burgundy in Fraunce among whome was the Lord Cobham keping his Christenmas at Eltham fell greeuously sicke From thence he was conneied to London where he began to call a parliament but taryed not the end In the meane time the infirmitie of the king more and more increasing he was takē and brought into a bed in a fair chamber at Westminster And as he lay in his bed he asked how they called the same chamber and they answered and sayde Ierusalem And then he sayde it was his prophecie that he should make his ende in Ierusalem And so disposing himselfe towarde hys ende in the foresayd chamber he died vpon what sicknesse whether of leprosie or some other sharpe disease I haue not to affirm Ex vetust Chron. Anglico cuius initium That all men called The like prophecy we read that pope Siluester 2. pa. 180. to whom being inquisitiue for the time and place where he should die it was answered that he shuld die in Ierusalē Who then saying Masse in a Chappel called likewise Ierusalem perceiued his end there to be nere and died And thus K. Henry the 4. successor to the lawful K. Richard 2. finished hys life at Westminster and was buried at Cant. by the tombe of Thomas Becket c. An. 1413. ¶ King Henry the fift AFter thys Henry the 4. reigned Henry the 5. hys sonne which was borne at Munmorth in Wales of whose other vertues and great victories gotten in Fraunce I haue not greatly to intermeddle Especially seeing the memory of hys worthy prowesse being sufficiently described in other writers in this our time may both content the reader and vnburden my labor herein Especially seing these latter troubles and perturbatious of the Churche offer me so much that vnneth any vacant laisure shal be left to intermeddle wyth matters prophane After the coronatiō then of this new king which was the 9. day of April called then passion Sonday which was an exceding stormy day and so tēpestuous that many did wonder at the portent thereof not long after the same a parliament began
in person saith Cope but with his mind and with his counsell he was present and addeth this reason saying And therfore he being brought agayn after his escape was conuice both of treason and heresye therfore susteining a double punishmēt was both hanged and burnt for the same c. And how is al this proued By Robert Fabian he sayth whereunto briefly I aunswere that Rob. Fabian in that place maketh no such mention of the Lord Cobham assisting or consenting to them either in mind or in counsell His wordes be these That certaine adherentes of Sir Iohn Oldcastle assembled in the fielde neare to S. Biles in great number of whom was sir Roger Acton sir Iohn Browne and Iohn Beuerley The which with 36. mo in number were after conuict of heresy and treason and for the same were hanged and burnt wein the sayd field of S. Byles c. Thus much in Fabian touching the commotion condemnation of these mē but that the Lorde Cobham was there present with thē inany parte either of consent or counsell as Alanus Copus Anglus pretendeth that is not found in Fabian but is added of his liberall cornu copiae wherof he is so copious and plentifull that he may keep an open shop of such vnwrittē vntruethes whiche he maye aforde verye good cheape I thinke being such a plentifull artificer But here will bee obiected agaynst mee the wordes of the statute made the seconde yeare of king Henry the fifte wherupon this aduersary triumphing with no litle glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thinketh himselfe to haue double vauntage against me first in prouinge these foresayd complices adherents of the Lord Cobham to haue made insurrection agaynst the king and so to be traytors Secondly in conuicting that to be vntrue where as in my former booke of Actes and Monumentes I doe reporte how that after the death of sir Roger Acton of Browne Beuerley a Parliament was holden at Leicester where a statute was made to this effect that all and singular suche as wer of Wickliffes learning if they would not geue ouer as in case of felony and other trespasses loosing all theyr goodes to the king shoulde suffer death in two manner of kinds that is they should first be hanged for treasō against the king and then be burned for heresy agaynst God c. Wherupon remaineth now in examining this obiectiō and aunswering to the same that I purge both them of treason and my selfe of vntruth so farre as truth and fidelity in Gods cause shal assist me herin Albeit in beginning first my history of Ecclesiastical matters wherin I hauing nothing to do with abatement of causes iudiciall but onely folowing the simple narration of things done and executed neuer suspected that euer any would be so captious with me or so nise nosed as to presse me with such narrow points of the law in trying and discussing euery cause and matter so exactly straining as ye woulde say the bowels of the statute lawe so rigorously agaynst me Yet for so much as I am therunto constrained now by this aduersary I wil first lay open all the whole statute made the second yeare of this foresayd Henry the fift after the death of the foresayd sir Roger Acton and his fellowes at the Parliament holden at Leycester an 1415. That done I will note vpon the words therof so as by the circumstaunces of the same may appeare what is to be cōcluded either for the defence of theyr innocencye or for the accusation of this aduersary The tenour and purport of the statute here vnder ensueth ¶ The wordes and contentes of the statute made an 2. Henrici 5. cap. 7. FOrasmuch as great rumors congregations and insurrections here in England by diuers of that king his maiesties seege people haue bene made here of late as well by those which were of the sect of heresy called Lolardy as by others of their cōfederatiō excitatiōs abetmēt to the intēt to adnulle subuert the christian fayth the law of God within the same Realme as also to destroy our soueraigne Lord the king himselfe and all maner of estates of the same his Realme as well spirituall as temporall and also all maner pollicy the lawes of the land Finally the same our Lord the king to the honor of God in conseruation and fortification of the Christian fayth also in saluation of his royall estate of the estate of all his realme willing to prouide a more open more due punishmēt agaynst the malice of such heretickes Lolardes then hath bene had or vsed in that case heretofore so that for the feare of the same lawes and punishment such heresyes and Lolardies may the rather cause in time to come By the aduise and assēt aforesayd at the prayer of the sayd commons hath ordeined established that especially the Chaūcellor the Treasurer the Iustices of the one bēch and of the other Iustices of Assise Iustices of peace Shiriffes Maiors and Bailiffes of Cityes and Townes and all other officers hauing the gouernement of people either now present or which for the time shal be do make an othe in taking of their charge and offices to extend their whole payne and diligence to put out to do to put out cease destroy all maner of heresyes and errors commonly called Lolardies within the places in which they exercise their charges and offices from time to time with all their power and that they assist fauor and maintaine the ordinaries and their commissaries so often as they or any of them shal be therunto required by the said ordinaries or their cōmissaryes So that the sayd officers and ministers when they trauell or ride to arest any Lolard or to make any assistēce at the instance and request of the ordinaries or their cōmissaryes by vertue of this statute that the same ordinaries commissaryes do pay for their costs reasonably And that the seruices of the king vnto whō the officers be first sworne be preferred before al other statutes for the liberty of holy Church the ministers of the same And especially for the correction and punishment of hereticks Lolards made before these dayes not repealed but being in theyr force And also that all persons conuict of heresy of whatsoeuer estate condition or degree they be by the sayd ordinaries or their cōmissaries left vnto the secular power according to the lawes of holy Church shall leese forfayte all theyr lands and tenements which they haue in fee simple in maner and forme as followeth That is to say that the king shall haue all the landes tenementes which the sayd conuictes haue in fee simple which be immediatlye holden of him as forfayted And that the other Lordes of whom the lands tenements of such conuictes be holden immediatly after that the king is therof seised answered of the yeare
first written in Greeke by Gregory the 3. and afterward translated out of Greeke into Latine by pope Zachary vide supra pag. 130. Likewise that worthy and Imperiall sermon iâ—â—tuâ—ed Eusebij pamphili Sermo ad Conuentum Sanctorum hath to thys day wrongfully borne the name of Eusebius Where as in very truth it was made by the good Emperour Constantinus himselfe in his owne heroicall stile in latine and afterward translated out of Latine into Greeke by Eusebius as he himselfe confesseth in hys worke De vita Constant. lib. 4. But as touching this sermon although the name be chaunged so godly and fruitful it is that it â—attereth not much vnder whose name it be read yet worthy to be read vnder the name of none so much as of the Emperor CoÌ„stantine himselfe who was the true author and owner therof Briefly except it be the bookes onely of the new Testament and of the olde what is almost in the popes church but either it is mingled or depraued or altered or corrupted either by some additions interlased or by some diminutioÌ„ mangled and gelded or by some glose adulterate or with manifest lies contaminate So that in theyr doctrine standeth little truth in theyr Legendes Portues masse-bookes lesse trueth in their miracles and Reliques least truth of all Neyther yet doe theyr sacramentes remayne cleare and voyd of manifest lyes and corruption And specially here commeth in the mayster bee whiche bringeth in much sweet hony into Popes hiues the maister lye I mean of all lyes where the P. leauing not one cromme of bread nor drop of wine in the reuerent communion vntruly and idolatrously taketh away all substaunce of bread from it turning the whole substaunce of bread into the substaunce of Christes owne body which substaunce of bread if the Pope take from the sacrament then muste he also take the breaking from it for breaking and the body of Christ can in no wise stand litterally together by the scripture Thus then as this is proued by the word of God to be a manifest lye so thinke not much good Reader hereat as though I passed the bondes of modestie in calling it the Archlye or maister lie of all lies Because vppon this one an infinite number of other lyes and erroures in the popes churche as handmaydes doe wayte and depend But forsomuch as I stand here not to charge other meÌ„ so muche as to defende my selfe ceasing therefore or rather differing for a time to stir this stinking pudle of these wilfull and intended lyes and vntruthes whiche in the Popes Religion and in papistes bookes be innumerable I will now returne to those vntruthes and impudent lies which M. Cope hath hunted out in my history of Actes Monuments first beginning with those vntruthes which he carpeth in the storye of the foresayde syr Iohn Oldcastle and syr Roger Acton Browne and the rest And first where he layeth to my charge that I cal them Martyrs whiche were traytors and seditious rebels agaynst the king and theyr Country to this I haue aunswered before sufficiently Now here then must the reader needes stay a little at M. Copes request to see my vanitie and impudencye yet more fully and amply repressed in refuting a certain place in my Latine story concerning the kinges statute made at Leiceister whiche place and wordes by him alledged be these pag. 1â—7 Quocirca Rex indicto Lecestriae concilio quòd fortâ—ssis Londini ob Cabhami fautores non erat tutum proposito edicto immanem denunciat poenam his quicunque deinceps hoc doctrinae genus sectarentur vsqueâ—deo in eos seuerus vt non modo haereticos sed perduelliones etiam haberi aâ— pâ—o inde gemino eos supplicio suspendio simul inceÌ„dio afficiendos statueriâ— c. Eâ— mox Adeo ille vires rationesque intendebat omnes aduersus Wicklenianos Wicleuiani ad temporis decebantur quicunque Scripturas Dei sua lingua lectirarent Vpon these wordes out of my foresayd Latine booke alledged maister Cope perswadeth himselfe to haue great aduauntage agaynst me to proue me a notorious lyer in three sondry pointes First in that whereas I say that the king did hold his parliament at Leicester adding thys by the way of Parenthesis quod fortassis Londini ob Cobhami fautores non erat tutum c. here he concludeth thereby simpliciter and precisely that the Lord Cobham and syr Roger Acton with his fellowes were traytors c. Whereby a man may soone shape a cauiller by the shadowe of mayster Cope For where as my Dialysis out of the texte speaketh doubtfully and vncertaynely by this word fortassis meaning in deede the king to be in feare of the Gospellers that he durst not hold his Parliament at London but went to Leiceister he argueth precisely therfore that the Lord Cobham sir Roger Acton and his fellowes went about to kil the king Secondly where I affirme that the king in that Parliament made a grieuous law agaynst al such did hold the doctrine of Wickliffe that they should be taken hereafter not for heretiques but also for fellons or rebels or traytors and therefore should sustayne a double punishement both to be hanged and also to be burned c. Here coÌ„meth in maister Momus with his Cope on his backe and prouing me to be a lyer denyeth playnly that the king made any suche statute vid. pag. 835. line 6. where hys wordes be these Atqui quod haeretici pro perduellionibus deinceps geminatas poenas suspeÌ„dij incendij luerent vt nugatur Foxus nullo modo illic traditur c. First here woulde bee asked of maister Cope what hee calleth patriae hostes et proditores if he call these traytours then let vs see whether they that followed the sect of wycliffe were made traytours heretiques by the kings law or not And first let vs heare what sayth Polydore Virgil his owne witnes in this behalfe whose words in his xxii booke pag. 441. be these Quare publice edixit vt si vspiam deinceps reperirentur qui eam sequerentur sectam patriae hostes haberentur quò sine omni lenitate seuerius ac ocyus de illis supplicium sumeretur c. That is wherefore it was by publique statute decreed that whosoeuer were founde hereafter to follow the sect of Wyckliffe should be accounted for traytors whereby without all lenitie they shoulde be punished more seuerely and quickly c. Thus haue you maister Cope the playne testimonie of Polydore with mee And because ye shall further see your selfe more impudent in carping then I am in deprauing of histories you shall vnderstand moreouer and heare what Thomas Walden one of your owne catholique brotherhode who was also himselfe aliue a doer in the same Parliament being the prouincial of the Carmelites saith in this matter writing to Pope Martin whose very wordes in Latine here follow written in
of the king or els to the statute an 15. Richard chap. 2. Where the penalty is made fine and raunsome Or els to the statute an 5. Richar. 2. chap. 6. where suche assemblies be made playne treason in fine statuti And as here is matter of treason sufficiently contained so for heresie likewise the same statute referreth them to y◠ordinaries and to the lawes properly to heresie appertayning and to the statute an 2. Henr. 4. chap. 15. where the penaltie is burning Also to the statute an 5. Richard 2. chap. 5. So that in this present statute here mention is conteined as ye see although not in expresse words yet inclusiuely by referring to other statutes not repealed bothe Lollardery which is punished with burning and forcible entrees which is punished at the kinges pleasure And thus much concerning the secōd vntruth which M. Cope vntruely noted in me 3. The third vntruth which he noteth in me concerning this matter is this wherein he reporteth mee that I say there was no other cause of deuising this sharp law punishment against these mē but onely for hauing the scripture bookes And therfore here is noted in the margent Foxi dolus malus but let M. Cope take heede hee deceiue not himself and other For my part I remember no such place in this my Latine story where I so say Onely my wordes be these added in the latter ende of the place aboue recited Wicleuiani verò dicebantur quicunque id temporis Scripturas Dei sua lingua lectitarent c. That is They were called Wicleuistes whosoeuer at that time read the Scripture in english or vulgare tongue c. I say not that for the scriptures being read in the english tongue therfore the law was enacted but so is M. Cope disposed to construe it What law statuts were made against writing or reading of any booke in English or in any other tonge cōtrary to the Catholick that is y◠Romish sayth or to the determinatiō of the holy Church that is of Rome read I beseech thee the bloudy statute made an 2. Hen. 4. chap. 15. aboue specifyed pag. 523 Also read the constitution prouinciall of Thomas Arundell aboue mentioned pag. 524. lin 9. Where it was decreed that the text of holy scripture should not be had or read in the vulgare tongue frō the time of M. Iohn Wickliffe for euer after vnlesse the sayd translation be approued first by the ordinary or by prouinciall councell vnder pain and punishment of heresy Now let the reader iudge whether y◠reading of scripture bookes in the english tongue by the making or translating of Wickliffe or from the tyme of Wicliffe downward be coūted heresy or not As for the approuing of the ordinary or of the prouincial councell added in the end of the sayd constitution maketh more for a shew or pretence then for any iust exception or any true intention For what man hauing those Scriptures translated in English would either present them to their ordinaries being so set against the reading of such bookes or what ordinarie would or did euer yet since Arundels tyme approoue any such translation presented vnto them Or els why did the good Martyrs of Amersam suffer death in the begynning of kyng Henry the viii for hauing and reading certaine bookes of Scripture which were as is saide onely foure Epistles of S. Paule with certaine other prayers And the other which heard them but onely reade did beare fagottes and the same tyme the children compelled to set fagots vnto their fathers at which time Longlande being then Byshop of Lincolne preaching to them at y◠stake sayde that whatsoeuer they were that did but moue hys lippes in reading those chapters were damned foreuer as when we come to that tyme by the grace of Christ shall hereafter more amply and notoriously appear And where thē is this Dolus malus Foxi margined against me for craftie dealing in my story Moreouer where M. Cope proceeding farther in this matter asketh me how was the Lorde Cobham obedient to the king whē as for the feare of him the king durst not then keepe his parliament at London To whom I aunswere agayne asking likewise of M. Cope howe was the king then afrayd to hold his parliament at London for the Lord Cobham when the Lord Cobham at that time was in Wales And here M. Cope thinking to haue me at a narow straight and to holde me fast biddeth me tell him howe it coulde be otherwise but the Lorde Cobham must needes haue fautours And who should these fautours be sayth he but syr Roger Acton Browne their fellowes The which mighty question of M. Cope I answer agayn howe can sir Roger Acton Browne and their fellowes be then fautors of the Lord Cobham for whome the King durst not hold his parliament at Londō when as the sayd Roger Acton Browne and the rest were put to death a whole yeare almost before the Parliament at Leycester began And now as I haue hitherto briefly and truely aunswered your askinges M. Cope let me be so bolde with you agayne to propounde to you likewise an other question For so much as you haue put me to the searching of the statutes in this matter wherewith before I was not muche acquainted now out of the same statutes riseth a doubtfull scruple or questiō worthy to be solued The cause is this that for asmuch as so many good martyrs and Saints of God hetherto in this realme of England haue bene burned frō the time of king Henry 4. Hen. 5. Hen. 6. Hen. 8. to the time and in the time of Queene Mary my question is that you with all your learned councell about you wil tel me by what law or statute of the realme were these men brent I know the auncient custome hath bene that heretickes conuicted by a prouinciall councell were wont to be left to the secular power But how wil ye proue me these hereticks were either conuict by such prouinciall councell or that these seculare men ought to be your butchers in burning them whō ye haue committed to them If ye alledge the vi Articles made in the reigne of king Henry the 8. those articles neither did serue before the time of king Hēry the viii neither yet were they reuiued after his time If ye alledge to y◠statute made an 5. Richar. 2. cap. 5. In that statute I aunswere is conteined no matter of burning but onely of arrest to be done at the certificatiōs of the prelates wtout any further punishmēt there mentioned To conclude if ye alledge the statute made an 2. Henr. 4. chap. 15. and reuiued in the reigne of Queene Mary mentioned before pag. 523 To that statute I answere that although that pretensed statute appeareth in forme of wordes in the Printed book to geue vnto the temporall officers authoritie to bring them to the stake and to burne them whom the Bishop deliuereth Yet is it
not to be proued either by you or any other that statute to be law or warrant sufficient to burne anye person or persons committed to the seculare power by the Clergy And that I proue thus for although the same statute of king Henry the fourth in the bookes printed appeare to baâ—e law and authority sufficient by the ful assent both of the king of the Lordes and of the coÌ„mons yet being occasioned by M. Cope to search further in the statutes I haue found that in the Rolles and first originals of that Parliament there is no such mention either of any petitioÌ„ or els of any assent of the commons annexed or contained in that statute according as in the printed bookes vsual in the Lawyers handes to craftely and falsely foysted in as by the playne wordes thereof may well appeare For where the said statute an 2. Henry 4. chap. 15. beyng thus intituled in the Rolles Petitio cleri contra haereticos and assented vnto in this forme hath these wordes Statut. an 2. Henri 4. cap. 15. Intituled in the Rolle thus Petitio Cleri contra heteticos and assented vnto in this forme QVas quidem petitiones praelatorum cleri superius expressatas do noster Rex de consensu magnatum aliorum procerum regni sui in praesenti Parliamento existentium concessit in omnibus singulis iuxta formam effectum eorundé ordinauit statuit de caerero firmiter obseruari and so forth according to the petition and moe wordes are there not in the statute Rolle Wherfore wher as the statute booke printed hath thus Super quibus quidem nouitatibus excessibus supereus recitatis videlicet in the petition of the Prelates clergy praelati clerus supradicti ac etiam communitates dicti Regni in eodem Parliamento existen dicto Domino Regi supplicarunt c. Qui quidem Dominus Rex c. ex assensu magnatum aliorum procerum eiusdem Regni c. concessit ordinauit c. These wordes Ac etiam communitates dicti Regni c. are put in further then the Rolle doth warrant and seemeth to be the practise of the clergie to make that as an Acte of Parliament and to seeme to haue the force of a law which was neuer assented vnto by the commons And thus you see howe this foresayd statute Printed both in English and in Latine among the Prouincial councels of Oxford by the vertue whereof so many good men haue bene burned so long in England doth vtterly ouerthrow it selfe for that it swerueth from the recorde bothe in forme and in matter and lacketh the assent of the commons Which doubt I thought at this present to propound vnto you mayster Cope for that you haue so vrged me to the searching out of the statutes by your declayming agaynst the Lord Cobham Moreouer vnto this statute aforesayd ioyne also with all an other Memorandum of like practise done an 5. Rich. 2. In the which yeare where as a statute was concluded yâ— parliament an 5. Rich. 2. chap. 5. agaynst certayne preachers specified in the same statute which going about in certaine habites from place to place did drawe the people to sermons And commissions were made and directed in the sayd parliament to the shrines to arrest all such preachers and to imprison the same at the certifications of the Prelates Here is then to be noted that the same statute an 5. Rich. 2. cap. 5. was reuoked by the king in the parliament an 6. Rich. 2 vpon the wordes of the commons being these videl Forasmuch as the same statute was neuer assented ne graunted by the commons but that which therein was done was done without their assent and now ought to be vndone for that it was neuer their meaning to be iustified and to bind themselues and their successors to the prelates no more then their auncetours had done before them Ex Rotul And yet thys foresayd reuocation notwithstanding in Queene Maryes tyme they inquired vppon that statute In searching of these statutes as you haue accasioned me to find out these scruples so being fouÌ„d out I thought here not to dissemble them for so muche as I see and heare many now a dayes so boldly to beare themselues vpoÌ„ this statute and thinking so to excuse themselues do say that they haue done nothing but the law the law to the intent that these men seeing now how inexcusable they be both before God and man hauing no law to beare them out may the soner repent their bloudy and vnlawfull tyranny exercised so long agaynst Gods true seruauntes yet in time before that the iust law of God shall finde out their vniust dealinges which partly he beginneth already to do and more no doubt will doe hereafter In the meane tyme this my petition I put vp to the Commous and to all other which shall hereafter put vp any petition to the ParliameÌ„t that they being admonished by this abuse wil shew theÌ„selues heare after more wise circumspect both what they agree vnto in Parliamentes also what commeth out in their name And as these good Commons in this time of king Henry 4. would not consent nor agree to this bloudy statute nor to anye other like For so we read that the Commons in that bloudy time of king Henry 4. when an other like cruell byll was put vp by the Prelates in an 8. Hen. 4. against the Lollards they neither consented to this and also ouerthrow the other so in like maner it is to be wished that the commons in this our time or such other that shall haue to do in parliaments hereafter following the steppes of these former times will take vigilant heede to such cruell billes of the Popes prelacy being put vp that neither their consent do passe rashly nor that their names in any condition be so abused CoÌ„sidering with themselues that a thing once being passed in the parliament cannot afterward be called back And a litle inconuenience once admitted may grow afterward to mischiefes that cannot be stopped And sometime it may so happen that through rashe consent of voices the ende of thinges being not well aduised such a thing being graunted in one day that afterward many dayes may cause the whole realme to rue But I trust men are bitten enough with suche blacke parliamentes to beware of afterclaps The Lord Iesus onely protector of his church stop al crafty deuises of subtile enemies and with his wisedom direct our Parliamentes as may be most to the aduauntage of his word and comfort of hys people Amen Amen And thus much hauing sayd for the defence of the Lord CobbaÌ„ of syr Roger Acton knight maister Iohn Browne Esquier Iohn Beuerly preacher and of other their fellowes agaynst Alanus Copus Anglus here I make an ende with this preseÌ„t Interim till furthur leysure serue me here after Christ willing to pay him the whole Interest which I owe
of the realme onely rest in this For the king now hauing lost his frendly vncle as the stay staffe of his age whiche had brought him vp so faythfully from his youth was now therby the more open to his enemies they more emboldened so set vpon him As appeared first by Iacke Cade the Kentishe Captayne who encamping first in Blackheath afterward aspired to LondoÌ„ and had the spoyle therof the king being driuen into Warwickshyre After the suppressing of Cade ensued not long after the duke of York who being accompanied with 3. Erles set vpon the king next to S. Albons where the king was taken in the field captiue the Duke of York was by ParliameÌ„t declared protector which was in the yeare of our Lord 1453. After this folowed long diuision and mortal warre betwene the two houses of Lancastar and Yorke continuing many yeares At length about the yeare of our Lord 1459. the Duke of Yorke was slayne in battell by the Queene neare to the towne of Wakefield and with him also his sonne Earle of Rutlande By the which Queene also shortly after in the same yeare were discomfited the Earle of Warwicke and Duke of Northfolk to whom the keeping of the king was committed by the Duke of Yorke and so the Queene agayne deliuered her husband After this victory obteined the Northren men aduauÌ„ced not a litle in pride and courage began to take vpon theÌ„ great attemptes not onely to spoyle and robbe Churches and religious houses villages but also were fully enteÌ„ded partly by themselues partly by the inducemeÌ„t of theyr Lords and Captaynes to sacke waste and vtterly to subuert the City of London and to take the spoyle therof and no doubt â—ayth my history woulde haue proceeded in thyr coÌ„ceiued gredy inteÌ„t had not the oportune fauor of God prouided a speedy remedy For as these mischiefes were in bruing sodenly commeth the noble Prince Edward vnto LoÌ„don with a mighty army the 27. day of February who was the sonne and heire to duke of Yorke aboue mentioned accompanyed with the Earle of Warwicke and diuers moe King Henry in the meane time with his victory went vp to York when as Edward being at London caused there to be proclaymed certayn articles concerning his title to the crowne of England which was the 2. day of March. Wherupon the next day following the Lords both teÌ„porall spirituall being asseÌ„bled together the sayd articles were propouÌ„ded and also well approued The fourth day of the sayd moneth of March after a solemne generall procession according to the blinde superstition of those dayes the Bishop of Exceter made a Sermon at Paules Crosse wherin he commended and proued by manifold euideÌ„ces the title of Prince Edward to be iust and lawfull aunswering in the same to all obiections whiche might be to the contrary This matter being thus discussed Prince Edward accompanied with the Lordes spirituall temporall with much concourse of people rode the same day to Westminster Hall and there by the full consent as well of the Lordes as also by the voyce of all the Commons tooke his possession of the Crowne was called K. Edward the fourth These thinges thus accomplished at London as to such a matter apperteined and preparation of money sufficiently being ministred of the people and commons wyth most ready and willing mindes for the necessary furniture of his warres he with the Duke of Northfolke and Earle of Warwicke and Lord Fauconbrige in all speedy wise tooke his iourney toward king Henry who being now at Yorke and forsaken of the Londoners had all his refuge onely reposed in the Northren men When king Edward with his army had past ouer the Riuer of Trent and was commeÌ„ nere to Ferebrig where also the host of king Henry was not far of vpoÌ„ Palm sonday betwene Ferebrig and Tadcaster both the armyes of the Southren and Northren men ioyned together battell And althoughe at the first beginning diuers horsemen of king Edwardes side turned theyr backes and spoyled the king of cariage victuals yet the couragious prince with his Captayne 's little discouraged therewith fiercely and manfully set on theyr aduersaryes The whiche battell on both sides was so cruelly fought that in the same conflict were slayne to the nuÌ„ber as is reported beside men of name of 30000. of the poore commons Notwithstanding the coÌ„quest fell on king Edwardes part so that king Henry hauing lost all was forced to flye into Scotland where also he gaue vp to the Scottes the towne of Barwicke after he had raigned 38. yeares and a halfe The clayme and title of the Duke of Yorke and after him of Edward his sonne put vp to the Lords coÌ„mons wherby they chalenged the crowne to the house of York is thus in the story of Scala mundi word for word as hereunder is conteyned The title of the house of Yorke to the crowne of England EDward the 3. right king of Englande had issue first prince Edward the 2. W. Hatfield 3. Lionell 4. Iohn of Gaunt c. Prince Edward had Richard the 2. which dyed without issue W. Hatfielde dyed without issue Lionel duke of Clarence had issue lawfully begot Phillip his onely daughter and heyre the which was lawfully coupled to Edmund Mortimer Earle of March and had issue law fully begotte Roger Mortimer Eare of March and heyre Whych Roger had issue Edmund Earle of March Roger Anne and Alienor Edmund and Alienor died without issue and the sayd Anne by lawfull matrimonye was coupled vnto Richard Earle of Cambridge the sonne of Edmund of LaÌ„gley who had issue lawfully bare Richard Plantagenet now Duke of Yorke Iohn of Gaunte gate Henry which vnrightfully entreated king Richard then being aliue Edmund Mortimer Earle of Marche sonne of the sayde Philip daughter to Lionell To the which Richard duke of Yorke and sonne to Anne daughter to Roger Mortimer Earle of March sonne and heyre to the sayde Philip daughter and heyre to the sayd Lionel the 3. sonne of king Edward the 3. the right dignity of the crowne apperteyned belonged afore any issue of the sayd Iohn of Gaunt Notwithstanding the sayd title of dignity of the sayde Richard of Yorke the sayd Richard desiring the wealth rest and prosperity of England agreeth and consenteth that king Henry 6. should be had and taken for king of England during his naturall life from thys time without hurt of his title Wherefore the king vnderstanding the sayd title of the sayde duke to be iust lawfull true and sufficient by the aduise and assent of the Lordes spirituall and temporall and the commons in the Parliament and by the authoritye of the same Parliament declareth approueth ratifieth confirmeth accepteth the sayde title for iust good lawfull and true and there unto geueth his assent and agreement of his free will and liberty And ouer that by the sayde aduise and
fruites for 2. yeares graunted to the kyng Ex vetusto Chronico Albanensi A parliament in Fraunce assembled wherein is discussed the iurisdiction ecclesiastical how farre it extendeth Anno. 1329. The letter of Philip king of Fraunce to the byshops prelates The Parliament conuented Lord Peter speakes in the Parliament The theaâ—e of his oration The oration deuided in two partes Obedience to the kyng Difference betweene the iurisdiction of the state temporall and ecclesiasticall Articles in the Parliament propounded contayning the iust complaints of the laitie against the clergie Causes real Prelates intermedle in temporall mens matters Ex Officio Imprisonment pertaineth not to the Clergie Action reall personall No maÌ„ may appeale froÌ„ a spirituall iudge to the temporall law by the Popes diuinitie Deanes of the Clergie Maryed clear Gynnes to gâ—â— money Resortum The clergie preiudiciall to common iustice Ex Officio Vsury craftely obiected by the clergie against laye men The prelates make the church a denne of theeues Note the practise of officials to get money B. Eduen and Archb. of Seâ—â—â— elect Prolocutor for prelates Repetition of the L. Peters oration aboue touched page 358. Luke 22. Math. 17. Two gifts giue Priesthood Empyre Prouerb 22. Dif 10. 1. Peter 2. Actes 5. 2. Mach 7. 11. quast 1. Feare of God staÌ„deth in three pointes Num. 18. 1. Paral. cap. vlt. What benefite commeth by geuing to the church Luke 6. Time of warre 1. Mach. 3. Exod. 17. 2. Mach. Time of peace Prouerb 16. 1. Esdras 6. Eccle. 2. The 2. part of fearing God Hebr. 12. Honouring of spirituâ—â—â— fathers 4. Keg 6. Luke 10. 1. Thess. 4. 11. q. cap. â— Sacerdâ—â—â—bus Exod. 22. Malach. 2. Honour to be giuen to priestes Two powers temporall and spirituall and what difference betwene them both De mai obed cap. Solit. Double subiection vpon merite of vertue and vpon duetie of necessitie The authoritie of a byshop and a king compared The pride of the prelacye Siâ—upekings Eccle. 4. Eccle. 4. The third part of fearing God Eccle. 18. A thing made myne diuers wayes 6. Proofes 1. Diuine lawe 2. by the law of nature 3. by canon lawe 4. by ciuill lawe 5. by custom 6. by priuiledge Formes being dislike not contrary may be compatible in one subiect Proofes out of the olde Testament Melchisedech was both kyng and Priest Ergo the P. may haue both iurisdictions Gene. 14. Deut. 17. Samuell was iudge in temporall matters Ergo the Pope may haue both iurisdictions 1. Mach. â— Ierem. 1. Proofes taken out of the new Testament Apoc. 19. Christ by his humaine nature had both powers Psal. 8. Hebr. 2. Phil. 2. Act. 10. Acts. 5. Math. 8. Omnia terminus distributiuus Luke 22. 1. Cor. 6. 22. q. 1. cap. futuram Esay 13. Probation by ciuil lawe and reason 1. Peter 2. Probation by the Canon lawe Custome Iudicium contradictorium Three things pertayning to prescription 1. Titulus 2. bonafides 3. TemporiÌ„s continuatio Ius fisci The church not subiect to the kyng Obiection Answere The French 〈◊〉 more blessed then other in 3 thinges 1. Faith to God 2 Honour to the Church 3. Iustice to the people 5. thinges doth nobilate the realme of Fraunce The bloud of Fraunce came out of Priamus king of Troy 1. Reg. 2.1 Daniel 5. Ambrose in case denieth to obey the Emperour 3. Reg. 21. Nabaoth denyeth to the kyng his Vineyard Gene. 48. Math. 17. Offence how it ought to be auoyded Rom. 14. Math. 16. The 3. note of the feare of God Eccle. 15. Honour of the kyng Eccle. 10. Two kinde of honour Math. 17. Double honour with lippes and with heart A prince â—â—ther to be beloued 〈◊〉 feared Seneca de clementia ad Gerâ—â—â—â— A sentence Prouerb 22 In alteration what is to be coÌ„sidered 3. Reg. 11. Math. 20. 25. Quaestâ—â—â— cap. Si. Marke here a fable A dreaming fable Iohn 8. Eccle. 4. Rom. 11. Who honoreth the K. Prouer. 22. Conscience and good name Eccle. 4. 24. q. 5 cap. Regnum Eccle. 37. Eccle. 3. The 4. honoring of the kyng Mat. 6. 1. Reg. 15. The oth of the French kinges Aâ—g by the possessions of the church many brethren and kinsmen of the nobles be maintayned Ergo such possessions are not to be grudged at To beleeue in the Church is not in our faith 1. Reg. 21. To the bill of articles exhibited An other dayes sitting in the parliament Bishop of Eduen againe speaketh Math. 12. Marke 12. 11. q. 1. cap. 1. 2. 22. q. 4. cap. Si vero Math. 26. Why Christ payd tribute 16. Dist. cap. Constantiâ—â—â— 35. Dist. cap. ab exordio Eccle. 6. Speciall answeres to the articles premised by B. Eduen An other dayes sitting in the Parliament â—â— Dist. cap. sum ad vetum Shauing of Priestes crownes wherefore 11. quest 2. The B. findeth fault with the kings answere The gentle answere of the king to Bishope The finall answere of the kyng to the Prelates Notes vpon the bishops answerâ— Pag. 36â— col 2. Feare of God consisting in three thinges 1. In geuing 2. In honoring 3. In restoring Honour to the kyng double In word flattering in deede effectuall Honour effectuall standeth in foure pointes 1. in maintayning the kings loue 2. in maintayning his dignitie 3. in maintayning his good name 4. in maintayning his conscience Pag. 361. col 2. Pag. 361. col 2. Religio peperit diuitias nunc filia deuorauit matrem 4. incommodities that come in geuing to the church Pag. 361. col 2. 3. Things to be noted in offering to God and to the church Rom. 12. Pag. 361. col 1. Pag. 362. col 1. 1. Tim. 5. 2. Things â—â— be noted â— geuing honour whâ—â—in consiâ—â—â— honour geuing to Priestes 1. Tim. 5. Titus 2. Qui benè praesunt How far honour giuen to priestes extendeth Marke 7. Pag. 362. col 1. Tit. 2. Pag. 362. col 1. 2. formes not contrary maybe compatible in one subiect Pag. 363. col 1. Rom. 13. Pag. 363. col 1. Noe was a priest and had both iurisdiction in the Arke Pag. 363. col 1. A. Pag. 363. col B. Page 363. col 1. C. Pag. 363. col 1. D. E. Pag. 363. col 1. Pag. 364. col 1. Pag. 364. col 1. Pag. 364. col 1. Anno. 1307. The sicknes and death of K Edward Godly lessoÌ„s and precepts geuen to the yong prince The kyng coÌ„maundeth his bones to be caryed in the field against the Scottes The fatherly care of kyng Edward in excluding wicked coÌ„pany froÌ„ his sonne A rashe vow of kyng Edward The kyngs heart to be carâ—ed to the holy land The Epitaph of kyng Edward King Edward the second Anno. 1308. King Edward led by wicked counsaile Peter Gaueston or Gauerston a wicked doer about the kyng Anno. 1310. Peter Gaueston The vnordinate affection of the kyng to Peter Gaueston The pride of Peter Gaueston Peter Gaueston spoileth the kynges treasure The queene complaineth to the freÌ„ch kyng her Father of Peter Gaueston Gaueston againe
pudenda Belly cheare of yl disposed prelats and of Monasteries not to be nourished with temporalties and appropriations Correction of the clergie 2 q. 5. Praesul Ibid Nallam Punishing of adultery belongeth to secular magistrates rather then to prelates Good kings ought to depose wicked Popes De censecratione id est 2. cap. Seculares The Popes lawes contrarye to themselues The pope his Cardinals no part of the true Church The Canon lawe full of heresie Math. 20. The sermon of K. Wimbeldon The calling of God is â—iuers Iob. 10 2. Cor. 7. 1. Peter 2. 1. Thes. 4. Prou. 8. 2. Tim. 4. Nota Three questions The first Second Third Against Simony Questio Solutio Questio Solutio Iohannes Chrisostomus Homelia 27. Note The rashe making of ministers Ose. 4. Bernardus Esa. 22 quis in bio aus quasi quid his Iere. 31. Sap. 6. Kingeâ— Princes and magistrates admonished How thou hast entred Osâ— 8. 2. Para. 10. How hast thou ruled Deut. 9. Pro. 13. Math. 7. How hast thou liued Rom. 5. Susan Socrates Valerius Maximus libro 7. The third Baily Austen The third admonition in generall to euery christé man Moralli Greg. 8. â—atha 6. Expositio Eccl. 5. Iob. 22. Against couetise Gregory August de conflictu Sortutis Socorum Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum Austen Augustin Psal. 54. Innocentius Nume 22. Iosne 7. 4 Reg. 5. Acts. 5. Ambrosius de sue libello de Naboth Iohn 24. Math. 27. 3. sumners Sicknesse Age. Death Iob. 14. Deutero Corinth 12. Tobi. 2. Antioche The second somnet Properties of death Esaye The third somner distinstio mortis Augustinus The day of Iudgement In knowen the worlds sicknes Math. 21. â— Tim. 3. Luke 12. 1. Co. 10. Chrisostom A proper similitude Ioachim Maide Hildegar Augustine Math. 24. Note Antichrist to come an 1400. This sermon ergo was made an 1389. Apo. 6. Expositio Nero. Constantinus magnus Siluester The 3. seale Expositio The 4. seale Expositio The 5. seale The 6. seale The 7. seale Apoca. Note Conclusion Vide supra pag. 429. Vrbanus 3. Bonifacius 9. Innocentius 7. Gregorius 12. The Cardinals deuise to cease the schisme The vow othe of the Cardinals made for the schisme The oth and vow of pope Gregory 12. Ex Chron. D. Albani The pope falsely periured Cardinals leaue the periured pope Ann. 1409. King Henry 4. to pope Gregory 12. 2. hundred thousand slaine by schisme of Rome 30 thousaÌ„d slaine in campe fighting for the bishoprick of Leodium King Henry 4. to the Cardinals Concilium â—â—sanum Exchro D. Albani Anno. 1410. Concilium Pisanum Pope Alexander 5. 3. popes togeather The vaine remissioÌ„ by the popes indulgence Pope Alexander dead Pope Iohn 23. Ex IoaÌ„ Chocleâ— De historia Hussiaru lib. 1. The Gospell beginneth to take roote in Bohemia The letter of pope AlexaÌ„der 5. to the Archbish Swinco of Bohemia The Popes cruell bull against Iohn Hasse Ihon Husse obiecteth against the popes cruell Bull. Tbe popes Bull coÌ„trary to christ The notable iudgement of God in striking the aduersaries of the Gospell The Gospel seldom times long quiet Pope Iohn 23. The pride and glory of the clergie of England in those dayes XI dayes of pardon geuen by Tho. Arundel Archb. Ringing of Curphew * If this be not blasphemous derogatory to Christ let the reader iudge These men make a Bellona of our Ladie False helpe fought and set vp of Idolaters * The Papists would sucke our Ladies pappes * Will you stand to this doctrine yee Catholikes * Popishe blasphemy fighting against the grace of Christ. Ringing of Curphew XI dayes pardon for 5. Aues Heaping vp ceremonies in the church The pompe of the popes Church noted Churches of London suspended for not ringing at the comming of the Archb. * Oh iniurious enemies to Christ his humilitie Organs suspended in the Church because the belles dyd not ryng Ex Regist. Tho. Arundels Variance betweene the B. and Prior of Worcester for not ringing at the Bishoppes comming Ringing in the Archb. at S. AlboÌ„s Ex. Regist. Hem. Chicheley Fol. 365. W. Courtney Archb. of Cant. Ex Regist. W. Courtney Ex Registro W. Courtney Mark ye Gramarians litera for littour Ex Regist. W. Courtney Archbish Cant. Penance enioyned for bringing straw to Lords horse Excommunication and absolution abused Notes of this kings parliaments The popes iurisdiction excluded out of this realme Ex Anno. 1. Reg. Henrici Act. 27. Anno. Reg. Henr. 4. Ast. 29. An. 8. Reg. Henri 4. Act. 116. An 8. Reg. Hen. 4. act 114. Ibide act 37 Ex Rotulo Parlamenti an 9. Henrici 4. The wickednes of popes prouisors in citing and depriuing beneficed men in England their citation being not knowen in the realme Ann. 9. Regis Henrici 4. act 43. Ex Chronic. D. Albani Fabiano alijs A computation of Churche goods to how much they doe mount Ann. 1413. The kyng had a prophecie that he should die in Ierusalem Prophecies deceiueable Ex vetust Chron. Anglico cui initium est That al men called The prophecie of pope Syluester 2. King Henry â— Great tempest at the coronatioÌ„ of the new king A synode called at London S. George and S. Dunstanes day made double feast The feast of the popes church described and deuided Festum duplex Principale duplex Maius duplex Minus duplex Inferius duplex Constitution against councell Ex tab festorum Simplex festum in the popes church Trouble of the Lord Cobham Ex Chron. Monac Albanensis Vid. pag. 508. Walden in fasciculo Zizaniorum Wicleui The L. Cobham accused for maintayning the Gospel of Christ. The L. Cobham accused for his Christen belefe Processe against him A spiritual practise The kyng speaketh for him His gentle promise The kinges admonishment to the L. Cobham The aunswere of the L. CobhaÌ„ to the king Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. L. Cobham obedient to the king A most christen obedience 2. Thesl. 2. Math. 24. The L. CobhaÌ„ forsaken of the king Lord Cobham sommoâ—ed by the Archb. Iohn Butles playeth Iudas part Citation set vp against the Lord Cobham The citatioÌ„s takeÌ„ downe False accusations against the Lord Cobham L. Cobham excommunicated L. Cobham againe cited L. Cobham confesseth his God before men The Apostles faith The commoÌ„ creede of Christians A doclaratioÌ„ of his belief 1. Iohn 5. Galla. 4. Iohn 1. Luke 2. Christ is the onely head of his Church The church deuided in three partes Contrary wrote he ad parliamétuÌ„ Ex Waldeno The church militant deuided in three What the priestes should be Knighthood what it should doe Marke here a most christen hart What the commoÌ„ peoought to doe Beliefe of the L. Cobham concerning the Sacramentes The Sacrament of the aulter Gods law to be preferred before mans lawe A Christen desire of the L. Cobham This request was lawfull Obedience vnto his king The Christen stomacke and maÌ„hoode of the L. Cobham No reasonable offer would serne L. Cobham appealeth froÌ„ the Archb to the
tripled besides Annates and Palles whiche all together are thought to make the totall summe yearely goyng out of Fraunce to the Popes coffers â—f late yeares x. Myriades or MillioÌ„s euery Myriade mountyng to x. thousand crownes Now what hath risen besides in other Realmes and NatioÌ„s let other men coniecture Wherfore if the Gospell send vs to the fruites to know the tree I pray you what is to be thought of the Churche of Rome with these fruites of lyfe Or if we will seeke the Church in length and number of yeares where was this Church of Rome with these qualities then at what tyme the Church of Rome was a persecuted Church not a persecutyng Church And when the Byshops therof did not make Martyrs as these do now but were made Martyrs them selues to the number of xxv in order one after an other Or when the Byshops therof were elected exalted not by factioÌ„s conspiring not by power or partes taking not by money or frendes makyng as they be now but by the free voyces of the people of the Clergy with the consent of the Emperour ioyned with all and not by a few coÌ„spired Cardinals closed vp in a corner as they be now c. ANd yet if there were no other difference in the matter but onely corruptioÌ„ of life all that we would tollerate or els impute to the common fragilitie of man and charge them no further therein then we might charge our selues Now ouer and beside this deformitie of life wherein they are cleane gone froÌ„ the former steppes of the true Church of Rome we haue moreouer to charge them in greater pointes more nearely touchyng the substauntiall ground of the Church as in their iurisdiction presumptuously vsurped in their title falsely grounded and in their doctrine heretically corrupted In all which three pointes this latter pretenced Churche of Rome hath vtter sequestred it selfe from the Image and nature of the auncient and true Church of Rome and haue erected to them selues a new Church of their owne makyng as first vsurping a iurisdiction neuer knowen before to their auncient predecessors For although the Churche of Rome in the old primitiue tyme had his due authoritie and place due vnto that sea among other Patriarchall Churches ouer and vpon such Churches as were within his precinct bordering neare vnto it as appeareth by the Actes of Nicene CouÌ„cell yet the vniuersall fulnesse and plenitude of power in both the regimentes spirituall temporall in deposing dispensing matters of the Church not to him beloÌ„ging in taking Appeales in geuyng elections inuestyng in benefices in exeÌ„pting him selfe from obedience subiection of his ordinary power Magistrate with his coactiue power newly erected in the church of Rome was neuer receaued nor vsed in the old Romane church froÌ„ which they disagree in all their doings For although Victor theÌ„ bishop of Rome an 200. went about to excoÌ„municate the East Churches for the obseruation of Easter day yet neither did he proceede therein neither was permitted by Irenaeus so to doe And although Boniface the first likewise writyng to the Byshops of Carthage required of theÌ„ to send vp their appellatioÌ„s vnto the Church of Rome alledgyng moreouer the decree of Nicene CouÌ„cell for his authoritie The Byshops Clergy of Carthage assemblyng together in a generall CouÌ„cell called the vj. Councell of Carthage to the nuÌ„ber of .217 Byshops after they had perused the decrees in the autentike copies of the foresayd Nicene Councell fouÌ„d no such matter by the sayd Bonifacius alledged made therefore a publike decree that none out of that countrey should make any appeale ouer the sea c. And what maruell if appeales were forbiddeÌ„ them to be made to Rome wheÌ„ as both here in EnglaÌ„d the kyngs of this land would not permit any to Appeale froÌ„ them to Rome before king Henry the ij because of the murther of Thomas Becket beyng thereunto compelled by Pope Alexander the iij. And also in Fraunce the like prohibitions were expressely made by Ludouicus Pius an 1268. which did forbid by a publicke instrument called Pragmatica sanctio all exactions of the Popes court within his Realme Also by kyng Philip named Le bel an 1296. the like was done which not only restrayned all seÌ„dyng or goyng vp of his subiectes to Rome but also that no money armour nor subsidy should be transported out of his Realme The like also after him did king Charles the v. surnamed the Wise and his sonne likewise after him Charles the vj. who also punished as traytours certaine seditious persons for appealyng to Rome The like resistauÌ„ce moreouer was in the sayd countrey of FrauÌ„ce against the Popes reseruatioÌ„s preueÌ„tioÌ„s other like practises of his vsurped iurisdictioÌ„ in the dayes of pope Martin the v. an 1418. Item when kyng Henry the vj. in England and kyng Charles the 7. in FrauÌ„ce did both accord with the Pope in inuesting in collatioÌ„ of benefices yet notwithstandyng the highe Court of Parliament in Fraunce did not admit the same but still maintayned the old libertie customes of the French Church In so much that the Duke of Beâ—hfort came with the kynges letters pateÌ„t to haue the Popes procurations reseruations admitted yet the court of ParliameÌ„t would not agree to the same but the kyngs Procurator generall was fayne to go betwixt them as is to be sene in their Registers an 1425. the fift day of Marche In the dayes of the which kyng Charles the vij was setforth in Fraunce Pragmatica sanâ—tio as they call it agaynst the Annaâ—es reseruations expectatiues and such other proceedyngs of the Popes pretenced iurisdictioÌ„ an 1438. Wherfore what maruell if this iurisdiction of the Popes Court in excommunicatyng in takyng Appeales and geuyng of benefices was not vsed in the old Church of Rome when as in these latter dayes it hath bene so much resisted And what should I speake of the forme and maner of elections now vsed in the Church of Rome cleane coÌ„uerted from the maner of the old Church of their predecessors For first in those auncient dayes when as yet the Church remayned in the Apostles onely a few other Disciples the Apostles then with prayer and imposition of handes elected Byshops Ministers as by the Apostles Iames was made Bishop of Hierusalem Paule in Creta elected Titus and Timothe in Ephesus Also Peter ordayned Linus and Clement in Rome c. After which tyme of the Apostles when the Church began more to multiply the election of Byshops and Ministers stode by the Clergie the people with the consent of the chief Magistrate of the place and so continued during all the tyme of the Primitiue Church till the tyme and after the time of Constantine the 4. Emperour which Emperour as writeth Platina and Sabellic Enead 8. lib. 6. published a law concernyng the election of the Romane Byshop that
Church of Rome now beyng hath no coÌ„formitie with the old Romane Churche heretofore For then Byshops debated all causes of fayth onely by the Scriptures and other questions of Ecclesiasticall discipline they determined by the CanoÌ„s not of the Pope but of the Church such as were decreed by the auncient Councels as writeth Greg. Turonensis in Francorum historia Where as now both the rule of scripture sanctions of the old Councels set aside all thynges for the most part are decided by certaine new decretall or rather extradecrâ—tall extrauagant constitutions in the Popes Canon law compiled and in his Consistories practised And where as the old ordinaunce and disposition as well of the common law as of the sacred CouÌ„cels and institution of auncient fathers haue geuen to Byshops other prelates also to patrons and donors of Ecclesiastical benefices euery one within his owne precinct and dominion also to cathedrall Churches and other to haue their free elections to prosecute the same in full effect ordryng and disposing promotions collatioÌ„s prouisions dispositions of prelacies dignities and all other Ecclesiasticall benefices whatsoeuer after their owne arbitremeÌ„t as appeareth by the first generall Councell of Fraunce 16. q 7. cap. Omnes Basilicae by the first generall Councell of Nice cap 6. Also by the generall Councell of Antioche cap. 9. and is to be seene in the Popes Decrees 9. q. 3. Per singulas And also beside these auncient decrees the same is confirmed agayne in more latter yeares by Ludouicus the ninth French kyng in his constitution called Pragmatica sanctio made and prouided by full Parliament agaynst the popes exactions An. 1228. in these wordes as folow Item exactionâ—s onera grauissima pecuniarum per curiam Romanam Ecclesiae regni nostri impositas vel imposita quibus regnum miserabiliter de pauperatum existit siue etiam imponendas vel imponenda leuari aut colligi nullatenus volumus nisi duntaxat pro rationabili pia vrgentissima causa vel ineuitabili necessitate ac etiam de expresso spontaneo iussu nostro ipsius Ecclesiae regni nostri c. that is Item all exactions importable burdens of money which the Court of Rome hath layd vpon the Church of our kingdome whereby the said our kingdome hath bene miserably hetherto impouerished or hereafter shall impose or lay vpon vs we vtterly discharge and forbyd to be leuied or collected hereafter for any maner of cause vnlesse there come some reasonable godly most vrgent ineuitable necessitie that also not to be done without the expresse voluntary commaundement of vs of the Church of the same our foresayd kingdome c. Now contrary and agaynst to these so manifest expresse decrementes of generall Councels constitutions Synodall this latter Church of Rome of late presuÌ„ption degeneratyng froÌ„ all the steppes of their elders haue taken vpon them a singular iurisdiction by them selues for their owne aduauntage to entermedle in disposing traÌ„sposing Churches Colledges Monasteries with the collations exemptions elections goodes landes to the same belongyng by reason and exaÌ„ple wherof haue come in these impropriations first fruites reseruations of benefices to the miserable dispoyling of Parishes horrible decay of Christen fayth which thynges amoÌ„g the old Romaine elders were neuer knoweÌ„ For so much then did it lacke that due necessities were pluckt froÌ„ the Church that Emperours Kyngs Princes plucking froÌ„ their owne rather did cumulate the Church with superfluities Agayne when such goodes were geuen to the Church by those auncetors they were neither so geuen nor yet taken to serue the priuate vse of certaine churchmen takyng no paynes therein but rather to serue the publique subueÌ„tioÌ„ of the needy as is coÌ„teined in the canonicall institutioÌ„s by the Emperour Ludouicus Pius set forth An. 830. The wordes be these Res Ecclesiae vota sunt fidelium pretia peccatorum patrimonia pauperum that is The goods of the church be the vowes and bequestes of the faythfull prices to raunsome such as be in captiuitie or prison and patrimonies to succour them with hospitalitie that be needy Wherunto agreeth also the testimony of Prosper whose wordes be these Viros sanctos ecclesiae non vendicasâ—e vt proprias sed vt commendatas pauperibus diuisisse that is good men tooke the goodes of the church not as their own but distributed theÌ„ as geueÌ„ bequeathed to the poore And sayth moreouer Quod habet Ecclesia cum omnibus nihil habentibus habet commune that is Whatsoeuer the church hath it hath it common with all such as haue nothyng c. Adde to these the worthy testimony of S. August ad Bonif Si autem priuatim quae nobis sufficiant possidemus noÌ„ sunt illa nostra sed pauperum quorum procurationem quodammodo gerimus non proprietatem nobis vsurpatione damnabili vendicamus c. Likewise vowsons and pluralities of benefices were thyngs then as much vnknowen as now they are pernitious to the church taking away all free election of ministers from the flocke of Christ. All which inconueniences as they first came and crept in chiefly by the pretensed authoritie iurisdiction abused in this latter church of Rome so it can not be denyed but the sayd latter church of Rome hath taken and attributed to it selfe much more theÌ„ either the limites of Gods word do geue or standeth with the example of the old Romane church in these three thynges especiall Whereof as mentioÌ„ is touched before so briefly I will recapitulate the same The first is in this that whatsoeuer the Scripture geueth and referreth either to the whole church vniuersally or to euery particular church seuerally this church now of Rome doth arrogate to it selfe absolutely and onely both doyng iniury to other churches also abusing the Scriptures of God For albeit the Scripture doth geue authoritie to binde and loose it limitteth it neither to person nor place that is neither to the Citie of Rome onely more theÌ„ to other Cities nor to the sea of Peter more theÌ„ to other Apostles but geueth it clearely to the Church wherof Peter did beare the figure so that where soeuer the true Church of Christ is there is annexed power to bynde loose geuen and taken meerly as from Christ and not mediatly by the Pope or Byshop of Peters sea The second poynt wherein this present Churche of Rome abuseth his iurisdiction contrary to Scripture and steps of the old Romane Church is this for that it extendeth his authoritie farther and more amply theÌ„ either the warrant of the word or example of time will giue For although the Churche of Rome hath as other particular churches haue authoritie to binde and absolue yet it hath no such authoritie to absolue subiectes froÌ„ their othe subiection and loyaltie to their rulers Magistrates to dispeÌ„se with periury to denounce
Oswyne either being not able or not willing to ioyne with him in Battaile caused hym traiterously to be slaine And so Oswy with his sonne Egfride raigned in Northumberland alone In the time also in the house of this Oswy king of NorthuÌ„berland was a certaine man named Benedict who was the bringer vp of Bede from his youth tooke him to his institution wheÌ„ he was but seuen yere old so taught him during his life This Benedict or Benet descending of a noble stocke and rich kinne in good fauour with Oswy forsoke seruice house and al his kindred to serue Christ weÌ„t to Rome where he had bene in his life time v. times and brought from thence bookes into Monasteries wyth other things which he thought then to serue for deuotion Thys Bennedict surnamed Byshop was the fyrst that brought in the arte and vse of glasing into this lande For before that glasse windowes were not knowen either in churches or in houses In the raigne of the foresaid Oswye and Egfride hys sonne was Botulphus Abbot which builded in the East part of Lincolne an Abbey Also Aidanus Finianus Colmannus with iii. Scottish Bishops of Northumberlande holy men held with the Britaines against the Romish order for the keeping of Easter daye Moreouer Cutbertus Iarumannus Cedda and Wilfridus liued the same time who as I iudge to be Byshops of an holy conuersation so I thought it sufficient here only to name them As touching their miracles wherefore they were made Saintes in the Popes calender seing they are not written in the Gospel nor in my Crede but in certaine old chronicles of that age so they are no matter of my faith notwithstanding as touching there conuersation this I read and also do credite that the Clergy both of Britaine Englande at that time plied nothing that was worldly but gaue theÌ„ to preching and teaching the word of our Sauiour and followed the life that they preached by giuing of good ensample And ouer that as our histories accord they were so voyd of couetousnes that they receiued no possessions or territories as was forced vpon them About this season or not much before vnder the raigne of Oswy Oswyne kynges of Northumberlande an other Synode or Councell was holden against the Brytaines and the Scottish bishops for the ryght obseruyng of Easter at Sternehalt At what time Agilbertus Byshop of westsaxons came to Northumberlande to instyture Wilfride Abbot of Rypon where this question for Easter day began to be moued For Colmannus then Byshop of NorthuÌ„berland followed not the custome of Rome nor of the Saxons but followed the Brytaynes and the Scottish Bishops his predecessors in the same sea before Thus on the on side was Colmannus the Archbyshop of Yorke and Hilda the Abbes of Sternhalt which alleaged for them the doinges and examples of their predecessours both godly and reuerend byshops as Aidanus Finianus Archbishops of that sea of Yorke before them and diuers moe Who had vsed alwaies to celebrate the Easter from the xiiij day of the first moneth till the xxviij of the same And specially for that S. Iohn yâ— Euangelist at Ephesus kept and obserued that day c. On the otherside was Agilbert bishop of westsaxons Iames the Deacon of Paulinus aboue mentioned Wilfride Abbot of Ripon and King Alfride Oswyes sonne with his Queene holding on the same side The full contentes of which disputation here followeth according as in the story of Beda at large is described with their reasons and argumentes on both sydes as insueth c. The question of Easter and of shauing and other Ecclesiasticall maters being moued it was determined that in the Abbey which is called Streneshalch of the which Hilda a deuout woman was Abbes a conuocation should be had and this question there determined To the which place came both the kinges the father and the sonne Byshop Colman with his clergy of Scotland Aigelbert wyth Agathon and Wilfride Priestes Iames and Roman were on their sides Hilda the Abbes with her company was on the Scottish part And the reuerend Byshop Cedda was appointed Prolocutor for both parties in that Parliament King Oswye begaÌ„ first with an Oration declaring that it was necessary for such as serued one God to liue in one vniforme order and that such as loked for one kingdome in heauen should not differ in celebration of the heauenly sacraments but should rather seeke for the true tradition follow the same This said he commaunded his Byshop Colman to declare what the rite and custome was in thys behalfe that he vsed and from whence it had the originall Then Colman obeying his princes coÌ„maundement sayd the Easter which I obserue I receaued of my auncestors that sent me hether a Bishop The which all our forefathers being men of God did celebrate in like maner left it should be couteÌ„ned or despised of any man it is manifestly aparant to be the very same which the holy Euangelist S. Iohn a disciple especially beloued of the Lord did customably vse in al churches and congregations where he had authoritie When Colman had spoken manye thinges to this effect the king coÌ„maunded Aigelbert to declare his opinion in this behalfe and to shew the order that he then vsed from whence it came by what authoritie he obserued the same Aigelbert requested the king that his scooler Wilfride a Priest might speake for him in as much as they both with the rest of hâ—â— clergy were of one opinion herein and that the said Wilfride coulde vttey his minde better and more plainely in the Englishe toung then he himselfe could Then Wilfride at the kings coÌ„maundements began on this sort and sayd The Easter which we keepe wee haue seene at Rome whereas the holye Apostles Peter Paule did liue and teach did suffer and were buried The same also is vsed in Italy and in Fraunce the which couÌ„tries we haue traueled for learning and haue noted it to be celebrated of them all In Asia also and in Aphricke in Egipt and in Greece and finally in all the world the same maner of Easter is obserued that we vse saue onelye by these here present with their accomplice the Pictes the Britanes with the which two yet not altogither agreing they condescend striue foolishly in this order against the vniuersal world To whom Colman replied saying I maruel you wil cal this order folish that so great an Apostle as was worthy to lie in the Lordes lap did vse whom all the world doth wel know to haue liued most wisely and Wilfride aunswered god forbid that I should reprooue S. Iohn of folye who kept the rites of Moses law according to the letter the Churche being yet Iewishe in manye pointes and the Apostles not as yet able to abdicate al the obseruations of the law before ordained as for example yâ— could not reiect
Anselmus certain bishops to moue and prooue his mynd declaring what charges and paynes the kyng had bene at in his behalfe to procure the pall for hym from Rome which otherwyse would haue stood him in great expences and that all this the king hath done for his sake Wherfore it were good reason and conueniēt that he to gratifie the king should something condescend to his request againe But with all this Anselme the stoute Archbishop would not be moued wherefore the kyng seeyng none other remedy was compelled to graunt vnto him the full right of his Archbishoprike And so the day apointed when the palle should be brought to Canterbury being caried with all solemnitie in a thing of siluer the Archbishop with a great concourse of people came forth barefoot with his priestly vestiments after a most goodly maner to meete the same And so beyng brought in was layd vppon the aulter whilest Anselme spreading ouer hys shoulders his popish vestiments proceeded vnto his popish masse Thus agreement beyng made betwene the kyng and the bishop so long as it would hold It happened the yere following the kyng with his army entred into Wales to subdue such as there rebelled against him After the victory gotten the king returned home agayne with triumph To whom Anselme thought to haue come to congratulate his prosperous successe But the king preuented hym by messengers laying to the bishops charge both the smal number euil seruice of his souldiours sent to him at hys need At the hearing hereof all the hope of Anselme was dasht who at the same present had thought to haue obtayned done many great matters with the king touching the state of the Church But here all turned contrary to his expectation In so much that he was charged against the next court of parliament to make his aunswer But he auoided that by appealing to Rome Wherfore he made his sute and friendes to the king for lisence to go to the Pope Unto the which sute the king aunswered agayne that he should not go neither was there any cause for him so to do for that both he knew him to be of so sound a lyfe that he had done no such offence where of hee needed to craue absolution at Rome neither was there any such lacke of science knowledge that he neded to borrow any counsel there In so much sayth the kyng that I dare say Pope Urbane rather hath to geue place to the wysedome of Anselme then Anselme to haue neede of Urbane Wherefore as he hath no cause to goe so I charge hym to tary And if he continue in his stubburnnes still I wil assuredly season vpon his possessions and conuert his Archbishoprike vnto my cofers for that he transgresseth and breaketh hys fidelitie and obessaunce promising before to obserue all the customes of my kyngdome Neyther is it the fashion in this Realme that any of my Nobles should goe to Rome without my sending And therefore let him sweare vnto me that he shall neyther for any greuance appeale hereafter to the sea of Rome or els let him voyde my realme Against these wordes of the king Anselme thinkyng not best to reply agayne by any Message but by worde of mouth comming himselfe personally to the kyng placeth himselfe after his order on the right hand of the Prince where he made his reply vnto the message sent to hym by the kyng Where as ye say I ought not to goe to Rome either for lacke of any trespasse or for aboundance of counsaile and knowledge in me albeit I graunt to neither of them as true yet what the truth is therein I referre it to the iudgement of God And whereas ye say that I promised to kepe and obserue your customes that I graunt but with a condition so farre to keepe them and such of them to obserue as were consonant to the lawes of God ruled with right and equitie Moreouer whereas ye charge me with breach of my fidelity and allegeance for that contrary to your customes I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke my reuerence and dutie to your soueraigntie reserued if an other would say it that is vntrue For the fidelitie and obeisaunce that I owe to thee O King I haue it of the faith and fidelitie of God whose Vicare S. Peter is to whose seat I do appeale Farther whereas ye require me to sweare that I shal for no cause hereafter at any time appeale to Rome I pronoūce openly that a christian Prince requireth such an othe of his Archbishop vniustly For if I should forsweare S. Peter I should denye Christ. And when I shall at any time deny Christ then shall I be content and ready to stand to my satisfaction of my transgression to you for asking license to goe to Rome And peraduenture when I am gone the goodes of the Churche shall not so serue your temporal desires and commodities as ye wene for At these wordes of the Bishop the king and his nobles were not a little incensed defending againe that in obseruing the kinges customes there was neither condition nor any clause put in either of God or right No was sayde Anselme If so be that in your customes was neither mention made of God nor of right whereof was there mention then For God forbid that any Christian shoulde be bound to any customes which goe contrary to God and to right Thus on both sides passed much altercation betwene thē At length the king after many threatning wordes tolde him he should cary nothing out of the realme with him Well sayde the Bishop if I may neyther haue my horse nor garmentes with me then will I walke on foote And so addressed him toward his iourney all the other bishops forsaking him wherof none would take his part but if he came to them for their counsaile they sayd he was wise inough and needed not their counsaile as who for his prudence knewe best what was to be done as also for his holines was willing and able to prosecute the same that he did know As for them they neither durst nor wold stand against the king their Lord whose fauour they could not lacke for the peril that might happen both to thēselues and to their kinrede But for him because he was both a stranger and void of such wordly corruption in him they willed him to goe forwarde as he had begon their secrete consent he shoulde haue but their open voice they woulde not geue him Thus Anselmus remaining at Douer 15. daies tarying for winde at last sped him towarde his passage But his packing being secretly knowen in the court the kings officer William Warlwast preuented hys purpose searching by the kings commaundement al his trusses coffers satchels sleeues purse napkin and bosome for letters and for mony and so let him passe Who sailing into Fraunce first rested a while at Lions from thence came to Rome to complaine to Pope
some they slew and some they left for dead There was amongst this number of the Iewes one which was called the blessed Iew of Yorke which was so fore wounded and beaten with the rest that for feare of his lyfe-he sayd he would become a christian and was in deed of Williā the Prior of the church of S. Mary of York baptised whereby he escaped the great perill of death he was in and the persecutors hands In the meane whyle there was a great tumor spred throughout all the City of London that the king had cōmaunded to destroy all the Iewes Whereupon as well the Citizens as innumerable people more being assembled to see the kings coronation armed themselues and came together The Iewes thus being for the most part stayn the rest fled into their houses where for a time through the strōg and sure building of them they were defēded But at length theyr houses were set on fire and they destroyed therein These thinges being declared to the king whilest he with his nobles and Barons were at dinner he sendeth immediately Ranulph de Glanuile the Lord high Stuard of England with diuers other noble men to accompany him that they might fray and restrayne these so bold enterprises of the Londiners but all was in vayne For in this so great a tumult none there was that either regarded what the nobility sayd or els any whit reuerēced theyr personages but rather with sterue looks and threatning wordes aduised them and that quickely to depart Whereupon they with good deliberation thinking it the best so to do departed the tumult and insurrection continuing till the next daye At which time also the king sending certayne of his officers into the Citty gaue them in commaundement to apprehend and present some such as were the chiefest of the malefactours of the which three were condemned to be hanged and so were The one for that he had robbed a Christiās house in this tumult and the other two for that they fired the houses to the greate daunger of the City After this the king sent for him that from a Iew was conuerted to Christiannitye and in the presēce of those that saw where he was baptised the king asked him whether he was become a Christian or not He aunswering the king sayd no but to the intent he might escape death he promised to do whatsoeuer the christians would haue him Then the king asked the Archbishop of Caunterbury other Archbishops and Byshoppes being present what were best to be done with him who vnaduisedly aunswering said If he will not be a man of God let him be a man of the deuill and so reuolted he agayne to Iewdaisme Then the king sent his writs to the shiriffes of euery country to enquire for the authors stirrers of this outrage Of whom 3 were hanged diuers were imprisoned So great was thē the hatred of Englishmen agaynst the Iewes that as soone as they began to be repulsed in the court the Londiners taking example thereof fell vpon them set theyr houses on fyre and spoyled theyr gooddes The country agayne following the example of the Londiners semblably did the like And thus the yeare which the Iewes tooke to be theyr Iubily was to them a yeare of confusion In so much as in the city of Yorke the Iewes obtayning the occupying of a certayne Castle for theyr preseruation and afterward not willing to restore it to the Christians agayne when they saw no other remedye but by force to be vanquished first they offered much mony for theyr liues when that would not be taken by the counsell of an olde Iew among them euery one with a sharpe razer cut an others throate whereby a thousand fiue hundred of them were at that present destroyd Neither was this plague of theyrs vndeserued For euerye yeare commonly theyr custome was to get some christen mans childe from the parentes and on good Fridaye to crucify him in despite of our religion Ex chron Westm. King Richard after the death of his father comming to remembraunce of himselfe and of his rebellion against hys father sought for absolution of his trespasse and in part of satisfaction for the same agreed with Phillipp the French King about Easter next ensuing to take his voyage with him for the recouerye of Christes patrimonye which they called the holy land Whereupon the sayd king Richard immediatly after his coronation to prepare him selfe the better toward his iourny set to sale diuers of his manors Wherof Godfrey Lucy then B. of Wint. bought a couple for 2. M. markes to witee Wergraue and Melenge The Abbot of Bury bought another for a M. markes called Middlesaie Hugh Pusaz B. of Durhā bought the Lordship of Seggesfield or Sedberga with the wapintake and all the appertenaunce thereto belonging He bought also the Earledome of Northumberland Whome When the king should solemnize after the maner of secular Earles merily with a mocking iest loe sayd he of an olde Byshop I haue made a young Earle And because the sayd Bishop had professed before by a solemme vow to visite the holy land to be released of his vow he compoūded with the Pope for a great summe of mony therefore and moreouer gaue to the King a thousand Marks to remayne at home as chiefe Iustice of England Ouer and besides the King set out all that he had to sale wooddes castles townships Lordships Earledoms Baronages c. ordayning also diuers new Byshops not without some aduantage as appeared to his purse fayning moreouer his olde seale to be lost that they which had landes to hold might be driuen to renew their writinges agayne by the new seale wherby great substaunce of mony was gayned Aboue all this by the commaundement of Pope Clement 3. a tenth also was enacted of the whole Realm in such sort as the Christians should make to the king 70000 pound the Iewes 6000. Ex Geruas fol. 134. King Richard after his coronation sent certayne Earles and Barons to Phillip the French King in the tyme of his parliament at S. Denis desiring him to remember his promise made for the recouery of Christes holy patrimony out of the saracens handes Unto whom he sent word agayne in the moneth of December certifying him how he had bound himself by solemne othe deposing vpon the Euangelists that he the next yeare following about the time of Easter had certaynly perfixed to addresse himselfe toward that iourney requiring him likewise not to fayle but to be redy at the terme aboue limitted appoynting also the place where both the Kinges should meet together The next yeare then ensued which was 1190 in the beginning of which yere vpon I welfe euen fel a foule northren brawle which turned welnere to a fray betweene the Archbyshop new elected of the Church of Yorke and his company on the one side and Henrye Deane of the sayd Church with his Catholicke partakers on
to Northhampton where he held his Parliament saluting him sayd they came from the Pope of Rome to reforme that peace of holy church And first sayd they we monish you in the popes behalfe that ye make full restitution of the goods of the land that ye haue rauished holy church of and that ye receiue Stephen the Archb◠of Cant. into his dignity and Prior of Cant. and his monkes And that ye yelde agayne vnto the Archb. all his landes and rentes without any withholding And sir yet moreouer that ye shall make such restitution to them as the Church shall thinkk sufficient Then aunswered the K. as touching the Prior and his Monkes of Cant. all that ye haue said I would gladly do and all thing els that ye would ordaine but as touching the Archb. I shall tell you as it lieth in my hart Let the Archbishop leaue his bishopricke and if the pope then shal entreat for him peraduenture I may like to geue him some other bishopricke in England And vpon this condition I will receiue and admit him Then sayd Pandulph vnto the K. holy Church was wont neuer to disgrade Archb. without cause reasonable but euer she was wont to correct princes that were disobedient to her What how now quoth the K. threaten ye me Nay sayd Pandolph but ye haue now opēly told vs as it standeth in your hart and now we will tell you what is the popes will and thus it standeth He hath wholy interdicted cursed you for the wrongs ye haue done to the holye church and to the Clergy And forasmuch as ye will dwell still in your malice and will come to no amendement ye shall vnderstand that from this time forward the sentences vpon you geuen haue force and strength And all those that with you haue commoned before this time whether that they be Earles Barons or Knightes or any other whatsoeuer they be we assoyle them safely from their sins vnto this day And from this time forward of what condition soeuer they be we accurse them openly and specially by this our sentence that do with you common And we assoyle moreouer Earles Barons knightes and all other maner of men of theyr homages seruice and sealties that they should do vnto you And this thing to confirme we geue playne power to the B. of Winchester and to the B. of Norwich And the same power we geue agaynst Scotland to the B. of Rochester of Salisbury And in Wales we geue the same power to the Bishops of S. Dauid and of Landaffe and of S. Asse Also Sir K. quoth Pandolph all the kinges princes and the great Dukes christened haue labored to the pope to haue licence to crosse themselues and to warre agaynst thee as vpon Gods enemy and winne thy lande and to make K. whom it pleaseth the pope And we here now assoile all those of their sinnes that will arise agaynst thee here in thine owne land Then the K. hearing this answered What shame may ye do more to me then this Pandolph agayne we say to you in verbo Dei that neither you nor any heir that you haue after this day shall be crowned So the king sayd by him that is almighty God if I had known of this thing before ye came into this lād and that he had brought me such newes I should haue made you tary out these xii monthes Then aunswered Pandolph Full well we thought at our first comming that ye would haue bene obedient to God and to holy church haue fulfilled the popes commaundement which we haue shewed and pronounced to you as we were charged therewith And now ye say that if ye had wi lt the cause of our comming ye would haue made vs tary out a whole yere which might as well say that ye would haue taken a whole yeares respite without the popes leaue But for to suffer what death that ye can ordeine we shall not spare to tell you all the popes message and will that he gaue vs in charge In an other chronicle I finde the wordes betwene the King and Pandolph something otherwise described as though the king should first threaten him with hanging if he had foreknown of his comming in To whom pādolph againe should answer that he loked for nothing els at his hand but to suffer for the Churches right Wherupon the K. being mightely incēsed departed The k. the same tune being at Northhampton willed the shirifs and bailifes to bring foorth all the prisoners there that such as had deserued shoulde be put to death to the entent as some thinke to make Pandolfus afraide Among whome was a certaine Clerke who for counterfaiting the kings coyne was also condemned to be hanged drawn quartered And moreouer by the king was commanded therby to anger Pandolfus the more as may be thought to be hanged vp hiest aboue the rest Pādolphus hearing therof notwtstanding he somwhat began to feare least he should be hanged himselfe yet with such courage as he had he went to the church to set out booke bel and candle charging that no man vnder pain of accursing should lay hands vpon the cleark Vppon this the K. and the Cardinall departed in no litle anger And Pandolfe went to Rome reported to the pope and the Cardinals what had bene done Then the pope summoned al the bishops abbots and clarkes of England to come and repaire to Rome to consult what was to be done therein This councel began the first day of October In the which councel it was decreed by the pope and his assembly that Iohn king of England should be accursed with all such as helde with him euery day so long as that Councel endured Albeit this was not yet graunted that the people shoulde be crossed to fight against him because as yet he had shed no bloud But afterward the sayd Pope Innocent seeing that K. Iohn by no meanes would stoupe vnder his subiection nor vnder the rule of his popish see he sent vnto the French king vpon remission of all his sinnes and of all that went with hym that he should take with him all the power he might and so to inuade the realme of England to destroy K. Iohn This occasion geuen Pope Innocent yet once againe commanded in paine of his great curse that no man shuld obey King Iohn neither yet keepe company with him he forbad all persons to eate and drinke with him to talke with him to commune or coūsell with him yea his owne familiar houshold to do him any kinde of seruice either at bed or at boord in church hall or stable And what folowed therof The greater parte of them which after such sort fled from him by the ordinance of God of diuers and sundry diseases the same yeare died And betweene both nations English and French sell that yeare great amitie but secret subtil and false to the bitter betraying of England Neither was the pope
author came afterward to passe and were testified of the same Honorius being pope afterward in his publike sermons at Rome All which I graunt may be and yet notwtstanding this fabulous narration may be a piece of the popes old practises subtilly inuented to driue men forth to IerusaleÌ„ to fight c. Againe after Honorius when he had gouerned x. yeres followed Gregorius the ix Whiche two popes were in the tyme of this king Henry 3. and of Fredericke the Emperour of whome we mynde Christ willing farther to touch after that we shall haue prosecuted more concerning the histoâ—â— of kyng Henry and matters of England After that it so pleased the mercifull prouidence of almighty God to worke this great mercy vpon the stock of K. Iohn which notwithstanding the vnkinde prelates with their false prophetes had declared before that neuer none should succeed in the throne after that K. and also vnto the whole common wealth of the realme in deliuering them froÌ„ the daÌ„gerous seruice of Ludouike the foresayd FreÌ„ch men After their departure the next yeare following anno 1218. which was the third of this kyngs raigne the Archbyshop S. Lancton and the bishops Erles and Barons resorted to LondoÌ„ vnto the kyng at Michaelmas next following and there held a great parliament wherein were confirmed and grauÌ„ted by the king all yâ— franchises which were made geueÌ„ by K. Iohn his father at Ronemedow and them he confirmed and ratified by his charter whiche long tyme after sayth my author vnto hys dayes did continue and were holden in England For the which cause by the nobles and the commons was geuen grauÌ„ted agayn vnto the K. ij shillinges for euery plow laÌ„d through England And Hubert of Burgh was made chiefe Iustice of Englad of whose troubles more is to be said hereafter And this was the third yeare of K. Henry and 50. yeare after the death of Tho. Becket wherefore the said Becket the same yeare or next following was takeÌ„ vp and shryned for a new S. made of an old rebell Thether came such resort of people of England and of Fraunce that the country of Kent was not sufficient to sustaine them Ex histor De Scales About the same tyme Isabell the kinges mother was maryed to the Earle of March. And William Marshall the good Erle dyed whiche was the gouernour of that king and the realme not without great lamentation of the people of England Then was the king committed to the gouernment of Peter B. of Winchester This noble Erle left behinde him v. sonnes and v. daughters The yere next insuing an 1219. It was ordeined and proclaimed through all the laÌ„d that all aliens foreiners should depart the realme and not to return to the same agayn onely such excepted as vsed trafick or trade of marchaundise vnder the kings safe conduct This proclamation was thought chiefly to be set forth for the cause to auoid out of the land Faukes de Breute Phillip de Markes Engelardus de Ciconia William Erle Albemarke Robert de veteri ponte Brihenne de insula Hugo de Bailluel Robert de Gaugi with diuers other straungers mo which kept castles and holdes of the kinges agaynst his will Of whom the foresayd Faukes was the principal who fortefied held the castle of bedford which he had by that gift of K. Iohn with might and strength against the K. and his power nere the space of 3. monthes Moreouer he went about to apprehend the kings iustices at Dunstable but they being warned therof escaped all except Henry Braibrocke whom he imprisoned in the said castle The K. hearing therof coÌ„sulting with his clergy and nobles made his power against the same Which after long siege and some slaughter at length he obteined it hanged almost all that were within to the nuÌ„ber of 97 which was as Parisiens writeth about the 7. or 8. yere of his raigne Faukes the same time was in wales who hearing of the taking of the castle conueyed himselfe to the church of CoueÌ„try At length submitting himselfe to the kings mercy vpon consideration of his seruice done before to the kings father was committed to the custody of Eustace bishop of London and afterward being depriued of all his goods possessions tenements within the realme was forced to perpetuall banishment neuer to returne to England agayne Here by the way I finde it noted in Parisiens that after this foresayd Faukes had spoyled and rased the church of S. Paule in Bedford for the building vp of his Castle the Abbase of Heluestue hearing thereof caused the sword to be taken from the Image of S. Paule standing in the Church so long as he remayned vnpunished Afterward she hearing him to be coÌ„mitted to the custody of S. Paule in LondoÌ„ caused the sword to be put into the hands of the Image agayne Mat. Parisiens in vita Henr. 3. About this yeare the young king the second time was crowned agayne at Westminster about which time begaÌ„ the new building of our Ladye Churche at Westminster Shortly after Gualo the Legate was called home againe to Kome For the holy Father as Math. Pariens reporteth being sicke of a spiritual dropsie thought this Gualo hauing so large occupying in england to be able somewhat to cure his disease And so that Legate returned with all hys bagges well stuffed leauing Pandulphe behynde hâ—m to supply that Baliwike of hys great graundfather the Pope The lyfe and Actes of pope Innocentius the 3. are partly described before how he intruded StepheÌ„ LanghtoÌ„ against the kings wil into the archbishopricke of Canterbury stirring vp also 64. Monkes of the same Church of Canterbury priuily to work agaynst the king Moreouer how he did excommunicate the sayd kyng as a publike enemy of the Church so long as the sayd King withstoode his tirannical doyngs putting hym and his whole kingdome vnder interdiction for the space of 5. yeares and 3. monthes And at length deposed and depriued hym from hys scepter keeping it in his owne handes for v. dayes Now he absolued hys subiectes from their due obedience subiectioÌ„ vnto hym Now he gaue away his kingdoÌ„es possessions vnto Lewes the Frenche kyngs sonne commaunding the sayd Lewes to spoyle hym both of landes lyfe Whereupon the K. being forsakeÌ„ of hys nobles prelates commons was enforced agaynst hys will to submit himself and sware obedience vnto the P. paying vnto him a yearely tribute of a M. markes by yeare for receauing hys kyngdome agayne wherby both he his succescessors after him were vassals afterward vnto the P. And these were the Apostolicall actes of this holy Vicar in the realme of England Moreouer he condemned Almericus a worthy learned man a byshop for an hereticke for teaching holding agaynst images Also he condemned the doctrine of Ioachim Abbas whoÌ„ we spake of before for heritical This pope brought first into the church the paying
recourred Poytiers kept Gascoine vnder the kinges obedieÌ„ce Ex Mat. Parisiens Triuet Flor hist. In the same yeare or as Fabian geueth the next following which was 1224. by the vertue of a certayn Parliament was graunted of the Lordes and Baronie of the laÌ„d the king and his heyres to haue the ward and maryage of theyr heyres which theÌ„ was called after so proued to be Initium malorum the beginning of harmes In the same yeare by the count of Gisburne and other writers the said king hoâ—ding an other ParliameÌ„t at Oxford by the aduise of his counsaile of his clergy did grauÌ„t and confirme vnder his great seale two chartes of the old liberties and customes of this realme for euer to be kept obserued the one called Magna Charta the other Charta de foresta The contentes whereof fully in the forenamed author be expressed For the which cause was grauÌ„ted agayn by the whole Parliament a Quindecim or a fifteene of all his subiectes as well of lay men as also of the Clergy ¶ Where is to be noted that these liberties were afterwarde broken and confirmed agayne by the sayd king an 1236. An. 1226. dyed pope Honorius a great aduersary against Fredericke the Emperor after whom succeeded Gregory the ix more greeuous then hys predecessor In the whiche yeare also dyed Ludouick the periured French king at the siege of Auinion Whom the pope now the second or thyrd tyme had set vp to fight agaynst Reimund the good Erle of Tholouse and the heretickes Albingensis of that country For so the pope calleth all them which hâ—ld not in all pointes with his glorious pride vsurped power vngodly proceedings The origine whereof was this as in Mat. Parisiens appeareth In the daes of Phillip the FreÌ„ch king this Reimundus Earle of Tholouse was disdayned of the Pope for holding with the Albingenses therefore by the instigation of the pope the landes of the Earle were taken from him geuen to Simon Montfort and instrumentes made vpoÌ„ the same But when the sayd Erle Reimundus would not be remoued froÌ„ the right of his possessions by vnrighteous dealing then the pope setteth Phillip the FreÌ„ch king to make open war against him WherupoÌ„ Lewes the FreÌ„ch kings sonne was sent with a great power as is aboue declared to besiege the City of Tholouse But beyng repulsed from thence by the merueilous band of God fighting for hys people could not preuayle so returned home after he had lost the most part of hys army by pestilence and other calamitie as hath bene before described And thus continued the good Earle still in quyet possession till this present time an 1226. In the whiche yeare the pope not forgetting his olde malice agaynst the Earle and no lesse enflamed with insatiable auarice directeth downe his Legate master Romanus to the partes of Fraunce for 2. seueral purposes One to extirye the Erle the other to enlarge his reuenewes Thus the Legate being entred into Fraunce beginneth to summone a Councell willing the French king with the Archbishops Byshops Clergy of Fraunce to appeare before him at Bitures To whom estsoones repayred vi Arcbishops with the bishops Suffragans of ix prouinces to the nuÌ„ber of 100. besides the Abbates Priours Proctors of al the couentes of Fraunce to heare the popes wil commaundement but because there was a discorde feared to ryse sayth Mathaeus about preheminence of sitting for that the Archbishop of Lyons challenged the superiour place aboue the Archbishop of Sene. Also the archbishop of Roane aboue the archbishop of Britures and aboue the Archbishop of Harbone c. Therfore the session was holdeÌ„ there not in maner and forme of a Councell but of a certayne parlie or consultation Thus the meke and holy Councel being set the popes maiesties letters read declared appeareth before them Reimund Earle of Tholouse of the one part And Simon Mountfort on the other part Which Symon required to be restored vnto him the lands and possessions of the sayd Reimund which the pope Phillip the French king had geuen to him to hys father before hauing good euidences to shew for the same confirmed by the donation of the pope and of the kyng Adding moreouer that the Earle Reimund was depriued and disherited in the generall Councel at Rome for heresie which is called the heresie of Albingenses At least if he might not haue the whole yelded vnto him yet the most part of hys Lordships he required to be graunted him To this the Earle Reimund aunswered agayne offering himselfe ready to all duetyes office both toward the French king and to the church of Rome whatsoeuer duely to him did appertein And moreouer touching the heresie wherwith he was there charged he did not onely there offer himselfe in that Councell before the Legate but most humbly did craue of him that he would take the paynes to come into euery Citty within hys precinct to enquire of euery person there the articles of his beliefe and if he fouÌ„d any person or persoÌ„s holding that which was not Catholike he would see the same to be corrected and ameÌ„ded according to the censure of holy Church to that vttermost Or if he should finde any citty rebelling agaynst hym he to the vttermost of his might with the inhabitance therof would compell them to doe satisfaction therfore And as touching himselfe if he had committed or erred in any thing which he remembreth not to haue done he offered their full satisfaction to God Church as becommed any faithfull christen man to doe requiring moreouer therefore the Legate to be examined of his fayth c. But all this sayth Mathaeus the legate despised neither could the catholike Erle saith he there find any grace vnlesse he would depart from hys heritage both from himselfe and from his heires for euer In fine when it was required by the coÌ„trary part that he should stand to the arbitrement of xii peeres of France to that Reimundus answered that if the French king would receaue his homage which he was redy at al times to exhibite he was coÌ„tented therewith For els they would not sayd he take him as one of their society fellowe subiect After much altercatioÌ„ on both sides about the matter the Legate willeth euery archbishop to call aside his Suffraganes to deliberate with them vpon the cause and to geue vp in writing what was concluded Whiche being done accordingly the Legate denounceth excommunication to all such as did reueale any peece of that whiche was there concluded before the pope and the king had intelligence there of These things thus in hudder mutter among theÌ„selues concluded the Legate gaue leaue to al proctors of couents and chapters to returne home onely reteining with him that Archbishops bishops and Abbots certayne simple prelates such as he might be more hold withall to opeÌ„
filling the Popes coffers But as touching this visitation to make short sayth the story it tended not to any reformation so much as to the deformatiō of the vniuersal order Dum omnes qui in diuersis or bis partibus vnicam Benedicti secuti fuerant regulam per nouas constitutiones ita inueniantur vbique discordes quòd ex omnibus coenobijs vel alijs religiosorum Ecclesijs vix duo habeantur in norma viuendi cōcordes i. While all they which before through all partes of the world followed onely the rule of Benedict now through new deuised constitutions are found in all places so deuided diuers that of all monasteryes and other churches of religion scarse may two be foūd which do agree in one rule and institution of life All this while that Hubert aboue mentioned was secluded from the king Peter B. of Winchester bare all the rule and aboue al other alone was accepted This bishop being in such principall fauor with the king as by whose councell all thinges were administred remoued the naturall seruitours that were Englishmen out of their offices and placed other straungers namely of Pictauia and of other countryes in theyr roome Amōg whom was thrust out William the Undermarshall which supplyed the roome of Richard Lord great Marshall of England for the which cause the sayd Lord Richard was mightely offended Also Walter Treasurer of the kinges house was not onely expelled but also mersed at an hundreth pound put frō all his holdes and munitions which he had by the kinges patent graunted to him Moreouer by the counsell of the sayd Bishop of Winchester all the olde councellers as well Bishops as other Earles and Barons and all the nobles were reiected frō the king in such sort that he would heare folow no mās councell but onely the sayd Peter Bishop of Winchester and his cosin Peter de Riuallis Whereby it came to passe that all the greatest holdes and munitions in the Realme were taken from the old kepers and committed to the custodye of the sayd Peter Then the Bishop of Winchester to plant and pitch himselfe more strongly in the kings fauor adioyned to his felowship Stephen Segraue succeeding in the place of Hubert the iustice also Robert Passelew who had the keeping of the treasure vnder the foresayd Peter Riuall So by these three all the affayres of the realme were ordred Moreouer to make theyr party more sure by them was prouided that souldiours and seruitors from beyond the Sea as Pictauians and Britans were sent for to the number of two thousand which were placed partly about the king partly were set in Castles holdes within the Realme and had the ouersight and gouernment of Shyres and Baronies who then oppressed the nobles of the land accusing them to the king for traytours whom the simple king did lightly beleue committing to them the custodye of his Treasures the sitting in iudgements and the doing in all thinges And when the nobles thus oppressed came to complayn of their iniuries to the king by the meanes of the Byshop of Winchester theyr cause was nothing regarded In so muche that the sayd Winchester moreouer accused certayne Bishops also to the king so that he did flee and shunne them as open traytors and rebels These things standing thus out of order Richard the noble Marshal of England with other of the nobles ioyning with him seing these oppressions and iniuries dayly growing contrary to the lawes and wealth of the realm came to the king and blamed him for retayning such peruerse counsell about him of the Pictanians and other foreners to the great preiudice of his naturall subiects and of the liberties of the Realme humbly desiring and beseeching him that he with as much speed as might be would reforme redresse such excesses whereby the whole realme seemed to lie in daunger of subuersion Otherwise if he refused to see correction thereof he with other peeres and nobles would withdraw themselues from his counsell so long as he maintayned the societie of those foreners and strangers about him To this Peter Winchester aunswering agayne sayde that the king right wel might cal vnto him what foreners and straungers him listed for the defence both of his kingdome and of his crowne and what number of them he would as by whom he might be able to bridle his proude and rebellious subiectes and so to keepe them in awe and good order Whē the Earle and the nobles could get no other aunswere of him in great perturbatiō they departed promising among themselues in this cause which so touched the state of the whole Realme the would constantly ioyne together to the parting of their life After this the foresayd Petrus Bishoppe of Winchester with his cōplices ceased not by all meanes to inflame the kinges hart to hatred and contempt of his naturall people whom they so vehemently peruerted that he coūting them no other then his enemies sought by all diligence the vtter destruction of thē sending dayly for moe garisons of the Pictauians that in short space they replenished weineare the whole land whose defence the king onely trusted vnto neither was any thing disposed in the Realme but through the guiding of this Peter and of the Pictauians The king thus garded and strengthened with these foreine aliens and straungers proclaimed aparliamēt to be holden at Oxford where the nobles were warned to be present They considering the indignation of the king cōceiued would not appeare Agayn they were required the first second and third tune to present themselues The assembly proceeded but they came not for whom the king looked In this assembly or Parliament it was playnely told the king by a Dominick Fryer preaching before him that unlesse he remoued from him the Bishop of Winchester and Peter Riuall his kinsma he should neither could long enioy peace in his kingdome This although it was bluntly spoken of the Frier against the Bishop yet this remedy he had the frier had nothing to lose Yet was ther another Chaplein of the Court who preceiuing the king somewhat instigated by the former preaching and after a courtlike dexterity handling his matter being a pleasaunt conceited man thus merely came to the king asking a question what was the thing most pernitious daungerous of all other thinges to them that trauaile by the seas That sayd the king is best knowne to suche as trauayle in that kinde of trafficke Nay sayth he this is easy to be folde The king demaunding what it was forsooth quoth he stones and rockes alluding merely but yet truely to the Bishop of Winchester whose name and surname was Petrus de Rupibus For so Petrae in Latine signifieth stones Rupes rockes Notwithstanding the king either not perceiuing the meaning or not amending the fault again signifieth to his nobles to speake with him at Westminster But they fearing some trayne to be layd for them refused to appeare
excommunicated and depriued one Ranulphus a benoficed person in his Dioces being accused of incontinency who after the term of xl dayes refusing to submit himselfe the Bishoppe wrote to the Shiriffe of Rutland to apprehend him as contuinax which Shiriffe because he deferred or refused so to doe bearing fauour to the party and being therfore solemnly excommunicate by the bishop vttered his complaynt to the king wherat the king taking great displeasure with the Bishoppe for excommunicating his Shiriffe and would not first make hys complaynt to hym sendeth forthwith a substantiall messenger M. Moneta such as he was sure would speed vnto Pope Innocent by vertue of whose wordes the Pope easie to be entreated sendeth downe a prouiso to the Abbot of Westminster charging that no Prelate nor Byshop in the Realme of England shoulde molest or enter action agaynst any of the Kinges Baylisses or Officers in such matters as to the kinges iurisdiction appertained And thus was the strife ended not without some helpe and heape of English mony so that no winde of any controuersy here stirred in England were it neuer so small but it blew some profite for the Popes aduantage an 1250 Ex Paris fol. 231. In like maner no litle treasure grew to the Popes coffers by the election of Boniface the Queenes Uncle a Frenchman to be Archb. of Laut an 1243. and of Ethelmare the Queenes brother to be Bishop of Winchester agaynst the wils of the Prior and Couent there an 1250. besides many such other exchetes which made England poore and the Pope rich I come now something likewise to touch briefly of the popes dispensations prouisions exations contributions and extortions in Englande in this kinges dayes for to discourse all it is not one booke will holde it Symon Montfort Earle of Lecester had maried Alinore the kinges sister and daughter of king Iohn who by report of â—oryes had taken the mantell ring wherefore the king and his brother Richard Earle of Exceter were greatly offended with the Mariage which seing the Earle Simon made a hand of money and nothing ouer to Rome after he had talked a fewe wordes in Pope Innocentes eare the mariage was good enough and letters sent to Dths the Popes Legate here to geue sentence solemnly with the Earle Notwithstanding the Dominick Friers and other of the like religious fraternitye withstood that sentence of the Pope stoutly saying that the Popes holines was therein deceaued and soules in daunger that christ was ielous ouer his wife and that it could not be any wise possible that a woman which had vowed her mariage with Christ could afterward mary with any other c. an 1238. Ex Paris fol. 114. As there was nothing so hard in yâ— wide world wherwith the Pope would not dispense for mony so by the said dispensations much mischiefe was wrought abroad For by reason thereof the people trusting vpon the Popes dispensation litle regarded what they did what they promised or what they sware As well appeared by this king Henry 3. who being a great exactor of the poore coÌ„mons as euer was any king before him or since and thinking thereby to winne the people sooner to hys deuotion most saythfully promised theÌ„ once or twise and therunto bound himselfe with a solemne othe both before the clergy and layty to graunt vnto them the old liberties and customes as well of Magna charta as Charta de Foresta perpetually to be obserued Whereupon a Quindecim was graunted to the king But after the payment was sure the king trusting by the Popes dispensation for a litle mony to be discharged of his oth and couenaunt went from that he had promised and sworne before In like maner the sayd king an other time being in need of money signed himselfe with the crosse pretending and swearing deepely in the face of the whole parliament that he would himselfe personally fight in the holy land agaynst the Saracens But as soone as the mony was taken small care was taken for performance of his othe being so put in the head by certain about him that he needed not passe of that perinye for so much as the Pope for an hundred pounds or two wold quickly discharge him therof Ex Math. Paris fol. 273. Out of the same corrupt spring of these popish dispensations haue proceded also many other soule absurdities For where many young men were in those dayes which enioyed benefices and were no priestes and when by the procurement of Robert Grosted Bishop of Lincolne the sayd young men should be forced whether they would or nor to enter orders they laying theyr purses together seÌ„t to Rome and obtayned of the Pope a dispensation to remayne still as they were that is to haue the fruites of benefices to finde them at schole or vniuersity and yet themselues neither ministers to take charge nor yeelding any seruice for theyr prosites taken Ex Math. Paris fol. 256. Besides innumerable heapes of enormities moe proceeding of the Popes dispensatioÌ„s as dispensing one man to haue sundry bishoprickes to encroch pluralities of benefices to make children Parsons to legitimate bastards with such other like the particulars whereof for breuities sake I do omit to further oportunity The intollerable oppression of the Realme of England by the Popes exactions and contributions and other sleightes here vsed in the time of K. Henry 3. ALthough these â—moluinentes thus rising dayly to the Popes purse by Symony and brybery by electious dispensations might seeme sufficient to satisfy his greedy appetite yet so vnsatiable was the auarice of that see that he not yet contented here with ouer and besides all this seÌ„t euery yere almost some Legar or other into this realm to take for his aduantage In so much that during al this kinges time the Realme was neuer lightly without some of the Popes liegers with all violence exacting and extorting continual prouisions contributions and summes of mony to be leaued out of Celles Abbayes priors fruites of benefices and Bishoprickes and also lay mens purses to the miserable empouerishing both of the clergy and teÌ„poralty as hereunder foloweth First after Pandulphus was sent into this Realme Cardinall Otho procured by the king without the assent of his nobles to the intent to assist him in certaine affairs he had to do At receiuing of which Legate great preparaunce was made many rich and precious giftes in scarlet in plate in iewels in mony and palfreyes were geuen him Whom the king also himselfe went as far as the Sea side to receiue bowing downe his head in low coursye to the cardinalles knees To whom also the bishop of winchester for his part gaue toward keeping of his house fifty fat Dren a hundred semes of wheat and 8. great vessels of pure wine This Legate at his first comming beginneth first to bestow such benefices as he fouÌ„d vacant vpon theÌ„ whom he brought with him without respect whether
not be found geuyng certificate thereof aud excommunicatyng c. 7. Item that the sayd prouinciall or his Friers should haue full power to absolue those that were excommunicated which wittyngly had done any fraude touchyng the collection aforesayd so that the sayd persons did make due satisfaction to the deputies aforesayd Ex Math. Pariens fol. 205. What man hauing eyes is so blinde which seeth not these execrable dealings of the Pope to be such as woulde cause any nation in the world to do as the wise Grecians did and perpetually to abrenounce the Pope and well to consider the vsurped authority of that sea not to be of God But such was the rude dulnesse then of miserable England for lacke of learning godly knowledge that they feeling what burdens were laide vpon them yet would play still the asse of Balaam or els the horse of Esope whych receiuing the bridle once in his mouth could afterward neither abide his owne miserie nor yet recouer libertie And so it faâ—ed with England vnder the popes thraldome as partly by these stories aboue hath ben declared partly by other in like case following is to be seene For so it followeth in the history of the sayd Matth. Paris howe the Pope taking more courage by hys former abused boldnesse perceiuing what a tame asse he had to ride vpon ceased not thus but directed a new precept the same yeare 1246. to the Prelates of England commaunding by the authoritie Apostolike yâ— all beneficed men in the realme of England which were Resident vppon their benefices should yeld to the Pope the third part of their goodes and they which were not resident should geue the one halfe of their goods and that for the space of 3. yeres together with terrible comminations to all them that did resist and euer with this clause wyth all Non obstante whych was like a key that opened all locks Which summe cast together was found to amount to lx M. pounds which summe of mony could scarce be found in all England to paie for King Richardes raunsome Paris fol. 207. The execution of this precept was committed to the bishop of London who coÌ„ferring about the matter with hys brethren in the Church of Paules as they were busily consulting together and bewailing the importable burthen of this contribution which was impossible for them to sustaine sodainely commeth in certaine Messengers from the Kyng Sir Iohn Lexintune Knight and M. Laurence Martine the kings chaplain straightly in the kings name forbidding them in any case to consent to this contribution which shuld be greatly to the preiudice and desolation of the whole Realme Parisiens fol. 207. Thys being done about the first day of December in the yeare abouesayde shortly after in the beginning of the next yeare 1247. about Februarie the kyng called a Parliament where by commoÌ„n aduise it was agreed that certaine Embassadors should be sent to Rome to make manifest to the Court of Rome the exceding greuances of the Realme deliuering moreouer these letters to the Pope in the name both of the Temporaltie and also of the Clergie as here followeth * An other letter sent to Pope Innocent 4. in the names of the whole Clergie and comminaltie of England An. 1247. SAnctis Patri in Christo ac Do. Innocent Dei prouidentia summo pontifici vniuersitas cleri populi per prouinciam Cant. constituti deuota pedum oscula beatorum Cum Anglicana Ecclesia c. To the most holy father in Christ and Lord Innocent by Gods prouidence chiefe bishop The whole comminaltie both of the Clergie and laitie within the prouince of Canterbury sendeth deuout kissings of his blessed feete Like as the Churche of Englande since it first receiued the Catholicke faith hath alwayes shewed her selfe faithfull and deuout in adhering to God and to our holy mother the Church of Rome studying with all kinde of seruice to please and serue the same and thinketh neuer otherwise to do but rather to continue and increase as she hath begon euen so nowe the same Church most humbly prostrate before the feete of your holinesse intirely beseecheth your clemencie to accept her petition in sparing this imposition of money which so manifold waies for the subuention of other nations by the commaundement of your holines is laid vpon vs considering that not only it is importable but also impossible which is enioyed vs. For although our countrey sometimes yeldeth foorth fruite for the necessary sustentation of the inhabitants yet it bringeth foorth neither gold nor siluer neither were able to bring forth of long time so muche as nowe a daies is required Which also being burdened and ouercharged of late daies with an other such like imposition but not so great as this is not able any whit to aunswere to that which is exacted Furthermore besides this commaundement of your holines there is required of the Clergie a subsidie for our temporall king whose necessities neither possibly we can nor honestly ought to forsake whereby he may both withstande the inuasion of the enemie and mainteine the right of his patrimonie and also recouer againe that hath bene lost In consideration whereof we haue directed the bearers heereof to the presence of your holinesse with our humble supplication to explane to you the dangers and inconueniences which are like to ensue vpon the premisses Which by no meanes we are able to susteine although notwithstanding we know our selues by all bonds of charitie to be obliged to your deuotion and obedience And because our generall communitie hath no seale proper we haue signed therefore these presents with the publike seale of the Citie of London c. Ex Paris fol. 209. The like letters were sent also vnto the Cardinals to the same effect The Pope vnderstanding these things and perceiuing that there was no striuing against such a generall consent and yet loth to forgoe his sweete haruest which he was wont to reape in Englande craftely deuised to sende this aunswere againe to the King much like to the same which hee sent before which was that although the Pope in time past vpon his owne will and pleasure to the importable greeuance of the Realme of Englande hath euery where aud without respecte through the whole lande made his prouisions in geuing their benefices vnto his Italians yet nowe the Lorde be praised that tempest sayd he is ouerblowen so that heereafter if the Pope shall graunt his prouision for any of hys nephewes or of his Cardinals they shall come first and make their instant sute vnto the king without all inforcement so that it shall stand wholy in the kings free arbitrement to doe herein what hee thinketh good c. Paris fol. 209. b. This aunswere of the Pope all be it it was but a subtile shift for the time yet neither did hee long stande to that hee had thus promised to the King For shortly after and within fewe dayes
and consumed he was in great debt neither was able to satisfie the prouision of his owne house but driuen to taâ—e for his owne cates to no small dishonour to his owne state And nowe therfore said they pleaseth your highnes to be informed by our aduise and to commit your house to the guiding and gouernment of your owne faithfull and naturall subiects And we will take vppon vs to discharge your whole debt within one yere of our owne proper goods and reuenues so that we within 5. yeares may cleare our selues againe Neither wil we diminish your familie but rather increase it with a much greater retinue prouiding â—o for the safety and seeing to the custodie of your royall person as your highnes shal finde and vnderstand our diligence most trusty and faithfull vnto you in the ende To these woordes so louingly declared so humbly pretensed so heartely and freely offered the king as willingly condescended assigning to them both day and place where to conferre to deliberate farther vpon the matter which shoulde be at Oxforde the 15. day after Easter At which day and place all the states and Lordes wyth the bishops of the realme were summoned to appeare at the sayd town of Oxford for the behalfe of the king and the Realme conuented together Where first of the King himselfe then of the Lordes an oth was taken that what decrees or lawes in the said assembly should be prouided to the profite of the king and of the realme the same vniuersally shuld be kept and obserued to the honor of God vtilitie of his church and wealth of the Realme Besides these Lordes and the King were also 9. Bishops which swearing to the same did excommunicate all such as should gainstand the sayde prouisions there made the King holding a burning taper in his hand and the Lordes openly protesting to rise with all their force against all them that shall stande against the same There were at that present in the Realme foure brethren of the kings most part of them by the mothers side which would in no case agree heereunto but in anger departed priuely vnto wint The nobles hearing thereof in all spedy wise pursued them fearing least they should take the Citie of Wint. and forceably keepe the same Wherfore the Lordes preuenting their purpose and seeing them stiffely to persist in their stubburne sentence wrought no other violence against them but returning to Oxforde againe prescribed to them these coÌ„ditions that they departing the realme should repaire to their owne lands possessions which they had beyoÌ„d the sea And that foorthwith they should put this iniunction in execution Notwtstanding that the King made for them great intercession yet it tooke no place And because this should seeme to procede of no speciall displeasure against theÌ„ they enacted moreouer that all strangers and aliens of what state or condition soeuer should forthwith auoid the realme in paine of death Diuers other prouisions the same time were ordeined and stablished that if any did holde of the king in whole or in part and should chance him to depart his heire being vnder age the wardship of him should belong to the king as hath partly before bene specified Moreouer it was there decreed that the wooll of England should be wrought onely wythin the realme neither should it be transported out to straungers Item that no man should weare any cloth but which was wrought and made onely within the realme Item that garments too sumptuous shoulde not be brought in nor worne Item that all excessiue and prodigall expenses wasted vpon pleasure and superfluity should be eâ—â—hued of al persons Many other lawes decrees sayth the author in this assemble were ordeined wherein they continued the space of 15. daies and many of them were impoysoned of whom was the Abbot of Westminster a man in that order much commended Also William brother to the Earle of Glocester Also the Earle himself being â—mpoisoned hardly escaped with life his heare and nailes falling of his body wherof the author not long after was taken and duely executed at Wintchester In the mean time the nobles considering those dangers and ieoperdies were constrained to breake off for that time appoynting the 14. day of Octob. next folowing to conuent together at London with weapon and harnes to prosecute finish the residue that was in the said counsaile to be concluded All which at the time place appointed was fully accomplished and the actes thereof in order of wryting promulged and so committed to execution After the promulgation whereof many things therein displeased the king and it began to repent him of hys othe But because he coulde not at that present otherwise chuse he dissimuled for a season Thus time passing on wythin a yeare following which was 1261. the king seeing himselfe more more to grow in debt and not to be relieued according to promise made but especially being egged as may be thought by his brethren taking it to stomacke sent vp the Pope both for him and his sonne Edwarde to be released of their othe made before at Oxford The benefite of which absolution being casely obtained or rather bought at the Popes hande the king stepping backe from all that was before concluded calleth an other parliament at Oxford Where he before the Lords and nobles declared how in the late counsel of Oxford they had agreed among them selues for the coÌ„mon vtilitie of the Realme and of the king as they pretended for the increasing of his treasure his debt to be diminished And therupon bound themselues with an othe causing also himselfe and his sonne Edward to be bound to the same But now by experience prouing trying the matter to be otherwise then their promise was and that they contrary to their couenaunt made sought not so much the profâ—te of him of the Realme as their owne taking him not as their Lord but going about to bring him vnder their subiecâ—ion as an vnderling and for that moreouer his treasure greatly decreasing his debtes encreased and hys princely liberalitie was cut short and trodeÌ„ vnder foote They should not maruell therefore if he hencefoorth would be no more ruled by their counsail but would prouide himselfe of some other remedy such as he might And moreouer as touching the othe wherewith he his sonne stode bound vnto them he had sent already vnto Rome had obtained absolution and dispeÌ„sation of the same both for him and his sonne Edwarde also and for all other that would take his part And therefore he required of them to be restored againe to that state condition he had enioyed in times past To this againe gaue aunswere the state of nobilitie on the other side being in the same place present In the number of whome was Simon MouÌ„tfort Earle of Leycester Richard Clare Earle of Glocester Humfry Ronne Earle Ferrence with a great number of
Simon hys sonnes power not knowing of the ouerthrow whiche he had before gaue small credite thereunto till that the said Nicholas the better to view and descrie them went vp to the Abbey steple of Eusham where he might plainly discerne them all and their standerds For by this tyme they were mounted the hill which they laboured to attayne thinking to haue that vauntage when they shold geue theyr charge as they had purposed and had also aduanced agayn his own standerdes and pulled down Simons wherby they were the more easâ—yer descried and knowne Then he cryed aloud to the Earle Simon and said we are all but dead men For it is not your sonne as you suppose that commeth but it is Edward the kinges sonne that commeth from one parte and the Earle of Gloucester from an other part and Roger Mortimer from the third part Then said the Earle The Lorde be mercifull vnto our soules forasmuch as our bodyes and liues are now in their handes commaunding that euery man should make hymselfe redy to God and to fight out the field for that it was their willes to dye for their lawes and in a iust quarrell And such as woulde depart he gaue leaue to goe their wayes that they shoulde be no discomfiture to the rest Then came vnto him his eldest sonne Henry comforted him desiring him to haue no dispaire nor yet mistrust in the good successe of this victory with other such cheerfull wordes No my sonne sayth he I dispayre not but yet it is thy presumption and the pride of the rest of thy brethreÌ„ that haue brought me to this end ye see Notwithstanding yet I trust I shall dye to God and in a righteous quarrel After wordes of comfort geuen to all his host and the oration made as is the maner they all armed themselues The king also whom the Earle alwaies kept with him he armed in an armour of his owne And then deuiding theyr battailes they marched toward theyr enemies but before they ioyned the welchmen ran theyr waies and thinking to scape ouer the riuer of Dee were there some drowned some slayne Then when the battayles ioyned and came to handy strokes within short space many of the Erles part fell and were slayne And the king himselfe being stroken at cryed with a loud voyce to them saying kill me not I am Henry your king And with these the kinges wordes the Lord Adam Monhaut knewe him and saued him At whose voyce and cry came also prince Edward hys sonne and deliuered him to the garde and custody of certayne knightes In the meane season the Earle Simon was hard bestead and beaten downe and also slayne before Edward the prince came at hym Howbeit before he fell when as ye fought for his life HeÌ„ry his sonne other noble men on his part were about hym he brake out in these words vnto hys enemies saying what is there no mercy compassion with you who agayne answered what compassion should there be shewed to traytors Then sayd he the Lord be mercifull to our soules our bodyes are in your hands And as soone as these wordes were spoken they mangled hys body and deuided his members and cut of his head which head Roger Mortimer sent vnto his wife And not farre of from him also was slayne Henry his eldest sonne the lord Hugh Spencer the L. Radulphe Basset the Lord Thomas de Hestele the Lord William Maundeuile the Lord Iohn Bewchampe the Lord Guido Baillofer the Lord Roger Rowley and many other noble men besides with a great multitude of people the Lord knoweth howe many This battail was fought in the moneth of August continued from one of the clocke till it was night in the which was not so much as one man on the Earles part of any estimation fortitude and courage but in that battell lost his life more then the Lord Iohn who by the great grace of God escaped death Neither is this to be forgotteÌ„ that the same day being Tuesday at that instant houre when the battell began whiche was at one of the clocke at after noone there was such a darcknes ouer all such thunder and such tempest that the like before that time was neuer seene being very calme and fayre weather both immemediately before and after which seemed sayth myne author to geue a playne demonstration of that whiche afterward chaunced and followed After this great slaughter and ouerthrow there was a Parliament suÌ„moned at Winchester by the Earle of Gloucester and other of hys part Here by the is to be considered that the king although he was in the camp of the Erle of Leceister being then in custody and his sonne Edward with the Earle of Gloucester yet the king was in that side agaynst his will and therefore in the sayd Parliament the king was restored to his kingly dignitie which was before that tyme vnder the custody of the Barons But after the battaile was ended and done certaine of them that loued the Earle vpon an old ladder gathered vp suche partes of his body as remayned and couering the same with an old gowne brought it to Eusham where they putting the same in a faire linnen cloth buried it in the church But not loÌ„g after by such as thought not themselues sufficiently reuenged with his death to wreke them of the dead corpes took vp the same and threw it in an other place saying that he which was both accursed and a traytor was not worthy of Christen buriall The same yeare also died Walter Cantilupus Byshop of Winchester after whom succeeded Nicholas of Ely the kinges Chauncellor The same yeare the king perceiuing that vnlesse that Castle of Kenilworth were recouered and the boldnes of theÌ„ restrayned that kept the same many euils and inconueniences might ensue therupon to the preiudice of his kingdom for that the number increased euery day more more wasting and spoyling the country all about Therfore he gathered an army and came downe to warwick where he a while taryed expecting the meeting and assembling of hys Marqueses and Lordes with engines and other munition sautable Who when theyr bondes were furnished and mustred and al thinges ready the morow after Midsomer day he displayed hys banner began his vyage marching towardes Kenilworth besieged the same During which siege by the aduise and counsaile of the king the Popes Legate and other noble men 12. persons were chose which should haue the disposing of those thinges that pertayned to the state of the Realme of those that had lost their landes and inheritaunces who amongest other thinges made and established this one prouiso that was commoÌ„ly called Kenelworth decree That all those whieh hast lost their laÌ„des by attaynder although yet not attainted should fyne therfore at the kinges pleasure and take their lands of him agayn paying some three yeares some foure yeares some two yeares reueneues of the same according to the quallitie
of the cryme offence committed All which prouisos or prouisions were established and confirmed as well by the corporall othe as by signment of the same with the handes seales of al the Prelates and clergy of England there assembled for that purpose by the Popes Legate vpon the feast of all Saints When these things were thus finished messengers were sent on the kings behalfe as wel to those that kept that castle of Kenilworth as also to those that were assembled in the I le of Ely willing them to come vnder the protection of the Kinges peace and yeld to the foresayd prouisos established by the twelue commissioners who altogether aunswered sayd that they would in no wise cōdescend therunto both for that it was done without theyr consentes not being called vnto it and also for that the said decree was ouer straight and intollerable Within shorte space after great famine and pestilence chaunced amongest them which kept the castle in so much as they were without all hope of keeping the same wherefore soone after the king sending agayne to them to yeld the Castle and take theyr pardōs they consulting together of their own estate thus aunswered the kings messengers if it please the king and his counsaile to permit vs to send our messenger vnto the Lord Symon Mounfort which is beyond the sea that he may come by a certayne day to the defence of this hys garrison fort and that in the meane space we be not disturbed by the kinges army that hath enuironed vs til the return of our messēgers If by the day appoynted he come not we will yeld vp the same so that we may be pardoned of life limme and moucables When the messengers were returned and had declared to the king their aunswere he consulting with his Nobles about the matter agreed to their petitions And caused the truce to be proclaimed throughout all his campe after that sufficient hostages were on either side geuē for the performance of the same whereupon they set forward theyr messengers as before was sayd they woulde But after that many of thē within the Castell being very greeuously vexed with the bloudy flixe and other diseases in so much that the whole men might not abide the corruption and anoyaunce of those that were diseased deliuered vp the Castell before the returne of the messengers againe and were permitted to goe whether they would to refresh themselues as men molested with great vexation miseries After the rendring vp of the Castell the king committed the custody therof to hys sonne Edmund and so with hys host departing from the siege came vpon Christmans euens euen to Osney where he with great solemnity and triumph kept his Christmas during seuen dayes and from thence with hys host came to windsore from whence after a few dayes he marched towardes Ely In whiche Iland he besieged those which were disherited and sharpely assaulted them The same yeare Pope Clement the 4. promoted maister Walter Giffard Byshop of Bathe to be Archbishop of Yorke In which yeare also the Church of England began to pay the tenthes of all their reuenues as wel spirituall as temporall to the king to continue for 3. yeares space and this was done by the authoritie Apostolicall Within a while after the Barons which were yet remayning gathered themselues together agayne Amongst whome Iohn Daywile being a subtile and stoute man of warre began to haue a name was well esteemed amongest them who altogether did what mischiefe they might and in the moneth of May they assembled at Chesterfield vnder the sayd Iohn Daywile the Earle Ferarence vpon whom the kinges souldiours comming sodenly in the night toke them sleping and slue many of them Then the sayd Iohn Daywile quickly arming himselfe came forth thinking with more defence both to saue himself and to escape who in the way stroke the Lord Gilbert Humsard such a blow with his dimilance that he feld both him his horse to that ground so fled with a few more after him And thus whilest the poore souldiors fought were slayn the Barōs fled away saued thēselues Also the Erle Ferarence fled hid himself in a Church But being be wrayed by a womā he was taken forth and led away prisoner After this the king kept a parliament at Northampton where he disherited all those that tooke any part with the Erle Simon al their childrē where also the Popes Legate Octobonus held a conuocation and excōmunicated al such bishops as had taken any part with Simon against the king of whō diuers he sent vp to Rome to be absoyled of the pope and farther the said Legate caused to be proclaymed certain decrees which he himselfe had made And also the new graūt of Pope Clemēt to the king and Queene of al the tenthes for seuen yeres to come And shortly after a taxe also was fined vpon that country of Norfolke to the gathering wherof Walter the byshop of Norwich was appoynted Ex Scala mundi After this in the yeare of our Lord. 1267. King Henry besieged agayne the Castell of Kenelworth from the 7. day before the first day of Iuly vntil the beginning of December whether came Octobonus that Popes Legate by whose intreaty Henry Hastinges deliuered the same vnto the K. which stoutly had defended the same and resisted the kyng hauing pardon graunted both for him and hys of his lyfe landes goodes and cattels In which tyme also the Barons agayne assembled with Iohn Dayuile in the I le of Axioline so proceeded till they came to Lincolne which also they tooke and spoyled the Iewes and slue many of them And curring their Sinagoge teare and rent the book of their law and burnt the same and all other writinges obligations which they could come by which thing when the king heard he sent thither hys sonne prince Edward but as soone as they heard that they fled into the I le of Ely and fortified the same with Bulwarkes as strongly as they might at euery entraunce into the same This was in the month of Aprill when Edward the kinges sonne came thither Who for the great aboundaunce of waters in the same could by no meanes enter the Iland til at length by the counsayle of the inhabitauntes of that prouince he caused with a number of workmen great trenches and ditches to be made somewhat to conuey away the water And so long vsed the Counsayle of them in making bridges with planks and hurdles till at last they entred the Iland who as soone as they were entred the Barons fled to London where they were of the Londiners well entertayned The rest which were in the Iland yelded themselues amongest whom was Roger Wake Simō the yonger and Peches sauing their liues and members After this both the King and Edward his sonne came to Londō with a great power but yet were kept out of
the city by the Barons and Citizens for the space of 40. dayes And Octobonus the Legate who for feare was fled into the Tower they narowly layd for that he shoulde not escape At length by the intreaty of the Earle of Gloucester and other Earles that were his friendes both the Barons and Cittizens were pardoned and admitted to the kinges fauour And 4. Byshops and 8. other noble men were chosen such as were at Couentry first nominated that they should order and dispose all matters betweene the King and suche as had lost theyr inheritaunce as also the forme of theyr peace and raunsome And proclamation was made vppon the feast of all Sainctes of perfect peace and record throughout al the Realme The 52. yeare of this king Henries raigue 8. daies after the feast of S. Martin he held a parliament at Marlberge in the yeare of our Lord aboue recited where by the aduise of wise and discrete men with all the consentes of the nobles he ordeined and enacted diuers good and profitable statutes for the reformation and bettering of the state of the realme execution of common iustice which are called the statutes of Marleberge The same yeare vpon S. Gregoryes day Octobonus the Legate called a Councell at London where were fine Archbishops and a great number of Byshops Abbots other Prelates which Councell also within three dayes brake vp agayne The same yeare vpon S. Iohns day the Baptist Edward the kinges sonne diuers other noble men of England took vpon thē the crosse by the legates hands at Northhampton to the reliefe of the holy land and the subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ which done the legate that same yeare wēt out of England not purposing after that to returne agayne This holy Legate sayth mine author whiche might well bee resembled to Lynx the monstrous beast whose quicke sight penetrateth euery thing enrolled to perpetuall memorye the valuation of all the churches in the realme of England so narowly as by any meanes possible be might enquire the certainty thereof The same was he that made all the Cathedral Conuentuall Churches to pay pencions so that those Churches whiche gaue not the vacancie of their benefices to their Clerkes and straungers should pay vnto them a certein yearly pencion during the vacācy of the benefices which they should haue The same yeare died Pope Clement 4. after whose death the Church of Rome was two yeares vacant then was chosen an archdeacon Cardinall whose name was Theardus as hee was taking hys iourny into the holy lande and called hym Gregory the 10. Then also dyd Edmunde Earle of Lancaster and Leicester and seconde sonne of king Henry take to wife the Earle of Albemark his daughter and the Niece of y◠Earle of Gloucester at whiche maryage was the king and the Queene and all the Nobilitie of England The same yeare was the body of S. Edward the king Confessour by Walter Gifford Archbishop of Yorke and other Bishops intombed in a new rich Schrine of golde and siluer beset with precious stones in the presēce of Hēry the king of Englād In which yeare also fel great rayne and inundation of waters suche as hath not lightly bene seene which increased and continued the space of 40. dayes and more The same yeare died Walter de Lawile Bishop of Sarum the third day before the nones of Ianuary After whō succeeded Robert of Northampton the Deane of the same Church And because the see of Cant. was then vacant he was confirmed by the Chapter of Canterbury whiche Chapter had alwayes the iurisdiction in spirituall causes during the vacancy of that see in as ample maner as the Byshop hymselfe had beyng aliue After thys the Byshop elect comming thither thinking to haue had hys consecration was notwithstanding put backe for two causes one was for that there was present then no more but one Byshop the other was for that all the other Bishops had appealed that he might not be consecrated to their preiudice that is by the authoritie of the Chapter of Cant. saying that they would not be vnder the obedience of the monks After this solempne Messengers were for this cause sent to the Cardinals of Rome for that then that see of Rome was vacant who receiued aunswere that during the vacation of that see the confirmation and consecration of the Byshop elect pertayned to the foresayd Chapter of Caunterbury The same yeare also was the Lord Henry the sonne heyre of the Lord Richard king of Almayne and brother to king Henry 2. slayne at Uiterbium in a certayne Chappel hearing Masse by the Lord Simō and Buido the sonnes of the Lord Simon Mountfort Earle of Leister During this kinges raigne there was made a great generall expedition of diuers and sondry Christian princes to Ierusalem taking vpon them the Lords character that is the Crosse among whome was also Edward the kings sonne one to the which expeditiō was graunted him a subsidie throughout al the realme And the month of May the yeare of our Lord. 1270. or as sayth Florilogus an 1269. he set forward on his iourny About the time when Prince Edward was preparing his iourny toward Asia Boniface the Archbishop of Canterbury ended his life in the country of Sebaudia goyng belike to Rome or comming thence After whose death the Monks of Canterbury proceeding to a new election grāted by the king agreed vppon the Prior of their house named Adam Chelendene But the king his sonne Prince Edward consenting and speaking in the behalfe of Robert Burnell theyr Chauncellour did sollicite the matter with the Monkes partly intreating partly threatning them to chuse the said Robert to be Archbishop Notwithstanding the Monkes being stoute woulde neyther relent to their curteous request nor yet bow to theyr boystrous threates but constantly persisting in their former election appealed from the king and prince to the Pope Prince Edward being now on his iourny and seing himselfe thus frustrated of the Monkes writeth backe to the king his father deuoutly praying and beseching in no wise to admit the election of the foresayd Monks And so passing to Douer with Hēry the sonne of Rich. his vncle king of Romanes with their wiues tooke their passage in the month of August After this the Prior thus elected as is foretold but not admitted by the king to be Archbishop went vp to Rome In the meane tyme the Monkes in the absence of their elect ordayned one Geoffrey Pomenall to be theyr Official who seing himself aduaunced to that dignity bearing belike some old grudge agaynst the Prior of Douer caused him to be cited vp to appeare in the Chapter house of Canterbury The Prior of Douer seing this citation to be preiudiciall to him and to the Church of Douer whereas the Monkes of Cant. haue no such iurisdiction the see of
subiect vnder one Adding furthermore that the kingdome of Scotland first was conuerted by the reliques of the blessed Apostle S. Peter through the deuine operation of God to the vnity of the Catholicke fayth Wherefore vpon these causes and reasons Pope Boniface in hys letters to the king required him to geue ouer hys clayme and cease his warres agaynst the Scottish nation And to release all such both of the spiritualtie and laytie as he had of them prisoners Also to call home agayne his officers and deputies whiche he had there placed and ordained to the greauance of that nation to the sclaunder of all faythfull people and no lesse preiudice to the Church of Rome And if he would clayme any right or title to the said Realme or any part therof he should send vp his procuratours specially to the same appoynted with all that he could for himselfe alleadge vnto the sea Apostolicke there to receaue what reason and right would require The king after he had receaued these letters of the Pope assembled a councell or Parliament at Lincolne by the aduise of which counsell Parliament he addressed other letters responsall to the Pope agaynes wherein first in al reuerend maner he desireth him not to geue light care to the sinister suggestions of false reportes and imaginers of mischiefe Then he declareth out of old recordes histories frō the first time of the Brittaynes that the realm of Scotland hath alwayes from time to time bene all one to England beginning first with Brutus in the tyme of Dely and Samuell the Prophet which Brutus comming frō Troy to his I le called then Albion after called by hym Britannia had three sonnes Locrinus to whome he gaue the part of the land called then of hym Loegria now Auglia Albanactus his second sonne to whom he gaue Albania nowe called Scotia and hys thyrd sonne Lamber to whome he gaue Cambria now called Wales c. And thus much concerning the first deuision of this I le as in auncient histories is found recorded In whiche matter passing ouer the death of king Humber the actes of Dunwald king of this Realme the deuision of Belyn and Brene the victories of king Arthur we will resort sayth the king to more nearer tymes testified and witnessed by sufficient authors as Marianus Scotus William Malmesbury Roger Abyndon Henry Huntington Radulph de Bizoto and other All which make special declaration geue manifest euidence of the execution of this our right sayth he title of Superioritie euer continued preseued hetherto And first to begin with Edward the Seniour before the conquest sonne to Alurede kyng of England about the yeare of our Lord. 900. it is playne and manifest that he had vnder hys dominion and obedience the king of Scots And here is to be noted that this matter was so notorious and manifest as Maryan the Scot writing that story in those dayes graunteth confesseth and testifieth the same and this dominion continued in that state 23. yeare At whiche tyme Athelstane succeeded in the crowne of England and hauing by battaile cōquered Scotland he made one Constantine king of that party to rule gouerne the country of Scotland vnder him adding this princely word That it was more honour to him to make a king then to be a king 24. yeares after that whiche was the yeare of our Lord 947. Eldred king our progenitour Athelstanus brother took homage of Irise then king of Scots 30. yeares after that whiche was the yeare of our Lorde 977. kyng Edgar our predecessour tooke homage of Kynalde king of Scots Here was a little trouble in England by the death of S Edward kyng and martyr destroyed by the deceite of hys mother in law but yet within memory 40. yeares after the homage done by Kynald to King Edgar that is to say in the yeare of our Lord. 1017. Malcoline the king of Scots did homage to Knute our predecessour After this homage done The Scots vttered some peece of theyr naturall disposition whereupon by warre made by our progenitour S. Edward the confessour 39. yeare after that homage done that is to saye the yeare of our Lord. 1056 Malcoline king of Scots was vanquished and the realme of Scotland geuen to Malcoline his sonne by our sayd progenitour S. Edward vnto whom the sayd Malcoline made homage and fealty Within 40. yeares after that William Conquerour entred this realme whereof he accompted no perfect conquest vntill he had likewise subdued the Scots and therfore in the sayd yeare which was in the yeare of our Lord. 1068 the sayde Malcoline King of Scots did homage to the sayd William Conquerour as hys superiour by Conquest king of England 25. yeares after that which was the yeare of our Lord. 1093. the sayd Malcoline did homage fealty to William Rufus sonne to the sayd William Conquerour and yet after that was for his offences and demerites deposed and hys sonne substitute in hys place who likewise fayled in his duety and therfore was ordained in that estate by the sayd William Rufus Edgar brother to the last Malcoline and sonne to the first who did hys homage and fealty accordingly 7. yeares after that which was in the yeare of our Lorde 1100. the sayd Edgar king of the Scots did homage to Henry the first our progenitour 37 yeare after that Dauid king of Scots did homage to Matilde the Emperatrice as daughter and heyre to Henry the first Wherefore being after required by Stephen then obtayning possession of the Realme to make his homage he refused so to doe because he had before made it to the sayd Matilde and thereupon forbare After whiche Dauids death whiche ensued shortly after the sonne of the sayde Dauid made homage to the sayde Kyng Stephen 14. yeares after that whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 1150. William king of Scots and Dauid hys brother with all the nobles of Scotland made homage to Henry the second sonne with a reseruation of their duetye to Henry the second hys Father 25 yeares after that which was in the yeare of our Lorde 1175. William kyng of Scotland after much rebellion and resistaunce according to their naturall inclination King Henry the second then beyng in Normandy knowledged finally his errour and made hys peace and composition confimed with hys great Seale and the Seales of the nobilitie of Scotland making therewith his homage and fealtie Within 15. yeares after that which wat the yeare of our Lorde 1190 the sayd William king of Scots came to our Citty of Caunterbury and there dyd homage to our noble progenitour Kyng Richard the first 1124. yeares after that the said William did Homage to our progenitour king Iohn vpon a hill besides Lincolne making his othe vpon the Crosse of Hubert then Archbishop of Canterbury being there present and a merueilous multitude assembled for that purpose 26. yeare after that whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 1230. Alexander king of Scots maryed
successors But if thou haue geuen any we iudge the gift to be voyde and call backe how farre so euer thou hast gone forward And whosoeuer beleueth otherwise we iudge them heretickes Vnto this letter of the Pope king Phillip maketh answere agayn in maner order as followeth which is this ¶ Phillip by the grace of God King of Fraunce to Boniface not in deedes behauing himselfe for Pope little friendship or none TO Boniface bearing himselfe for chiefe Byshop little health or none Let thy follishnes know that in no temporall things we are subiect to no man and that the giftes of prebendes and many benefices made and to be made by vs were and shall be good both in time past and to come And that we will defend manfully the possessours of the sayd benefices and we thinke them that beleue or thinke otherwise fooles and mad men Geuen at Paris the Wednesday after Candlemas an 1301. After these aforesayd and other writinges passing to and fro betweene the French kyng and the pope within a yeare and a halfe after the king sommoneth a Parliament sending downe hys letters to his Sheriffes and other officers to summon the Prelates and Barons of the Realme vnto the sayd Court of Parliament according to the tenor of the kinges letters here following PHilip by the grace of God king of Fraunce c. Whereas we would take counsaile with the Prelates Barons and other our faythfull about weighty matters and hard and suche as belong greatly to our right and touching our honour state liberties and lawes of this our Realme Churches and Ecclesiasticall persons and would also go forward and proceede in the foresayd matters according to their counsayle We commaund you that ye dilligently in our behalfe require straightly charge all the Prelates in your baliwicke and also all and singuler Abbots and Priors of the same your foresayd baliwicke to certayne of the whiche we haue directed downe our special letters for the same cause that as they fauour our honour the good state both of the realme of théselues and of the Church they repayre to vs in their own persōs all lets and delayes set aside and all other busines left of Shewing to them moreouer that we can iudge none of them to be eyther to vs faythfull subiects or friendes to the Realme which shall faile herein or withdraw himselfe in the foresayd busines counsayles and helpes in tyme. Wherin if peraduenture any shall slack or refuse to resort and come toward vs within 8. dayes frō the tyme of this charge geuen by you or your commaundement That then you to seise all hys temporall goodes into our hand so seised to holde them vntill you receiue other commaundement from vs. Geuen at Paris the Monday before the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist in the yeare of our Lord. 1303. ¶ A declaration of maister William Nagareta made against Pope Boniface the eight with his appellation also made at Paris afore the kyng and his Counsaile in the Church of Paris IN the name of God Amen In the yeare of our Lorde 1303. Indictione secunda the 12. day of March and the ix yeare of the Popedome of the most holy father the L. Boniface the 8. by Gods prouidence pope and in the presence of vs common notaries and witnesses written vnder the noble man maister William Nagareta knight a worshipfull professour of the lawes standing afore the most excellent Prince the Lord Philip by the grace of God most noble king of Fraunce spake with liuely words and gaue in writinges these thinges that follow There haue bene false Prophetes among the people as there haue bene also among you false teachers c. S. Peter the glorious prince of the Apostles speaking to vs by the spirite tolde vs thinges to come that likewise as there were false Prophetes afore tyme so there should come among you false teachers bringing in sectes of destruction by the which the way of trueth shall be defaced and couetously they shall make marchandise of you with fayned wordes and further addeth that such maisters did follow the way of Balaam of Bosor whiche loued the reward of wickednes and had hys bridled Asse to correct hys madnes whiche speaking in a mans voyce did stop the foolishnes of the Prophet All which thinges as they be shewed to vs by the greatest Patriarch himself Your eyes see them fulfilled this day according to the letter For there fitteth in S Peters Chaire the mayster of lyes causing himselfe to be called Boniface 1. a well doer where he is notable in all kinde of euill doyng And so both he hath taken to himselfe a false name and where he is not a true ruler and maister he calleth himselfe the Lord Iudge and mayster of all men And comming in contrary to the common order appoynted by the holy fathers and also contrary to the rules of reason and so not entring in at the doore into the Lordes shepefold is not a shepheard nor hierling but rather a theefe robber For he the true husbād of the Romish church yet liuing deceiued him that was delighted in simplicitie entised him with fayned flatterings gifts to let him haue his spouse to be his wife let no man separate at length laying violent handes vppon hym perswading him falsely that thing which the deceiuer sayd to come from the holy spirite was not ashamed to ioyne to himselfe with wicked practise that holye Church which is maistresse of all Churches calling hymselfe to her husband where as he cannot be for Celestinus the true Romish Byshop agreed not to the said deuorce being deceiued by so great subtiltie nothing is so contrary to agreeing as errour and deceit as mans lawes beare witnes that I neede not to speake of his violence But because the spirite inspireth where he will and he that is led with the spirite is not vnder the lawe the holy vniuersall Church of God not knowing the craftes of that deceiuer stumbling and doubting whether it came from the holy ghost that Celestinus should leaue of his gouernment and the sinnes of the people deseruing it for feare of a schisme suffered the foresaid deceauer although according to the doctrine of our Lord by hys fruites he might be knowne whether he came to the say'd regiment by the holy ghost or otherwise his fruites as it is playnely here written beneath are now manifest to all men by which it is apparaunt to the worlde that he came not in by God but otherwayes and so came not in by the sheepefould His fruites are most wicked and hys ende is death and therefore it is necessary that so euill a tree according to the Lordes saying should be cut downe and cast into the fire This cānot auaile to his excuse which is said of some men that is that the Cardinals did agree vpon him agayn after the death of the sayd Celestinus the pope seing he could not be her husband whom
whome these verses are written A re nomen habe benedic benefac benedicte Aut rem peruerte maledic malefac maledicte c. And thus haue yee the whole storie of Pope Boniface the 8. authour of the Decretalles Which story I thought the more diligently to set forth that all the Latine Church might see what an author he was whose lawes and decretals so deuoutly they follow Now after the long debating of this matter betweene the French king and pope Boniface let vs proceede in our English story About this time in the dayes of king Edward the Church of Rome began daily more and more to rise vp and swell so high in pride and worldly dominion that no king almost in hys owne countrey coulde doe any thing but as pleased the Pope who both had and ruled al in all countreis but chiefly here in England as partly by his intollerable tallage and pillage before signified may appeare partly by hys iniunctions and commandements sent downe also by his donations and reseruations of benefices and church liuings also in deposing and disposing suche as him listed in place and office to beare rule In so much that when the king and the church of Cant. in theyr election had chosen one Robert Burnell bishop of Bathe to be Archbishop of Canterburie Pope Boniface of hys own singular presumptuous authority ruling the matter after his pleasure frustrated their election and thrust in an other named Iohn Pecham For amoÌ„g all other this hath alwayes bene one practise of the court of Rome euer to haue the Archbyshop of their owne setting or suche one as they might be sure of on their side to weigh against the K. and other whatsoeuer nede should happen To this Iohn Peckham Pope Boniface directed downe a solemne Bul from Rome as also vnto all other quarters of the vniuersal church In the which Bul was conteined decreed directly against the rule of Scripture and Christian obedience that no church nor ecclesiastical person should henceforth yelde to his king or temporall Magistrate either any geuing or lending or promising of tribute or subsidie or portion whatsoeuer of the goodes and possessions to hym belonging but shuld be clearely exempted and discharged from all such subiection of tallage or subuention to be exacted of them in the behoofe of the Prince and hys affaires Which decree manifestly rebelleth against the commanded ordinaunce of God and the Apostolical canon of S. Peter and all other examples of holy Scripture For as there is no woorde in the Scripture that excludeth spirituall men more then temporall from obedience and subiectioÌ„ of princes so if it chaunce the Prince in hys exacting to be too rigorous or cruell in oppression that is no cause for the clergy to be exempted but to beare the coÌ„mon burden of obedience and to pray to God to turne and moue the Princes minde and so with prayer patience not with pride and disobedience to helpe amend that which is amisse Concerning the Bull of Boniface if any there be that either do not credite the same so to containe or would for his minde see and read the same the wordes therof here folow The copie of the Popes Bull wherein the Cleargie is exempted from geuing tribute to Kings and Princes BOnifacius c. Ad sempiternam rei memoriam Clericis laicos infestos oppidò tradidit antiquitas Quod presentium experimenta temporum manifestè declaraÌ„t dum suis finibus non contenti nituntur in vetitum ad illicita sua frena relaxant nec prudentèr attendunt quomodo sit eis in clericos ecclesiastic sáue personas bona interdicta potestas Quinimo ecclesiarum praelatis ecclesijs ecclesiasticisque personis regularibus secularibus imponuntur onera grauia ipsos talliant eis collectas imponuÌ„t ab ipsius suorumque prouentuum vel bonorum dimidiam decimam seu vicesimam vel quamuis aliam portionem quo tam exigunt extorquent eosque moliuntur multiphariè subijcere seruituti suaeque subdedere ditioni Et quod dolenrer referimus nonnulli ecclesiarum praelati ecclesiasticaeque personae trepidantes vbi trepidandum non est transitoriam pacem quaerentes plus timentes maiestatem temporalem offendere quà m aeternam talium abusibus non tam temerariè quà m improuide acquiescunt sedis apostolicae authoritate non obtenta Nos igitur talibus actibus obuiare volentes de fratrum nostrorum consilio Apostolica authoritate statuimus quòd quicunque praelati ecclesiasticaeue personae vel seculares quorumcunque ordinum conditionis seu status collectas vel tallias dimidiam decimaÌ„ vicesimam seu centesimam suorum ecclesiarum suarum prouentuum vel bonorum laicis soluerint vel promiserint vel se soluturos exceslerint aut quamuis aliam quantitatem porcionem aut quicquam ipsorum prouentuum vel bonorum aestimationem vel valorem ipsorum subuentionis subsidij vel doni nomine seu quouis alio timore vel modo vel quaesito colore absque autoritate sedis eiusdem Nec non imperatores reges seu principes duces leu comites vel barones potestates capitaneas officiales vel rectores quocunque nomine censeantur ciuitatum castrorum seu quorumque locorum constitutorum vbilibet quis alius cuiuscunque praeemineÌ„tiae coÌ„ditionis status qui talia imposuerint exegerint vel receperint aut apud aedes sacras deposita ecclesiaruÌ„ vel ecclesiasticarum personarum vbilibet arestauerint saysierint seu occupare praesumpserint vel arestari saysiri aut occupari mandauerint aut occupata saysita seu arestata receperint nec noÌ„ omnes qui scienter in praedictis dederint consilium auxilium vel fauorem publicè vel occultè eo ipso senteÌ„tiam excommunicationis incurrunt Vniuersitates quoque quae in his culpabiles suerint ecclesiastico supponimus interdicto praelatis personis ecclesiasticis supradictis in virtute obedientiae sub poena depositionis districtè mandantes vt talibus absque licentia expressa dictae sedis nullatenus acquiescant A supradictis autem excommunicationis interdicti sententijs nullus absolui valeat praeterquam in mortis articulo absque sedis Apostolicae autoritate licentia speciali c. This Bull being directed as is sayde from Rome to the Archbishop of Canterbury and likewise thorough the whole vniuersall Church vnder the Popes authority It chaunced not long after the king helde hys Parliament at S. Edmunds burie where was graunted to him of all cities and boroughs an right and of the commons a â—welf of their goodes Only the Clergie by vertue of this Bull stoode stoute denying to pay any thing to the king Thys answer not wel pleasing the king he willeth them to deliberate better with themselues vppon the matter and after long aduisement so to geue him answer therof against the next Parliament which should be holden the next
Hillary terme at London In conclusion the Parliament came the Clergy persisteth still in deniall of their subsidie alleging the popes bul for their warrant and discharge Wherupon the king likewise secludeth them from vnder hys protection saâ—egard of his lawes And as coÌ„cerning the Archb. of Cant. aboue mentioned because he was found more stubburne then the rest and was the inciter to the other hee seased vppon all his goodes caused an inuentorie of the same to be enrolled in the exchequer Notwithstanding diuers of the other bishops relented soone after to the king and coÌ„tributed the fift of their goodes vnto him and were receiued agayne to fauour In the life of this kings father it was declared before how the sayd king Henry the third father to this king after diuers warres and commotions had with his barons had grauÌ„ted certaine liberties and freedomes written and conteined in Magna charta and in Charta de foresta Concerning which matter much busines happened in this kings daies also in the realme betweene the king his Barons and commons The occasion was thys A packe of wooll which before paide but a marke to the king was nowe by thys king raised vp to xl.s. After this the King hauing a iourney to make vnto Flanders sent to hys Barons and diuers other to geue their attendaunce and seruice in the same which they refused and denyed to doe Notwithstanding the king persisting in his purpose with such a power as he had prepareth toward his iourny To whom being in his way at Winchelsey the foresaide Erles and Barons and commoÌ„s sent certen petitions conteined in wryting vnder the name of the Archbishops Bishops abbots and Priors Erles and Barons wyth the commonaltie of the realme In which wryting first lamenting and complaining of their afflicted state and misery after humble maner they desired their Lord the king to redresse and amend certain greuances amoÌ„g them And first declared in the name of the whole commons that the premonition or writs directed to them for their attendaunce vpon his grace into Flaunders was not sufficient for that there was no certaine place in the sayd writs specified vnto them whether to come for making their prouision and preparing mony other things according to the same And if the place had bene to theÌ„ signified yet because none of their auÌ„cesters euer serued the king ouer into FlauÌ„ders before the coÌ„moÌ„s therfore thought themselues not bound to any seruice in that country And albeit they had bene so bound therunto yet they were not able to doe it being so heauyly oppressed with so many tallages taxes tolles customes prices of corne Ores Tinne Wood Lether Oxen Ryne Flesh Fish c. And besides all this hauing no peny of wages geueÌ„ them to relieue their charges Ouer and besides the lacke of the kinges wages not payd them their owne pouerty like an heauy burden did so miserably lie vpon them that some of them had no sustentatioÌ„ some of them were not able to till their owne grouÌ„d The alledged moreouer that they were not now handled after the olde lawes and customes of the land as their auncestors were wont Many also fouÌ„d theÌ„selues grieued in that they were not vsed according to the Articles conteined in Charta magna nor agayne that the Charta de foresta was not obserued nor kept as was wont to be Wherfore most humbly they beseeched the king both for his owne honor and for the wealth of his people that of these thinges they might finde redresse For the custome moreouer of woll the whole commons bewayled to the king their griefe in that for euery pack of woll was sined to the king xl â— and for euery sack of tosed wool 7. marks The which wooll of England as it doth rise vp to the value of halfe the realme so the tollage of the same surmounteth to the fift part of the valuatioÌ„ of the whole land And because therfore the commons wished the honor preseruatioÌ„ of their king as they were bouÌ„d to do they thought it not good for his grace to sayle ouer to FlauÌ„ders vnlesse he had better assuraunce of their fidelity especially at thys time the Scots being so busy Who if they began to rebell he being at home in his land much more were they like to stirre he being abroad out of the land And that not onely for the Scottes but also for that the like perill was to be doubted of other forraine nations and kingdomes which as yet were in no firme peace with England c. To these petitions the king sayd that he could as yet make no resolute answere for that his counsell some was gone ouer alredy to Flaunders some were yet at LondoÌ„ Notwithstanding at his returne againe from Flaunders which he trusted should be spedely they should theÌ„ heare his answere and know more of his minde concerning the same In the meane time this he required of them to keep good rule at home while he was forth What aunswere the king had minded to make them at his returne it is vncertayne which peraduenture had turned to a bloudye aunswere but occasion serued otherwise and turned all to agreement For the Scottes with theyr captayne William Waleys aboue specified in the time the king being absent inuaded the Realme with such violence that Prince Edward the kings sonne who was left to rule in his fathers stead was forced to assemble a Parliament and to call for the Earle of Hereford the Earle of Northfolke high Marshall of England Earle of Essex high Constable with other Earles Barons Knightes and Esquirs to entreat peace and concord betweene his father and them Who coÌ„ming vp to London with 1500. Well armed souldiers and obteining the gates of the City with their own men fell at length to agreement with the Prince vpon composition to haue the Articles of magna Charta and of Charta de foresta confirmed and that by his meanes mediation they might be assured of the kinges displeasure to be remoued from theÌ„ The which forsayd articles of Magna Charta with the other articles adioyned withall here follow vnder written First no tollage or subsidy by the king or his heires to be imposed or leuied hereafter within the realme of England without the common assent of the Archbishops Byshops Abbots other prelats Earles BaroÌ„s Knights Burgeses and Commons of the realme Item no taker or seruiture of the king or of his heirs henceforth within this realme to take grain wooll lether or any goods of any man without the will and consent of him which is the owner No taking to be hereafter in name of tribute for any packe of woll Item to be graunted by the king and his heires after him both to the clergy and laity of this foresayd Realme to haue and to enioy their lawes liberties customes â—â— as ample maner as they were weÌ„t at any time heretofore Item if
any decrees or statutes shal hereafter be made and set forth contrary to these foresaid articles the same to stand voyd and of no effect for euer Besides these articles also in the same compositiō was conteined that all grudge and displeasure betwene the king and the Barons for not going to Flaunders ceasing the Earles and Barōs might be assured to be receiued againe into the kings fauor These things thus agreed vpon and by mediation of the Prince also confirmed and sealed with the kings seale his father so was all the variance pacified to the great comfort of the people and no lesse strength of the Realme agaynst theyr enemies And most chiefly to the commēdation of the gentle and wise nature of the king Who as he was gentle in promising his reconcilement with his subiectes so no lesse constant was he in keeping that which he had promised After the death of Iohn Peckham Archb. of Canterbury aboue mentioned who in the Parliament had resisted the king in the right of certayne liberties perteing to the crowne touching patronages and such Church matters succeeded Robert Winchelsei with whom also the king had like variance and accused him to the Pope for breaking the peace and tooke part with them that rebelled agaynst the king about vsages and liberties of the Realme Wherefore the king being cited vp to the court of Rome was there suspended by the meanes of the said Archb. directed his letters agayne to the Pope taken out of the parliament rolles where I finde diuers letters of the king to P. Clement agaynst the sayde Robert Archbishop of Canterbury the contentes wherof here followeth videlicet qualiter idem And as this king was troubled in his time with both the Archbishoppes Iohn Peckham and also Rober Winchelsey so it happened to all other kinges for the most part from the time of Lancfrancus that is from Pope Hildebrand that euery king in his time had some busines or other with that see As William Rufus and Henry the first were troubled with Anselmus Hēry the second with Thomas Becket King Richard and all England wyth William Bishop of Elye the Popes Legate King Iohn with Stephē Langthon King Henry the third with Edmund Archbishop called S. Edmūd Polic. lib. 7. Likewise this king Edward the first with Iohn Peckham Robert Winchelsey aforesayd And so other kinges after him with some Prelate or other whereby ye haue to vnderstand how about what time the church of Rome which before time was subiect to kings and Princes began first to take head aboue and agaynst kings and rulers and so haue kept it euer since By this Iohn Peckam afore mentioned was ordayned that no spiritual minister should haue any mo benefices then one which also was decreed by the constitutions of Octo and Octobonus the popes Legats the same time in England About the beginning of this kinges reigne after the decease of of Walter Archbishop of Yorke William Wicewanger succeeding in that sea minding to go on visitatiō came to Duresme to visit the Church and Chapter there But the clergy and the people of the City shoote the gates agaynst him and kept him out wherupon rose no smal disturbance The Archb. let flie his curse of excommunicatiō and interdiction agaynst them The Bishop of Duresme agayne with his clergy despised all his cursinges grounding themselues vpon the constitution of Innocentius the fourth De censibus ex actionibus And so they appealed to Rome saying that he ought not to be receiued there before he had first begon to visit his owne Chapter dioces which he had not done For to say the wordes of the constitutions We ordayne and decree that euery Archbishop that will visite his prouince first must procure to visit hys owne Church City and Dioces c. Among other thinges in this king to be noted that is not to be passed ouer that where complaynt was made to him of his officers as Iustices Maiors Shiriffes Bailiffes Excheters and such other who in their offices abusing themselues extortioned and oppressed the kinges liege people otherwise then was according to the right conscience the sayd king not suffering such misorder to be vnpunished did appoint certain officers or inquisitors to the number of 12. which inquisitiō was called Traibastō or Trailbastoun by meane of which inquisition diners false officers were accused such as were offenders were either remoued from their place or forced to buye agayne their office at the kinges hand to their no small losse and great gayne to the king and much profite to the common wealth In the Chronicle of Robert Amesbury it is recorded of the sayd king that he being at Amesbury to see his mother who was then in that monastery professed there was a certayn man that fained himselfe blind a long time brought to the presence of the sayd Alinore the kinges mother saying how that he had his sight agayne restored at y◠tombe of king Henry her late husband in so much that she was easely perswaded in the miracle to be very true But king Edward her sonne knowing the man a lōg time to be a vile dissembler and a wicked persō vsed to lying and crafty deceiuing disswaded his mother not to geue credite to the vile vagabon declaring that he knew so well of the iustice of his father that if he were aliue he would twise rather pluck out both his eies then once restore him one Notwithstanding the Queene the mother remayning stil in the former fond perswasion would heare or beleue nothing to the contrary but was so in anger with her sonne that she bid him depart his chamber and so he did By the example whereof may easely be conceiued how and after what sort these blinde myracles in those dayes and since haue come vp amōg the blinde superstitious people For had not the king here bene wiser thā the mother no doubt but this would haue bene roong a miracle percase king Henry bene made a Saint But as this was fayned a miracle and false no doubt so in the same author we read of an other maner of miracle sounding more neare the trueth and so much the more likely for that it serued to the conuersion vnto Christian fayth to which vse properly all true myracles do appertayne The myracle was this In the raigne of this king and the latter yere of his raigne Cassanus king of the Tartarians of whome commeth these whome now we call Turkes which fighting agaynst the Souldan king of the Saracens in the plain of Damascus slew of them 100000. of Saracens and agayne at Babilon fighting with the sayd Souldain slew him in the field 200000. of his Saracens calling vpon the helpe of Christ and therupon became Christiā This Cassanus I say had a brother a Pagane who being in loue with the daughter of the king of Armenia a Christian woman
desired of her father to marry with her Whereunto the king her father would not agree vnles he promised to be a Christian. Notwithstanding the other being strōger in power and threatning to get her by warre the king at length was forced to agree In conclusion it happened that the childe being borne betwixt them was ouergrowen all rough with hayre like the skin of a Beare Which childe being brought to the father he commaunded it to be thrown in the fire burned But the mother desiring first to haue the childe baptised caused all things therunto to be prepared The infant being 3. times in water plunged after the Sacrament of holy baptisme receiued incontinent was altered and turned from all his hairy roughnes and sene as fayre and smooth skinned as any other The which thing after the Father saw and beheld was Christened himselfe and all hys house c. In the raigne of this king Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester builded Merton colledge in Oxford In whose raigne also liued Henricus de Gaudano Arnoldus de villa noua Dante 's and other mo And Scotus called Duns Who in his 4. booke of Sent Dist. 18. complayneth of the abuse of excommunication of the Popes keies Where as before excommunication was not vsed but vpon great and iust causes therefore was feared now sayth he it is brought forth for euery trifling matter as for not paying y◠Priestes wages c. therefore sayth he it groweth in contēpt Under the same king about the beginning of hys raygn was the yeare so hoat and so drye that from the month of May vntill the month nere of Septēber fell no rayn in so much that many dyed for heat the vulgar people in their reckning of yeares did count the time from the sayd dry yeare long after After P. Benedictus aboue mentioned succeded Pope Clement the 5. who translated the Popes court to Auinion in Fraunce where it remayned the terme of 74. yeares after At the coronation of this Clemēt was present Philip king of Fraunce Charles his sonne and Duke Iohn Duke of Britany with a great number of other men of state and Nobility At which coronation they being in the middle of the pompe or processiō a great wall brake down and fell vpon thē by the fall wherof Duke Iohn with 12. other were slayne king Philip hurt wounded the Pope stroken from his horse lost out from his mitre vpon his head a Carbuncle esteemed to the value of 6000. florence Plat. de vit Pont. By this Clemēt was ordeined that the Emperor though he might be called king of the Romains before yet he might not enioy the title right of the Emperor before he was by him confirmed And that the Emperors seat being vacant the Pope should raigne as Emperor till a new Emperor was chosē By him the orders of the Tēplaries who at that time were too abhominable was put downe at the Counsell of Uienne as hereafter Christ willing shal be declared He also ordeined and cōfirmed the feast of Corpus Christi assigning indulgences to such as heard the seruice therof And as pope Bonifacius afore heaped vp the book of Decretals called Sextus Decretalium so this Clement compiled the 7. booke of the decretals called of the same Clement the Clementines In the time of this Pope Hēricus the 6. of that name Emperor was poysoned in receiuing the Sacrament by a false dissembling Monke called Bernard that feined himselfe to be his familiar frend which was thought to be done not without the consent of the Popes legate The Emperour perceiuing himselfe poysoned warned him to flee escape away for els the Germaines would sure haue slaine him who although he escaped himselfe yet diuers of his order after that with fire and sword were slayne As this Pope Clement the 5. had well prouided now as he haue heard agaynst the Empire of Rome to bring it vnder his girdle insomuch that without the Popes benediction no Emperor might take the state vpon him c. Now he procedeth farther to intermeddle with the Empire of Constantinople Where he first exerciseth his tyranny power of excommunicatiō agaynst Andronicus Palcologus Emperor of Constantinople an 1327. declaring him as a schismaticke and hereticke because he neither would nor durst suffer the Greciās to make their appeale from the Greeke Church to the Pope neither would acknowledge him for his superior c. Whereby it may appeare that the Greek Church did not admitte the Popes superiority as yet nor at any time before Saue onely about the tyme of Pope Innocent the 3. an 1202. at what time the Frenche men with their Captain Baldwinus Earle of Flaūders ioyned together with the Uenecians were set against the Grecians to place Alexius to the right of the Empire of Constantinople vpō conditiō as writeth Platina to subdue the Greeke church vnder the church of Rome Which Alexius being restored and shortly after slayne the empire came to the Frenchmē with whom it remained the space of 58. yeares till the comming of Michael Paleologus in the dayes of Pope Gregory the 9. Who restored the Empire frō the Frenchmen vnto his pristine state again During all which time of the French Emperors the Greeke church was subiect to Rome as by the decretals of Pope Gregory the 9. may appere Then folowed after this that the foresayd Michael Emperor of Constantinople beyng called vp to a councell at Lions by Pope Gregory the 10. about the controuersy of proceeding of the holy Ghost as is aboue specified and obedience to the Church of Rome there because the sayd Michael the Emperor did submitte himselfe the Grecians to the subiection of Rome as testifieth Baptist Egnat He thereby procured to himselfe such grudge and hatred among the Greeke Monkes and Priestes that after his death they denyed him the due honor place of buriall The sonne of this Andronicus was Michael Paleologus aboue mentioned who as ye haue heard before because he was constrayned by the Grecians not to admit any apellation to the Bishop of Rome was accursed by the popes cēsures for an heretick Wherby appereth that the Grecians recouering their state agayn refused all subiection at this time vnto the church of Rome which was the yeare of our Lord. 1327. c. After this Clemēt the 5. folowed Pope Iohn the 22. with whom Ludouike the Emperour had much trouble After whom next in course succeded Pope Benedict the 12. Which Benedict vpō a time being desired to make certayn new Cardinals to this answereth agayne that he would gladly so do if he also could make a new world For this world sayd he is for these Cardinals that be made already Ex scripto Engethusensis And thus much of the Popes now to returne alitle backe to the kinges story agayne In the yeare of our Lord 1307. Which was 34. of the reigne of this king in the
beginning of Hillary terme the king kept a Parliament at Carliel where great coÌ„plaints were brought in by the nobles and auncientes of the Realme concerning the manifolde and intollerable oppressions of churches and Monasteries and exactions of mony by the Popes Legate William Testa otherwise termed Mala Testa lately brought into the realme of England The comming of which William Testa was vpoÌ„ this occasion as followeth Pope Clement who as ye heard before had translated his Court from Rome into Fraunce where he had bene Archbishop before because hee coÌ„teÌ„ned to come remaine at his owne sea the Princes of Rome thought him therfore vnworthy to enioy Peters patrimony And so by that meanes falling in barenes pouertye liued onely of such mony of Bishops as came to him to be confirmed and with such other shiftes and gifts So that by this meanes partly of Bishops other religious men persons partly vnder the name of curtesy and beneuolence partly vnder yâ— pretence of borowing he had within the first yeare 9500. markes of siluer all his other charges and expenses which he largely that yere bestowed clearely borne Besides this he sent moreouer the foresayd Legate William Testa into England with his Bulles in the which he reserued the first fruites of the first yeare of all Churches being vacant at any time or by any man within the realme of England Scotland Wales and IrelaÌ„d and also the fruites of Abbayes and Priories within the sayd â—â—ealmes c. Whereupon the king with his nobles seing the inconuenience and harme thereof ensuing to the whole realme In the foresayd ParliameÌ„t holden at Carliell withstood the sayd Legate charging and commaunding him by the assent of the Earles BaroÌ„s that henceforth he should absteine from al such exactions And as coÌ„cerning his Lord the Pope he would direct certayne hys messeÌ„gers vnto him purposely for the same matter appointed by the which Ambassadours the king wrote vnto the foresayd Pope declaring monishing the Pope as right and reason was that he should not exact the first fruits of Churches and Abbayes by his predecessors noble men of the land founded for the honor maintenance of Gods seruice for almes hospitalitye which otherwise in so doing should all be ouerthrown And so by this meanes the Pope at that time changed his purpose as concerning Abbayes But after that the fruit of English churches was graunted to the king for 2. yeares In which space he obteined the fruits of the foresayd Churches c. During the which Parliament afore specified as men were talking many things of the popes oppressioÌ„s which he began in the English Church in the full of the Parliament sodenly fell downe as sent from heauen among theÌ„ a certaine paper with this superscription An Epistle of Cossiodorus to the Church of England concerning the abuses of the Romish Church TO the noble church of England seruing in clay and bricke as the Iewes did in times past vnder the tyrannye of the Egiptians Peter the sonne of Cassadore a Catholicke souldiour and deuout champion of Christ sendeth greeting and wishing to cast of the yoke of bondage and to receiue the reward of libertie To whom shall I compare thee or to whom shall I liken thee O daughter Ierusalem to whome shall I match thee O daughter of Syon Great is thy perturbatÃon like vnto the sea Thou sittest alone without comfort all the day long thou art confounded consumed with heauinesse Thou art geuen vp into the handes of him from whence thou canst not rise without helpe of one to lift thee vp for the Scribes and Pharisies sitting vpon the chayre of Moyses the enemies of the Romaines are as thy heades and rulers enlarging their garded philecteries and seeking to be enriched with the marow of thy bones laying heauye burdens and not able to be borne vpon thy shoulders and of thy ministers and they set thee vnder tribute which of old time hast bene free beyond all honesty or measure But maruell not thereat for thy mother which is the Lady of people like a widow hauing maried and coupled her selfe to her subiect hath appoynted him to be thy father that is to say the Byshoppe of Rome who sheweth no poynt of any fatherly loue towardes thee He magnifieth and extendeth to the vttermost his authority ouer thee And by experience he declareth himselfe to be the husband of thy mother He remembreth oft with himselfe the Propheticall saying of the Prophet and well digested the same in the inwarde part of his brest Take to thee a great booke and write therein quickely with the penne of a man take the spoyle robbe quickely But is this it which the Apostle sayth that he was appoynted for where he writeth thus Euery Byshop taken from among men is appointed for men in those thinges that belong to the Lord not to spoyle not to lay on them yearely taxes not to kill men but to offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes and to sorrow with them that be ignoraunt and doe erre And so we read of Peter the Fisher whose successour he boasteth himselfe to be that after the resurrection of Christ he returned with other Apostles to the office of fishing who when he could take nothing of the left side of the shippe at the bidding of Christ turned to the right side and drew to the land a nette full of fishes Wherefore the profitable ministerye of the Church is to be exercised on the right side by the which the Deuill is ouercome and plenty of soules be lucrified and wonne to Christ. But certaynely the Labourer on the left side of the shippe is farre otherwise for in it the fayth stumbleth heauinesse beareth rule when that thing that is desired by seeking is not found For who is so foolish to thinkee that he canne both at one tyme serue God and man and to satisfy his owne will or to stick to the reuelations of flesh and bloud and to offer worthy giftes to Christ And doubtles that shepheard that watcheth not for the edifying of the flocke prepareth an other way to the roaring Lyon and seeking whom he may deuour And now beholde I say O daughter the needes of him that is called thy father such as haue not bene heard of before he driueth away the good shepheardes from the sheepefolde and placeth in theyr stead Byshoppes to rule but not to profite his Nephewes Cosins and Parentes some that know no letters and other some dumme and deafe which vnderstand not the playne voyce of the sheepe nor curing their woundes that be hurt of the Wolues but lyke hirelinges plucking of the flieses a pase and reaping that which other men haue sowen whose handes-moreouer be alwaies ready in their baskets and powches but their backes are turned from their burdens By which things it is manifest that the Priesthood is cleane chaunged at these dayes the seruice of God decayd almes diminished
and brought to nought the whole deuotion of kinges princes christians is banished May not this be thought wonderfull in the eyes of all men that where as Christ commaunded tribute to bee payde too kinges for him and for Peter he now goeth about dominioÌ„ of his stile to subdue to him both Realmes and princes of realmes against his will whose Vicar he sayth he is and who refused the Realmes and iudgementes of the world which this Bishop contrary wise chalengeth clayming all that which he in his stile writeth to be his Alacke O daughter what doth he yetmore agaynst thee marke he draweth from thee what soeuer pleaseth him and yet he thinketh not himself coÌ„tent to haue the tenth part onely of thy goodes from thee except he haue also the first fruites of the benefices of the Ministers wherby he may get a new patrimony aswell for himselfe as for his kinred contrary to the godly willes of the first founders Ouer beside all this he inferreth other excrable taxes and stipendes for his Legates and messengers whom he sendeth into England whiche not onely take away the feeding and clothing of thee and thine but also teare in pieces like dogges your flesh and skinnes May not this prince be coÌ„pared to king Nabuchodonoser which destroyed the temple of the Lord and robbed away the siluer and golden vesselles thereof The very same doth this man also he robbed the ministers of God his house and left destitute of due helpe In like maner doth he Truely they be better that are killed with the sword theÌ„ they which be pined with hunger for they are dead straight but these are wasted with the barenesse of the earth O daughter al they that passe by the way let theÌ„ haue pity coÌ„coÌ„passioÌ„ on thee for there is no sorrow like thy sorrow For now thy face is blacker then coales through much sorrow and weeping and thou art no more knowne in the streetes thy foresayd ruler hath placed thee in darckenesse and hath geuen the worm wood and gall to drinke O Lord heare the sorrow and sighinges of thy people beholde Lord and descend for the hart of this foresayd man is more indurate then the hart of Pharao For he wyll not suffer the people to depart except in the fortitude onelye of thy hand For he scourgeth them not onely miserably vpon the earth but also after their death he inteÌ„deth to incroch the goods of all Christians vnder the name and title to dye intestate or making no will Therefore let the chiualry of England well remember how the Frenchmen in times past directing their greedy eyes on the Realme of England laboured with all theyr power how to bring the same vnder their subiectioÌ„ But it is to be feared least the new deuises and practise of this new enemy supply that which hetherto hath bene lacking in them For in diminishing of the treasure of the Realme and spoyling of the Churches goods the Realme shall be brought into such inhability that it shall not be able to helpe it selfe agaynst the enemy Therefore O daughter and you the ministers thereof suffer not your selues to be lead any more into such miserable bondage Better it is for the wealth of thee and thine that the Christian king and the powers of the Realme which haue indued thee with great benefites and you also which are indued with their benefites doe labour with all your power how to resist the deuises conspiracies arrogancy presumption and pride of the foresayd person who not for any zeale of God but for the enriching of hys Parentes and for hys owne kinred exalting himselfe like an Eagle by these and suche other exactions goeth about after a newe kinde of extortion to scrape vppe and deuoure all the money and treasure of England Now least the dissembled simplicity of the Realme in this behalfe doe bring vtter subuersion and afterwarde be compelled to seeke remedy when it is to late I beseech the Lord God of hoastes to turne away the vale from the hart of that man and to geue him a contrite and an humble minde in such sort as he may acknowledge the wayes of the true God whereby he may bee brought out of darckenesse and bee enforced to relinquishe his olde sinister attemptes and that the vineyard which the Lordes hand hath plaÌ„ted may be replenished continually with the preachers of the word Let the wordes of the Lord prophesied by the mouth of Ieremy stirre vp your mindes to withstand resist the subtle practises of this man by the which wordes the Lord speaketh O thou Pastor which hast scattered my people and hast cast them out of their habitations behold I will come and visite vpon thee and vpon the malice of thy studies neither shall there be any of thy seed which shall sit vpon the seat of Dauid neither whiche shall haue power any more in Iuda So that thy â—east shall become barren and vtterly subuerted like Sodome and Gomer And if he being terrified by these wordes do not leaue of froÌ„ this which he beginneth and doth not make restitution of those thinges which he hath receiued then let all and singular persons sing for him being indurat to him that seeth all things the Psalme 108. Deus laudem c. For truely as fauour grace and beneuolence remitteth and neglecteth many thinges so agayne the gentle benignitie of man being too much oppressed and grieued seeking to be deliuered and freed from the same striueth and searcheth to haue the trueth knowne and casteth off that yoake by all meanes possible that geueth him c. Haec Cassiodorus ¶ What effect this letter wrought in them to whom it was directed is not in story expressed This by the sequell may be coniectured that no reason or perswasion coulde preuayle but that the Pope retained here still his exactions whatsoeuer was sayd or written to the contrary notwithstanding And thus much being written hetherto of these actes and doings here in England now to slipp a little into the matters happening the same time in Fraunce vnder the raign of the foresayd king Philip aboue mentioned forsomuch as about this time an 1329. was commensed a parliament by the sayd king of Fraunce agaynst the Pope touching the iurisdiction both teÌ„porall pertaining to princes and ecclesiasticall belonging to the church I thought it not vnprofitable for the reader to heare learne the full discourse and tractation hereof according as we haue caused it to be excerpt faythfully out of the true copye and recordes of Peter Bertrand Bishop of Eduenen and chiefe doer prolocutor in the sayd parliament vpon the Popes side agaynst the king and state temporall For so much as the high Prelate of Rome otherwise called Antichrist being theÌ„ in his chief ruffe extolling him selfe aboue all princes and potestates of the world as in other countryes so also in FrauÌ„ce extended his vsurped iurisdictioÌ„ aboue the princely authority of the king claiming to himselfe full
violent shedding of bloud in any churchyard wherby the interdict taketh place the Clergy causeth a certain impositiō to be leuied of the parishioners there for the salary towards the restoring therof Although some of the parishioners be of an exempt iurisdictiō yea although he which shed the bloud be able to pay the whole taxe which they leuyed and more to 55. Item certaine Chaplaines affirme to haue certayn Apostolicall priuileges by vertue wherof they may appoint what Iudges they will yea and oftentimes of their own house so be iudges in their owne cause which is playne against the law wherby often times it happeneth that after great proces expenses had made in any great cause of inquest more often about reality then otherwise when they haue notice by the Proctors and Aduocates that they shall haue the foyle therin they reuoke forthwith those named Iudges and so the kings subiectes are damaged and can haue no iustice nor redresse at their handes 56. Itē if any temporall man call a Clerke before a secular iudge in a case of inheritance the ecclesiastical iudge procureth a stopp to be made therein attributing to themselues the cognitiō therof and so by adiourning remouing the lay man is constrayned to make satisfaction 57. Item the clergy chalengeth the cognition of such causes as maried Clerkes being marchauntes and artificers do commence when by law it doth appertaine to the temralty especially about the trade of Marchaundise 58. Item they oftentimes make interdictions in many of the kings townes and holdes and cause the diuine seruice to cease agaynst the priuiledges graunted by many of the high Bishops of Rome to our soueraigne Lord and maister the King 59. Item to and for the maintaynance keeping of theyr temporalties they appoynt Baylifs other officers who if they do offēd may not condignly be punished according to law and iustice 60. Item the Ecclesiasticall Iudges haue promoters belonging vnto them who whē any man is excommunicated be it right or be it wrong they cause to be made that no man shall work or do anything for him that is excommunicate whereby the landes and vines are often times vnlooked to and vntilled to the no small preiudice of the king and his common people 61. Item the foresayd Promoters cause Citation to be made out by vertue wherof they call in one citatiō 20.30 40. persons to appeare for participating with such Interdicted persons taking of some 10. of other some 20. s. as much as they be able to make wherby the commō people are much oppressed 62. Item the Ecclesiasticall Iudges cause all the Aduocates of their courtes to be sworne that none shall retayne them of their Counsell agaynst any of them without their licence whereby oftentimes the poore man quite leeseth his right and the Kinges cause is delayed Because hys Solliciters cannot freely retayne counsell without speciall licence 63. Item they will make Inuentories of theyr gooddes which dye intestate or without making of will And will haue the possession of thēir goods as wel moueable as vnmoueable in theyr owne hands to distribute to the hetres or to whom they list 64. Item the execution also of Testamentes they take to their own hands taking inuentories of dead mens goods and keeping and disposing them to the heires after their pleasure And haue officials properly deputed for the execution therof 65. Item they will not geue credite sometimes to testamentes made before witnesse vnlesse they be first by theyr owne Officials approued After he had thus spoken the prelats required to haue time to answere therunto wherupon was appoynted for the same the Friday next ensuing On the which day the Bishop Eduen Archbishop or Senon elect in the name of the whole clergy answered for them all before the king holding his Parliament as that day at Uicenas and thus he there proposided For somuch as the Lord Peter Cugner of late propounding against the Church of Fraunce took to his Theame that is written in the 22. of Mathew Render vnto Cesar that which is Cesars and vnto God that which is Gods by which words he sayd two points were to be noted First the reuerence and subiection of the Prelates that they ought to haue to the king their soueraigne Secondly the deuision of the temporall iurisdictiō from the spirituall The which first part he proued out of the first Epistle of Peter in the second Chapter where it is written Submit your selues vnto euery creature for the Lordes sake whether it be vnto the king as vnto the superior or vnto gouernours as vnto them that are sent of him for the punishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that doe well The second poynt he proued by the wordes of our Sauiour Christ in the 22. Chap. of Luke where the Apostle sayth Lord behold here are 2. swords And he said vnto them it is enough signifying by the two swordes the two iurisdictions And in likewise out of the 17. of Math. where Christ would pay tribute for him and Peter Geuing hereby an example how that Ecclesiasticall persons were bound to pay and yeld to the temporall power the tēporalities which also is proued in the 11. quest prim cap Si tributum cap magnum And further because this is proued by mans law where it is sayd 2. great gifts are bestowed Priesthood and Empire The priesthood to rule ouer matters diuine the Empire to beare domination ouer humaine matters wherby he cōcluded that when these iurisdictions are distincted of God The one being geuen and limited to the church and the other to the temporalty That in no wise the Church ought to intermeddle or to haue any thing to do with the temporall iurisdiction For it is written in the 22. of the Prouerb You ought not to passe the old limits bounds which the forefathers haue set And well by the way be bringeth in this word olde auncient Because customes brought in to the contrary be of no force but rather are coūted abuses corruptions Neither can prescriptiō take place for that ius fisci is inprescriptible neither cā the king abrogate frō himselfe such law nor renoūce his right prouing the same by many chapters contained in the 10. Dift Wherefore seeing the king at what time he was crowned sware not onely not to alienate or infringe the lawes of his realme but also to call in such lawes as were alienated vsurped either by the Church or by any other the king was bound by his oath to reuoke the same abuses In especiall he did exhibite many articles in writing wherin as he sayd the Church did vsurpe vpon the iurisdictiō temporall To answere these premisses which conciling of the places vnder protestatiō whatsoeuer I say or shall say it is not to ground or make any finall iudgemēt or determinatiō herein but onely to informe the consciēce of our soueraigne Lord the king and
I suppose will and ought sooner runne and the word of Christ will sooner driue vs to our father then to the Priests Corban Marc. 7. So that this distinction here may haue place that as the one standeth vpon merite of vertue so the other standeth vpon mere duety of necessitie Pag. 362. col 1. These iurisdictions temporall and spiritual are compatible in one persone Aunswere I graunt pro ratione subiects That is in the subiect it selfe there is no cause to the contrary but these vocations may be exercised both of one persone as they haue beene of the Pope one after the other and so may contrary formes also and yet the Popes persone hath bene able to sustaine them both But now here is to be considered not what the nature of the subiecte is able to beare by Logicke but what order is taken heerein by the will of God whose order is thys That they which with Peter are called to the feeding of the flock shoulde leaue their fishing nettes and fishe for men and that they which labour in the warfare of the Lord should not intangle theÌ„selues with the busines of this life wherby they may be more free to please him whose souldiours they are Tit. 2 c. Pag. 362. col 1. The iurisdictions temporall and spirituall are so distincted that they are not contrary c. Aunswer And what let is there then but our Queene nowe and other kings heereafter may haue the gouernement of both states as well Ecclesiasticall as temporall Seeing both the formes being compatible may concurre both in one subiect why not as well in the persone of the King within the Realme as in the person of the Pope without the Realme Pag. 363 col 1. God after the creation of the world c. vnto Noes time c. Aunswere If God vnto Noes time gouerning the worlde as king gaue sentence himselfe against Caine as yee say howe then did he that by the ministerie of aungels If he did it by the aungels his ministers Whether is more like then that to make for the Pope or rather for kings and princes whom the Scripture thrise in one chapter calleth the ministers of God to execute punishment to him that doth euill Rom. 13. Pag. 363. Noe also which offered c. Aunswere If offering of burnt sacrifices to God doe make a priest then was Caine also Abell Abraham Isaac and all Patriarches priests If hee had both temporall and spirituall iurisdiction vppon them which were in his Arke I maruell why hee did not curse â—hen the disobedyent crowe that returned not to him againe Pag. 363. col 1 Melchisedech likewise c. Answere Melchisedech properly did beare a figure of Christ both king and priest and of none other Pag. 363. col 2. A. I haue geuen to me c. Aunswere That Christ hath all power geuen him no man doubteth but yet the same Christ sayth that his kingdome is not of this world Neither would he be made a king in this worlde c. Non eripit mortalia qui regna dat caelestia hym Pag. 363. col 1. B. Whom Christ made his vicar c. Answere Here in one line bee two lies For neither had Peter the very same power in heauen and earth as Christ had neyther was hee the vicar of Christ. Pag. 363. col 1. C. As the offence of Ananias and Saphira was not temporall but spirituall so did Peter kill them not iudicially that is as a temporall iudge but spiritually that is by the power of the spirite which spirite wrought by him not as by a iudge but as a minister And although this acte of Peter was extraordinarie for a singular example yet notwithstanding let any prelate with the like power of spirit so do none wil blame him Pag 363 col 1. D. And so likewise the condemnation of Paule against the Corinthian was onely spirituall and not temporall Pag. 363. 1. E. must be referred to the order c. Aunswere Christ woulde these causes to be referred to the hearing of the Churche for spirituall admonition but not for temporall iurisdiction of the prelates Pag 363. col 1. F. All things that the true Church doth truely binde are bound I graunt but first let the Pope proue his Church to be the true Church and himselfe to be the vniuersal head therof and then let him claime the keies Ibid. The two swords do as much signifie the two regiments as doe the two fishes wherewith Christ did feede foure thousande persones Ibid. Christ bad Peter put vp his sword and not to cast it away Ergo the Church may haue the temporall sworde Answere God geue you good morowe I haue brought you a capon Pag. 364. col 1. I. Know ye not the Saintes c. Aunswere S. Paule heere willing the Corinthians to pleade their matters not before the heathen but before the Saints meaneth the faithfull of the congregation not onely prelates K. In them was not the like reason c. Aunswere I graunt for Christ and true Christians is one thing Antechrist and hys Church is an other thing Ibid. As ye say the Apostles had no laisure to take lands and possessions for preaching but nowe for Lordly loytering you haue laisure inough Pag. 364. col 1. M. They are most fittest to beare temporal rule which followe neerest to God Prelates of the cleargie followe nearest to God Ergo Prelates of the Clergie are more meetest to beare temporall rule Resp. If God heere be taken for that God which is called the belly I graunt they seeme to followe nearer But if it be taken for the true God not I but their owne fruites life and doctrine and Esay also would denie their minor and say that this people draweth neare to me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Pag. 364. col 1. You are a chosen generation a royal Priesthode c. Aunswere This place of Peter was written not onely to persones Ecclesiasticall but to the whole congregation of the Saintes disparsed as the wordes following may declare Qui eratis quondam non populus c. And thus much concerning French matters which because they be Ecclesiasticall and beare wyth them some vtilitie to the diligeÌ„t reader such as list to search note and obserue the actes of men and course of religion I thought therfore here to place and adioyne next after the other contention before proceding betwene Philip the French king and Pope Boniface Albeit as touching the perfect keeping of yeres and time I am not ignorant that thys foresaid Parliament thus summoned and commenced against the French prelates falling in the yeare of our Lorde 1329. was to be referred rather to yâ— raigne of king Edward the iâ— Of whom now remaineth by the grace of Christ in order of historie to prosecute declaring first the instructions and informations of his father geuen to him in the time of his departing
fauour and the good will of the Earle of Gloucester whose sister he had maried secretly returning into England with a certain company of strauÌ„gers presented himselfe to the kinges sight At the beholding of whom the king for ioy ran to him and imbracinge him did not onely retayne him but also for hys sake vndid all such actes as had bene in the Parliament before enacted The Queene and the whole Court seeing this doting of the king made an heauy Christenmas After this return of Gaueston was noysed among the commons the Pieres and Nobles of the Realme were not a little styrred casting with themselues what way were best to take If he were suffered stil they saw not onely themselues reiected but also that the Queene coulde not enioy the loue of the King neither could there be any quietnes in the Realme Again to stir vp warre in the land it were not the best to vexe or disquiet the king also they were afrayd But for asmuch as they could not abide all the nobilitie so to be thrust out and vilepended for the loue of one straunger also the realme so to be spoyled and impouerished by the same This way they took that Thomas Earle of Lancaster shoulde be elected among them the chieftayn and chiefe doer in that busines to whom all other Earles and Barons and prelats also did concordly condescend consent except onely walter Byshop of Couentry whome Robert the Archbishop therfore afterward did excommunicate which Thomas of Lancaster by the publike assent of the rest sent to the King lying then at Yorke humble petions in the name aswell of the whole Nobilitie as of the commons Desiring his grace to geue the foresayd Gaueston vnto them or els according to the ordinance of the Realme that the land might be auoyded of him But the tyrannious king who set more by the amour of one straunger then by his whole realme beside neither would harken to theyr counsayle nor geue place to theyr supplications But in al hasty fury remoued from Yorke to Newcastle where he remayned almost till midsommer In the meane season the Barons had gathered an host of sufficient and able souldiours comming toward Newcastell not intending any molestation against the king but onely the execution of the lawes vpon wicked Gaueston The king not hauing wherwith to resist theyr power remoueth in all speedy manner to Thinmouth where the Queene lay And hearing there that Newcastle was taken taketh shipping and sayleth from thence notwithstaÌ„ding the Queene there being great with childe with weeping teares and all instaunce desireth him to tary with her as safely he might but he nothing relenting to her tooke Peter his compiere with him and coasted ouer to the Castle of Scarbrough where he leauing Peter Gaueston to the safe keeping of hys men himselfe iournieth toward the coast beside warwike The Lordes hearing where Peter was bendeth thether al theyr power so that at length Gaueston seing no remedy but he must needes come into their hands yeldeth and submitteth himself requiring none other condition but onely that he might talke but a few words with the king in his presence Thus Gaueston being apprehended the king hearing therof sendeth vnto the Lordes requiring his life to be spared and that he might be brought to his speech and so promised that in so doing he would satisfie their mindes and requestes whatsoeuer About this aduisement was taken but then the Earle of Penbroke hearing the kinges promise perswaded the Barons to graunt vnto his petition promising himself vpon loosing all his landes to take theyr charge vpon him to be brought vnto the kinges speach and so to be recommitted to theÌ„ agayne Which when he had obtained he taketh Peter Gaueston with him to bring him where the king lay And so comming to Dedington not farre from Warwike leaueth him in the keeping of his souldiours while he that night went to hys wife being from thence not farre of The same night it chaunced Guido the Earle of Warwike to come to the same place where Gaueston was left who taking him out of the handes of hys keepers caryeth him to the Castle of Warwike where incontinent they woulde haue put him to death but doubting and fearing the kings displeasure a little they stayed At what time one of the company a man of sage and wise counsayle as myne author writeth standing vp among them with his graue Oration declareth the nature of the man the wickednes of his own condition the realme by him so greatly endamaged the nobles despised and reiected the pride and ambition of the man intollerable the ruine of things like to ensue by him and the great charges and expences they had beene at in so long puâ—â—â—ing and getting of him And now being gotten and in theyr handes he exhorteth them so to vse and take the occasion now present that hereafter being out of their handes they afterward might seeke and should not finde it Briefly in such sort he perswaded the hearers that forthwith he was brought out and by common agreement beheaded in a place called Blakelow whiche place in other storyes I finde to be called Gaueshed but that name as I thinke was deriued vpon this occasion afterwarde And thus he that before had called the Earle of Warwicke the blacke dog of Ardeine was thus by the sayd dog worowed as ye haue heard c. His carkas the Dominicke Fryers of Oxford had in their Monastery interred the space of two yeares but after that the king caused the sayd carkas to be taken vpp and buryed within hys owne Mannour of Langley After this great disturbance began to rise betwene the king and the Lords who hauing their power lying about Dunstable sent stout messenge vnto the king at London to haue their former actes confirmed Gilbert Earle of Gloucester the kinges nephew who neyther did holde agaynst the king nor yet agaynst the Nobles with the Byshops and Prelates of the Realme went betweene both parties with great dilligeÌ„ce to make vnitie At which time also came 2. Cardinals from Rome with letters sent vnto them from the Pope The Nobles aunswered to the message of the Cardinals lying then at Saint Albans that as touching themselues they shoulde be at all times welcome to them But as touching their letters forasmuche as they were men vulettered and onely brought vp in warre and feates of armes therefore they cared not for seing the same Then message was sent againe that they would graunt at least but to speake with the popes legates which purposely came for the intent to set quyet and vnitie in the Realme They aunswered agayne that they had bishops both godly and learned by whose counsayle they would be led only and not by any straungers who knewe not the true cause of ther commotion And therefore they sayd precisely that they would no foreiners or alians to be doers in theyr busines and affayres pertaining the
realme Yet notwithkaÌ„ding through the mediation of the Archbishop and of the Erle of Gloucester the matter at length was so takeÌ„ vp that the Barons should restore to the king or his attourny of S. Albans all the treasure horses and iewels of the foresayd Gaueston taken at Newcastle and so there requestes should be graunted And so was the matter at time composed Shortly vpon the same Isabell the Queene was deliuered of a fayre child at Windsore whoÌ„ Lewes the French kings sonne the Queenes brother with other FrenchmeÌ„ there present would to be called by the name of the French king but the English Lordes were contrary willing him to be called by the name of Edward hys father At the birth of whiche Edward great reioysing was through all the land and especially the king his father so much ioyed therat that he begon dayly more and more to forget the sorowe and remembrance of Gauestons death and was after that more agreable to the will of his Nobles Thus peace and concord betwene them began to be in a good toward ones which more and more might haue ben confirmed in wearing out of time had not Sathan the author and sower of discord styrred vp hys instruments certain Frenchmen Titinyllars and makebates about the kyng which ceased not in carping and deprauing the Nobles to inflame the kinges hatred grudge agaynst them By the exciting of whom the old quarrels being renued a fresh the king in his Parliament called vpon the same began to charge the foresayd Barons and Nobles with sedion and rebellion for slaying Peter Gaueston Neither were the nobles lesse stout agayne in defending theyr cause declaring that they in so doing had deserued rather thanke and fauour with the king then any displeasure in vanquishing such a publique enemy of the Realme who not onely had spoyled and wasted the kinges substaunce but also raysed much disturbance in the realme And for asmuch as they had begon with the matter to theyr so great labours expenses they wold proceed further they sayd not ceasing til they saw an end therof To be short great threates there were on both parts and a fowle matter like to haue followed But agayne through the dilligent mediation of the Queene the Prelates and the foresayd Earle of Gloucester the matter was taken vp and brought to reconcilemeÌ„t vpon these conditions that the Lords and Barons openly in Westminster hall shold humble themselues before the king and aske pardon there of their doinges and euerye man there to receaue a letter of the kings pardon for their indemnitie and assuraunce And so passed ouer that yeare within the whiche yeare died Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury In whose roome Thomas Cobham was elected by the king and church of Canterbury to succeede but the Pope cassating that election placed Walter Reynald Bishop of Worceter In the meane tyme the Scots hearing this ciuill discord in the Realme began to be busie and to rebell of new through the meanes of Robert Brius who beyng chased out of ScotlaÌ„d by king Edward the first as is aboue premised into Norway was now returned again into ScotlaÌ„d where he demeaned him in such sort to that Lords there that in short processe he was agayne made kyng of the Realme And warred so strongly vppon them that tooke the kinges part that he wanne from them many Castels and strong holds and inuaded the borders of EnglaÌ„d The K. hearing this assembleth a great power and by water entreth the Realm of Scotland Agaynst whoÌ„ he encountred Robert de Bruys with hys Scots at Estriuallin where was fought a strong battayle in the end wherof the EnglishmeÌ„ were discomfited so egerly pursued by the Scots that many of the Noble men were slay ne as the Earle of Gloucester Syr Robert Clifford Syr Edmund Maule with other Lords to the number of 4.2 knights and Barons 227. besides men of name which were taken prisoners of common souldiours 10. thousaÌ„d or after the Scotish story 50. thousand slayne After which time sir Robert Bruis reigned as king of Scotland About which time and in which yeare dyed Pope Clement who keeping in the realme of Fraunce neuer came to the sea of Rome after whose death the Papacie stoode voyde two yeares The Scots after this exalted with pride and fiercenes inuaded the realme of EnglaÌ„d so â—ore killing destroying man and woman and child that they came wyning wasting the Northpartes as farre as to Yorke Besides thys such dearth of victuals and penury of all things so oppressed the whole land suche moraine of sheepe and Oxen as men were fayne to eat horseflesh dogges cattes myse and what els they coulde get Moreouer suche a price of corne followed withall that the king hardly had bread for the sustentation of his own houshold Moreouer some there were that stall children and did eate them and many for lacke of virtuall dyed And yet all this amended not the king of hys euill liuing The cause and origene of this great dearth was partly the warres and dissention betwene them and the Scottes wherby a great part of the land was wasted But the chiefest cause was the vntemperate season of the yeare which contrary to the common course was so moyst with aboundaunce of rayne that the graine layd in the earth could haue no ripyng by heate of the sunne nor grow to any nourishment Wherby they that had to eat could not be satisfied with saturitie but eftsoones were as hungry agayne They that had nothing weve driuen to steale and rob the riche were constrayned to auoyde and diminish theyr housholdes the poore for famine died And not so much the want of vitayle which could not be gotten as the vnwholesomnes of the same when it was taken so consumed the people that the quicke were not suficient to bury the dead For the corruption of the meates by reasoÌ„ of vnseasonablenes of the grouÌ„d was so infectious that many dyed of the fâ—ixe many of hote feuers diuers of the pestilence And not onely the bodyes of men thereby were infected but also the beaâ—es by the putrifaction of the hearbs and grasse fel in as great a morain so farforth as the eating of flesh was suspect thought coÌ„tagious A quarter of corne and salt from the moneth of Iune to September grew from 30. s. vnto 40. s. The flesh of horses was then precious to the poore Many were driuen to steale fat dogges and to eate them some were sayde in secret corners to eate their owne children Some would steale other mens children to kill them and eate them priuily The prisoners and theeues that were in bandes such as newly were brought in vnto them for hunger fell vpon them and tearing them in pecces did eate them halfe aliue Briefly this extreme pemiry had extincted and consumed as it was thought the greatest part of the people of the land ha d not the king
any our progenitours exercising herein grieuous censures ecclesiasticall to the great annoyaunce and damnifying of the subiectes of our Realme for present remedy whereof our louing subiectes haue made theyr humble supplication vnto vs. And for asmuch as the sayd Peter Peny hath bene hetherto accustomed to be gathered and leuyed vppon landes and Tenementes within our Realme after a dewe maner and forme We not willing that any such vnaccustomed Imposicions shall in any wise be made vpon the landes and Tenemēts of any our subiects within our dominions Prohibite you vpon grieuous payne strai ghtly charging that in no wise you presume to exacte gather or leuy the sayd Peter Peny in any other forme or maner then hath bene heretofore accustomed to be gathered and leuied in the tyme of our progenitours or since the beginning of our raigne vntill further order be taken in our high Courte of Parliament by the aduise of the Nobles and Pieres of our realm such as may well be taken without preiudice of our Crowne and damage of subiectes Witnesse the king at Westminster the first day of march Per ipsum Regem Consilium To the same effect letters were directed to the Archbishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest of the clergy Touching the first originall of which Peter pence though mention be made before in the life of king Offa and others yet to make a briefe recapitulation of the same according to the Rolles as they come to our handes thus it followeth De Denarijs beati petri sic scriptum c. That is to say It is thus found recorded in auncient Chronicles touching the Peter pence of S Peter an 187. Offa king of Mercia trauelled vp to Rome in the time of the Pope Adrian the first to obtaine the Canonizing of S. Albone And hauing performed his vow visiting the Colledge of English Students which then florished in Rome did geue to the maintenance of the scholers of England Studentes in Rome one peny out of euery Tenemēt within this Realme that had land belonging to the same amounting to the yearely value of 30 pence And for this his munificence he obteined of Pope Adrian that no person within his dominiōs publicke repenting him for not perfourming enioyned penance should therefore be banished Anno Domini 857. Adewulfus Rex Westsaxonium tempore Leonis Papae quarti Rome singulis annis 300. Mancusas portari precepit taliter diuidendas ibidem Viz. 100. Mancusas in honoré scilicet petri specialiter ad emendum oleum quo impletétur omnia Luminaria ecclesiae Apostolicae in vespera paschae in galli cantu 100. mancusas in honorem scilicet Pauli eisdem de causis 100. preterea mancusas precepit exhiberi Vniuersali Pape ad suas Eleemosinas ampliandas Et sciendum quod secundum antiquorum Anglorum interpretationem differunt mancusa mancaiquia mancusa idem erat apud eos quod marca argentes Manca vero erat moneta aria quadra valebat communiter 30. denarios argenteos Of which Peter Pence is founde a transcript of the originall Rescript Apostolicall the Tenor whereof is this Gregorius Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei venerabilibus fratribus Cantuar Ebor. Archiepiscopis eorum suffraganeis dilectis filijs Abbatibus prioribus Archidiaconis eorumque officialibus per regnum Angliae constitutis ad quos literae istae peruenerint salutem Apostolicam Benedictionem Qualiter denarij beati petri qui debentur Camere nostrae colligantur in Anglia in quibus Episcopatibus dioces debeantur ne super hoc dubitari cōtingat presentibus fecimus annotari sicut in Registro sedis Apostlicae continetur De Cantuar. diocess 7. l. 1◠5 sterlingorum De London diocess 16. l. 10. s de Rossens diocess v.l. 12. s De Norwicens diocess 21. l. 10.5 De Elienum v. l. De Lincol. 42. l. De Cistrens 8. l. De Winton 17. l. 6. s. 8. d. De Exon. 9. l. 5. s. De Wigorne 10. l. 5. s. De Hereforde 6. l. De Bathon diocess 12. l. 5. s. De Saref bur 17. l. De Couentre 10. l. 5. s. De Eboram 11. l. 10. s. Datum apud Vrbem Veterem 10. Kal. Maij. Pontificatus nostri Anno secundo Summa 30. marce dimidi Concerning which Peter Pence it is touched in y◠lawes of king Edward the Saint chap. 10. when where of whō vnder what payne this Peter Pence must be gathered being but the kinges meere almes as is aforesayd And thus much touching Peter Pēce Now for other letters writtē by the k. to the Pope the same yeare for other matters as craning the popes helpe in compounding the variaunce betwixt the 2. Archibishaps of Cant. and York for bearing the crosse from the one prouince to the other thus it followeth that the king greeuously complayneth quod tantae dissentiones 1. that suche hurly burly and vproare arose thereof that they coulde not meete together in one place through the great multitude of armed men assistants on both partes in the very bearing of the crosse to the great disturbance of the people Now after this longe digression to tourne to our English matters agayne mention was made before of the variaunce betweene the king and the Earle of Lancaster and of a peace concluded betwene them But this peace did not long endure which the king by his owne default did break sending to the Scots a priuy messenger which was taken in the way to haue the foresaid Earle of Lancaster by their meanes made away c. In the mean time the Lords and nobles of England detesting the outragious pride of the Spēsers wherby they wrought dayly both great dishonor to the king and hindraūce to the cōmon weale in such wise conspired against them that gathering their power together they made are quest to the king that he should remoue the Spensers frō his person For the which there was a Parliament called at London the Barons came together with a great cōpany At which Parliament both the Spensers were banished the land for terme of their liues and they took shipping at Douer and so voided the land But it was not lōg after but the king contrary to that ordinance made in the Parliament sent for the Spensers agayne and set them in high authority ruled all thinges after their sensuall appetites nothing regarding iustice nor the cominō wealth Wherfore the Barons entēding agayn to reforme this mischief assembled their powers but the king making so hasty speed and gathering his people so soone was stronger then they pursued thē so in diuers places that the Barons not fully ioined together some flying some departing to the king some slayne by the way in the end were chased so egerly that in short space the foresayd Thomas Earle of Lancaster was taken put to death in the rest of the nobility to the number of 22. of the greatest men and chicfest Captaines of this realme
Of whom onely Thomas Earle of Lancaster for the nobility of his bloud was beheaded All the other Lords and Barons were hanged drawn quartered c. which bloudy vnmercifulnes of the king toward his naturall subiects not only to him procured great dishonor within the realme but also turned afterward to his much more greater harm hinderance in his forreine warres agaynst the Scots And finally wrought his vtter confusion and ouerthrow of his seat royall as in the sequell of his end appeared and worthely After the ruine of these noble personages the king as though he had gotteÌ„ a great coÌ„quest who then in deed began first to be ouercomen and conquere himself when he so oppressed and cut of the strength and sinews of his chiualrye began to triumph not a litle with his Spensers And to couÌ„t himselfe sure as though he were in heauen to exercise more sharpe seuerity vpon his subiectes trusting and committing all to the counsell onely of the foresayd Spensers in so much that both the Queene and the residue of yâ— other nobles could litle be regarded Who as they grew euer in more contempt with the king so they encreased in more hatred agaynst the Spensers but strength hability lacked to worke ther will The next yeare the king being at York after he had made Sir Hugh Spencer Erle and Syr Iohn Baldocke a man of euill same to be Chauncellour of England he theÌ„ areared a mighty host agaynst the Scottes But for lack of skilfull guiding expert Captaynes and for want specially of due prouision of vitayles necessary for such an army the great multitude to the number reckoned of an hundreth thousand wandring through Scotland from whence the Scots had conuayed all theyr goods and cattell into moutaynes and marches were so pynched and sterued with famyne that a great part of the army there presently perished and they that returned home as soone as they tasted of in eates escaped not The king neither hauing resistance of his enemies and seing such a destruction of his subiects was forced without anye acte done to retyre But in his retiring Sir Iames Duglas and the Scottes hauing knowledge therof pursued him in such wise that they clue many Englishe men and had well neare taken the kyng himselfe After whiche distresse the king thus beaten and wearyed with the Scottes woulde fayne haue ioyned in â—ruce with the Scottes but because they stoode excommunicate by the pope he standing in feare therof desireth liceÌ„ce to entreate with them of peace the sayd excommunication notwithstanding whiche licence beyng obtayned a treaty was appoynted by commissioners on both parts at Newcastle at the feast of Sainct Nicholas next ensuing and so truce was taken for 12. yeares whereupon this is to be noted by the way gentle reader not vnworthy of obseruation that wheras in former tymes and especially of the late king Edward the first so long as the Scottes were vnder the popes blessing and we in displeasure with his holines for dealing with them so long we preuayled mightely agaynst them euen to the vtter subuersion in manour of their whole estate But nowe so soone as the Pope tooke our part the Scots were vnder his curse and excommunication Then gat they greater victories against vs then any time either before or sithence in somuch as being before not able to defend them selues agaynst vs they nowe pursued vs into the bowels of our owne country The king purposing to erect a house of Fryers Augustines within the towne of Boston in Lincolneshyre first prayed the popes licence in that behalfe Polidorius Virgilius among other histories of our English nation which he intermedleth withall prosecuting also the actes and life of this present King and comming to write of the Queenes goyng ouer into Fraunce inferreth much varietie and diuersitie of autours and story writers concerning the cause thereof Otherwise be geueth hymself no true certainty of that matter neyther yet toucheth he yâ— which was the cause in deede By reason partly that he being an Italian and a foreiner coulde not vnderstand our English toung And partly agayne being but one maÌ„ neyther coulde he alone come to the sight of all our Latine autours One I am sure came not to his perusing an old ancient Latine history fayre written in patchment but without name belonging to the library of William Cary Citizen of London In which story the truth of this matter â—out all ambiguitie is there fully and with all circumstaunces expressed as here briefly is excerpted The king of England had bene diuers sundry tymes cited vpp to the Courte of Fraunce to doe homage to the French king for the Dukedome of Aquitane other lands which the king then helde of Fraunce Whiche homage because the king of England refused to tender the French K. began to enter at such possessions as the king then did hold in Fraunce Whereupon great contention and confirtes there were on both sides At length in this yeare now present a Parliament was called at London Where after much altercation at last it was determined that certayne should be sent ouer to witte the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich and the Earle of Richmond to make agreement betwixt the two kinges For the better help and fortification of which agreement it was thought good afterward that Queene Isabell sister to Charles then the FreÌ„ch king shold be sent ouer Where is to be noted first that the Queenes landes possessions and castles a little before vpon the breach betweene the Frenche king and the Kyng of Englande were seised into the kinges handes and the Queene put to her pension c. Thus the Queene beyng sent ouer with a few to attend vpon her onely Syr Iohn Cromwell Baron and 4. knightes tooke theyr passage into Fraunce by whose mediation it was there concluded that the king of England if he would not himselfe come to do his homage he should geue to his sonne Edward the Dukedome of Aquitanie and the Earledome of Pontine and so he to come to make his homage to the king and to podesle the same This being in Fraunce concluded was sent ouer by message to the king of England with the kings letters patentes adioyned for the sate conduct of him or of his sonne Upon this deliberation was taken in the counsalle of England But the two Spensers fearing to take the Seas eyther with the king or els without the king to remayne behinde for scare of the nobles so appoynted that Prince Edward the kings sonne was sent whiche happened after to theyr vtter desolation as it followed For all thinges being quieted ordered according to the agreement in Fraunce K. Edward of England soone after Michaelmas sendeth for his wife and his sonne agayne out of Fraunce But the sending home most part of her family reinseth her selfâ— to returne For what cause it is not fully certayne whether for indignation that her possessions
to 922. li. 5 s. 11. d. besides the valuation of other riches and treasure within the Abbey which cannot be esteemed The Abbot all this space was at London in the parliament by whose procurement at length such rescue was sent down that 24. of the chiefe of the towne submitting theÌ„selues were committed to warde 30. cartes full of the townesmeÌ„ were caryed to Norwiche of whome 19. were there hanged diuers were put to conuict prison The whole tounship was condemned in seuen score thousand pound to be payd for damages of the house Iohn Berton AldermeÌ„ W. Herlng wâ—i 32. priests 13. women 138. other of the sayd town were outlawd Of whoÌ„ diuers after grudging at the Abbot for breaking promise with theÌ„ at London did confederate themselues together priuily in the night coÌ„ming to the mannour of Cheninton where the Abbot did lye brast open the gates who then entring in first bounde all his familie after they had robbed al his plate iewels and mony they tooke the Abbot and shaued him secretly with them conueyed him away to London where they remouing him from street to streete vnknowne from thence had him ouer Thames into Kent at length ouer yâ— sea they serried ouer to Dist in Brabante where they a sufficient tyme kept him in much penury misery and thraldome till at length the matter being searched they were all excommunicate first by the archb of Cant. then by the pope And at last being known where he was by his friends was deliuered and rescued out of the theeues handes and finally brought home with procession and restored to his house agayn And thus was that abbey with the Abbot of the same for what demerites I know not thus vexed and afflicted about this tyme as more largely I haue seene in theyr latine register But thus much briefly touching the rest I omit here about the latter end of this Edward the 2. ceaseth the history of Nic. Triuet and of Flor. Hist passing ouer to the raigne of the next king King Edward the 3. COncerning the acts story of K. Edward the 2. his deposing cruell death wrought by the false and counterfet letter of sir Roger Mortimer sent in the kings name to yâ— keepers for the which he was after charged drawne quartered I haue written sufficiently before and more peraduenture theÌ„ the profession of this Ecclesiasticall history wil well admit Notwithstanding for certayne respects causes I thought somewhat to extend my lunittes herein the more wherby both kings such as clune to be about them may take the better example by the same the one to haue the loue of hys subiects the other to learne to flee ambition not to beare themselues to brag of theyr fortune and state how hye so euer it be Considering with theÌ„selues nothing to be in this worldo so firme and sure that may promise it selfe any certayne continuance is not in perpetuall danger of mutatioÌ„ vnles it be fastened by God his protection After the suppression of this king as is aboue expressed Edward his soone was crowned king of England beyng about the yeare of 15. raygned the space of 50. yeares who was a prince of much and great temperance In feares of armes very expert and no lesse fortunate and lucky in all hys warres as hys father was infortunate before him In liberallitie also and clemeÌ„cy worthely coÌ„mended briefly in all princely vertues famous and excelleÌ„t Concerning the memorable acts of which prince doue both in warres and peace as how he subdued yâ— Scots had great victoryes by the sea how he conquered Fraunce an 1332. wan Calice an 1348. and trasâ—ated the staple thither tooke the French king prisoner how the French armes first by him was brought in conioyned with the English armes also how the order oâ— the Garter first by the sayd k. was inuented and ordayued an 1356. also an 1357. How the king in hys parliament at Notingham decreed that al such in Flaunders or other where that had skill in making cloth should peaceably inhabite the land and be welcome For 3. yeares before yâ— it was enacted that no wool shold be transported ouer the sea Which was to bridle the pride of that Fleminges who then loued better the sackes of wooll then the nation of EnglishmeÌ„ All these with other noble acts of this worthy Prince although in other chronicles be fully intreated of yet according to that order I haue begun saying somewhat of ech kinges raigne although not pertinent to our ecclesiastical history I haue here inserted the same making hast to other matters shortly compendiously abridging them out of diuers sundry authors together compacted mentioned in this wise The coronation and solemnity of K. Edward the third and all the pompe therof was no sooner ended but Robert of Bruse K. of Scotland vnderstanding the state and gouernment of the realme to be as it was in deed in the queene the yong king the Erle of Kent and sir Roger Mortimer And that the Lords and Barons as he was enformed did scarsely wel agree amongst themselues although he grew now in age and was troubled with the falling disease Yet thought he this a meet tyme for hys purpose to make inuasion Hooping for as good successe like victory now as but lately before he had at yâ— castle of Eustriuelin WherupoÌ„ about the feast of Easter he sent his Embassadours wyth Heralds and letters of defiance to the yong king Edward the 3. the Queene counsaile declaring that his purpose was with fire and sword to enter and inuade the Realme of England c. The K. Queene and counsaile hearing this bold defiance commaunded in all speedy preparation musters to be made throughout all the realme appoynting to euery band captaines conuenient at the citty of York by a day assigned them commaunding euery man to be with all their necessary furniture ready and throughly prouided They directed their letters also with all speede to sir Iohn of Heynault requiring him with suche souldiors and men at armes as he might conueniently prouide in Flaunders Heynalt and Grabant to meete the king and Queene vpon the Ascention day next ensuing at their Citty of Yorke The king Queene made speedy preparation for thys expeditioÌ„ The noble men prouided theÌ„selves of all things necessary therunto the English captaynes and souldiors theyr bands throughly furnished were redy at theyr appoynted time and place Sir Iohn of Heynalt Lord Bedmount mustring his men as fast was ready to take shipping where at Wysant in English Bothoms there lying for him redy he weÌ„t aboard and with a mery winde landed at Douer trauailing froÌ„ thence by small iournies dayly tyll he came wtin 3. dayes after the feast of Pentecost to the City of Yorke where the king and Queene with a great power of 6000. men within and about the City of Yorke expected his comming Before whome in curteous wise
he presented himselfe and mustred his troupe wherin he had to the number of 500. good men at armes wel appointed moūted His comming and furniture was well liked both of the king Queene was by the Harbinger appointed to be lodged with his housholde retinue in the Abbey of whyte mōkes To be briefe such grudge and variance fel betwene some of the kings souldiors and his within the suburbs of the towne being together lodged That from the little to the more whiles the king Queene with diuers other of the nobles straungers others were at dinner the said fray so greatly increased that the whole army as many as wer in the town then lodged stood to their defence so that there was slain of the english archers in short space by the strangers to the nūber of 300. men Wherupō grew after the fray was with much difficultie both of the king Queene ended such hartburning betwene the parties as that the number of 6000. conspired together agaynst thē thinking to haue burnt them in theyr lodginges had they not bene by the great grace of God discrete hādling otherwise preuented let Wherupō the Heynolders were fayne to take keep the field vsing as diligēt watch and ward as though they had bene among theyr hostile enemies After this the king set forward his army toward Durham encamped hymselfe neare about the same who also sent the Lord Ufford the Lorde Mounbry to Carlell with a sufficient company to keepe that entrance and also the Lord marshal of England to keepe the towne of Newcastle with a sufficient cōpany to defend the same and the country adioyning For well knew the king that by one of these two entries the Scottes must passe into England standing both of them vpon the riuer of Tyne 24. miles distant But the Scots priuily with their army passed the riuer betwixt the two townes into Englād few vnderstanding thereof till that the great fyers which the Scots had kindled and made in England bewrayed them who came burning and destroing the country al about as far as Stānop park This thing being declared to the king he commaundeth hys host with all speede to march towards thē which so long trauailed that they came in sight ech of other The K. also commaunded the passages of y◠riuer to be so straitly narrowly garded that by no meanes y◠Scots could retire and haue escaped back againe into Scotland without battaile geuen them of the K. But the Scots vnderstanding the great power of the king was of kept alwayes the aduantage of the hils retiring in the nightes frō one to an other that wtout great oddes aduauntage in the one side hazard to the other the king could not set vpon them Thus in the day time the Scots keeping the aduauntage of the hilles and in the night times retiring to the aduauntage of such other like came neare agaynst that riuer where they first passed ouer where they made a shew to offer battaile to the K. vpon the morow Wherupon the king being busied in putting his mē and battailes in a readines to fight the next morning being almost forweried in pursuing the Scots frō place to place the Scots in the meane season gat ouer the riuer and escaped the daunger of the K. Which thing as it could not be done without great treasō of some neare about the king so sir Roger Mortimer was grieuously suspected thereof and after was layd vnto hys charge But to be short by this meanes the Scots escaped the riuer after whome it should haue preuayled the King very little to haue made pursute as the wily Scots knew full well For the ioy wherof the L. William Douglas one of the Scots Generals with 200. horses gaue a larum in the kings camp came so neare that he cut certayne of the lynes of the kings tent in sunder with his sword and retired to hys company without great losse of any of his mē Then on the morow the king perceauing the Scots to be gone came to the place where ouer night they lodged where was found 500. great Oxen and Kyne ready killed fiue hundred Caudrens made of beastes skinnes ful of flesh ouer the fire seething a thousands speetes full of fleshe ready to be rosted and more then 10000. shoes of raw leather the heare still vpon the same whiche the Scottes had left behinde them and fiue poore English prisoners tyed to trees theyr legs broken All which seeing the king returned with hys armye and left anye further pursuing the Scottes to Durham where he dismissed his army and came agayne to London sending with Syr Iohn of Heynalt two hundred men at armes for theyr better safegard against the english archers with whom at Yorke as you heard they frayed till they had taken shipping and so returned home The king then being at London confirmed the liberties of the Citizens and ordayned that the Maior shoulde sit in all places as chiefe Iustice within the liberties of the same And that what Alderman soeuer had beene Mayor before should be a Iustice of peace within his own ward Then the king the Queene and the counsell sent ouer to the Erle of Heynault certayn Embassadours touching the solemnisation of the mariage betwene the king and the Lady Philip his daughter who in such sort sped their message that she was soone after conueied ouer to England very honourably and at Douer ariued And from thence came to London some Chronicles affirme to Yorke where vpon the day of the conuersion of S. Paule the yeare aboue specified the mariage and coronation of the Queene was with much triumph during the space of 3. weekes solemnised After which coronation and mariage the king let sommon his Parliament to be kept at Northampton wherat by the meanes of sir Roger Mortimer and the old queene a peace was purchased for the Scottes who had for that purpose sent theyr Embassadours for foure yeares to endure Also the king then beyng within age granted to release the Scottes of al theyr homage and fealty which vnto the realme of England by theyr charter ensealed they were bound as also theyr indenture which was called the Ragman Role wherin was specified the foresayd homage and fealtie to the king and crown of England by the sayd king of Scots nobles and prelates to be made hauing all their seales annexed to the same Also there was then deliuered vnto them the black crosse of Scotland whiche king Edward before for a rich Iewell and relique had conquered brought from Scone Abbey with all suche rites and titles as anye the Barons els had enioyed in the said Realme of Scotland with many other things more to the great preiudice both of the Realm discontentation of al the nobles and Barons for y◠most part more then the old queene syr Roger Mortimer and the Bysh. of Ely Who in such
force ruled the rost that al the rest of the nobles barons cast with theÌ„selues how best they might redresse remedy the great inconueniences that vnto the realme by meanes of theÌ„ grew and happened Wherupon the king Queene and sir Roger Mortimer caused an other Parliament to be called at Salisbury where the said syr Roger Mortimer was made Earle of March agaynst all the barons wils to preuent disapoynt the foresayd purpose of them but the Erle Henry of Lancaster with others woulde not be at the same wherefore it was sayd vnto theyr charges that they went about to conspire the kinges death And further for that the king was as well vnder the gouernment of the Erle of Kent his vncle as the Queene hys mother and the Earle of March for that they could not doe in all thinges as they lifted for the sayd Earle the kâ—nges vncle who loued the king and the Realme Enuie began to rise betweene the Earle Mortimâ—r and him and by Isabell the Queenes practise he founde the meanes to perswade the king that the Earle of Kent to enioy the Crowne as next heyre vnto the king went about to poyson him Wherupon the king geuing light credite caused his said vncle to be apprehended wtout answere making to his accusation accusers to be beheaded at Winchester the third of October and 3. yeare of hys raigne But the iust iudgement of God not permitting suche odious crimes in him to be vnpunished nor vndetected so in fiue fell forthe that Isabell the old Queene the kings mother was found and vnderstood to be with childe by the sayd Mortimer Complaynt hereof was made to the K. as also the killing of king Edward hys father and of the conspiracy of hym against the Earle of Kent the kinges vncle before put to death Whereupon diuers other articles layd agaynst hym and manifestly read in the court he was araigned and indighted and by verdit found gilty hauing his iudgement as in cases of high treason and suffered death accordingly at London where vpon London bridge next vnto Spensers his head obtayned a place The Queene hys mother also by good aduise of hys counsell was restrayned of her libertie and within a certaine castell not permitted once to come abroad Unto whoÌ„ the king her sonne once or twise a yeare would resort and visite This yeare Prince Edward was borne at Woodstock who in processe of tyme and yeares grew to be a most valiaunt prince and was before he dyed accompted throughout the world the follower of chiualry After this the king prepared an other army into Scotland in the yeare prefixed But first he suÌ„moned king Dauid of Scotland who had in the last truce 4. yeares to coÌ„tinue as you heard his father then liuing maryed the Lady Iane sister to the king termed Iane make peace to doe his homage to the king but that he refused Wherupon not forgetting there withall the scoffing tymes whiche dayly from that tyme of truce the Scots had in theyr mouthes he did somuch that with an army well furnished he entred Scotland by the riuer of Twede for the Scottes had then the possession of that town of Barwick the Scottish Gigges runes were these Long beards hartles Paynted hoodes witles Gay coates graceles Makes England thristles To be short the king wasted the land burnt destroyed took townes and castels with small resistance or none and the space of 6. monthes together did in that land what hym listed without any battaile offered to him For the kyng of Scots was but a child not aboue they age of 15. yeares and wanted good captaines that should haue defended the realme in so muche that they were all fayne sauing those that kept in holdes for theyr defence to take the forrest of Godworth there kept to themselues so long as the king remained in Scotland Who at length when he had sufficieÌ„tly wasted and spoyled brent the same returned toward Barwicke about the which he bent his siege vowing not to remoue the same till he had gotten the towne The Scots that kept the same after a certayne tyme and many assaultes made were contented vpon certayne conditions to haue deliuered vp the towne But that the king refused vnles that all conditions set apart they woulde with bag and bagage depart Whereupon they condescended to the king that if by a certayne tyme they were not by the king of Scottes rescued they would render vp the towne and with bag and bagage depart and so the time expired frustrate of all hope rescue at the day appointed they did The king then entred the towne and taried there the space of 12. dayes who after he had appointed sir Edward Baillew Captayn ouer the towne and leauing also behind him other knightes Squires and Souldiors as well to keep the same as other holdes the king had conquered in Scotland and fronters therof He returned with his people towardes London permitting euery man to depart and go what way them liked Then sir Robert de Artoys a Noble man of Fraunce and which descended of the bloud royall being in EnglaÌ„d with the king ceased not oftentimes to aduertise the kyng and put him in memory of his good right title to the inheritaunce of the crowne of Fraunce This sir Robert for a certayne displeasure that Phillip the French king tooke agaynst hym for a certayn plea which by hym was moued before the king was fayne for the safegard of hys life to flee the Realme of Fraunce and so came to the kinges Court King Edward was not vnwilling at all to heare thereof but took delight oftentimes to reason and debate that matter with him concerning his right title and inheritance to the crowne of France But yet notwtstanding he thought it not good to make any attempt therunto without aduised and circuÌ„spect counsaile for that it contayned matter of no small but most difficult importaunce neyther yet he tooke it to deserue the fame eyther of wisedome or prowes to let so good a title dye or so fit oportunitie to passe Wherefore he calling together certayne of his counsayle vsed their deliberate aduises touching the seriousnes of this matter In fine it was by them thought good yâ— the king should send certayne Embassadours ouer to the Earle of Reynault whose daughter he had maryed as wel to heare hys aduise and counsell herein as also of what friendes and ayde by him his meanes in this so great an expeditioÌ„ to be begon in the Empire to him might be procured The king hereunto coÌ„descendeth appointeth for this Embassage yâ— byshop of Lincolne with 2. other Barenets and 2. Doctors who in such speedy wise made theyr voyage that in shorte space they returned agayne to the king with this answere That not onely the Earle hys counsaile aduise should be herein prest to the king of England theyr
English men Upon the Friday folowing they which were besieged in the towne of Calis seeing the king to be retyred vpon whose helpe they trusted being also in great penury famine for lack of victuals otherwise in much misery vehemently distressed surrendered the towne to the kinges handes who like a mercifull Prince onely deteining certeine of the chiefe the rest with the whole coÌ„mons he let go with bagg baggage diminishing no part of their goods shewing therein more Princely fauour to them then they did of late in Queene Maries dayes vnto our men in recouering the sayd towne of Calis agayne After the winning thus of Calis as hath bene premised king Edward remaining in the sayd towne a certaine space was in consultatioÌ„ concerning his voyage proceding farther into Fraunce But by meanes of the foresayd Cardinals truce for a certayne time was takeÌ„ and instrumentes made so prouided that certayne noble meÌ„ as well for the french K. as for the king of England should como to the Pope there to debate vpon the Articles Unto the which king Edward for peacesake was not greatly disagreing Which was an 1347. Ex Tho. Walsingh The next yeare folowing which was an 1348. fell a sore plague which they call the first generall pestilence in yâ— realme of England This plague as they say first springing froÌ„ the East so spreading westward did so mightely preuaile here in this land beginning first at Dorcester the countryes thereabout that euery day lightly 20. some dayes 40. some 60. moe dead corses were brought layd together in one pitte This beginning the first day of Angust by the first of Nouember it came to LondoÌ„ Wheras the vehement rage therof was so hoate and did increase so much that from the first day of February til about the beginning of May in a Churchyard then newlye made by smithfield aboue 200. dead corses euery day were buried besides them which in other Churchyardes of the Cittye were layd also At leÌ„gth by the grace of Christ ceasing ther it proceded from thence to the Northparts Where also the next yeare after an 1349. it swaged After this in the next yeare insuing an 1350. the towne of Calis was by treason of the keper of the Castle almost betrayed and wonne from the English men Within the compasse of which yere dyed Philip the French king After whom king Iohn his sonne succeeded in the crowne Who the next yeare after vnder false precence of frendship caused the Constable of FrauÌ„ce Erle of Ewe to be beheaded who being taken prisoner before in warre by English men and long deteined in prison in England was liceÌ„sed by king Edward to visite his country of Fraunce In the same yere the town of Gwines was takeÌ„ by EnglishmeÌ„ while the keepers of the hold were negligent and a sleepe The yeare next folowing the Marshall of Fraunce with a great army was put to flight by Syr Roger Bentele Knight and Captayne in Britaine hauing but onely 600. Souldiours with him In this battell were taken 9. Knightes Esquires and Gentlemen 140. The French men Britaines by this victory were exceedingly discouraged and there pride cut downe In the yere after was Henry first made Duke of LaÌ„caster which before was Earle of Derby and Lancaster Also diuers good ordinaunces were appoynted in the Parliament at Westminster Which afterby auarice and parciall fauour of the head men were agayne vndone Concord and agreement about the yeare 1354. began to come well forward instruments were drawne vpon the same betwene the 2. kings But that the matter being brought vp to Pope Innocent 6. partly by the quareling of the FreÌ„ch men partly by the winking of the Pope which euer held with the French side the conditions were repealed which were these That the king of England all the Dukedome of Aquitanie with other lands there should be to him restored without homage to the French king And that king Edward agayn should surrender to him all his right and title which he had in Fraunce whereupon rose the occasion of great war and tumult which folowed after betwene the two Realmes It folowed after this the yeare of our Lord. 1355. that king Edward hearing of the death of Philip the French king that king Iohn his sonne had grauÌ„ted the Dukedome of Aquitine to Charles his eldest sonne Dolphin of Vienna sent ouer Prince Edward with the Earle of Warwick of Salisbury of Oxford and with them a sufficient number of able souldiors into Aquitania Where he being willingly receiued of diuers yâ— rest be subdued partly by force of sword partly receiued submitting themselues to his protection Not long after this in yâ— same yere word being brought to king Edward that Iohn the FreÌ„ch king was ready to meet him at S. Omers there to geue him battayle gathered his power set ouer to Calis with his 2. sonnes Leo nell Earle of Wilton and Iohn of Gaunt Earle of Richmond with Henry Duke of Lancaster c. who beyng come to S. Omers the French king with a mighty army of his francklings hearing of his coÌ„ming the nerer he approched to them the further they retyred backe wasting destroying behind them to the inteÌ„t that the english army in pursuing theÌ„ should finde no victuals By reasoÌ„ wherof king Edward folowing him by yâ— space of 9. or 10 dayes vnto HadeÌ„ wheÌ„ neither he could â—inde his enemy to fight nor victuals or forage for his army he returned vnto Calis where warre agayne being offered in the name of the king vpon vnstable conditions and yet the same not performed king Edward seeing the shrinking of his enemy froÌ„ Calis crossed the seas into England where he recouered agayne the towne of Barwicke which the Scots before by subtle traine had gotten At which time was grauÌ„ted vnto the king in Parliament 50. s. for euery sacke or packe of woll that should be caried ouer for the space of 6. yeares together By the which graunt the king might despend euery day by estimation aboue 100. marks sterling And for as much as euery yere 100000. sacks of woll were thought to be exported out of the Realme the sum thereof for 6. yeres space was esteemed to mount to 1500000. pouÌ„d sterling The same yeare when king Edward had recouered Barwick and subdued Scotland Prince Edward being in Gascony made toward the FreÌ„ch king Who notwithstanding by the way all bridges were cast downe great resistaunce made yet the victorious Prince making way with his sword after much slaughter of the Frenchmen many prisoners taken at length ioyning with the French king at Poytiers scarse with 2000. gaue the ouerthrow to the French king with 7000. men of armes and mor. In which conflict the French king himselfe and Philip hys sonne with L. Iames of Bourbon the Archb. of Senon II Earles 22. Lordes were
taken Of other warriors and men of armes 2000. Some affirme in this conflict were slayne 2. Dukes of Lordes and noble men 24. of men of armes 2002. of other souldiours aboue 8000. The commoÌ„ report is that mo FrenchmeÌ„ were there taken prisoners then was the number of them which took them This noble victory gotten by the grace of God brought no litle admiration to all men It were too long and litle pertayning to the purpose of this history to comprehend in order all the doinges of this king with the circumstances of his victoryes of the bringing in of the french king into England of his abode there of the raunsome leuied on him and of Dauid the Scottish king of which the one was rated at 3. millions of Scutes that other at 100000. marks to be payd in 10 yeres how the staple was after translated to Calis with suche like I referre them that would see more to the Chronicle of Tho. Walsing of S. Albans of Iohn Froysard AdaÌ„ Merimouth who discourse all this at large Thus hauing discoursed at large al such marshal affairs and warlicke exploytes incident in the reigne of this king betwixt him and the realmes of Fraunce and Scotland Now to returne agayne to our matters ecclesiasticall followeth in order to recapitulate and notifye the troubles contentions growing betwene the same king the Pope and other ecclesiasticall persons in matters touching the church in order of yeares remayuing in the Tower taken out of the recordes as followeth As where first in the 4. yeare of his reigne the king wrote to the Archbi of Canterbury to this effect That whereas King Edward the 1. his graund father did geue to a Clerke of his owne being his Chaplain the dignity of Treasurer of York the Archbishopricke of Yorke being then vacant and in the kinges handes in the quiet possession whereof the sayde Clerke continued vntill the Pope misliking therewith woulde haue displaced him and promoted to the same dignitye a Cardinal of Rome to the manifest preiudice of the crown of England The King therefore straightly chargeth the Archbishop of Yorke not to suffer any matter to passe that may be preiudice to the donation of his graundfather but that his owne Clerke should enioy the sayd dignity accordingly vpon payne of his highnes displeasure The like precepts were also directed to these Bishops folowing vide to the Bishop of Lincolne Bishop of Worcester Bishop of Sax Monser Marinion Archdeacon of Richmond ArchdeacoÌ„ of Lincolne the Prior of LeweÌ„ the Prior of Lenton to maister Rich of Bintworth to â—â— Iherico de Concoreto the Popes Nuncio to M. 〈◊〉 of Calma And with all wrote his letters to the Pope touching the same matter consisting in three partes First is the declaration and defence of his right and title to the donatioÌ„ and gift of all maner of temporalties of offices prebendes benefices and dignities ecclesiasticall holdeir of his in capite as in the right of his crown of England Secondly in expostulating with the Pope for intending himselfe into the auncient right of the crowne of England intermedling with such collations contrary to right reason and the example of all his predecessours which were Popes before Thirdly intreating him that he would heÌ„ceforth absteyne and desist from molesting the Realme wyth such nouelties and straunge vsurpations and so much the more for that in the publique Parliament late holden at Westminster it was generally agreed vpon by the vniuersall assent of all the estates of the Realme that the Kyng should stand to the defence of all such rightes and iurisdictions as to his crowne appertayned After this in the 9. yeare of the Reigne of this Kyng Pope Benedict the 12. sendeth down letters touching his new creation with certayne other matters and requestes to the King whereunto the King aunswering agayne declareth how glad he is of that his preferment adding more ouer that his purpose was to haue seÌ„t vnto him certain Ambassadors for congratulatioÌ„ of the sauâ—e But being otherwise occupyed by reason of warres could not attend hys holynesse requestes notwithstanding he minded to call a Parliament about the feast of Ascention next whereupon the asseÌ„bly of his clergy and other estates he would take order for the same and so direct his Ambassadours to his holynesse accordingly The next yeare after which was the 10. yeare of his reigne the King writeth an other letter to the Pope that forasmuch as his clergy had grauÌ„ted him one yeres tenth for the supportation of his warres and for that the Pope also had the same time to take vp the payment of 6. yeares tenth graunted him by the Clergy a litle before therefore the Pope woulde vouchsafe at his request to forbeare the exaction of that money for one yeare till that his tenth for the necessities of his warres were dispatched The same yere he wrote also to the Pope to this effect That whereas the Prior and Chapter of Norwiche did nominate a Clerke to be Bishop of Norwich and seÌ„t him to Rome for his inuestiture without the Kinges knowledge therefore the Pope woulde withdraw his consent not intermedle in the matter appertaining to the Kings peculiar iurisdiction and prerogatiue After this in the 16. yeare of this King it happened that the Pope sent ouer certayne Legates to heare and determine matters appertayning to the right of patronages of Benefices which the King perceiuing to tend to the no small derogation of his right and the liberties of hys subiectes writeth vnto the sayd Legates admonishing and requiring them not to proceede therein nor attempt any thing vnaduisedlye otherwise then might stand with the lawfull ordinaunces customes of the lawes of his realm and liberty of his subiectes Writing moreouer the same yeare to other Legats being sent ouer by the Pope to treate of peace betweene the King and the French King with request that they would first make their repayre to the french King who had so oftentimes broken with him and proue what conformitye the french king would offer which if he found reasonable they should soone accord with him otherwise exhorted theÌ„ not to enter into the land nor to proceede any further in that behalfe The yeare following which was the 17. of his reigne ensueth an other letter to the Pope agaynst his prouisioÌ„s and reseruations of benefices worthy here to be placed specified but that the summe thereof is before set downe to be found in the page 386. The yeare following another letter likewise was seÌ„t by the King to the Pope vpon occation takeÌ„ of the church of Norwich requiring him to surcease his reseruations and prouisions of the Bishoprick within the Realme and to leaue the elections thereof free to the Chapters of suche Cathedrall Churches according to the auncient grauntes and ordinaunces of his noble progenitors Proceeding now to the 19. yeare of this kinges reigne there came to the presence of the king certayne Legats froÌ„ Rome complayning of certayne
next morow folowing other townesmeÌ„ in the villagies about ioyning with the townesmeÌ„ of Oxford confederated together in great force and power to set vpon the studeÌ„tes there and so did hauing a black flag borne before theÌ„ and so inuaded the Vniuersity men WherupoÌ„ the scholers being ouermatched compelled to flee into their haules and hostles were so pursued by theyr enemies that 20. of the doores of their haules and chambers were broke open many of them wounded and as it is sayd slain and throwen into priuies their books with kniues and bils cut all in pieces and much of theyr goods caried away And thus the studentes of that Vniuersity being conquered by the townesmen of Oxford and of the country about departed left the vniuersity So that for a time the scholes there and all schole acts did vtterly cease from all exercise of study except onely MertoÌ„ Colledge haule with a few other remayning behinde This being done the 12. day of February the Queene at the same time being at woodstock was brought to bed and purified on the first Sonday in Lent with great soleÌ„nity of Iusting About which time the Bishop of Lincoln their Diocesane hearing of this excessiue outrage sendeth his inhibition to all Parsons and Priestes forbidding theÌ„ throughout all Oxford none to celebrate Masse or any diuine seruice in the presence of any lay persoÌ„ within the said Towne of Oxford interdicting withal the whole Town Which interdiction endured the space of a whole yere and more The king also seÌ„t thether his Iustices to examine and enquire of the matter Before whom diuers lay men of the clergy were indicted And foure of the chiefe burgeses of the sayd towne were indicted by the kinges commaundement sent to the tower of London were there imprisoned At length through much labor of the nobles the king so tooke vp the matter that sending his writings vnto all Shiriffes in England offered pardoÌ„ to all singular students of that Vniuersity wheresoouer dispersed for that transgression whereby the Vniuersity in short time was replenished againe as before Moreouer was graunted to the Vice chauncellor or Commissary as they terme him of the towne and Vniuersity of Oxford to haue the aâ—ise of bread ale wine and all other victuals the Maior of the sayd town being excluded Also was grauÌ„ted and decreed that the commoÌ„s of Oxford should geue to the vniuersity of Oxford 200. pound sterling in part of satisfaction for theyr excesses reserued notwithstanding to euery one of the students his seuerall action agaynst any seuerall person of that townesmen c. About the yeare of our Lord. 1354. The king with the consent of his counsell reuoked home agayne out of flauders the staple of wolle with all things thereunto appertayning stablished the same in sondry places within the realme namely in Westminster Canterbury Chichester Bristow Lincolne and in Hulle Which Staple after an 1362. was translated ouer into Calice Of Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterb. mentioned a litle before pag. 363. I read in the said author aboue specified that he by his letters patent directed to al parsons vicars within his prouince straitly charged them theyr Parishioners vnder payne of excoÌ„munication not to abstaine froÌ„ bodely labor vpoÌ„ certaine Saints dayes which before were wont to be hallowed consecrated to vnthrifty idlenes Item that to Priests should be geuen no more for their yearely stipend but 3. pound 6.5.8 pence whiche made diuers of them to robbe and steale c. an 1362. The next yeare following which was 1363. the foresayd Kyng Edward kept his Parliament at London in the month of October wherein was prohibited no gold nor siluer to be worne in kniues girdles brooches ringes or in any other ornament belonging to the body except the wearer might dispend 10 pouÌ„d by yeare IteÌ„ that none should weare either silks or costly furres except such as might dispeÌ„d 100 pound by yeare Also that Marchaunt venterers should not export ouer any marchauÌ„dise out of the realme or seek for wines in other country wherby other nations should be constrayned rather to seeke to vs. c. But none of thys did take any great effect After this Simon Islip as is aboue recorded folowed Simon Langham then W. Wittelesey after whome next in the place succeeded Simon Sudbury Much about the same time the Nunnes of S. Bridgits order began first About which time also was builded the Queenes Colledge in Oxford by Queene Philippe of England wife to king Edward the third Circa annum domini 1360. Moreouer in the time of this Pope Innocent Fryer Iohn Lyle Bishop of Ely moued with certaine iniuries as he thought done to him by the Lady Blanche made his complaynt to the Pope Who sending down his curse to the Bishop of Lincolne and other Prelates to be executed vpon the aduersaries of the Bishoppe of Ely commaunded them that if they did know any of the sayd aduersaries dead and buried that notwithstanding they should cause the same to be taken vp which also they performed accordingly of whom some had bene of the Kings counsell Wherefore the king being displeased and not vnworthely did trouble and molest agayn the sayd Prelats This comming to the Popes hearing certayne were directed downe from the court of Rome in the behalf of the foresayd Bishop of Elye who meeting with the Byshop of Rochester the kinges treasurer deliuered vnto him being armed letters from the Bishop of Rome the tenour whereof was not known Which done they incontinent auoyded away But certayne of the kinges seruaunts pursuing did ouertake them of whom some they imprisoned some they brought to the iustices and so were condemned to be hanged Wherein may appeare what reuerence the Popes letters in this kinges dayes had in this realme of England Ex Chro. Walsing This Pope InnoceÌ„t ordeined the feast of the holy speare and of the holy nayles And here to make an end of this fourth booke now remayueth after our order and custome before begunne to prosecute the race of the Archbishops of Canterbury in this foresayd fourth booke conteined beginning where before we left pag. 170. at Lancfrancus A Table of the Archbishoppes of Caunterbury in this fourth Booke conteyned 34. Lanfâ—ancus 19. Polyd. Virg. lib. 9. numbereth this Lanfrancus to be the 33. Archbish. But by the count of other authors namely by that chronicle of the Monke of Douer semeth to be deceiued as he was in the 28. yeares of Dunstane whiche in deede did sit but 19. or 20. at that most This errour of Pol. seemeth to come by leauing out either Elsius which was the 23. or by leauing out Elfricus whiche was the 26. as in some authors I finde Moreouer here is to bee noted that although the sayd Elfricus were left out yet Lanfrancus cannot be 33. Note also that in the table of the 3. Booke before after Siricius to put in Sanctus
Aluredus whiche in the order of Archbishops I left out in the end of the 3. booke pag. 170. This Lanffancus was an Italian and a stout Champion of the Pope After his stubberne dissention with Thomas Archbishop of Yorke he wrot against Berengarius intitulyng hys Booke Opus Scintillarum pag. 172. Also the same Lancfranke builded the newe Churche at Canterbury and pluckt downe the olde By him was builded the Church of S. Gregorye At length he was expulsed by king Wil. Rufus 35. Anselmus 20. Of this Anselmus and the strife betwene him and the king looke in the pag. 184. 36. Radulphus 8. Under Rad. the order of Cisternians began 37. Guilielmus Curboil 13. By this W. the newe worke of the Church of S. Martines at Douer was builded 38. Theobaldus 24. By this Theobald Monkes were first brought into that church of Douer He was expulsed by king Stephen In his time the church of S. Gregory was burned at Cant. 39. Tho. Becket 9. Of the life and death of thys Becket see the pag. 205. 39. Tho. Becket 9. Ex Crikeladensi Magnates in Anglia interdixerunt ne quis martyrem Thomam nominaret ne quis eius miracula praedicaret interminantes minas mortis seu maximarum poenarum omnibus consitentibus eum fuisse martyrem miracula eius praedicantibus c. 40. Richardus 10. This Richard was a Monk in his time Christes Church at Canterbury was burned 41. Baldwinus 7. Betweene this Baldwine the Monkes was great discord He suspended the Prior from his Priorship and 22. Monkes from all seruice He caused the Subprior with all his adherēts to be excommunicate through al Kent 42. Hubertus 14. In the time of thys Hubert the Chappell of Lamheth was pluckt downe Also the Church of Douer was burned 43. Stephanus Langhton 22. This Stephen with the Monkes of Caunterbury were expulsed by king Iohn This Stephen intending to geue orders in the Chappell of Lamheth was stopped by the Monkes of Cant. through their appeale and prohibition Wherfore he required Eustace Bishop of London to minister the same orders in the Church of Saynct Paule In his time fell great variaunce betweene the Monkes of Rochester and the Monkes of Canterb. for the election of their B. which election the Monkes of Cant. would not admitte before the Rochester Monkes had presented the Byshops staffe in the Church of Cant. so that both the Churches sent their messengers to the court of Rome 44. Richardus Magnus 4. At the consecration of this Richarde contention rose betwene the Bishop of Rochester and bishop of Bath who should consecrate him Item betwene the sayd Richard and the Monkes of Canterbury fell a greuons discord about certayne libertyes belonging to the Archb. The sayd Archbishop for certayne quarels agaynst the king went vp to Rome who dyed in Tuscia After this Richard the election of 3. Archbish. was castate at Rome of Rodulphus de noua villa of Iohn Prior of Cant. Iohn Blund 45. Edmund of Abenden 7. This Edmund was called S. Edmund At whose election the Prior of Douer thinking to be present as at the mariage of his Mother was not permitted by the Monkes of Canterbury For the which iniurye he appealed and went to Rome to complayne not against the elect but agaynst the election where he obteined of the Pope for all the Priors and successors of Douer to haue full interest in the election of the Archbi besides other priuiledgies which he obteined percase not without some good store of mony Afterward y◠Monkes of Cant. accused him to the Archbishoppe as though he stood agaynst the person of the elect so obtayned of the Archbi being angrye with him to haue brought him vnder the chapter of Canter there to be punished Whereupon the Prior seing him so destitute of all helpe of Lawyers was constrayned in the foresayd chapter to crye peccaui Then being suspended from his Priorship was at lēgth sēt home to Douer being compelled first to set his hand to a certayn composition betwene him the foresayd Monkes The sayd Edmūd Archb. also hauyng some quarell agaynst the king went vp to Rome and dyed before his comming home 46. Bonifacius 25. In the time of this Boniface Pope Gregory wickedly graūted to king Henry 3. for the getting of the kingdome of Sicile whiche belonged not to him to geue nor to the other to take tenthes of goodes temporall and spirituall for fiue yeares Item all the first yeares fruites of churches that should be vacant for 5. yeares Item halfe of all the goodes of beneficed men not resident at their benefices Item all Legaces not distinctly geuen And yet the kingdome of Sicile neuer came to his hands whiche belonged to Manfredus sonne of Fredericke Emperour Strife betweene thys Boniface and the prior of Cant. Item betwene him and bishop of Ross. Item betweene him the Chapter of Lincolne all which was after agreed Chro. Douerens fol. 20. pag. 2. Strife in Winchester about chusing the bishop after y◠death of Ayonarus that kings Brother Strife in the Conuocation whiche Boniface did holde at Lambheth In the which councell were recited the statutes of Octobonus and other new statutes made Agaynst whiche I. Hemelingforde the Kynges Chaplaine with other moe and prince Edward on the Kynges behalfe did appeale Chro. Douer fol. 21. Under this Boniface Archb. Tunbridge Hadlo first came vnder the custody of the Archb. of Cant. Maister Iohn of Exeter bought the Bishoprick of Winchester for 6000. marks which being known he was fayne to pay the same summe agayne to the Pope and so was sent home Boniface the Archb. being in the partes of Sebaudia an 1262 fell an other alteration betwene the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury on the one part and the Prior and Chapter of Douer on the other part Which two houses almost were neuer in quiet and all about certayne liberties and Priuilegies as for making the subprior for receiuing in of monkes and for visitations of the Church of Douer An. 1268. Boniface Archb. interdicted the Cittye of London because in the same Cittye the Archb. of Yorke did holde vp his Crosse the Archbishoppe of Cant. being there present the king holding then hys Parliament at Westminster This Archb. died in the partes of Sebaudia  Iohn Prior of Canterbury was elected by the Monkes agaynst the kinges minde but by the Pope refused  Adam Chilinden was elect but he resigned his electiō to the Pope 47. Robert Kilwarby Frier 6. In the time of this Robert Kilwarby appeale was taken agaynst the Chapter of Canterbury by the Bishop of Winchester of Worcester and Exceter for the which cause the sayd Byshops wēt vp to Rome to prosecute the appeale The matter was because they did not theyr obedience to the Monkes of Caunterbury the see beyng empty Walter Gissard Archb. of Yorke going toward the generall counsell bare vp his crosse through the middle of Kent in the time of this
vnto this time whiche was about the yeare of our Lord 1367. the offices here in England as the Lord Chauncellor Lord Treasurer of the priuy seale were wont to be in the handes of the clergy But about this yeare through the motion of the Lords in the Parliamēt and partly as witnesseth mine author for hatred of the clergy all the sayd offices were remoued from the clergy to the Lordes temporall After the death of Pope Urbane next succeeded Pope Gregory the 11. who among his other acres first reduced agayne the papacy out of Fraunce vnto Rome which had from thence bene absent the space now of 70. yeres being therto moued as Sabellicus recordeth by the answere of a certain bishop whom as the Pope saw standing by him asked why he was so long from his charge and church at home saying not to be the part of a good Pastor to keepe him from his flocke so long Wherunto the Bishop aunswering agayne sayd And you your selfe being the chiefe Bishoppe who may and ought to be a spectacle to vs all why are you from the place so long where your Church doth lye By the occasion whereof the Pope sought all meanes after that to remoue and to rid his Court out of Fraunce againe to Rome and so he did This 11. Gregory in a certayne Bull of his sent to the Archb. of Prage maketh mētion of one named Militzius a Bohemiā saith in the same bull that this Militzius should hold apinion teach an 1366. that Antechrist was alredy come Also that the said Militzius had certayn cōgregations folowing him that in the same congragation were certain harlots who being conuerted frō theyr wickednes were brought to a godly life Which harlots being so conuerted he vsed to say were to be preferred before al the holy religious virgins And therfore commaunded the archbishop to excōmunicate and persecute the sayd Militzius which in foretime had bene a religious man of Prage and after forsook his order and gaue himselfe to preaching and at length was by the foresayd Archb. imprisoned Iacobus Misnensis a learned man and a writer in the time of I. Hus maketh mention of this Militzius and calleth him a worthy and a famous Preacher Also citeth many things out of his writings In the which writinges thys good Militzius thus declareth of himself how he was moued vrged by the holy Ghost to search out by the sacred Scriptures concerning the comming of Antechrist And that he was compelled by the same holy spirite at Rome publickly to preach and also before the Inquisitor there to protest plainly that the same great Antechrist which is prophesyed of in y◠holy Scriptures was alredy come Moreouer his saying was that the church through negligēce of the pastors was desolate did abound in temporall riches but in spirituall riches to be empty Also that in y◠Church of Christ where certayne Idols which destroyd Ierusalē and defaced the Temple but hypocrisye caused that those Idols could not be sene Also that many there were which denied Christ because that knowing the truth yet for feare of mē they durst not confesse their conscience c. And thus much of good Militzius liuing in the time of Gregory 11. and king Edward the third an 1370. The which king of England holding a Parliamēt in the 3. yeare of this Pope sent his Embassadours to hym desiring him that he from thenceforth would abstayne frō his reseruatiōs of benefices vsed in the court of England And that spiritual men within his realme promoted vnto Bishopricks might freely enioy theyr electiōs within the realme and be confirmed by theyr Metropolitanes according to the auncient custome of the realme Wherfore vpō these and such other like wherein the king and the realme thought thēselues greued he desired of the Pope some remedy to be prouided c. Wherunto the Pope returned acertayne answere agayne vnto the king requiring by his messengers to be certified agayn of the kings mind cōcerning the same But what answere it was it is not in the story expressed saue that the yere folowing which was 1374. there was a tractation at Burges vpon certain of the said articles betwene the king the Pope which did bāg two yeares in suspēse so at length it was thus agreed betwene them that the pope should no more vse his reseruatiōs of benefices in England and likewise the king shoulde no more cōferre and geue benefices vpon the writ Quare impedit c. But as touching the freedome of elections to be confirmed by the Metropolitane mentioned in the yeare before therof was nothing touched As touching these reseruations prouisiōs and collations with the elections of Archbishops Bishops beneficed men and other wherwith the Pope vexed this realme of England as before you haue heard The king by the consent of the Lordes and commons in the 25. yeare of hys raigne enacted that according to a statute made in the 30. yeare of his graundfather Edward the first wherein was made an act against the rauenous pillage of the Pope thorough the same prouisions reseruations collations c. but not put in execution By the which prouisions the state of the realme decreased more and more the kings royaltie prerogatiue greatly obscured and diminished innumerable treasure of the realme transported aliens straungers placed in the best and fattest by shoprickes abbeyes and benefices within the realme And suche as eyther for their offices in Rome as Cardinalships such like could not be here resident or if resident yet better away for causes infinite as partly haue bene touched before Not onely reuiued the sayde statute made by Edward the first hys graundfather but also inlarged the same Adding therunto very strayt and sharpe penalties against the offenders therin or in any part therof as exemptiō out of the kings protection losse of al their lands goods and other possessions and theyr bodies to be imprisoned at the kings pleasure And farther who so euer was lawfully conuict or otherwise for want of appearance by proces directed forth were wythin the lappes of this statute or premunire for so bare the name therof shuld suffer al and euery such molestation iniuries as men exempted frō the protection of the king In so much that who so euer had killed such mē had bene in no more daunger of lawe therefore then for the killing of an outlaw or one not worthy to liue in a commō weale Lyke vnprofitable members were they then in that tyme yea of ignoraunce esteemed in thys common weale of Englande as would offer themselues to the wilfull slauery and seruile obedience of the pope which thyng in these dayes yea and that amōgst no small fooles is coūted more then Euangelicall holynes He that list to peruse the statute and would see euery braunch and article therof at large discussed and handled wyth the penalties therfore due Let him read the
and night that is with theyr filthy liuing ignorance and impiety He citeth also out of the prophesy of Hildegaris these words Therfore doth y◠deuill in himselfe speake of you Priests Dainty bankets feasts wherin is all voluptuousnes do I finde amongst these men In so much that mine eies mine eares my belly and my vaynes be euen filled with the froth of them my brestes stand astrut with the riches of them c. Lastly saith he they euery day more and more as Lucifer did seek to climbe higher and higher till that euery day with hym more and more they fall deeper and deeper About the yeare of our Lord. 1390. there were burned at Bringa 36. Citizens of Moguntina for the doctrine of Waldenses as Brushius affirmeth which opiniō was no thing contrary to that they held before wherein they affirmed the Pope to be that great Antechrist which should come Unlesse peraduenture the Pope seemed then to be more euidently conuicted of Antechristianity thē at any other time before he was reueled to be For the like cause many other beside these are to be found in storyes which susteined the like persecutiō by the Pope if leysure would serue to peruse all that might be searched As where Masseus recordeth of diuers to the nūber of 140. which in the prouince of Narbone chose rather to suffer whatsoeuer greuous punishment by fire thē to receiue the decretals of the Romish Church contrary to the vpright truth of the Scripture What should I here speake of the 24. which suffered at Paris an 1210 Also in the same author is testified that an 1211. there were 400. vnder the name of heretiques burned 80. beheaded Prince Americus hanged and the Lady of the Castle stoned to death Moreouer in the Chronicles of Houedon and of other writers be recited a maruelous nūber which in the countryes of Fraunce were burned for heretiques Of whom some were called Publicans some Catharits some Paterines and other by others names What their assertions were I finde no certayne report worthy of credit In Tritenius is signified of one Eckhardus a Dominican Frier who not long before Wickliffes tyme was condemned and suffered for heresy at Hedelberge an 2330. who as he diffreth not much in name so may he be supposed to be the sawe whom other do name Beghardus and is sayd to be burned at Erphord Of Albingenses because sufficient mētion is made before of whom a great number were burned about the time of king Iohn I passe them ouer Likewise I let passe the heremite of whom Iohn Bacon maketh relation in hys 2. Dist. Quaest. 1. Who disputing in Paules church affirmed that those Sacraments which were then vsed in the church were not instituted by Christ An. 1306. Peraduenture it was the same Ranulphus mētioned in the floure of hystories is sayd to die in prison for the time of them doth not much differ In Boetius why the Pope should so much commend a certaine king because for one man he had slaine 400. cutting away the genitals from the rest I can not iudge except the cause were that which the Pope calleth heresie But to let these things ouerpasse that be vncertayne because neither is it possible to comprehēd all them which haue wtstand the corruption of the popes sea neyther haue we any such firme testimony left of their doings credibly to stay vpon we wil now Christ willing cōuert our story to thyngs more certaine vndoubted grounding vpon no light reportes of feble credit nor vpō any fabulous legendes wythout authority But vpon the true and substantial copies of the publique recordes of the Realme remaining yet to be sene vnder the kings most sure faithfull custody Out of the which records such matter appeareth against the Popish church of Rome and against hys vsurped authority such open stāding crying against the sayd sea that not priuely but also in open parliament in the daies of this king Edward the third that neyther wil the Romish people of thys our age easely thynke it to be true when they see it neither yet shall they be able to deny the same so cleare standeth the force of those recordes Ye heard a litle before pag. 381. howe Iohn Stratford Archb. of Cant. being sent for and required by the king to come vnto hym refused so to do What the cause was why he denyed to come at the kings sending is neither touched of Poiidore Uirgil nor of any other monkish Chronicler wryting of those aces and times Whose part hath bene faithfully to haue dispensed the simple truth of thyngs don to theyr posterity But that whych they dissemblingly and colourably haue concealed contrary to true lawe of storie the true cause thereof we haue found out by the true Parliament roles declaring the story thus King Edward the 3. in the 6. yeare of hys raigne hearing that Edward Bailol had proclaimed himselfe kyng of Scotland Required counsell of the whole estate to wit whether were better for hym to assayle Scotlande and to claim the demesing or demeines of the same or cls by making hym party to take hys aduauntage And thereby to enioy the seruice as other hys auncesters before hym had done For thys cause he sommoned a Parliament of all estates to meete at Yorke about the begynning of December Where the kyng was alredy come waiting for the comming of such as were warned thereunto For the want of whose comming the parliament was reiourned til monday and from thence to Tuesday next ensuing But forsomuch as most of the states were absent the assembly required the continuance of the parliament vntil the vtas of S. Hillary then ensuing at Yorke whych was graunted And so a new sommons was especially awarded to euery person with special charge to attend so that the affaires of the king and the realme myght not be hindered because of the debate betwene the Archb. of Cant. and Archbishop of Yorke for the superiour bearing of theyr crosse In conclusion for all the kyngs sommoning none other of all the Clergy came but onely the Archb. of Yorke the byshop of Lincolne and of Carliel Abbots of Yorke and Seleby So that hereunto came not the Archb. of Cāterb nor any other of hys prouince and all for bearing the crosse Wherby the same was not onely a losse to the oportunitie to Scotland but also an importable charge to the whole estate by a newe reassembly And thus much out of the recordes Whereby thou mayest easely iudge prudent Reader what is to be thought of these Pope holy Catholique Churchmen being of the Popes broode and setting vp whom such friuolous causes of contention stirre vp to such disquietnes both among themselues and also to such disobedience against their Prince excuse them who can Ex. An. 6. Regis Edwardi 3. It foloweth moreouer in the same records concerning the abandoning of the popes prouisions how that the cōmons finde
Sigillo all or any of which wordes being vtterly wanting in this place as may be seene in the kinges Recordes of that time it must therfore be done eyther by warrant of this foresayd Statute or els without any warrant at all Whereupon it is to be noted that wheras the said Statute appointed the commissions to be directed to the Sheriffe or other ministers of the kings or to other sufficient persons learned for the aresting of suche persons the sayd commissions are directed to the Archbishop and his Suffragans being as it appeareth parties in the case autorising theÌ„ further without either the wordes or reasonable meaning of the sayde Statute to imprison them in their owne houses or where els pleased them Besides also what maner of law this was by whome deuised and by what authoritie the same was first made and established iudge by that that followeth Viz. In the Utas of S. Michell next following at a parliament summoned and holden at Westminster the sixt yeare of the said king among sondry petitions made to the king by his commons whereunto he assented there is one in this forme Articl 52. Item prayen the commons that wheras an Estatute was made the last parliament in these wordes It is ordayned in this present Parliament that commissions from the king be directed to the Sheriâ—fes and other ministers of the king or to other sufficient persons skilfull and according to the certificates of the Prelates thereof to be made vnto the Chauncerie from time to time to arest all suche preachers theyr fautoures maintenors and abbettours And them to deteine in strong prison vntill they will iustifie themselues according to reasoÌ„ law of holy church And the king willeth and commaundeth that the Chauncellor make such commissions at all times as shal be by the prelates or any of them certified and thereof required as is aforesayd The which was neuer agreed nor graunted by the commens but what soeuer was moued therein was without their assent That the said statute be therfore disanulled For it is not any wise their meaning that either theÌ„selues or such as shal succeed theÌ„ shal be further iustified or bound by the Prelates then were their ancesters in former times whereunto is answered il plâ—ist aa Roy. 1. the king is pleased Hereby notwithstanding the former vniust lawe of Anno. 5. was repealed and the fraude of the framers therof sufficiently discouered yet such meanes was there made by the prelates that this acte of Repeale was neuer published nor euer fithence imprinted with the rest of the statutes of that Parliament In so much as the sayd Repeale being concealed like commissions and other proces were made from time to time by vertue of the sayd Basterd statute aswel during al the raign of this king as euer sithence against the professors of religion As shall hereafter by the grace of God appeare in the second yeare of king Henry the fourth where the Clergy pursued the like practise And now againe to the story of our Oxford Diuines and of the Archbishop to whom the king writeth his letters patents first to the Archbishop then to the Uicechauncellor of Oxford in forme as followeth The kinges letters patentes to the Archbishop RIchard by the grace of God king of England and Lord of Ireland To all those to whome these present letters shall come greeting By the petition of the reuerend â—ather in God William Archb. of Caunterbury Primate of England exhibited vnto vs we right well vnderstand That diuers and sondry conclusions very contrary to wholesome doctrine and redounding both to the subuersion of the Catholike fayth the holy Church and his prouince of Cant. in diuers and sundry places of the same of his prouince haue bene openly and publiquely preached although damnably preached Of the which conclusions some as heresies other some as errours haue bene condemned but not before good and mature deliberation first therein had and vsed and by common counsaile of the said Archbishop his suffragans and many doctors in diuinitie and other clerkes and learned men in the holy Scriptures were sententially and holesomely declared Whereupon the sayd Archbishop hath made his supplication vnto vs that both for the coertion and due castigation of such as shall henceforth of an obstinate minde preach or mayntaine the foresaid conclusions that we would vouchsafe to put to the arme and helping hand of our kingly power We therefore moued by the zeale of the catholicke faith whereof we be and will be defendours and vnwilling that any such heresies or errours shoulde spring vp within the limites of our dominion Geue and graunt speciall licence and authoritie by the tenour of these presentes vnto the foresayd Archbishop and to his Suffraganes to arest and imprison either in their owne prisons or any other all and euery such person and persons as shall either priuely or apertly preach and mayntayne the foresayd conclusions so condemned and the same persons so imprisoned there at their pleasures to detayne till such time as they shall repent them and amend them of suche hereticall prauities or els shall be of suche arestes by vs and our counsaile otherwise determined and prouided Further charging and commaunding all and singuler our liegemen ministers and subiectes of what state and condition so euer they be vpon their fidelitie allegeance wherin they stand bound to vs that by no meanes they eyther fauour counsayle or helpe the preachers or els mayntayners of the sayde conclusions so condemned or their fauourers vpon payn and forfaiture of all that euer they haue But that they obey and humbly attend vpon the said Archbishop his Suffraganes and ministers in the execution of these presentes so that due and manifest publication agaynst the foresaid conclusions and their mayntayners without any perturbation may be done and executed as for the defence of our Realme and catholike fayth shal be thought most meete and requisite In witnesse wherof we haue caused these our letters patentes to be made Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the 16. day of Iune and 6. yeare of our reigne * The kinges letters patentes to the Uicechauncellour THe king To the Chauncellour and the procuratours of the vniuersitie of Oxford which now be or for the time being shall be Greeting Moued by the zeale of christian fayth where of we be and alwayes will be defenders and for our soules health induced thereunto hauing a great desire to represse and by condigne punishmeÌ„t to restraine the impugners of the foresaid fayth which newly and wickedly go about and presume to sow their naughty and peruerse doctrine within our kingdome of England and to preach and hold damnable conclusions so notoriously repugnant and contrary to the same faith to the peruerting of our subiectes and people as we vnderstand Before they any further proceed in their malicious errours or els infect others We haue by these presentes appoynted you to be inquisitour generall all
sayd Henry was voyde and of none effecte and commaundement geuen that the sayd Henry shoulde be restored and admitted agayne to his former lectures and scholasticall actes and to his pristine state as you knowe To the intent therefore that this decree aforesaid shoulde be more duely executed of your part we heare by these presentes straightly charge and commaund you That you speedily reuoking agayne all your processe against the sayd Henry in the vniuersitie aforesayd with all other that followed thereof doe admitte and cause to be restored agayne the sayd Henry to his scholasticall actes his accustomed lectures and pristine estate without all delay according to the forme of the decree and determination aforesayd Enioyning you moreouer and your commissaries or deputies and your successoures and all other maisters regent and not regent and other presidentes officers ministers and scholers of the vniuersitie aforesayd vpon your faith and legeance you owe vnto vs that you doe not impeache molest or greeue or cause to be greued any maner of way priuy or apertly the sayd Frier Henry for the causes premised or Frier Peter Stokes Carmelite for the occasion of his absence from the vniuersitie or Fryer Stephen PackingtoÌ„ Carmelite or any other religious or secular person fauouring them vpon the occasion of any eyther word or deed whatsoeuer concerning the doctrine of maister Iohn Wickliffe Nicholas Herford and Phillip Repindon or the reprose and condemnation of their herefies and erroures or the correction of their fauourers But that you doe procure the peace vnitie and quiet within the sayd vniuersitie and chiefly betweene the religious and secular persons and that you with all diligence nourishe encrease and preserue the same to the vttermost of your strength And that you in no case omitte to doe it accordingly vppon the forfaytures of all and singular the liberties and priuiledgies of the vniuersitie aforesayd Witnesse my selfe at Westminster the 14. day of Iuly Mention was made as you heard a little before how M. Rigges Vicechancellor of Oxford comming vp wyth M. Bryghtwell to the archb of Cant. was there straightly examined of the conclusions of Wickliffe Where he notwithstanding through the helpe of the B. of Wint. obtayned pardon and was sent away agayn with commaundementes and charges to seeke out all the fauorers of Iohn Wickliffe This commaundement being receaued Nicholas Herford and Phillip Repington being priuily warned by the sayd Vicechauncellor in the meane season coÌ„ueied them out of sight and fled to the Duke of LaÌ„caster for succour help but the Duke whether for feare or what cause els I cannot say in the end forsooke his poore and miserable clientes In the meane time while they were fled thus to the Duke great search and inquisition was made for them to cite and to apprehend them where so euer they might be found Wherupon the archb of W. Courtney directed out his letters first to the Vicechauncellor of Oxford then to the Bishop of London named Rob. Braybrokeâ— charging them not onely to excommunicate the sayd Nicholas and Phillip within their iurisdiction and the sayd excommunication to be denounced likewise throughout all the dioces of his suffraganes but also moreouer that dilligent search and watch should be layd for them both in Oxâ—orde and in LondoÌ„ that they might be apprehended requiring moreouer by them to be certified agayne what they had done in the premisses And thys was written the 14. day of Iuly an 1382. Ex Regist. Vnto these letters receaued from the archbishop dilligent certificat was geuen accordingly as well of the Byshop of London his part as also of the Vicechauncelloâ— the tenour whereof was this * The letter certificatorie of the Vicechauncellor to the Archbishop TO the reuerend father in Christ Lord William Archbishop o Caunterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolique see Rob. Rigges professour of diuinitie and Vicechancellor of the vniuersitie of Oxforde greeting with due honour Your letters bearing the date of the 14. of Iuly I haue receaued By the authoritie wherof I haue denounced and caused to be denounced effectually the foresayd Nicholas and Phillip to haue bene and to be excommunicate publikely and solemnly in the Church of S. Mary and in the schooles and to be cited also personally if by any meanes they might be apprehended according as you commaunded But after dilligent search layd for them of my part to haue them personally cited and apprehended I coulde not finde neyther the sayd M. Nicholas not M. Phillip who haue hyd or conuayed themselues vnknowing to me as here is well knowne Whereof I thought here to geue signification to your Fatherhoode Sealed and testified with the seale of mine office From Oxford the 25. of Iuly In yâ— meane time Nicholas Herford and Repington being repulsed of the Duke and destitute as was sayde of his supportation whether they were sent or of theyr owne accorde went to the archbish it is vncertayne This I finde in a letter of the foresayd archbishop contayned in his register that Repington the the 23. day of October the same yeare 1382. was reconciled agayne to the Archbishop and also by his generall letter was released and admitted to his scholasticall actes in the vniuersitie And so was also Iohn Ashton of whom Christ willing more shall follow hereafter Of Nicholas Herford all this while I finde no speciall relation In the meane time about the 23. of the month of September the sayd yeare the king sent his mandate to the Archbishop for collecting of a subsidie and to haue a conuocation of the clergie sommoned against the next parliament which should begin the 18. day of Nouember The Archb. likewise on the 15. day of October directed his letters monitorie as the maner is to Robert Braybroke bishop of London to geue the same admonition to al his suffraganes and other of the Clergie within his prouince for the assembling of the conuocatioÌ„ aforesayd All which done and executed the parliameÌ„t begon being holden at Oxford the 18. day of Nouember where the conuocation was kept in the Monastery of Frideswide in Oxforde In the which conuocation the Archbishop with the other bishops there sitting in their Pontificalibus declared two causes of that their present assembly whereby sayth he to represse heresies which began newly in the realme to spring and for correcting other excesses in the Churche The other cause sayd he was to ayde and support the king with some necessary subsidie of mony to be gathered whiche thus declared the conuocation was continued till the day following which was the 19. of Nouember At the sayd day and place the Archbishop with the other Prelates assembling themselues as before The archbishop after the vsed solemnitie willed the procuratoures of the clergy appoynted for euery dioces to consult within themselues in some conuenient seuerall place what they thought for theyr partes touching the redresse of thinges to be notified and
knowledge mee guiltie so as I knew no errour in theÌ„ of which I should be guilty therfore the Byshop sate in dome in mine abseÌ„ce and deemed me an heriticke a schismaticke and a teacher of errours and denounced me accursed that I come not to correction of the Church And therefore for this vnrightfull iugement I appeale to the kinges Iustices for many other causes One cause is for the kynges Court in such matter is aboue the Byshops court For after that the Byshop has accursed he may no feare by his law but theÌ„ mote he sech succour of the kinges law and by a writ of Significauit put a man in prison The second cause is for in cause of heresie there liggeth iudgement of death that dome may not be geuen without the kinges Iustices For the Byshop will say Nobis non licet interficere quenquam That is It is not lawfull for vs to kill anye man as they sayden to Pilate when Christ should be deemed And for I thinke that no Iustice wil geue sodenly vntrue dome as the Byshop did and therfore openly I appeale to hem and send my conclusioÌ„s to the Knightes of the Parliament to be shewed to the Lordes and to be taken to the Iustices to be wel auiset or that they geuen dome The thirde cause is for it was a false dome for no man is an hereticke but he that maisterfully defends his error or heresie and stifly maintaines it And mine auÌ„swere has ben alway coÌ„ditional as the people openly knows for euer I say yet say alway will that if they caâ—nen shew me by Gods law that I haue erret I wil gladly ben ameÌ„det and reuoke mine errours and so I am no hereticke ne neuer more in Gods grace will ben en no wise The fourth cause is For the Bishops lawe that they deme men by is full of errours and heresies contrary to the truth of Christes law of the Gospell For there as Christs law biddes vs loue our enemies the Popes law geues vs leaue to hate them to sley them and grauntes men pardon to werren againe heatheÌ„ men and sley hem And there as Christes lawe teache vs to be mercifull the Bishops lawe teaches to be wretchfull For death is the greatest wretch that meÌ„ mowen done on him that guilty is There as Christes law teaches vs to blessen him that diseazen vs and to pray for him the popes law teacheth to curse them and in theyr great sentence that they vsen they presume to damne hem to hell that they cursen And this is a foule heresy of blaspheme there as Christes law byddes vs be patient the Popes law iustifies two swords that wherwith he smiteth the sheepe of the Church And he has made Lordes and Kings to sweare to defend him and his Church There as Christes law forbiddeth vs lecheâ—y the popes law iustifies the abhominable whoredome of coÌ„mon women and the Bishops in some place haue a great tribute or rent of whoredome There as Christes lawe byddes to minister spirituall thynges freely to the people the Pope with his law selles for mony after the quaÌ„tity of the gift as pardons orders blessing and Sacraments prayers benefices preaching to the people as it is knowne amongest them There as Christes law teaches peace the Pope wyth his law assoyles meÌ„ for mony to gader the people priests and other to fight for his cause There as Christes law forbids swearing The popes law iustifieth swearing and compels men therto Wheras Christes law teacheth his Priests to be poore the Pope with his law iustifies and mayntaynes Priests to be Lordes And yet the 5 cause is for the Popes law that byshops demen men by is the same vnrightfull law that Christ was demet by of the Byshops with the Scribes and with the Pharises For right as at that time they gauen more credens to the 2. false witnesses that witnessed agaynst Christ then they deden to al the people that witnesseden to his true preaching and his miracles so the Bishops of the Popes law geuen more leuen by their law to two hereticks Apostats or two comen wymen that woulden witnesseden agaynes a man in the cause of heresy than to thousands of people that were trew and good And for the Pope is thys Antechrist and his law contrary to Christ his lawe fully I forsake this law and so I reed all Christen menne For thus by an other poynt of this law they mighten coÌ„quere much of this world For whan they can by this law preseÌ„t a man an hereticke his goods shulen be forfet from him froÌ„ his heyres and so might they lightly haue 2. or 3. false witnesses to recorde an heresye agayne what true man so hem liked Herefore me thinkes that whatsoeuer that I am a christen man I may lawfull appeale froÌ„ a false dome of the law to be righteouslye demet by the trouth of Gods law And if this appeale will not serue I appeale opeÌ„ly to my Lord Iesu Christ that shall deme all the world for he I wot well will not spare for no man to deeme a trouth And therfore I pray GOD almighty with Dauid in the Sauter booke Deus iudicium tuum regi da iustitiam tuam filio regis Iudicare populum tuum in iustitia pauperes tuos in iudicio That is O God geue they iudgement to the king and thy iustice to the kings sonne to iudge thy people in iustice and thy poore ones in iudgement c. ¶ A letter sent to the Nobles and Burgesies of the Parliament by M. William Swinderby IEsu that art both God and man help thy people that louen thy law and make knowne through thy grace thy teachinge to all christen men Deare sirs so as we seen by many tokens that this world drawes to an end all that euer haue bene forth brought of Adams kinde into this world shuleÌ„ come togeder at domesday riche and poore ichone to geue accompt and receiue after hys deedes ioy or paynen for euermore Therfore make we our werks good ye while that God of mercy abides and be yee stable and true to God and ye shulen see hys helpe about you Constantes estore videbitis auxilium Domini super vos This land is full of Ghostly cowardes in Ghostly battayle few dare stand But Christ the comforter of all that falleth to that his hart barst for our loue agaynst the fiend the doughty Duke comforteth vs thus Estote fortes in bello c. Be ye strong in battell he sayes and fight ye with the olde adder State in fide viriliter agite c. Wake ye pray ye stond ye in beleue do ye manly and be ye comfortet and let all your thinges be done with charity For Saynt Paule bidds thus in his Epistle that saw the preuetyes of God in heauen Euigilate iusti c. Awake ye that bene righteous men bee yee stable
goodnesse sake that he will wholy reforme our Church now altogether out of frame vnto the perfection of his first beginning and original Ex Archiuis Regijs ¶ These verses following were annexed vnto the conclusions Plangunt Anglorum gentes crimen Sodomorum Paulus fert horum sunt idola causa malorum Surgunt ingrati Gyerzite Simone nati Nomine praelati hoc defensare parati Qui Reges estis populis quicunque praeestis Qualiter his gestis gladios prohibere potestis ¶ The which verses are thus Englished The English nation doth lament of Sodomites their sinne Which Paule doth plainely signifie by Idoles to begin But Giersitis full ingrate from sinfull Symon sprong This to defende though Priests is name make bulwarkes greed and strong Ye Princes therefore which to rule the people God hath placed With iustice sword why see ye not this euill great defaced After these conclusions were thus proposed in the Parliament the king not long after returned home from Dubline into England toward the latter ende of the Parliament Who at his return called certaine of his nobles vnto him Richard Stury Lewes Clifforde Thomas Latimer Iohn Mountacute c. whom he did sharply rebuke and did terribly threaten for that hee heard them to be fauourers of that side charging them straightly neuer to hold maintaine nor fauour any more those opinyons and conclusions And namely of Richarde Stury he tooke an othe that he should neuer from that day fauoure or defende any such opinions which othe being taken the king then answered And I sweare sayth he againe to thee that if thou doest euer breake thine oth thou shalt die for it a shameful death c. Ex Chron. D. Albani All this while W. Courtney Archbyshop of Caunterbury was yet aliue who was a great stirrer in these matters But yet Pope Urbane the great maister of the Catholicke secte was deade and buried 6. yeare before After whom succeeded in the schismatical sea of Rome pope Boniface 9. who nothing inferiour to hys predecessour in all kinde of cruelties left no diligence vnattempted to set forward that which Urbane had begon in suppressing them that were the setters foorth of the light of the Gospell and had wrytten sundry times to king Richard as well for the repealing of the Actes of Parliament against his prouisions Quare impedit and premunire facias as also that hee should assist the Prelates of Englande in the cause of God as he pretended against such whom he falsly suggested to be Lollardes and traytors to the Church to the king and the Realme c. Thus the curteous pope whom he coulde not reach with his sword at least with cruel slander of hys malitious toung would worke his poyson agaynst them which letter he wrote to the king in the yeare of our Lord. 1396. Which was the yeare before the death of W. Courtney Archbishop of Caunterbury After whom succeded in that see Thomas Arundel brother to the Earle of Arundel being first Byshop of Ely afterwarde Archbyshop of Yorke and Lord Chancelor of England and at last made Archbyshop of Caunterbury about the yeare of our Lorde 1397. The next yeare following which was the yeare of our Lord 1398. and the 9. yeare of the Pope I finde in certaine recordes of the Bishop of Duresme a certaine letter of K. Richard 2. written to the said pope Boniface Which because I iudged not vnworthy to be sene I thought here to annexe the same proceeding in forme as foloweth ¶ To the moste holy father in Christ and Lorde Lorde Boniface the 9. by the grace of God high Pope of the most holy Romish and vniuersall Churche hys humble and deuout sonne Richard by the grace of God king of England and Fraunce Lord of Irelande greeting and desiring to help the miseries of the afflicted Church and kissing of that his blessed feete WHo wil giue my head water mine eyes streaming teares that I may bewaile the decay and manifold troubles of our mother which haue chaunced to her by her owne children in the distresse of this present schisme and diuision For the sheepe haue forgotten the proper voyce of their shepherds and hirelings haue thrust in themselues to feede the Lordes flocke who are clothed with the apparell of the true shephearde chalenging the name of honour dignity resembling so the true shepheard that the pore sheepe can scarse know whome they ought to folow or what pastour as a straunger they ought to flee and whom they shuld shun as an hireling Wherefore we are afraid least the holy standard of the Lord beforsaken of his host and so that Citye being full of riches become solitary and desolate and the land or people whych was soâ—t to say flourishing in her prosperities I sate as a Quene and am not a widowe least it be destitute of the presence of her husband and as it were so bewitched that shee shall not be able to discerne his face and so wrapped in mases that she shal hot know where to turne her that she might more easily finde him and that she shall with weeping speake that saying of the spouse I sought him whom my soule loueth I sought him and found him not For now we are compelled so to wander that if any man say beholde here is Christ or there we may not beleeue him so saying and so many shepheards haue destroyed the Lordes vineyarde and made his amiable portion a waste wildernesse This multitude of shepherdes is become very burdenous to the Lords flocke For when two striue to be chief the state of both their dignities standes in doubt and in so doing they geue occasion to all the faithfull of Christ of a schisme and diuision of the Churche And although both parties goe about to subdue vnto their power the whole Church militant yet coÌ„trary to both their purpose by working this way there beginneth to rise nowe a diuision in the body of the Church Like as when the diuision of the quicke innocent body was asked when the two harlots did striue afore Salomon like as the ten tribes of Israel folowed â—eroboham the intruder and were withdrawne from the kingdome for Salomons sinnes euen so of olde time the desire of ruling hath drawne the great power of the world from the vnitie of the Churche Let your selues remember we beseeche you how that all Greece did fall from the obedience of the Romish Churche in the time of the faction of the primarche of Constantinople and howe Mahome with his felowes by occasion of the supremacie in Ecclesiasticall dignitie deceiued a great part of Christians and withdrewe them from the Empire and ruling of Christ. And nowe in these dayes where as the same supremacie hathe wythdrawen it selfe from the obedience of it in so muche that nowe in very fewe realmes the candle that burnes afore the Lord remaineth and that for Dauids sake his seruaunt And although nowe remaine fewe countreys professing
Such a stroke heareth ambition in thys Apostolicall see whiche we are wont so greatly to magnifie But of this inough whiche I leaue and referre to the consideration of the Lorde seeing men will not looke vpon it Drawing now toward the latter end of king Richards raigne it remaineth that as we did before in the time of K. Edward the third so here also we shewe forth a summary recapitulation of such parliamentall notes proceedinges as then were practised by publique parliament in this kings time against the iurisdiction of the Bysh. of Rome to the intent that such if any such be that thinke or haue thought the receauing of the popes double authoritie to be such an auncient thing within this realme may diminishe theyr opinion As euidently may appeare by diuers arguments heretofore touched concerning the election and inuesting of byshops by the king As where king Oswin coÌ„maunded Tedde to be ordayned Archbish. of Yorke Also where king Egfride caused Cuchbert was brought to K. Canuce and at his commaundement was instituted Byshop of the same see Ex lib. Malmesb. de gestis pontif Anglorum And likewise Math. Parisiensis testifieth that king Henry the 3. gaue the Archbishopricke of Caunterbury to Radulphus then Bishop of London and inuested him wyth staffe and ring And the sâ—â—re king gaue the Bishopricke of wint to W. Gifford and moreouer following the steppes both of his father and brother before him endued him with the possessions pertaining to the sayd Bishoprick the contrary statute of pope Urbane forbidding that Clerkes should receaue any Ecclesiasticall dignitie at the hand of Princes or of any lay person to the contrary notwithstanding c. Innumerable examples of like sort are to be seen in auncient historyes of this our realme As also out of the parliament tolles in the time of king Edward hath sufficiently bene touched a little before Whereunto also may be added the notes of such parliamentes as haue bene holdeÌ„ in the raygne of this present king Richard the second the collation whereof in part here followeth * Notes of certayne Parliamentes holden in the the raigne of king Richard 2. making agaynst the Pope IN the first yeare of King Richard 2. in the parliament holden at Westminster it was requested and graunted that the popes collector be willed no longer to gather the first fruites of benefices within this realme being a verye noueltie and that no person doe any longer pay them Item that no man doe procure any benefice by prouision from Rome on payne to be out of the kinges protection Item that no Englishman do take to farme of any Alien anye Ecclesiasticall benefice or Prebende on the lyke payne In which byll was rehearsed that the French men had 6. thousand poundes yearely of such liuinges in England Item that remedy might be had against the popes reseruations to dignities electiue the same being done against the treaty of the pope taken with king Edward 3. In the second yeare of the sayd king Richard the secoÌ„d it was by petitioÌ„ requested that some order might be takeÌ„ touchyng Aliens hauyng the greatest part of the Church dignities in their handes Whereunto the kyng auÌ„swered that by aduise of the Lordes he will prouide therfore Item it was enacted that all the benefices of Cardinals and others rebels to pope Urbane that now is shal be seased into the kynges handes An Acte that Pope Urbane was true lawfull Pope and that the liuynges of all Cardinals and other rebels to the sayd Pope should be seased into the kinges handes and the kyng bee aunswered of the profites thereof And that whosoeuer within this Realme shall procure or obtayne any prouision or other instrument from any other Pope then the same Urbane shall be out of the kynges protection Moreouer in the thyrd yeare of kyng Richard the second the Prelates and Clergie made their protestation in this Parliament expressely agaynst a certaine new grauÌ„t to wit their extortions That the same neuer should passe with their assent and good will to the blemishyng of the liberties of the Churche if by that worde extortion they ment any thyng largely to proceede against Ordinaries others of the Church But if they ment none otherwise to deale hereafter therin theÌ„ before that the time had bene done then would they consent Wherunto it was replied for the king that neither for the same their sayd protestation or other wordes in that behalfe the king woulde not stay to graunt to his Iustices in that case and all other cases as was vsed to be done in times past and was bound to doe by vertue of his othe done at his coronation Furthermore in the fourth yeare of the sayd king Richard 2. it was requested that prouision might be had agaynst the popes collectors for leuying of the first fruits of ecclesiasticall dignities within the realme Item that all Priors Aliens might be remoued out of their houses and licensed to depart neuer to reuert And that English men may be placed in their liuinges answering the king as they did And in the 9. yeare of the foresayd king touching matter of the Staple the speaker of the Parliament pronounced that he thought best the same were planted within the realme considering that Calis Bruges and other towns beyond the seas grew very rich therby and good townes here very much decayed and so much for the common profite Touching the king he affirmed that the subsidie custome of wool more yelded to the king wheÌ„ the staple was kept in England by one thousand markes yearely then it did now being holden beyond the seas Item that inquisition and redresse might be had against such religious persons as vnder the licence to purchase 10. li. yearly do purchase 80. li. or 100. li. Item that all Clarkes aduaunced to any ecclesiasticall dignitie or liuing by the king will graunt to the king the first fruites of their liuinges none otherwise then they would haue done to the Pope being aduaunced by him In the 11. yeare of K. Richard 2. it was put vp by the petitions of the commons that suche impositions as are gathered by the popes bulles of Volumus and imponimus of the translations of B.B. and such like might be imployed on the kinges warres agaynst the schismatickes of Scotland And that such as bring into the realme the like bulles and nouelries may be reputed for traytors In the 13. yeare of his raigne followed an other parliameÌ„t in which although the archbish of Canterbury and Yorke for them and the whole Clergie of their prouinces made their solemne protestations in opeÌ„ Parliament that they in no wise ment or would assent to any statute or law made in restraynt of the popes authoritie but vtterly withstood the same willing this protestation of theirs to be enrolled yet the sayd protestation of theirs at that time took no great effect
suspected of the byshops were the more maliced no doubt therefore of the sayd byshops whiche were the more ready to finde take all occasions to worke agaynst them as by theyr doyng herein may wel appeare For the bishop of Salisbury and archb of Yorke hauing no greater matter agaynst them then was declared with a grieuous complaynt went to the king complayning of the Mayor and Sheriffes of LoÌ„don What trespasse the Mayor and Sheriffes had done as ye haue heard before so may you iudge Now what followed after let vs heare The king incensed not a little w e the complaynt of the Bishops conceined estsoones against the Mayor and Sheriffes and agaynst the whole Cittie of London a great stomache In so muche that the Mayor both the Sheriffes were sent for and remoued from theyr office Syr Edward Darlyngton then was made warden Gouernor of the citie who also for hys gentlenes shewed to the Cittizens was also deposed and an other named syr Baldwyn Radington placed in that roome Moreouer so much grew the kinges displeasure agaynst the City that he also remoued from London the courtes termes to be kept at Yorke that is to say the Chauncery the Eschequer the kinges benche the hamper and the common place where the same conâ—â—â—ued from Midsommer tyll Christenmas to the great decay of the Cittye of London which was an 1393. Thivdly an other great cause whiche purchased the K. much euill will among hys subiectes was the secret murthering of his owne Uncle named T. Woodstocke Duke of Gloucester of whom mention was made before where was declared how the said Duke with the Earle of Arundell the Erle of Warwicke and the Earle of Darby with other were vp in armour agaynst certaine wicked Counsaylours about the king Whereupon the king watching afterward hys time came into Chelsford so to the place neare by where the Duke lay wherwith hys own hands he arested the sayd Duke his Uncle and sent him downe by water immediatly to Calice And there through the kinges commaundement by secret meanes was put to death being strangled vnder a fetherbed the Earle Marshall being then the keeper of Calis Wherby great indignation roâ—e in many mens hartes agaynst the king With the same Duke of Gloucester also about the same time was arested and imprisoned the Erle of Warwicke and the Earle of Arundel who being condemned by parliament were then executed whereby great grudge and great indignation rose in the heartes of many agaynst the king an 1397. Fourthly to omit here the blanke chartes sent ouer all the land by the king and how the king was sayd to let out his realme to ferme Ouer and beside all these aboue premised fell an other matter whiche was the principall occasion of this mischiefe The banishment I meane of HeÌ„ry Erle of Darby and made Duke of Herford a little before being sonne of Iohn of Gaunt the Duke of LaÌ„caster who dyed shortly after the banishment of hys sonne and lieth buryed in the Church of S. Paule in London and the Duke of Northfolke who was before Erle of Notingham and after by this king made Duke of Northfolke the yeare before At which time the king made 5. Dukes a Marques and foure Earles to wit Duke of Herforde whiche was before Earle of Darby Duke of Awmerle which was before Earle of Rutland Duke of Southrey who was before Earle of Kent Duke of Exester whiche was before Erle of Huntington and this Duke of North folke being before Earle of Notinghame as is aforesayd c. The occasion of banishing these foresayd Dukes was this About this present time the Duke of Herforde did appeach the Duke of Northfolke vppon certayne wordes to be spoken against the king Wherupon casting theyr gloues one agaynst the other they appoynted to fight out yâ— quarrell a day being for the same appoynted at Couentry But the king tooke vp the matter in hys owne handes banishing the Duke of Northfolke for euer whiche after dyed at Uenice and the other Duke which was the Duke of Herford for 10. yeares Beside these also was exiled in France Thomas Arunder archbishop of Caunterbury by Acte of Parliament in the same yere for poynts of treason as ye haue heard before expressed page 512. col 2. All which turned to the great inconuenieÌ„ce of this king as in the euent following may appeare These causes and preparatiues thus premised it followed the yeare after which was an 1399. and last yeare of this king that the king vpon certaine affayres to be done tooke hys viage into Ireland In which meane time HeÌ„ry of Bollingbroke Earle of Darby and Duke of Herford and with him the foresayd archbishop Thomas Arundel which before were both exiled returning out of Fraunce to Calice came into England challenging the Dukedome of Lancaster after the death of hys father With â—hem also came the sonne and heyre of the Earle of Arundell beyng yet but yong These together setting out of Calice arriued at Rauenspur in the North. At the knowledge whereof much people gathered vnto them In this meane time as the Duke was houering on the sea to enter the land L. Edmund Duke of York the kings Uncle to whome the king committed the custodye of thys realm hauing intelligence thereof called to him the Byshop of Chichester named Edmund Stafford Chauncellor of the Realme and W. Scroupe Earle of Wiltshyre Lorde Treasurer also I. Busshey W. Bagot Henry Grene and Iohn Ruschell with diuers other consulting with them what was best in that case to be done Who then gaue their aduise whether wilful or vnskilfull it is not knowne but very vnfruitfull that he shold leaue london and go to S. Albons there to wayt for more strength able to encounter with the Duke But as the people out of diuers quarters resorted thether many of them protested that they woulde do nothing to the harme and preiudice of the Duke of LaÌ„caster who they sayd was uniustly expulsed The rest then of the counsayle I. Busshey W. Bagot Henry Grene W. Stroupe Treasurer hearing and vnderstanding how the commons were minded to ioyne with the Duke of Hereford left the Duke of York and the lord Chauncellor and fled to the Castell of Bristow Where is to be vnderstand that these foure were they to whome the common fame ran that the king had let out hys realme to farme and were so hated of the people that it is to be thought that for the hatred of them more then for the king this commotion was among the people As this broyle was in England the noyse therof sounding to the kinges eares being then in Ireland for hastye speed of returning into England left in Ireland both his busines and most of hys ordinance also behinde hym And so passing the seas landed at Milforde hauen not daryng as it seemed to come to London On the contrary side vnto Henry Duke of Herforde being landed
as is sayde in the North came the Earle of Northumberland Lord Henry Percy and Henry his son the Earle of Westmerland Lord Radulph Neuile and other Lordes moe to a great number so that the multitude rose to 60000. able souldiours Who first making towarde the Castle of Bristow tooke the foresayd Busshey Grene Scroupe and Bagot of whom three incontinent were beheaded Bagot escaped away and fled away to Ireland The king in this meane while lying about Wales destitute and desolate without comfort or counsayle who neither durst come to London neyther would any man come to him and perceauing moreouer the commons that were vp in such a great power agaynst hym would rather dye then geue ouer that they had begunne for feare of themselues Seing therforeno other remedy called to him L.T. Percye Earle of Worcester and stewarde of hys household willing him with other of hys family to prouide for themselues in tyme. Who then openly in the hall brake his white rod before them all commaunding euerye man to shift for himselfe Although Fabian and some other say that he did this of hys owne accord contrary to his allegeance The king compassed on euery side with miseryes shifted from place to place the Duke still following him tyll at length being at the Castle of Conewey the king desired to talk with Tho. Arundell archb and the Earle of Northūberland To whom he declared that he woulde resigne vp hys crowne in condition that an honourable liuing might be for hym prouided and life promised to 8. persons such as he would name Which being graunted and ratified but not performed he came to the Castle of Flint where after talke had with the Duke of Lācaster he was brought the same night by the Duke and his armye to Chester And from thence was conueyed secretly into the Tower there to be kept till the next parliament By the way as he came neare to London diuers euil desposed men of the city being warned thereof gathered themselues thinking to haue slayne hym for the great cruelty he had vsed before toward the Citty But by the pollicies of the Mayor and rulers of the Cittie the madnes of the people was stayd Not long after followed the Duke and also began the parliament In which Parliament the Earle of Northumberland with many other Earles and Lords were sent to the king in the Tower to take of him a full resignation according to hys former promise and so they did This done diuers accusations and articles were layd and engrossed agaynst the sayd King to the number of 33. some say 38. which for the matter not greatly materiall in them contayned I ouerpasse And that next yeare after was had to Pomferr Castle and there famished to death King Henry the fourth ANd thus King Richard by common assent being deposed from his rightfull crowne The Duke of Lancaster was led by Thomas Arundell the Archbishop to the feat royall who there standing vp and crossed himselfe on the forehead and the brest spake in wordes as followeth ¶ In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster clayme the Realme of England and the crowne with all the appurtenaunces as I that am descended by right lyne of the bloud comming from that good Lord King Henry the 3. And thorough the right that God of his grace hath sent to me with the helpe of my kinne and of my frendes to recouer the same which was in poynt to be vndone for default of good gouernance and due iustice c. ¶ After which wordes the Archbishop asking the assent of the people being ioyfull of theyr new king took the Duke by the hād placed him in the kingly throne which was an 1399 and shortly after by the foresayd Archbishop he was crowned also for king of England Ex Chron. De Alban The next yeare after followed a Parliament holden at Westminster in which Parliament one will Sautre a good man and a faythfull priest inflamed with zeeale of true Religion required he might be heard for the commoditie of the whole realme But the matter being smelt before by the Byshops they obtayned that the matter should be referred to the conuocation Where the sayd William Sautre being brought before the Byshops and Notaries thereunto appointed the conuocation was differred to the Saterday next ensuing When Saterday was come that is to say the 12. day of February Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Caunterbury in the presence of his Counsayle prouinciall being assembled in the sayd Chapter house agaynst one fyr William Sautre otherwise called Chatris Chaplayne personally then and there appearing by the commaundement of the foresayd archbishop of Caunterbury obiected that the sayd sir William before the Byshop of Norwiche had once renounced and abiured diuers and sondry conclusions heretical and erroneous and that after such abiuration made he publiquely and priuily helde taught preached the same conclusions or els such like disagreeing to the catholique fayth and to the great perill and pernitious example of others And after this he caused such like conclusions holden and preached as is sayd by the sayd Syr William without renunciation then and there to be read vnto the sayd Archbishop by maister Robert Haull Chācellor vnto the sayd byshop in a certayne scrole written in tenour of wordes as followeth Syr William Chatris otherwise called Sautre parish Priest of the Churche S. Scithe the Uirgine in London publiquely and priuily doth holde these conclusions vnder written ¶ In Primis he sayth that he will not worship the crosse on which Christ suffered but onely Christ that suffred vppon the Crosse. 2. Item that he would sooner worship a temporal king then the foresayd wodden crosse 3. Item that he would rather worship the bodyes of the Saintes then the very crosse of Christ on which he hong if it were before him 4. Item that he woulde rather worship a man truely contrite then the crosse of Christ. 5. Item that he is bound rather to worship a man that is predestinate then an aungell of God 6. Item that if any man would visite the monumentes of Peter and Paule or go on Pilgrimage to the Toumbe of S. Thomas or els any whether els for the obtayning of any temporall benefite he is not bounde to keepe hys vowe but that he may distribute the expences of his vowe vpon the almes of the poore 7. Item that euery priest and Deacon is more bound to preach the word of God then to say the canonical houres 8. Item that after the pronouncing of the Sacramental wordes of the body of Christ the bread remayneth of the same nature that it was before neyther doth it cease to be bread To which conclusions or articles being thus read the Archbish. of Caunterb required the same Syr William to aunswere And then the sayd William asked a copy of such articles or conclusions and a competent space to answere vnto the same Whereupon the
called vnto him the Archbishop of Yorke Richard London Henry Winchester Robert Chichester Alexander Norwich the noble prince Edmond the Duke of Yorke Rafe Earle of Westmerland Thomas Beaufort Knight Lord Chancellour of England and the Lord Beamond with other noble men as well spirituall as temporall that stood and sate by whome to name it would be long Before whome the said Iohn Badby was called personallie to answere vnto the Articles premised in the foresaid instrument Who when he came personallie before them the articles were read by the Officiall of the court of Cant. and by the Archb. in the vulgare tong expounded publikely and expresly and the same Articles as he before had spoken and deposed he still held and defended and said that whilest he liued he would neuer retract the same And furthermore he said specially to to be noted that the Lord duke of Yorke personallie there present as is aforesaid and euery man els for the time beeing is of more estimation and reputation then the Sacrament of the aulter by the priest in due forme consecrated And whilest they were thus in his examination the Archbishop considering and waying that he would in no wise be altered and seing moreouer his countenance stout and hart confirmed so that he began to persuade other as it appeared in the same These things considered the Archprelate whē he saw that by his allurements it was not in his power neither by exhortations reasons nor arguments to bring the said Iohn Badbye from his constant truth to his Catholique faith executing and doing the office of his great maister proceeded to confirme and ratifie the former sentence giuen before by the Bishop of Worcester against the said Iohn Badby pronouncing him for an open and publique hereticke And thus shifting their hands of him they deliuered him to the secular power and desired the sayd temporall Lords then and there present verie instantlie that they would not put the same Iohn Badby to death for that his offence nor deliuer him to be punished or put to death in y◠presence of all the Lordsabone recited These things thus done and concluded by the Bishops in the forenoone on the afternoone the Kings writte was not far behind By the force wherof I. Badby still perseuering in his constancie vnto the death was brought into Smithfield and there being put in an emptie barrell was bound with iron chaines fastened to a stake hauing drie wood put about him And as he was thus standing in the pipe or tonne for as yet Cherillus Bull was not in vre among the bishops it happened that the Prince the kings eldest sonne was there present Who shewing some part of the good Samaritane began to endeuour and assay how to saue the life of him whome the hypocriticall Leuites and Phariseis sought to put to death He admonished and counsailed him that hauing respect vnto himselfe he should spedelie withdraw himselfe out of these dangerous Laberinths of opinions adding oftentimes threatnings the which might haue daunted anie mans stomacke Also Courtney at that time Chancellor of Oxford preached vnto him and enformed him of the faith of holie Church In this meane season the Prior of S. Bartlemewes in Smithfield brought with all solemnitie the Sacrament of Gods body with twelue torches borne before and so shewed the Sacrament to the poore man being at the stake And then they demanded of him how he beleeued in it he answering that he knew well it was halowed bread and not gods body And then was the tunne put ouer him and fire put vnto him And when he felt fire he cried mercie calling belike vpon the Lord and so the Prince immediatelie commanded to take awaie the tunne and quench the fire The Prince his commandement being done asked him if he would forsake heresie to take him to the faith of holie Church which thing if he would doo he should haue goods inough promising also vnto him a yearelie stipend out of the kings treasurie so much as should suffice his contentation ¶ The description of the horrible burning of Iohn Badby and how he was vsed at hys death This godly Martyr Iohn Badby hauing thus consummate his testimony and martyrdome in fire the persecuting Bishops yet not herewith contented and thinking themselues as yet eyther not strong inough or els not sharpe enough agaynst tht poore innocent flock of Christ to make all thinges sure and substantiall on theyr side in such sorte as this doctrine of the Gospell nowe springing should be suppressed for euer layd theyr conspiring heads together hauing now a king for theyr own purpose ready to serue theyr turn in all poynts during the time of the same Parliamēt aboue recited yet cōtinuing the foresayd bishops and clergy of the realme exhibited a Bul vnto the kings maiestie subtily declaring what quietnes hath ben mayntayned within this realme by his most noble progenitours who alwayes defended the auncient rites and customes of the Church and enriched the same with large gifts to the honor of God and the realme and contrariwise what trouble and disquietnes was now risen by diuers as they termed them wicked and peruerse men teachinge and preachinge openlye and priuilye acertayne new wicked and hereticall kinde of doctrine contrary to the Catholicke fayth and determination of holye Church whervpon the king alwayes oppressed with blynd ignoraunce by the crafty meanes and subtile pretences of the clergie graunted in the sayd Parliament by consent of the nobilitie assembled a statute to be obserued called Ex officio as followeth The Statute Ex officio That is to say that no man within this Realme or other the kinges maiesties dominions presume or take vpon him to preach priuily or apertly without speciall licence first obteyned of the ordinary of the same place Curates in theyr owne parishe Churches and persons heretofore priuiledged and others admitted by the Canon law onely excepted Nor that any hereafter do preach mayntayne teach informe openly or in secret or make or write any booke contrary to the catholique fayth and determination of the holy Church Nor that any hereafter make anye conuenticles or assemblies or keepe and exercise anye maner of schooles touching this sect wicked doctrin and opinion And further that no man hereafter shall by any meanes fauour anye such preacher any such maker of vnlawfull assemblies or any such booke maker or writer and finally any such teacher informer or stirrer vp of the people And that all and singuler persons hauing anye the sayd bookes writinges or schedules contayning the sayd wicked doctrines and opinions shall within forty dayes after this present proclamation and statute really and effectually deliuer or cause to be deliuered all and singuler the sayd bookes and writinges vnto the ordinary of the same place And if it shall happen anye person or persons of what kinde state or condition soeuer he or they be to doe or attempt anye manner of thing contrarye to this
citation sent by messenger by letters or edict not admitting proofe by witnesses and sentēce definitiue to be we do ordeine will and declare for the easier punishment of the offēders in the premisses and for the better reformation of the church deuided and hurt that all such as are diffamed openly knowne or vehemētly suspected in any of the cases aforesayd or in anye article of the catholicke fayth sounding contrary to good manners by authoritie of the ordinary of the place or other superior be cited personally to appeare cyther by letters publique messenger being sworne or by edicte openly set at that place where the sayd offender commonly remayneth or in hys parish Church if he hath any certayne dwelling house Otherwise in y◠Cathedrall church of the place where he was borne and in the parish churche of the same place where he so preached and taught And afterwardes certificate beyng geuen that the citation was formally executed agaynst the party cited being absent and neglecting hys appearannce it shal be proceeded agaynst him fully and playnly without sound or shew of iudgement and without admitting proofe by witnesses and other canonicall probations And also after lawful informatiō had the sayd ordinary al delayes set apert shall signifie declare and punishe the sayd offender according to the quallitie of his offence and in forme aforesayd and further shall doe according to iustice the absence of the offender notwithstanding Geuen at Oxford ¶ Who would haue thought by these lawes and constitutions so substantially founded so circumspectly prouided so dilligently executed but that the name and memory of this persecuted sort should vtterly haue bene rooted vp neuer could haue stand And yet such be the works of th◠lord passing all mēs admiratiō all this notwithstanding so far was it of that the number and courage of these good men was vanquished that rather they multiplied dayly encreased For so I finde in Registers recorded that these foresayd persons whome the king and the Catholique fathers did so greatly deteste for heretickes were in diuers countries of this realme dispersed and increased especially at London in Lincolnshire in Northfolk in Herefordshyre in Shreusbury in Callice and diuers other quarters mo with whom the Archb. of Caunterbury Thomas Arundell the same time had much ado as by hys own registers doth appeare Albeit some there were that dyd shrinke many did reuolt and renounce for daunger of the law Among whom was Iohn Puruey whiche recanted at Paules Crosse of whom more foloweth the Lord willing to be said in the yeare 1421. Also Iohn Edward priest of the dioces of Lincolne who reuoked in the greene yard at Norwich Richard Herbert and Emmot Willy of Lōdon also Iohn Becket who recanted at London Item Iohn Seynons of Lincolneshyre who was caused to reuoke at Caunterbury The articles of whom which commonly they did hold and which they were constrayned to abiure most specially were these as follow Their Articles First that the office of the holy Crosse ordayned by the whole Church celebrated doth contayne idolatry Item they sayd and affirmed that all they which doe reuerence and worship the signe of the crosse do commit idolatry and are reputed as Idolaters Item they sayd and affirmed that the true fleshe and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ is not in the sacrament of the aulter after the words spoken by the priest truely pronounced Item they sayd and affirmed the sacrament of the aultar to be sacramentall bread not hauing life but onely instituted for a memoriall of Christes passion Item they sayd and affirmed that the body of Christe which is taken on the aulter is a figure of that body of christ as long as we see the bread and wyne Item they sayd and affirmed that the decree of the prelates and clergie in the prouince of Caunterbury in theyr last conuocation with the consent of the king and the nobles in the last Parliament agaynst him that was brent lately in the citty of London was not sufficient to chaunge the purpose of the sayd Iohn when the substance of materiall bread is euen as before in the sacrament of the aultar it was no change being made in the nature of bread * Item that any lay man may preach the Gospel in euery place and may teach it by his owne authoritie without the licence of his Ordinary Itē that it is sinne to geue any thing to the preaching friers to the Minorites to the Augustines to the Carmelites Item that we ought not to offer at the funerals of the dead Item that the confession of sins to the people is vnneedefull Item that euery good man though he be vnlearned is a priest Item that the infant though he dye vnbaptised shal be saued Item that neither the pope nor the prelate neither any ordinary can compell any man to sweare by anye creature of God or by the bible booke Item that as well the Bishop the simple man the priest and the lay man be of like authoritie as lōg as they liue well Item that no man is bound to geue bodily reuerence to any prelate ¶ William Thorpe THus much briefly being signified by the way touching these which haue bene forced in time of this king to open abiuration Next commeth to our handes the worthy history of maister William Thorpe a warriour valiaunt vnder the triumphant banner of Christ with the processe of his examinations before the foresayd Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Caunterb written by the sayd Thorpe and storyed by his owne pen at the request of hys frendes as by hys own words in the processe here of may appeare In whole examination whiche seemeth first to begin an 1407. thou shalt haue good reader both to learne and to merueile To learne in that thou shalt beare truth discoursed and discussed with the contrary reasons of the aduersary dissolued To marueile for that thou shalt beholde here in this man the merueilous force and strength of the Lordes might spirite and grace working and fighting in his souldiors also speaking in theyr mouthes according to the word of hys promise Luke xxi To the rest of the story we haue neither added nor diminished but as we haue receiued it copied out corrected by maister Williā Tindall who had his own handwriting so we haue here sent it and set it out abroad Althoughe for the more credite of the matter I rather wished it in his own naturall speach wherein it was first written Notwithstanding to put away all doubt and scrouple herein this I thought before to premonishe and testifie to the Reader touching the certaintie hereof that they be yet aliue whiche haue seene the selfe same copy in his own old English resembling y◠true antiquitie both of the speach and of the time The name of whom as for recorde of the same to auouche is M. Whithead who as he hath seene the true ancient copy in the hādes of George Constantine so hath he
eius deuotionem pertinet timorem passus sit quicquid pati potuit who had as much as to deuotion and feare apperteined suffered already what he might or could suffer as Cyprian said by Cornelius That he I say which a little before in the moneth of September stoode so constant in defence of Christes faith would now in the moneth of Ianuary rise to destroy adnull subuert Christes faith and the law of God and holy Church within the Realme of England How can it be not like only but possible to be true that he which neuer denied the faith which euer confessed the faith so constantly which was for the same faith condemned yea and at last also burned for the faith would euer fight against the faith and law of God to adnull and to subuert it Let vs proceed yet further and see when that he should haue to destroied and adnulled the Christian faith and law of God in England what faith or law then could he or did he entend to bring into the realme of England The Turks faith or the Iewes faith or the Popes faith or what faith else I pray you For he that will be an enemie to the faith of Christ and will shew himselfe frend to no other faith beside I accompt him not out of his right faith but out of his right wits And therfore euen as it is true that sir Iohn Oldcastle with his coÌ„federates abertours were vp in armes to subuert and extinguish the faith of Christ and law of God in the realme of England so by the like truth it may be estemed that the same persons rose also to destroy their soueraigne Lord the king and his brethren First thanks be to God that neither the king nor any of his brethren had any hurt by him But his intent saith the preface was to destroy his soueraigne Lord the king Whereunto I aunswere with this interrogatorie whether his intent was priuily to haue destroied him or by opeÌ„ force of armes If priuily what needeth then such a great army of xx thousand men to atcheue the secret feate Rather I would think that he needed more the help of such as were neare about the king as some of the kinges priuie chamber or some of his secret counsaile whereof neither Chronicle nor record doth insinuate any mention If his intent was openly to inuade the kyng You must vnderstand M. Cope that to withstand a king in his owne Realme many thinges are required long time great preparation many frendes great assistance and ayd of kindred money horse men armour and all other things apperteining for the same Earle Godwin of Westfaxe who had maried Canutus daughter being a man both ambitious and as false a traitour for al his sixe sonnes and great alliance yet durst not set vpon king Edward to inuade him within his Realme although he sought manye occasions so to do yet neuer durst enterprise openly that which his ambition so greedely presumed vnto page 163. In the time of King Henry the third Symon Montford Earle of Glocester Gilbert Clare Earle of Leicester Humfrey Rone Earle of Ferrence with a great number of Lords and Barons thought themselues to haue great right on their sides yet durst not for all their power openly assaile the King in his Realme before great debatemeÌ„t and talke first had betweene page 330. Likewise what murmuring and grudging was in the realme against king Edward the second among the peres and nobles and also prelates only Walter Bishop of Couentry except first for Gaueston then for the Spensers at what time Thomas Earle of Lancaster Guido Earle of Warwike with the most part of al other Earles and Barons concordly consenting together to the displacing first of Gaueston then of the Spensers yet neither rashly nor without great feare durst stirre vp warre in the land or disquiet or vexe the king but first by all meanes of moderate counsaile and humble petition thought rather to perswade then to inuade the king page 308. In like maner and with like grudging mindes in the reigne of King Richard 2. Thomas Wodstocke Duke of Glocester the kings vncle with the Earles of Arundell of Warwike and Darby with the power almost of the whole commons stood vp in armes against the king And yet notwithstanding all their power ioined together being so great and their cause seming to them so reasonable yet were they not so hardy straightwayes to flee vpon the king but by way of Parliament thought to accomplishe that which their purpose had conceiued and so did without any warre striking against the king page 513. After King Richard 2. was deposed and was in prison yet liuing diuers noble men were greatly inflamed against K. Henry the fourth as Sir Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington Thomas Spenser Earle of Glocester the Earles likewise of Kent and of Salisbury with sir Iohn Cheney other mo wherof diuers had beene Dukes before now deposed by King Henry 4. although they had conceiued in their harts great grudge and malice against the said King Henry yet had they neither hart nor power openly with mans force to assaile the king but secretly were coÌ„pelled to atchieue their conceiued inteÌ„t which notwithstanding they could not accomplish Ex hist. D. Alban Thus you see Maister Cope or els maister Harpsfield or whatsoeuer ye be to gainstand a king and with open force to encounter with him in his owne land and in his owne chamber of London where he is so sure and strong what a matter of how great cheuance it is wherin so many and so great difficulties do lye the attempt so dangerous the chances so vncertaine the furniture of so manie things required that fearce in any kings daies heretofore any peeres or nobles of the Realme were they neuer so strongly assisted with power wit or counsaile yet either were able or els well durst euer enterprise vpon the case so dangerous notwithstanding were they neuer of themselues so far from all feare of God and true obedience And shal we then thinke or caÌ„ we imagine maister Cope that Syr Iohn Oldcastle a man so well instructed in the knowledge of Gods word beyng but a poore Knight by his degree hauing none of all the peeres and nobles in all the world to ioyne with him being prisoner in the Tower of London a litle before in the moneth of December could now in the moneth of Ianuary so sodenly in such an hoat season of the yeare start vp an army of xx thousand fightyng men to inuade the kyng to kill two Dukes his brethren to adnulle Christen fayth to destroy Gods law and to subuert holy Church 〈◊〉 why doth not he adde moreouer to set also all London on fire and to turne all England into a fishe poole Beliue these men which geue out these â—igmentes of Syr Iohn Oldcastle dyd thinke him to be one of Deucations stocke who castyng of stones ouer his shoulder
haue ordeined a speciall iudgement as they should thinke good yet when hee was before atteinted by the outlawrie they could not lawfully varie from the common iudgemeÌ„t of â—reason At least how could or should the iudgement of Sir Roger Acton Maister Browne and Iohn Beuerley who were iudged in the Buildhall before and without the Parliament vary from the said common iudgement of Traytors if they had truly committed and bene conuicted of such high treason Adde this moreouer to the foresaid Notes that if Sir Iohn Oldcastle after his escape out of prison had bene culpable and so atteinted of that high treason wherby his lands had bene immediately forfait vnto the King by the processe of his outlawry What needed the king then in the second yeare of his raigne in the Parliament after holden at Leycester haue made that prouiso to haue his lands forfaite to him by vertue of Parliament vpon his escape on the day of his arest when as the lands and cattaile of his had bene forfeite before by the processe of the outlawry as is before specified Thus you see Maister Cope how little aduantage you can wrast out of this Commission and inditement against the Lord Cobham and his fellowes to proue them traytors And admit the said Lord Cobham was attainted of treason by the Acte and that the King the Lordes and the Commons assented to the Act yet it hindeth not in such sort as if in deed he were no Traytour that anye man may not by search of the truth vtter and set forth sincerely and iustly the very true cause whereby his death hapt and followed Thus then hauing sufficiently cleared the Lord Cobham and his parteners from all that you can obiect vnto them out of records and statutes let vs now come to your English Chroniclers wherwith you seeme to presse me to oppresse them whome ye name to be Robert Fabian Edward Halle Polydor Virgilius Thomas Cooper Richard Grafton with other briefe Epitomes and Summaries c. Concerning which authors as I haue not to say but to their commendation in this place so if that you had auonched the same to the commendation rather then to the reproofe of other I would better haue commeÌ„ded your nature and beleued your cause But now like a spidercatcher sucking out of euery one what is the worst to make vp your leystall you heape vp a donghill of dirtie Dialogues conteining nothing in them but malicious railing virulent slanders manifest vntruths opprobrious contumelies stinking blasphemies able almost to corrupt infect the aire Such is the maladie cacoethes of your pen the it beginneth to barke before it hath learned well to write Which pen of yours notwithstanding I do not heere reproch nor contemne as neither do I greatly feare the same God of his mercy keepe the sword out of the Papists hand it is not the pen of the papists I greatly passe vpoÌ„ though xx Copes and so many surplesses were set against the booke of Monuments were I so disuâ—sed Maister Cope to dally or as the Breckes do say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to repay againe as I am prouoked But in despightful railing and in this Satyricall sort of barking I geue you ouer and suffer you therin to passe not only your selfe but also Cerberus himself if ye will the great bandog of Pluto Mildnes and humanitie rather beseemeth and is the grace of the Latine phrase If ye could hit vpon the vaine therof it would win you much more honestie with all honest men But the Lord hereafter may cal you which I beseech him to do and to forgiue you that you haue done In the meaue time seeing this your pratling pen must nedes be walking yet this you might haue lerned of these your own authors whom you aledge more ciuilly to haue reÌ„pered your fume in exclaiming against theÌ„ whose cause is to you not perfectly known And now briefly to answer to these your foresaide wryters as witnesses produced against these men there be 2. things as I take it in these chronicle wryters to be coÌ„sidered First the grouÌ„ds which they follow secondly in what place they serue As touching the order and ground of wryting among these Chronicles ye must consider and caÌ„not be ignorant that as none of all these by you forenamed was present at the deede nor witnesse of the fact so haue they nothyng of theÌ„selues herein certainely to affirme but either must follow publike rumor and hearesay for their autor or els one of them must borrow of another Whereof neither seemeth to me sufficient For as publike rumor is neuer certain so one author may soone deceiue an other By reason whereof it commeth oft to passe that as these story wryters hit many times the truth so againe al is not the gospell that they doe wryte Wherefore great respect is heere to be had either not to credite rashly euery one that wryteth stories or els to see what groundes they haue whome we doe followe Now to demaund M. Cope of you what authoritye or foundation hath your Robert Fabian hathe Polydore Uirgil Edward Hal and other of your authors to prooue these men to be traytors What authority do they auouch what actes what registers what recordes or out of what court do they shewe or what demoÌ„stration do they make And do you thinke it sufficient because these men doe only affirme it wythout any further probation wyth youre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therfore we are bouÌ„d to beleue it Take me not so M. Cope that I do here diminish any thing or derogate from the credit of those wryters you alledge whose labors haue deserued well and serue to great vtilitie but coÌ„ming now to triall of a matter lying in coÌ„trouersie betwene vs we are now forced to seeke out the fountaine and bottome of the truthe where it is not enough to say so it is but the cause is to be shewed why it is so affirmed And what though Robert Fabian Polydore Uirgile and Edwarde Hall should all together as they do not agree in the treason of sir Iohn Oldcastle and of the rest yet neither is this any sufficient surety to prooue them traitors Considering that wryters of stories for most part folowing either blind reporte or els one taking of an other vse commonly all to sound together after one tune tanquam Dodonaei lebetes so that as one sayth all say and if one erre all do erre Wherfore you see M. Cope howe it is not sufficient nor sure to sticke onely to the names and authorities of Chronographers vnlesse the ground be found substantial wherupon they stand themselues Which yet in none of these whome you haue produced doth appeare Secondly in alleaging and wryting of Chronicles is to be considered to what place and effect they serue If yee would shew out of them the order course of times what yeres were of dearth and of pleÌ„ty where kings kept their
lying neuer to be clawed of while the world standeth yet shal the posterity to come iudge betwene you me whether shall appeare more honest and true my defence for that worthy lord then your vncourteous and viperuns wrangling against him mooued with no other cause but onely with the peuish spirite of Poperie whych can abide nothing but that sauereth of your owne secte For els how many loud lying legends yea what legion of lies are daily vsed and receiued in the popish church What doltish dreames what fained myracles what blasphemous tales and frierly fables and idle inueÌ„tions fighting against the sincere religion doctrine and crosse of Christ And coulde you holde your penne from al these and finde nothing els to set your idlenesse on worke but onely to wryte agaynst the Lorde Cobham Syr Roger Acton Browne Onley Cowbrige with a fewe other whome wyth much a doe at length you haue sought out not so much for any true zeale to rebuke iniquitye as craftely seeking matter by these to deface and blemish the booke of Actes and Monumentes Which seemeth belike to make you scratche there where it itcheth not And if I shoulde after the like dealing take in hand your Popish portues and with like diligence excusse euery Popish martyr and Saint there canonised thinke you maister Cope I coulde not make you out halfe dosen as ranke traitours and rebels to their kings and princes as euer were any of these of your picking out What pope almost hath there bene these last 500. yeares whych hathe not bene a traitour to his Emperor and Prince and to his countrey either openly rebelling against them or priuely conspiring their destruction or proudly setting theyr feete vpon their necks or spurning their crownes of from their heads or making the sonne to fight against the father How many haue they deposed and set vp other in theyr seates how many Emperours and kings haue they wrongfully cursed What Consulles of Rome haue they resisted deposed and put to death What warres haue they raised vp against theyr owne countrey of Rome Yea the continuall holding of the City of Rome from hys lawfull Emperor what is it but a continuall poynt of treason What will you answere mee M. Cope to the Pope which conspired to let fall downe a stone vpon the Emperours head kneeling at his prayers pag. 177. And though this treachery being as big as a milstone seemed but a smal mote in your eye that it could not be espied yet what will you say by the Monke of Swinstede that poysoned king Iohn who was both absolued by his abbot before his treason committed and after hys treason had a perpetuall Masse songe for him to helpe hym out of Purgatorie And what thinke ye in your conscience is to be sayde of Thomas Becket who did inough and more then became him to set the French king and the king of Englande together by the eares Of Anselme likewise and of Stephen Langhton who departed both out of the Realme to complaine of their princes soueraines The like may be said also of Iohn Peckham Iohn Stradford Archbyshop of the same sea notoriously resisted the Kinges commaundement being sent for by king Edward 3. to come to the parliament at Yorke through the default of whose comming the present oportunitie of getting Scotland was the same time lost Richard Scrope Archb. of Yorke was opeÌ„ly in armes to rebell fight against K. Henry 4. for the which he was condemned put to death And yet notwtstanding Commission was sent downe from the pope shortly after to excoÌ„municate them which put him to death his treason notwtstanding Read that story sincerely of pope Benedict 12. and of pope Clement 6. And see howe the traiterous rebellion of these two popes against Ludouicus their rightful Emperor can be defended Which Emperor at last was also empoysoned that not without the practise of Pope Clement as doth Hieronimus Marius credibly witnesse In the raigne of K. Edward the 2. mention was made before of Thomas Earle of Lancaster Who with a great number of other nobles and Barons of the realme rose in armour against their prince and therefore at lengthe were put to death as traitours And yet notwythstanding thys treason committed M. Cope if you be so ignorant in our stories that you know it not set your setters on to search and you shall finde it true that certaine Noble men went vp to Rome for the canonising of the sayde Thomas of Lancaster to be made a Saint and obtained the same In so much that in a certayne olde Calendare the name of the sayd S. Thomas of Lancaster is yet extant to be seene In the former booke of these Actes and Monumentes aboue about the pag. 353. or 354. mention was made of Edmund of Abbenden Archb. of Cant. whom although I do not disproue but rather commend in my history for his bold and sage counsail geuen vnto K. Henry the 3. and also for offering the censure of excommunication against the king in so necessary a cause yet notwithstanding the same Edmund afterward about his latter end went vp wyth a rebelling minde to complaine of his king vnto the Pope and in his iourney died before his return who afterward for the same was canonised by the Pope and now shineth among the Saints in the popes Calender Let vs come more neare to these dayes and times and consider the doings of Tho. Arundell Archb. of Canterb. Who being first deposed and exiled for hys contemptuous deserts against the king and afterward comming in wyth Henry Bolynbroke Duke of Herford in open armes and with main force rose against his natural and lawful king thinke you M. Cope thys is not as greate a poynte of treason as that which was done in Thiâ—kets fields And though he be not placed among the portuous Sainctâ— yet I thinke nothing contrary but in your heart you will not greatly sticke to say Sancte Thoma ora pro nobis All these thinges well considered tell me M. Cope I pray you is treason suche a straunge and vnketh thyng in your pope catholike churche that your burning zeale of obedience to kings and princes can not read the story of the L. Cobham sir Roger Acton but your pen must needes be inflamed to wryte against them and yet so many traytors in your owne Calenders neither seene nor once spoken of And if the traiterous conspiracy and rebellion of so many your Calender Saintes committed against Emperours Kings and Princes can not stirre your zeale nor moue your pen Nor if the treason of pope Gregory 9. raising warre against his owne city of Rome and causing 30. thousande citizens in one battaile to be slaine pag. 281. deserueth not to be espied and accused as much as this treason of the Lorde Cobham yet what will you or can you answer to me M. Cope as touching the horrible treason of pope Gregory the 7. committed not against
his Prologue to the sayd Martine in this wise Nec mora longa processit quin statutum publicum per omne regni concilium in publico emanauit edicto quod omnes Wicleuistae sicut dei proditores essent sic proditores regis proscriptis bonis censerentur et regni duplici poenae dandi incendio propter deum suspendio propter regem c. That is And it was not long after but a publicke law and statute came out by the common assent of the general parliameÌ„t of the whole Realme that al Wiclenistes as they were traytours to God so also should be counted traytors to the king and to the realme hauing their goods lost and confiscate vnto the king And therefore should suffer double punishment as to be burnt for God and to bee hanged for the king c. And thus haue you Maister Cope not onely my sentence but also the very wordes of my story confirmed by this author because ye shall not think me to speake so lightly or impudently without my booke And moreouer to confirme the said sentence of Tho. Walden it followeth also in an other place of the foresayde author Tomo 1. lib. 2. De doctrinali fidei Ecclesie Cathol Cap. 46. where he writeth in these wordes Et tamen iam cum regnare coepisset Illustris rex Henricus 5. qui adhuc agit in sceptris et de eoruÌ„ perfidia per catholicos bin doctos legem statui fecit vt vbique per regnum Wickliuista probatus vt reus puniretur de crimine lesae maiestatis c. That is And yet when the noble king Henry the v. who as yet doth liue and raigne began first to raigne began to set forth a law by his learned catholickes which were about him against the falsenes of these men so that whosoeuer was proued to be a Wickleuist through the whole Realme should be punished for a traytour c. What wordes can you haue M. Cope more playne then these or what authoritie can you require of more credite which liued in the same tyme and both did see and heare of the same thinges done who also writing to Pope Martine was by the sayd pope Martine allowed approued solemnly commended as appeareth by the popes Epistle to him wherin yâ— pope declareth how he caused his books Per solennes viros videri examinari That is by solemne persons to be seene and examined c. So that you must needes graunt either this to be true that Walden writeth or els that the Pope tanquam Papa in allowing his writings may erre and be deceaued Chuse ye mayster Cope of these two options whether you will take And if ye thinke this my assertion yet not sufficiently rescued with these authorities aboue sayd I will also here vnto adioyne the testimony of an other writer named Roger Walle who writing De Gestis Henric 5. and speaking of the sayd statute of this parliament some thing more plainly then the rest hath these wordes In hoc etiam Parliamento nobilitas regia hostes Christi sibi reputans proditores volens dare intelligere vniuersis quòd ipse absque cuiuscunque fluctuationis dubio quam diu auras hauriret vitales verus perfectus Christianae fidei aemulator existeret statuit decreuit vt quotquot Ipsius sectae quae dicitur Lollordorum inuenirentur aemuli fautores eo facto rei proditorij criminis in maiestatem regiam haberétur c. In English Also in this parliament the noble K. reputing Christes enemies to be traytors to himselfe to the intent that all men should know withall doubt that so loÌ„g as he liued he woulde be a true and perfect follower of Christen faith did enact decree that whosoeuer shoulde be found followers and mayntayners of this sect whiche is called the Lollards sect Ipso facto should be counted and reputed giltie of treason against the kings maistie c. By these hetherto alledged if M. Cope will not be satisfied yet let the reader indifferent iudge Vâ—rum in hac re magis nugatur Foxus an Copus calumniatur And yet moreouer to make the matter more certayne marke the clamation of the sayd Roger Walle added to the end of those words aboue recited whereby we haue to vnderstand more clearly both what were the proceedings of the king in the said Parliament also what was the blinde affection of moÌ„ks and Priestes at that time towarde their kinge and Prince which was then called princeps sacerdotum in condemning and destroying the poore Lollardes The wordes of the monke be these O verus amicus qui amico illa tam iniuriam sibi inferri coÌ„similiter arbitratur praeiudicium illi intentuÌ„ reputat esse suum ad eius onera conferenda auxiliationis humeros supponere non veretur c. That is O true frend who taketh and reckoneth that iniury no lesse done to him selfe which is done to his frend and that preiudice whiche is intended against him reputeth to bee as his owne And to beare together the burdens of his friend sticketh not to lay to his owne shoulders for the easing and helping of him c. How can it now be denied M. Cope in reading these authors and seeing theyr testimonies but that Lollardery in this Parliament was made both treason and heresie had therfore a double iudgement of punishment annexed to be hanged for for the one and to be burned for the other according as in my former Latin story I recorded and yet I trust I trifled not But you will say agayne as ye doe that there is no mention made for heresie to be made treason nor of anye double punishment to be inflicted for the same In the body of the statute I graunt there is no expresse mention in wordes of heresie to be made treason expresly signified in rigour of wordes but inclusiuely it is so inferred that it can not be denied For first where landes goodes and cattell of the sayd Lollardes were lost and forfeit to the kyng what doth this importe els but treason or felonie And where the Lorde Cobham for whose cause specially this statute seemed to be made did sustaine afterward both hanging and burning by the vigor of the same statute what is here contained but a double penalty Again wherin the beginning of the statute mention is made of rumors and congregations and after vpon the same followeth the seruices of the king whereunto the officers be first worne should first be preferred for libertie of holy Churche punishment of hereticks made before these dayes and not repealed vt supra pag. 000. what meaneth this but to make these congregations of the Lollardes to be forcible entres riotes great ridings vnlawful assembles affrayres of the people armour routes insurrections so sendeth them to the former statutes not repealed that is to the statute an 13. Henr. 4. chap. 7 Where the punishment is left to the discretion
was so strikeÌ„ in his tongue that neither he could swallow nor speake for a certayne space before hys death much lyke after the example of the rich glotton and so dyed vpon the same And thys was thought of many to come vpon him for that he so bound the word of the Lord that it should not be preached in hys dayes c. whiche if it be true as it doth well here appeare these and such other horrible exaÌ„ples of gods wrath may be terrible spectacles for such as occupy theyr tongues and braynes so busily to stop the course of gods wrath striuing but against the streame against the force whereof neither they are able to resiste many times in resisting are ouerturned theÌ„selues drowned therin And thus much for the death of Tho. Arundel who coÌ„tinued archb in yâ— see of Cant. the space of 18. yeres After this Arundel succeeded next in the said see of CaÌ„terb Henry Chichelsly made archb an 1414. and sate xxv yeares This Henry following likewise the steps of hys predecessour shewed himselfe no small aduersary against the fauourers of the truth In whose time was much trouble and great afflictioÌ„ in the church For as the preaching and teaching of the word did multiply and spread abroad daily more and more so on the contrary side more vigilant care and straight inquisition followed and increased against the people of God by reason wherof diuers did suffer were burned some for feare fled the country Many were brought to examinatioÌ„ and by infirmitie constrained to abiure Of whome hereafter Christ willing particularly in order of theyr times we will entreat As true pietie and sincere preaching of Christes worde began at this time to decay So idle moÌ„kery and vaine superstitioÌ„ in place therof begaÌ„ to encrease For about the same yere the king began the foundation of 2. monasteries one of the one side of Thames of Friers obseruaunt the other on the other side Thames called Shene and Syon dedicated to Charter house monkes with certaine Brigit nonnes or recluses to the nuÌ„ber of 60. dwelling within the same precinct so that the whole number of these with priestes moÌ„kes deacons and nonnes shoulde equall the number of 13. Apostles and 72. disciples The order of these was according to the discription of S. Paule the Apostle Col. 1. Eat not tast not touch not c. to eat no fleshe to weare no linnen to touch no mony c. About Michaelmas the same yeare the king began his Parliament at Leicester aboue mentioned In the whiche Parliament the commons put vp theyr bill agayn which they had put vp before an 11. Henr. 4. the teÌ„pporalties disorderly wasted by men of the church might be conuerted employed to the vse of the king of his Earls and knights and to the reliefe of the poore people as is before recited pag. 557. In feare of which bill least the king woulde geue therunto any comfortable audience as testifieth Rob. Fabian and other writers certayne of the Prelates other headmen of the church put the king in mind to clayme his right in Fraunce Whereupon â—en Chichesly Archbish. of Caunterbury made a long and solemne oration before the king to perswade him to the same offering to the king in the â—ehalfe of the Clergie great and notable summes By reason wherof sayth Fabian the bill was agayne put of and the king set his minde for the recouery of the same so that soone after he sent his letters and messengers to the French king concerning that matter and receiued from him againe answere of derision with a pype of tennis balles as some recorde sent from the Dolphin for him to playe with at home Whereby the kinges minde was incensed yâ— more toward that viage who then furnishing hymselfe with strength and armour with powder shot and gunstones to play with in Fraunce and with other artillarye for that purpose conuenient so set ouer into France where he got Dareflew with diuers other townes and castles in Normandy and Picardy and at Agyncourt had a great victory ouer the french army they benig counted but 7. thousand by pricking sharp stakes before them c. After that he waâ— Cane Towke Kowan with other â—ownes moe as Meldune or Melione and maryed with Katherine the french kinges daughter And yet notwithstanding the third time he made hys viage agayne into Fraunce where at length at Bloys he fell sicke and dyed Concerning all which viages because they are sufficientlye discoursed in Fabian â—alle and other Chronographers referring therfore the reader vnto them I will return my story to other matters of the Church more effectuall The entry of the story of the Bohemians I Declared a little before howe by the occasion of Queene Anne which was a Bohemian and maried to king Richard 2. the Bohemians coÌ„ming therby to the knowledge of Wickliffes bookes here in England began first to taste and sauor Christes gospell til at length by the preaching of Iohn Husse they increased more and more in knowledge In so much that pope Alexander the v. hearing thereof began at last to styrre coales and directeth his Buâ— to yâ— archbishop of Suinco requiring hym to looke to the matter to prouide that no person in Churches Schooles or other places should mayntayne that doctrine citing also I. Hus to appeare before him To whom the sayd Iohn aunswering againe declared that mandate or Bull of the pope vtterly to repugne agaynst the manifest examples doinges both of Christ and of hys Apostles and to be preiudiciall to the liberty of the Gospell in binding the word of God not to haue free recourse And therefore from this mandate of the P. he appealed to the same Pope better aduised But while he was prosecuting hys appeale Pope Alexander died as is aforesayd pag â—53 Ex Cochleo in hist. Hussit After whome succeeded Pope Iohn the xxiii who also playing hys part here in this matter like a Pope sought by all meanes possible how to represse and keep vnder the Bohemians first beginning to worke his malice vpoÌ„ the foresayd Iohn Husse theyr preacher Who at the same tyme preaching at Prage in the temple of Bethleem because he seemed rather willing to teach the Gospell of Christ then the traditions of Bishops was therefore accused of certayn to the forenamed P. Iohn the 23. for an heretick The Bishop committed the whole matter vnto Cardinall de Collumna who when he had heard the accusation he appoynted a day to Iohn Husse that he shold appeare in the court of Rome whiche thing once done Wenceslaus king of the Romaynes of Boheme at the request specially of his wife Sophia and of the whole nobility of Boheme as also at the earnest sute and desire of the towne and vniuersitie of Prage He sent his Embassadours to Rome to desire the byshop to quit clearely deliuer Iohn Husse from that sentence and
definitiue condemned him to perpetuall prison After whose condemnation the sonday next folowing the recantation of Tho. Granter and of Richard Monke Priestes aboue mentioned were openly read at Paules crosse the Byshop of Rochester the same time preached at the sayd crosse The tenour of whose recantation with his Articles in the same expressed here vnder foloweth IN the name of God Before you my Lord of Canterbury and all you my Lords here being present afore you all here gathered at this time I Thomas Granter priest vnworthy dwelling in this City of LondoÌ„ feeling vnderstanding that afore this time I affirmed open errours and heresies saying beleuing and affirming within thys City that he that Christian men callen Pope is not verye Pope ner Gods vicary in earth but I sayd he was Antichrist Also I sayd beleued and affirmed that after the sacramentall wordes sayd by a Priest in the Masse there remayneth materiall bread and wine and is not turned into Christes body and his bloud Also I said and affirmed that it was not for to doe in no wise to goe on pilgrimage but it was better I sayd to abide at home and beate the stooles with theyr heeles for it was I sayde but tree stone that they soughten Also I sayde and affirmed that I held no Scripture catholicke ner holy but onely that is conteyned in the Bible For the Legendes and liues of Sayntes I held hem nought and the miracles written of hem I helde vntrue Because of which errours and heresies I was tofore M. Dauy Price Uicar generall of my Lord of London and since tofore you my Lord of Caunterbury your brethren in your councell prouinciall by you fully informed which so sayd mine affirming beleuing teaching bene open errors and heresies and contrarious to the determination of the chirch of Rome Wherfore I willing to follow and sewe the doctrine of holy chirch and depart fro all maner errors and heresye and turne with good will hart to the onehead of the chirch coÌ„sidering that holye chirch shitteth ner closeth not her bosome to him that will turne agayne ne God will not the death of a sinner but rather he ben turned liue With a pure hart I confesse detest despise my sayd errours and heresies and the sayd opinions I confesse as heresies and errours to the fayth of the Chirch of Rome to all vniuersally holy Chirch repugnaunt And therfore these sayd opinions in speciall and all other errours and heresies doctrines and opinioÌ„s â—yen the fayth of the Church and the determination of the Churche of Rome I abiure and forsweare here tofore you all and sweare by these holy Gospels by me bodily touched that from henceforth I shall neuer hold teach ne preach errour errours heresie ne heresies nor false doctrine agaynst the faith of holy chirch determination of the chirch of Rome ner none such thing I shall obstinately defend ne any man holding or teaching such maner thinges by me or an other person openly or priuily I shal defend I shall neuer after thys tyme be receitor fautor councellor or defendor of hereticks or of any person suspect of heresie ner I shal trow to him ner wittingly fellaship with him ner yeue him counseil fauour yiftes ne coÌ„fort And if I know any heretickes or of heresie or of such false opinions anye person suspect or anye man or woman making or holding priuy conuenticles or assemblies or any diuers or singular opinions from the common doctrine of the Church of Rome or if I may know any of their fautors comforters councelours or defensers or any that haue suspect bookes or quiers of such erroures and heresies I shall let you my Lord of Canterbury or your officers in your absence or the Diocesans and Ordinaries of such men haue soone and ready knowing so help me God and holydeme and these holy Euangelies by me bodely touched ¶ After this recantation at the Crosse thus published and his submission made ' the sayd Granter then was by the aduise of the Prelates put to 7. yeares prisonment vnder the custody and charge of the bishop of London After this followed in like maner the recantation of Richard Monke Also of Edmund Frith which was before Butler so sir Iohn Oldcastle Beside these aboue remembred many and diners there be in the sayd register recorded who likewise for their faith and religion were greatly vexed and troubled especially in the Dioces of Kent in the townes of Romney Tenterden Wodcherche Cranbroke Staphelherst Beninden Halden Roluenyden and others where as whole housholdes both man and wife were driuen to forsake theyr houses and townes for daunger of persecution as sufficiently appeareth in the processe of the Archb. Chichesley agaynst the sayd persons and in the certificat of Burbath his officiall wherein are named these persons following 1. W. White Priest 2. Tho. Grenested Priest 3. Bartho Cronmonger 4. Iohn Wadnon 5. Ioan his wife 6. Tho. Euerden 7. William Euerden 8. Steuen Robin 9. W. Chiueling 10. Iohn Tame 11. Iohn Fowlin 12. Will. Somer 13. Marion his wife 14. Iohn Abraham 15. Rob. Munden 16. Laurence Coke These being cited vp together by the bishop would not appere Wherupon great inquisition being made for them by his officers they were constrained to flie their houses townes shift for themselues as couertly as they might When Burbath and other officers had sent worde to the Archbishop that they coulde not be founde then he directed downe order that Citations should be set vp for them on euery Church dore through all townes where they did inhabite appointing them a day terme wheÌ„ to appeare But not withstanding when as they yet could not be taken neither would appeare the Archbishop sitting in hys tribunall seate proceedeth to the sentence of excommunication against them What afterward happened to them in the register doth not appeare but like it is at length they were forced to submit themselues Concerning sir Iohn Oldcastle the Lord Cobham and of his first apprehension with his whole story life sufficiently hath bene expressed before pag. 575. how he being committed to the Tower and condeÌ„ned falsely of heresie escaped afterward out of the Tower and was in Wales about the space of four yeares In the which meane time a great summe of money was proclaimed by the King to hym that could take the sayde sir Iohn Oldcastle eyther quicke or dead About the ende of which foure yeares beeing expired the Lord Powes whether for loue and greedines of the money or whether for hatred of true and sincere doctrine of Christ seking all maner of wayes how to play the parte of Iudas at length obteined his bloudie purpose and brought the Lorde Cobham bound vp to London which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1417. and about the moneth of December At which time there was a Parliament assembled at London for the reliefe of money the same time
your fatherly reuerēces would vouchsafe to permit at the least the Gospels Epistles and Creede to be song read in the Church in our vulgare tong before the people to moue thē vnto deuotion for in our Slauon language it hath bene vsed of old in the Church and likewise in our kingdome Item we require you in the name of the saide kingdome and of the famous Vniuersitie of Prage that your fatherly reuerences would vouchsafe to shew such diligence and care towards the desired reformation of that Vniuersitie that according to the maner and forme of other Uniuersities reformed by the Church Prebends and collations of certaine benefices of Cathedrall and Parish Churches may be annexed and incorporate vnto the said Uniuersitie that thereby it may be increased and preferred Item we desire you as before as hartily as we may also sauing alwaies your fatherly reuerēce require you and by the former cōpositions we most instātly admonish you that with your whole minds and endeuours with all care study your reuerēces will watch seeke for that long desired most necessary reformation of the Church Christian Religion and effectually labour for the rooting out of all publike euils as well in the head as in the members as you haue often promised to do in our kingdome in the cōpositions as our fourth Article touching the auoiding of all publicke euils doth exact and require There were certaine answeres prouided by the Councel to these petitions of the Bohemiās which were not deliuered vnto thē but kept backe for what purpose or intent we knowe not Wherefore because we thought them not greatly necessary for this place also to auoid prolixitie we haue iudged it meet at this present to omit them Thus haue ye heard compendiously the chief principal matters intreated done in this famous Councell of Basill And here to cōclude withall we haue thought good to declare vnto you for the aid helpe of the ignorant people whych iudge many things to be of lōger time continuāce then in deed they be thereupon haue established a great parte of their opinions how that toward the latter end of thys Coūcell that is to say in the xxxvi Session of the same holdē the xvij day of September in the yeare of our Lord 1439. the feast of the Conception of our Lady was ordeined to be holden and celebrate yearely In like case also in the xliiij Session of the same Councell holden the first day of Iuly an 1441. was ordeined the feast of the Uisitation of our Lady to be celebrate and holden yearely in the moneth of Iuly We haue also thought it good before we do end this story to annexe hereunto certaine decrees profitably and wholesomely ordeined in the said Coūcell against the inordinate geuing of the Ecclesiasticall benefices and liuings by the Pope with certaine other constitutions also fruitfull for the behalfe and edification of the Church During the time that the generall Councell at Basill was so diligent and carefull about the reformation of the Church this one thing seemed good vnto them to be prosecuted folowed with an earnest care and diligence that through euery Church apt and meete ministers might be appointed which might shine in vertue knowledge to the glory of Christ and the healthfull edifieng of the Christian people whereunto the multitude of expectatiue graces hath bene a great impedimēt and let in that they haue bin foūd to haue brought greuous troubles diuers disorders and many dangers vpon the ecclesiasticall state For hereby oftentimes scarsely apt or meete ministers haue bene appointed for the churches which are neither known nor examined and this expectation of void benefices as the old lawes do witnesse doth geue occasion to desire another mans death which is greatly preiudiciall vnto saluation besides that innumerable quarels contentions are moued amongst the seruants of God rancour and malice nourished the ambition and gredy desire of pluralities of benefices mainteined and the riches and substance of kingdomes and prouinces marueilously consumed Poore men suffer innumerable vexations by running vnto the court of Rome They are oftentimes spoiled and robbed by the way troubled afflicted with diuers plages and hauing spent their patrimony and substance left them by their parents they are cōstrained to liue in extreme pouerty Many do chalenge benefices which without any iust title yea such in deed as ought not to haue thē obtaine and get the same such I say as haue most craft and subtiltie to deceiue their neighbour or haue greatest substance to contend in the law It happeneth oftentimes that vnder the intrication of these prerogatiues antelations and such other as do associate these expectatiue graces much craft and disceit is found Also oftentimes the ministery is taken away from yong men by their ordinary geuers whiles that by the trouble of those contentions diuers discourses running to fro by meanes of those graces they are vexed troubled the Ecclesiasticall order is cōfounded whiles that euery mans authority and iurisdiction is not preserued the Bishops of Rome also by chalenging and taking vpō them too much the office of the inferiours are wythdrawen from more waighty and fruteful matters neither doe they diligently attend to the guiding and correction of the inferiors as the publike vtility doth require Al which things do bring a great confusion vnto the clergy and Ecclesiasticall state to the great preiudice and hinderaunce of Gods true worship and publicke saluation In the same Councell also diuers other constitutions were made not vnprofitable for reformation for remouing of certaine abuses disorders brought in especially by the B. of Rome as touching causes not to be brought vp and trāslated to the court of Rome Wherin it was decreed that no actions nor controuersies shuld be brought from other countries to be pleaded at Rome which were beyonde 4. dayes iourney distant from the sayde Courte of Rome a few principall matters onely excepted Also that no friuolous appeales should be made to the pope hereafter It was moreouer in the same councell decreed for the number age and condition of the Cardinals the they shuld not excede the number of 24. besides them that were alredy and that they should be frely taken out of al countries and that they should not be of kin to the bishop of Rome or to the Cardinals nor yet be blemished wyth any spot or crime Also for Annates or first fruites or halfe fruites it was there prouided that no such Annates or confirmation of elections or collation of benefices should be paide or reserued any more to the pope for the first yeres voidance All which thinges there agreed and concluded by them were afterward cōfirmed and ratified by the French king Charles 7. with the full consent of all his Prelates in his high court of Parliament in Bitures there called Pragmatica Sanctio An. 1438. whereupon
by the king saying that he had as liefe set his owne crowne beside hym as to see him weare a cardinals hatte and that in Parliamentes he not beyng contented with the place of a bishop among the spirituall persons presumed aboue hys order whiche the sayd Duke desired to be redressed 2. Item whereas he being made Cardinal was voyded of his bishopricke of Winchester he procured from Rome the Popes Bull vnknowing to the king whereby he took agayne his bishopricke contrary to the common lawe of this realme incurring therby the case of prouision and forefeiting all his goodes to the king by the law of premuniri facias 3. Item he complayned that the said Cardinall with the Archbishop of Yorke intruded themselues to haue the gouernaunce of the king and the doing vnder the king of tēporall matters excluding the kings vncle and other temporall Lordes of the kinges kinde from hauing knowledge of any great matter 4. Item whereas the king had borowed of the Cardinall 4000. pounds vpon certayne Iewels and afterward had his mony ready at the day to quite his iewels the Cardinall caused the treasurer to conuert that mony to the payment of an other armye to keepe the Iewels still to hys owne vse and gayne 5. Item he being then bishop of Winchester and Chancellour of England deliuered the king of Scottes vpon his own authoritie contrary to the act of parliament wedding his nece afterward to the sayd king Also where the said king of Scottes shoulde haue payd to the king forty thousand pounds the cardinall procured x. thousand marks therof to be remitted and yet the rest very slenderly payd 6. Item the sayd cardinall for lending notable sommes to the king had the profite of the port of Hampton where he setting his seruauntes to be the Customers wolle and other marchaundise was vnder that clok exported not somuch to his singular vauntage being the chiefe marchant as to the greate preiudice of the king and detriment to his subiectes 7. Item the cardinall in lending out great summes to that king yet so differed and delayed the loane thereof that comming out of season the same did the king litle pleasure but rather hinderaunce 8. Item where iewels plate were prised at a 11. thousand poundes in weight of the sayd Cardinall forfeited to the king the cardinall for loane of a little peere gat him a a restorement thereof to the Kings great dammage who better might haue spared the commons if the somme had remayned to him cleare 9. Item where the kinges father had geuen Elizabeth Bewchampe CCC markes of liuelode with this condition if the wedded with in a yeare the Cardinall notwithstanding she was maryed two or three yeares after yet gaue her the same to the kinges great hurt and diminishing of hys inheritaunce 10. Item the Cardinall hauing no authoritie nor interest to the crown presumed notwithstanding to cal before him like a King to the kinges high derogation 11 Item that the Cardinall sued a pardon from Rome to be freed from all dismes due to the Kyng by the church of Winchester geuing thereby example to the Clergye to withdraw their disines likewise and lay all the charge only vpon the temporaltie and poore commons 12. 13. Item by the procuring of the sayd Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke great goodes of the kings were lost and dispended vpon needles Ambassades first to Arras then to Calice 14. Item it was layd to the charge of the sayd Cardinall and archbishop that by their meanes goyng to Calice the ii enemies of the king the Duke of Orleance and Duke of Burgoyne were reduced together in accorde alliaunce who being at warre before betwene themselues and now cōfederate together ioyned both together agaynst the kings townes and countryes ouer the sea to the great daunger of Normandy and destruction of the kinges people 15. Item by the archbishop of Yorke and the Cardinall perswasiōs were moued opēly in the kings presence with allurementes and inducementes that the king shoulde leaue hys right his title and honour of his crowne in nominating him king of Fraunce during certayne yeeres that he shoulde vtterly absteyne and be content onely in writing with Rex Angliae to the great note and infamye of the king and of all his progenitours 16. 17. Item through the sleight and subtlety of the sayde Cardinall and his mate a new conuention was intended betweene the king and certayne aduersaryes of Fraunce Also the deliueraunce of the Duke of Orleance was appointed in such sort as therby great disworship inconueniēce was like to fall rather of the kinges side then of the other 18. Item that the Cardinall had purchased great landes and liuelodes of the king the Duke being on the other side the sea occupyed in warres whiche redounded little to the worship and profite of the king and moreouer had the kinge bound to make him as sure estate of all those landes by Easter next as could be deuised by any learned councel or els the said cardinal to haue and enioy to him and his heyres for euer the landes of the Duchie of Lancaster in Northfolke to the value of 7. or 8. hundred markes by the yeare 19. Item where the Duke the kinges vncle had oftenoffered his seruice for the defence of the Realme of France and the duchie of Normandy the Cardinall euer laboured to the contrary in preferring other after this singular affection whereby a great part of Normandy hath bene lost 20. Itē seeing that Cardinall was risen to such riches treasure which could grow to him neyther by his Church nor by enheritāce which he then had it was of necessitie to be thought that it came by his great deceites in deceiuinge both the king and hys subiects in selling offices prefermentes liuelodes captaynships both here and in that realm of Fraunce and in Normandy so that what hath beu there lost he hath bene the greatest causer thereof 21. Furthermore when the sayd Cardinal had forfeited al hys goods by the statute of prouision he hauing the rule of the king and of other matters of the realme purchased frō the pope a charter of pardon not onely to the defeating of the lawes of the Realme but also to the defrauding of the king who otherwise might and should haue had where with to susteine his warres without any tallage of his poore people c. When the king heard these accusations he committed that hearing therof to his counsaile whereof that most part were spirituall persons So what for feare and what for fauour the matter was wincked at delied out and nothing said thereunto and a fayre countenaunce was made to that Duke as though no displeasure had bene taken nor malice borne in these spirituall stomaches But shortly after the smoke hereof not able to keepe in any longer within the spiritual brestes of these charitable churchmen brast out in flames of
had him walke traytour and made him to be set openly in the stockes For though he could haue seene sodenly by miracle the difference betwene diuers colours yet could he not by the sight so sodeinly tell the names of al these coulours except he had known them before no more then the names of all the men that he shuld sodaynly see By this may it be seene howe Duke Humfrey had not onely an head to disserue and disseruer trueth from forged and fayned hipocrisie but study also and dilligence lykewise was in him to reforme that which was amisse And thus much hetherto for the noble prowesse vertues ioyned with the like ornamentes of knowledge literature shining in this Princely duke For the which as he was both loued of the poore commons and wel spoken of all men no les deseruing the same being called the good Duke of Glocester so neither yet wanted hee his enemies and priuy enuiers whether it was through the fatall and vnfortunate lucke of the name of that house which is but a vayn friuolous obseruation of Polydore Halle which followeth hym bringing in the examples of Hugh Speser of Thomas of Woodstock sonne of â— Edward the thyrd of this Duke Humfry and after oâ— king Richard the thyrd Duke likewise of Gloucester or whether it was that yâ— nature of true vertue coÌ„monly is suche that as the flame euer beareth his smoke and the body his shadow foâ— the brightnes of vertue neuer blaseth but hath some disdayne or enuy wayting vpon it or els whether it was rather for some diuorcement from his wife or for some other vice or trespasse done as seemeth most like truth which God as well in dukes houses correcteth as in other inferiour parsons especially where he loueth But howsoeuer the cause is to vs vnknowne this good Duke of Glocester albeit beyng both that kinges sole vncle hauing so many well willers thorough yâ— whol realme yet lacked not hys Sathan lacked not his secret maligners Of whom specially was HeÌ„ry Beuford Cardinal Bish. of Wintchester and Chaunceller of England who of long time disdayning and enuying the rule and authoritie of this Duke first had disposed and appoynted himselfe to remoue the kings person from Eltham vnto Winsor out of the Dukes handes and there to put in such gouernours as him listed After that enteÌ„ding the Dukes death he set men of armes and Archers at the end of London bridge and for barring the hye waye wyth a draw chain set men in chambers sellers and windowes with bowes and arrowes and other weapons to the purposed destructioÌ„ both of the duke his retinue if God had not so disposed to turne his iourny an other way Beside other manifold iniuries and molestations the Ambitious Cardinall seeking by all meanes to be Pope procured such trouble agaynst him that great deuision was thereby in the whole Realme in somuch that all the shops within yâ— city of London were shut in for feare of the fauourers of these two great personages for each part had assembled no small number of people For the pacifying whereof that archbishop of Caunterbury and the Duke of Dumber called the prince of Portingall rode 7. tymes in one day betwene those two aduersaryes Such were then the troubles of this tumultuous diuision within the realme and al by the excitation of this vnquiet Cardinall Ouer and beside this Cardinall afore mentioned an other Capitall enemy to the said Duke was William de la Pole first Earle then Marques at last Duke of Suffolke a man very ill reported of in storyes to be not only that orgaÌ„ instrument of this good mans death but also to be the noyance of the common wealth ruine of the realme For by him and hys onely deuise was first concluded the vnprofitable and vnhonourable mariage betweene the kyng Lady Margaret daughter of the Duke of Angeow where as the king had concluded contracted a mariage before with the daughter of the Earle of Armiâ—â—k vpon conditions so much more profitable and honourable as more conuenient it is for a Prince to mary a wise with riches frends then to take a mayd with nothing disherite himselfe hys realme of old rightes ancient inheritance which so came to passe And all this the good Duke did well foresee declared no lesse but hys counsel would not be taken Wherupon followed first the geuing away the Duchy of Angeow the Citie of Mayne with the whoâ—e Country of Mayne to Reyner Duke of Angeow father of the Damoâ—ell called then K. of Sicile of HierusaleÌ„ hauing therof no peny profite but onely a vayne name to play withal An other sore enemy and mortall plague to this Duke was the Queene her selfe lately before maried to the king Who being of haute stomack and all set vpon glory of wit and wilynes lacking nothing and perceiuing her husband to be simple of wit and easy to be ruled tooke vpon her to rule and gouerne both the king kingdome And because the aduise counsaile of Humfrey duke of Glocester was somewhat a stay that her authoritie and regimeÌ„t could not so fully proceede and partly because the sayd Duke before dyd disagree from that mariage this manly women and couragious Queene ceased not by all imaginations and practises possible to set forwarde his destruction hauing also for her helper herein the Duke of Buckingham c. These being his principall enemies and mortall foes fearing least some commotion might arise if such a Prince so ueare the kinges bloud and so beare to the people of all men so beloued shold be openly executed put to death deuised how to trap him and circumueÌ„t him vnknowing and vnprouided For the more speedy furtherance wherof a Parliament was suÌ„moned to be kept at Bery an 1447. sacre â—rom the citizens of London as William Lindall in his booke of practise writeth Where resorted all the peres of the realme and amongst them the Duke of Gloucester thinking no harme to any man lesse to himselfe Who on the second day of the Sesâ—on was by the Lord Beamonde high Constable then of Englande accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham and other arrested apprehended and put in ward and vpon the same all his seruaunts discharged and put from him of whome 32. of the principall being also vnder arrest were dispersed into diuers prisoÌ„s to the great murmuring and greuance of the people After this arrest thus done and the Duke put in to Warde the night after saith Halle 6. nightes after sayth Fabian and Polychron he was found dead in hys bed the 24. of Febru ary and his body shewed to the Lordes and Commons as though he had bene taken naturally with some sodayne disease And although no wouÌ„d in his body could be seene yet to al indifferent persons it might wel be iudged that he
dyed of no naturall pang but of some violent hand Some suspected him to be strangled some that a whole spytt was priuily forced into his body some affirme that he was styfeled betweene to fether beds After the death of this Duke and hys body being enterred at S. Albons after he had politikely by the space of 25. yeares gouerned this realme 5. of his housholde to wit one knight 3. Esquiers and a Yeoman were arreigned conuict to be hanged drawn quartered Who being hanged and cut downe halfe aliue the Marques of Suffolke there present shewed the charter of the kinges pardon and so they were deliuered Notwithstanding all this could not appease the grudge of the people saying that the sauing of the seruauntes was no amends for the murdering of the mayster In this cruell facte of these persons which did so conspire and consent to the death of this noble man whiche thought thereby to worke their owne safety the meruailous work of gods iudgement appeareth herein to be noted who as in all other like cruell pollices of maÌ„ so in this also turned al theyr pollices clean contrary So that where yâ— Queene thought most to preserue her husband in honor and her selfe in state thereby both she lost her husband her husband lost his realm the realm lost Angeow NormaÌ„dy the Duchy of Aquitane with all her partes beyond that sea Calice only except as in sequele of the matter who so will read the storyes shall right well vnderstand The next yeare following it followed also that that Cardinall who was the principall artificer and ringleader of all this mischiefe was suffered of God no loÌ„ger to liue Of whose wicked conditions being more largely set foorth in Edward Halle I omitte here to speake What he himselfe spake in his deathbed for example to other I thought not best to pretermit Who hearing that he shuld dy that ther was no remedy murmured grudged wherfore he shuld dye hauing so much riches saying that if the whole realm would saue hys life he was able either by pollicy to get it or by riches to buy it adding saying moreouer fit quod he will not death be hyred nor will money doe nothing wheÌ„ my nephew of Bedford dyed I thought my selfe halfe vp the wheele but wheÌ„ I saw mine other nephew of Glocester deceassed then I thought my selfe able to be equal with kinges and so ought to encrease my treasure in hope to haue worne the triple crown t. Ex Edou Hallo And thus is the rich byshop of Winchester with all his pompe and riches gone with the which riches he was able not onely to build scholes colledges and Uniuersities but also was able to susteine the kinges armies in warre as is specified in storyes without any taxing of the commons In whose seate next succeeded William Wanflet preferred to the byshopricke of Winchester who though he had lesse substaunce yet hauing a minde more godly disposed did found and erecte the Colledge of Mary Magdalen in Oxford For the which foundation as there haue ben and be yet many studentes bound to yeld gratefull thanks vnto God so I must needes confesse my selfe to be one except I will be vnkinde Among that other mischieuous aduersaries which sought and wrought the death of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester next to the Cardinall of Winchester who as is sayd dyed that next yere following was William de la Pole Marques of Suffolk who also liued not long after nor long escaped vnpunished For although he was highly exalted by the meanes of the Queene whose maryage he onely procured vnto the fauour of the king was made Duke of Suffolke magnified of the people and bare the whole sway in the realme whose actes and facts his vayne glorious head caused also by the assent of the commons to be recorded substantially to be registred in the rolles of the Parliament for a perpetuall renowne to him and all his posteritie for euer yet notwtstanding the hand of Gods iudgement still hanging ouer hym he enioyed not long this his triuÌ„phant victory For within 3. yeares after the death and ruine of the Cardinall the voyces of the whole commons of England were vtterly turned against him accusing him in the Parliament at the blacke Fryers for deliuery of the Duchye of Angeow and Barledome of Maine also for the death of yâ— noble Prince Humfry Duke of Glocester They unputed moreouer to hym the losse of all Normandye saying vnto him that he was a swallower vp and consumer of yâ— kings treasure the expâ—iler of al good and vertuous counsaylers from the king and aduancer of vicious persons apparant aduersaryes to the publicke wealth so that he was called in euery mouth a traytour a murderer and a robber of the kinges treasure The Queene albeit she tenderly loued the Duke yet to appease the exclamation of the commons was forced to committee hym to the tower where he with as much pleasure and liberty as could be remayned for a month whiche being expired he was deliuered and restored agayne into his old place former fauour with the kyng where at the people more grudged then before It happened by the occasion of a commotion then beginning amongest the rude people by one whom they called Blewbeard that the parliament was for that tyme adiourned to Leycester thinking to the Queene by force and rigour of lawe to repâ—esse there the malice and euill will conceiued against the duke But at that place few of yâ— nobilitie would appeare Wherfore it was againe reiourned vnto LondoÌ„ kept at Westminster where was a whole company a ful appearance with the king and Queene with them the duke of Suffolke as chiefe counsailour The commons not forgetting their old grudge renewed agayn their former articles and accusations agaynst the sayde duke agaynst the byshop of Salisb. syr Iames Fynics Lord Say and other When the kyng perceaued yâ— no glosing nor dissimulation would serue to appease the continual clamour of the importunate coÌ„mons to make some quiet pacificatioÌ„ first he sequestred from hym the Lord say treasurer of Englande other the Dukes adherentes from theyr offices Then he put in exile the Duke of Suffolke for the terme of 5. yeares supposing by that space the furious rage of yâ— people would asswage But the hand of God woulde not suffer that giltles bloud of Humfrey Duke of Glocester to be vnreuenged or that flagitious person further to continue For wheÌ„ he shipped in Suffolke intending to be transported into Fraunce he was encountred with a shippe of warre belonging to the tower whereby he was taken and brought into Douer rode and there on the side of a ship boat one strake of his head which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1450. And thus haue ye heard the full storye and discourse of Duke Humfrey and of all hys aduersaries also of Gods condigne
authority declareth calleth stablisheth affirmeth and reputeth the sayd Richard of Yorke very true and rightfull heyre to the crowne of England and Fraunce and that all other statutes and acts made by any of the Henryes late contrary to this aduise be annulled repelled damned cancelled voyd and of no force or effect The king agreed and consented that the sayd Duke and hys heyres shall after his naturall life enioy the crowne c. Also that all sayinges and doinges agaynst the duke of Yorke shall be hygh treason and all actes of Parliamentes contrary to this principall act be voyd and of none effect c. And thus much for the reign of king Henry the 6. Who now lacked his vncle and protector Duke of Glocester about him But commonly the lacke of such frendes is neuer felt before they be missed In the time of this king was builded the house in Lōdon called Leadē hall foūded by one Simon Eyre Maior once of the sayd City of London an 1445. Also the standard in cheape builded by Iohn Wels an 1442. the Conduite in Fleetstreet by William Castfield an 1438. Item Newgate builded by goods of Rich. Whittington an 1422. Moreouer the sayde Henry 6. founded the Colledge of Eton and another house hauing then the title of S. Nicolas in Cambridge now called the kinges Colege Ex Scal. mundi In the reigne of this Henry 6. it is not be passed ouer in silence which we finde noted in the Parliament rolles how that Lewes Archbishop of Rhoen after the death of the late Bishop of Eley had graūted vnto him by the popes Bulles during his life all the profites of the sayd bishoprick by the name of the administratour of the said Bishopricke Lewes the foresayde Archbishop sheweth his Buls to the king who vtterly reiected his Bulles Notwithstanding for his seruice done in Fraunce the king graunted to hym the administration aforesaid the which to all intents at the petition of the sayd Lewes should be affirmed to bee of as great force as though he were bishop touching profits liberties and hability Neither agayn is here to be ouerpast a certayn tra gicall Acte done betweene Easter and Whitsontide of a false Britone an 1427. Which murdered a good widdow in her bed who had brought him vp of almes without Algate in the suburbes of London and bare away all that she had afterward he tooke succor of holy church at S. Georges in Southwarke but at the last he tooke the crosse forswore the kings land And as he went his way it happened him to come by the same place where he had done that cursed deed and women of the same parish came out with stones and cannell dong and there made an end of him in the hye streete so that he went no further notwithstandinge the Constables and other men also which had hym vnder gouernaunce to conduct him forwarde for there was a great company of them so that they were not able to withstande them Kyng Edward the fourth KIng Edward after his conquest and victorye achieued agaynst king Henry returned again to London where vpon the Uigil of S. Peter and Paul being on Sonday he was crowned king of England raigned 22. yeares albeit not without great disquitnes and much perturbation in his reigne Queene Margaret hearing how her husband was fled into Scotland was also fayne to flye the land and went to her father Duke of Angeow From whence the next yeare following she returned again to renue warre against king Edward with small succor and lesse lucke For being encountred by the Earle of Warwicke about Nouember she was driuen to the seas agayne and by tempest of weather was driuen into Scotland In this yere we read that king Edward in the cause of a certayne widow for rape sate his owne person in Westminster hall vpon his owne Bench discussing her cause Ex Scal. mundi The yeare folowing king Henry issuing out of Scotland with a sufficient power of Scottes and Frenchmen came into the Northcountrey to recouer the crowne vnto whom the Lord Radulph Percy Lord Radulph Grey flying from king Edward did adioyn themselues but the Lord so disposing king Henry with his power was repulsed in the battaile of Exham by the Lord Mountacute having then the rule of the North where the Duke of Somerset Lord Hungerford Lord Rosse with certayne other were taken The Lord Radulph Percy was slayne the residue fled Albeit the history of Scal. mūdi referreth this battel to the yeare 1464. the 15. day of May. In the which moneth of May were beheaded the duke of Somerset Lorde Hungerford Lord Rosse L. Philip Wentworth L. Tho. Husly L. Tho. Findern beside 21. other belonging to the retinue and household of king Hēry 6. Queene Margaret finding no resting place here in England took her progres agayne from whence she came learning in her own country to drinke that drinke which she her selfe had brued here in England And not long after the next yeare an 1465. on the day of S. Peter and Paule king Henry being founde knowne in a wood by one Cantlow as they say was arested by the Earle of Warwicke and at last of a king made prisoner in the tower of London In this meane time king Edward after the motion of mariage for him being made and first the Lady Margaret sister to Iames the 4. K. of Scottes thought vpon but that motion taking no effect afterward the Lady Elizabeth sister to Henry king of Castelle being intended but she being vnder age the Earle of Warwick turning then his legation and voiage to the French king Lewes the II. to obteyne Lady Bona daughter of the duke of Sauoy and sister to Carlot the French Queen and obteining the same had cast fauour vnto one Elizabeth Grey widow of Syr Iohn Grey knight slain before in the battell of S. Albōs daughter to the Duches of Bedford and Lord Riuers and first went about to haue her to his concubine But she as being vnworthy as she sayde to be the wife of such a high personage so thinking her selfe to bee to good to be his concubine in such sort wanne the kings hart that incontinent before the returne of the Earle of Warwicke he maried her at the which mariage were no moe then onely the Duches of Bedford two gentle women the priest clark Upō this so hasty vnlucky mariage ensued no litle trouble to the king much bloudshed to the realme vndoing almost to all her kyndred and finally confusion to the K. Edwardes 2. sonnes which both were declared afterward to be bastards and also depriued of theyr liues For the Earle of Warwicke who had bene the faythfull frend and chiefe maynteiner before of the king at the hearing of this maryage was therwith so greuously moued and chaffed in hys mind that he neuer after sought any thing more then how to worke displeasure to the
written in his boke intituled Rapularium where as hee wryteth that in the Councell of Basill An. 1536. the Archbyshop of Lions did declare that in the time of Pope Martine there came out of France to the court of Rome 9. millions of golde which was gathered of the Byshops and Prelates besides those whych could not be counted of the poore clergy which daily without number runne vnto the court of Rome carying with them all their whole substance The archbishop of Turonne sayde also at Basil in the yeare of our Lord 1439. that three millions of gold came vnto Rome in his time within the space of 14. yeres from the prelates prelacies wherof no accompt could be made beside the poore cleargy which daily run to that court Let the man which feareth God iudge what a deuouring gulf this is A million containeth x. C.M. And what made Pope Pius the 2. to labor so earnestly to Lewes the 11. the French Kinge who as is aforesayde was a great enemy to the house of Burgoin that he wold according to his former promise abolishe vtterly extinct the constitution established before at the Counsell of Bitures by king Charles the 7. his predecessour called Pragmatica Sanctio but onely the ambition of that sea which had no measure and their auarice which had no ende the storie is this King Charles 7. the French king willing to obey and folow the councel of Basil did sommon a Parliament at Bitures Where by the full consent of all the states in Fraunce both spiritual and temporal a certain constitution was decreed and published called Pragmatica Sanctio wherein was comprehended briefly the pith and effect of all the Canons and decrees cōcluded in the councel of Basil The which constitution the saide king Charles willed and commaunded through all his realme inuiolably to be obserued and ratified for the honor and increase of Christian religion for euer This was An. 1438. It followed that after the decease of thys foresayde Charles the 7. succeded king Lewys 11. who had promised before being Dolphine to Pope Pius that if he euer came to the crowne the foresayd Sanctio Pragmatica should be abolished Wherupon Pope Pius hearing him to be crowned did send vnto him Iohn Balueus a Cardinall wyth hys great letterg patent willing him to be mindful of hys promise made The king eyther willing or els pretending a will to performe and accomplish what he had promised directed the Popes letters patēt wyth the sayd Cardinal to the counsaile of Paris requiring them to consult vpon the cause Thus the matter beyng brought and proposed in the Parliament house the kings Atturney named Ioannes Romanus a man wel spoken singularly witted and wel reasoned stepping foorth with great eloquence and no les boldnes prooued the sayd Sanction to be profitable holy and necessary for the wealth of the realme and in no case to be abolished Unto whose sentence the Uniuersity of Paris adioyning their consent did appeal from the attempts of the Pope to the next generall Councell The Cardinall vnderstanding this toke no litle indignation thereat fretting and fuming and threatning many terrible things against them but al his minatory words notwithstanding he returned againe to the king hys purpose not obtained An. 1438. Ex Ioan. Mario Thus the Popes purpose in France was disappoynted which also in Germanie had come to the like effect if Fredericke the Emperor had there done his part lykewise toward the Germaines Who at the same time bewailing their miserable estate wēt about wyth humble sute to perswade the Emperor that he should no longer be vnder the subiection of the Popes of Rome except they had first obtained certaine things of them as touching the Charter of Appeales declaring their estate to be far worse although vndeserued then the Frenchmen or Italians whose seruants and especially of the Italians they are worthely to be called except that their estate were altered The nobles comminalty of Germanie did instantly intreate with most waighty reasons examples both for the vtilitie and profite of the Empire to haue the Emperours aide and helpe therin for that which he was bound vnto them by an oth alledging also the great dishonor ignominie in that they alone had not the vse of their owne lawes declaring how the French natiō had not made their sute vnto their king in vaine against the exactions of Popes by whom they were defended whych also prouided decrees and ordinances for the liberty of his people caused the same to be obserued the which thing the Emperor ought to foresee within hys Empire to prouide for hys people and states of his empire as well as other Kings doe For what shall come to passe therby if that forreine nations hauing recourse vnto their kings being relieued and defended by them from the said exactions and the Germains states of the Empyre flying vnto theyr Emperour be by him forsaken or rather betraied depriued of their owne lawes and decrees The Emperor being mooued partly ouercome by theyr perswasions promised that he wold prouide no lesse for them then the king of Fraunce had done for the Frenchmen and to make decrees in that behalfe but the graue authoritie of Aeneas Syluius as Platina wryteth in the history of Pius the second brake of the matter who by his subtile and pestiserous perswasions did so bewitche the Emperour that hee contemning the equall iust and necessary requestes of hys subiects chose the sayd Aeneas to be hys Ambassadour vnto Calixtus then newly chosen Pope to sweare vnto hym in his name to promise the absolute obedience of al Germany as the only coūtry as they call it of obedience neglecting the ordinances decrees of their country as before he had done vnto Eugenius the 4. being Ambassadour for the sayd Fredcrike promising that he all the Germaines would be obedient vnto him from hēceforth in al matters as well spirituall as temporall Thus twise Friderike of Austrich contemned and derided the Germaines frustrating them of their natiue decrees and ordinances brought them vnder subiection and bondage of the Pope whych partly was the cause that 7. yeres before his death he caused his sonne Maximiliā not only to be chosen but also crowned king of Romains and did associate hym to the ministration of the Empire least after hys death as it came to passe the Empire shoulde bee transported into an other family suspecting the Germains whom he had twise cōtrary to his lawes made subiect and in bondage vnto the Popes exactions first be fore he was crowned in the time of Eugenius the 4. and again the second time after hys coronation and death of Pope Nicholas the 5. denying their requests Wherupon Germany being in this miserable pouerty and greuous subiection vnder the Popes tiranny and polling with teares and sighs lamenting their estate continued so almost vnto Luthers time as the hystories
they tooke no great wrong at the Popes handes who reigned one yeare longer then Augustus Caesar which hath not commonly bene seene in any Prince The third which was King Edward the first so vigilantly behaued himselfe for the publique coÌ„moditie safetie of his people that he defended theÌ„ froÌ„ all foraine power and hostilitie both of the Scottes then our enemies now our frendes and also from the Bishop of Rome takyng part with them against vs as may appeare aboue page 340. Furthermore of the same King and of his woorthy Nobles and house of Parliament how valiantly they stoode in deniall of the Popes subsidies and also how the sayd King secluded out of his protection the Bishops and especially the Archbishop Peecham for standing wyth the Pope reade pag. 352. Now as touching King Edward the third how little he regarded how princely he with his Nobles likewise resisted the Popes reseruations and prouisions how hee brideled the Archbishop Iohn Sâ—ratford and reiected the â—aâ—â—e authority of the Bishop of Rome both in â—efeâ—ise of his subiects and also in defence of claiming his right title in the Realme of France reade pag. 383. Not that I do heere affirme or define as in a generall rule that worldly successe and prosperitie of life alwayes followeth the godly which we see rather to be geuen more often to the wicked sort but speaking of the duty of Princes I note and obserue by examples of histories that such Princes as haue most defended the Church of Christ committed to their gouernance from iniurie and violence of the Bishop of Rome haue not lacked at Gods hand great blessing and felicitie whereas contrarywise they whiche either themselues haue bene persecutours of Christes meÌ„bers or haue not shielded theÌ„ by their protection from foreine tiranny and iniuries haue lacked at Gods hand that protection which the other had as may appeare by King Edward the second Richard the third King Henry the fourth King Henry the v. king Henry the vj. c. who because either negligeÌ„tly they haue suffered or cruelly caused such persecuting lawes to be made so much ChristeÌ„ blood iniuriously to be deuoured therefore haue they bene the lesse prospered of the Lord so that either they were deposed or if they florished for a while yet they did not long continue almost not halfe the time of the other kings before named And therefore as the state of the common wealth doth commonly folow the state of the Church as ye hard before so it had bene to be wished that this King Henry the vij beyng otherwise a prudent temperaunt Prince had not permitted the vntemperauÌ„t rage of the Popes Clergy so much to haue their willes ouer the poore flocke of Christ as then they had accordyng as by these persecutioÌ„s aboue meÌ„tioned may appeare The which king Henry vij albeit he had a sufficieÌ„t continuaunce who had now raigned 24. yeares yet notwithstaÌ„ding here commeth the same thyng to be noted wherof I speake before that wheÌ„ the Church of Christ begynneth to be iniuried with violeÌ„ce to go to wracke through misorder negligeÌ„ce the state of the common wealth can not there long endure without some alteration stroke of Gods correction But howsoeuer this marke is to be takeÌ„ thus lyeth the story that after the burnyng vexyng of these poore seruauntes of Christ aboue recited when the persecution begaÌ„ now in the Church to be hoate God called away the kyng the same yeare aboue mentioned which was 1509. after he had raigned the terme of yeares 24. Who if he had adioyned a litle more pitifull respect in protectyng Christes poore meÌ„bers from the fire of the Popes tyraÌ„ny to his other great vertues of singular wisedome excellent teÌ„peraunce moderate frugalitic somuch had he bene coÌ„parable with the best of those Princes aboue comprehended as hee had bene interiour but to a few but this defect which lacked in him was supplyed most luckely blessed be the Lord by his posteritie succeding after him Of whom in the next volume folowing Christ thereunto assisting vs we haue to specifie more at large Among many other thynges incident in the raigne of this kyng Henry vij I haue ouerpassed the history of certaine godly persons persecuted in the Diocesse of Couentry and Lichfield as we finde them in the Registers of the Diocesse recorded here folowyng The yeare of our Lord. 1485. March 9. amongest diuers and sundry other good men in CoueÌ„try these ix here vnder named were examined before Iohn Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield in S. Michaels Church vpon these Articles folowyng in order FIrst Iohn Blomston was openly and publikely infamed accused reported appeached that he was a very hereticke because he had preached taught holden affirmed that the power attributed to S. Peter in the Church of God by our Sauiour Iesus Christ immediatly did not flit or passe froÌ„ him to remaine with his successours Item that there was as much vertue in an herbe as in the Image of the Uirgine Mary Item that prayer and almes auayle not the dead for incontinent after death he goeth either to heauen 〈◊〉 held whereupon he concludeth there is no Purgatory Item that it was foolishnesse to go on Pilgrimage to the Image of our Lady of Dancaster Walsingham or of the Tower of the Citie of Couentry for a man might as well worship the blessed Uirgin by the fire 〈◊〉 in the â—itchin as in the foresayd places and as well might a man worship the blessed Uirgin when he seeth his mother or sister as in visityng the Images because they be no more but dead stockes and stones Item that he sayd in English with a frowning countenaunce as it appeared a vengeauÌ„ce on all such horson Priestes for they haue great enuy that a poore man should get his liuyng among them RIchard Hegham of the same Citie was accused c. to be a very hereticke because he did hold that a Christen man beyng at the point of death should 〈◊〉 all his owne workes good and â—â—l and submitte him to the mercy of God Item that it was fondnesse to worship the Images of our Lady of Tower in the foresayd Citie or of other Saintes for they are but stockes and stones Item that if the Image of our Lady of Tower were put into the fire it would make a good fire Item that it were better to deale money vnto poore folkes then to offer to the Images of Christ and other Saintes which are but dead stockes and stones RObert Crowther of the same Citie was accused that he was an hereticke because he did hold that who so receiueth the SacrameÌ„t of the altar in deadly sinne or out of charitie receiueth nothyng but bread and wine Item that neither Byshop nor Priestes or Curates of Churches haue power in the market of penaunce to bynde and loose Item that Pilgrimage to the Image of our
with the Sherifte and that the one shall teach them Gods law and the other mans law as ye heard in King Edgars lawes before Many other lawes both Ecclesiasticall and temporall besides these were enacted by these and other Kings heere in England before the Conquest but these be sufficient to geue the vnderstanding Reader to consider how the authority of the Bishops of Rome all this while extended not so farre to prescribe lawes for gouernement of the Church but that Kings and Princes of the Realme as they be now so were then full gouernours heere vnder Christ as well in causes Ecclesiasticall as temporall both in directing orders instituting lawes in calling of Synodes and also in conferring Byshoprickes and benefices without any leaue of the Romish Bishops Thus Odo Dunstane Oswold Ethelwold Aldelinus and Lancfrancus although they fet their palles afterwarde from Rome yet were they made Bishops and Archbishops by Kings only not by Popes And thus stoode the gouernement of this Realme of England all the time before the Conquest till Pope Hildebrand through the setting on of the Saxons began first to bring the Emperour which was Henry 4. vnder foote Then followed the subduing of other Emperours Kings and subiects after that as namely heere in England when Lancfrancus Anselmus and Becket went to complayne of their Kings and gouernours then brought they the Popes iudiciall authority first from Rome ouer this land both ouer Kings and subiects which euer since hath continued till these latter yeares Albeit the sayd Kings of this Realme of England being prudent Princes and seeing right well the ambitious presumption of those Romish Byshops did what they could to shake off the yoke of their supremacie as appeareth by the lawes and Actes of their Parliaments both in king Edward the thirds time King Richard the 2. and King Henry the 4. aboue in their Parliament notes specified yet for feare of other foreine Princes and the blind opinion of their subiectes such was then the calamitie of that time that neither they could nor durst compasse that which faine they would till at last the time of their iniquitie being complete through the Lords wonderfull working theyr pride had a fall as in the next Volume ensuing the Lord so graunting shall by proces of hystorie be declared The Image of the true Catholicke Church of Christ. ¶ The proude primacie of Popes paynted out in Tables in order of their rising vp by little and little from faythfull Byshops and Martyrs to become Lords and gouernours ouer King and kingdomes exalting themselues in the Temple of God aboue all that is called God c. 2. Thessalonians 2. IN the Table of the primitiue Churche aboue described hath bene gentle Reader set forth and exhibited before thine eies the greeuous afflictions and sorowfull tormentes which thorough Gods secret sufferance fell vpon the true Saints and members of Christes Church in that time especially vpon the good Bishops Ministers and teachers of the flocke of whome some were scourged some beheaded some crucified some burned some had their eies put out some one way some another miserably consumed which daies of wofull calamitie cōtinued as is foreshewed neare the space of CCC yeares During which time the deare spouse and elect Church of God being sharply assaulted on euery side had small rest no ioy nor outward safetie in this present world but in much bitternes of hart in continuall teares and mourning vnder the crosse passed ouer their daies being spoiled imprisoned contemned reuiled famished tormented and martired euerywhere who neither durst well tarie at home for feare and dread and much lesse durst come abroade for the enemies but onely by night when they assembled as they might sometimes to sing Psalmes and Hymnes together In all which their dreadfull dangers and sorrowfull afflictions notwithstanding the goodnes of the Lord left them not desolate but the more their outward tribulations did increase the more their inward consolations did abound and the farther off they seemed from the ioyes of this lyfe the more present was the Lorde wyth them wyth grace and fortitude to confirme and reioyce theyr soules And though theyr possessions and riches in this world were lost and spoyled yet were they enriched wyth heauenly giftes and treasures from aboue an hundreth fold Then was true Religion truely felt in hart Then was Christianitie not in outwarde appearance shewed but in inward affection receaued and the true image of the Churche not in outwarde shew pretensed but in her perfect state effectuall Then was the name and feare of God true in hart not in lippes alone dwellyng Fayth then was feruent zeale ardent prayer not swimming in the lippes but groned out to God from the bottome of the spirite Then was no pride in the Church nor laysure to seeke riches nor tyme to keepe them Contention for trifles was then so far from Christians that well were they when they could meete to pray together agaynst the Deuill authour of all dissention Briefly the whole Churche of Christ Iesus wyth all the members thereof the farther it was from the type and shape of this worlde the nearer it was to the blessed respect of Gods fauour and supportation ¶ The first rising of the Byshops of Rome AFter this long tyme of trouble it pleased the Lord at length mercifully to looke vpon the Saints and seruauntes of his sonne to release their captiuitie to release their miserie and to binde vp the old Dragon the Deuill which so long vexed them whereby the Church began to aspire to some more libertie and the Bishops which before were as abiects vtterly contemned of Emperours through the prouidence of God which disposeth all things in his time after his owne willy began now of Emperours to be esteemed and had in price Furthermore as Emperours grew more in deuotion so the Bishops more and more were exalted not only in fauour but also preferred vnto honour in so much that in short space they became not quarter maisters but rather halfe Emperours with Emperours Constantinus the Emperour embrasing Christen Byshops By which words of S. Paul we haue diuers things to vnderstand First that the day of the Lordes cōming was not thē nere at hand Secōdly the Apostle geuing vs a tokē before to know whē that day shall approch biddeth vs looke for an aduersary first to be reuealed Thirdly to shew what aduersary this shal be he expresseth him not to be as a common aduersary suche as were then in his time For although Herode Annas and Cayphas the high Priestes and Pharasyes Tertullus Alexander the Coppersmith Elymas Symō Magus Nero the Emperor in Paules time were great aduersaryes yet here he meaneth another besides these greater thē all the rest not such a one as should be like to Priest King or Emperor but such as farre exceding the estate of all kinges priests and Emperors should be the prince of priests should make kings to
Richard king of Almaine dyeth A great variaÌ„ce betweene the Monkes and citizens of Norwich Excution done at Norwich by the commaundement of kyng Henry the 3. Adam Prior of Cant. refuseth to be Archb. of Cant. Rob. Kilwerby Archb. of Cant. The death of K. Henry the 3. K. Edward 1. Pâ—â—ti◠〈◊〉 PareÌ„ts rewarded of God Ex Chron. Tho. Walsinghami A miracle of God in preseruing king Edward False was â— ip reprehended God geueâ—s the beâ—â—â—te a dumâ—â—e stocke hath the thaâ—â—â— Example of princeâ—â— â—â—mency 〈◊〉 learned 〈◊〉 kinges and princes Ex Chron. Nic. 〈◊〉 c Tho. Wales sub dued The Kings sonne first prince of Wales Vayne prophesies not to be sought to Punishment for Baker S Milners The statute for Mortmaine first enacted Anno. 1279. Blacke Fryers by Ludgate builded Bosten blemished with fire The great Conduit in Cheape Westminster Church finished The Iewes banished the Realme A place in Fabian corrected Ex Thoma â—alsingâ—aâ— â—ualtero inburnensi Lack of successioÌ„ what disturbance it worketh in a Realme The klag of Englande proued by old records chiefe head foueraign Ann. 1291. Sir Iohn Bayloll male king of Scotland by King Edward K. of Scots doth homage to the King of Englande The falsenes of the Scottish king The towne and castle of Barwicke wonne of Englishmen Falsenes iustly punished The Scots rebell again The second â—iage of king Edward into Scotland Anno. 1298. Ex Fabiano A notable victory against the Scoâ—e Anno. 1299. The Scottes sworne to the kings alleageaÌ„ce Ex Chron. Tho Walsinghami Auesburiensis The Popes message vnto the kyng The Kinges aunswere to the Pope The Pope chalengeth the Realme of Scotland to be free from the dominion of England Anno. 1301. The K. replyech to the Pope Scotland alone with England Brutus Lokrinus Albanactus Camber Alias 907. A letter of the Lordes temporall to the Pope Anno. 1303. The P. letteth â—log against king Ex R. Auesb. Another Scottish rebellion supprest The P. dispenseth with due true obedience of subiects toward their prince The Popes inhibition neglected in England Another rebellion of the Scots repressed The Scots againe subdued A greeuous variance betwene Philip the frech king pope Boniface Pope Nicolas 4. Popedome vacant two yeares Pope Celestinus 5. Crastie ingling among Popes and Cardinals Ex Massao The eight Nero. P. Boniface 8. The mischiefe of Pope Boniface described Guelphes and Gibelines 2. factions in Rome Iubilei first be gonne in Rome The P. claimeth and practiseith power of both swordes Pope Boniface 8. Author of the booke of decretals Romish pardoÌ„s first begunne by P. Boniface 8. Ex hist. Nie Triuet Philip the French king excommunicated Ex lib. Stephant Ausrery A letter of king Philip of FrauÌ„ce to pope Boniface A Parliament summoned by K. Philip at Paris The appeale of Nagareta made against pope Boniface the 8. Ex Registre An inuectib against the placing of Boniface 8. in the papall sea The pope well compared to Balaam which was wont curse Gods people for reward of money Articles propounded against pope Boniface The nature of this pope and al popes by his image painted out The pope thinkes himselfe equall with Christ. Abhominatio desolationis Papa The appellation of the French king and Nobles against pope Boniface 8. Pope Boniface had rather be a dogge then a French man Pope Boniface eneâ—y to the FreÌ„ch men Pope Boniface an enemy to peace Pope Boniface a murderer of his predecessour The proteâ—â—ation of W. Plesiano Pope Boniâ—â—ce proued iâ— heretick The Kinges answere The appeale of Philip the French king from the Pope The protestation of Prelates The bishops of Fraunce appeale from P. Boniface to a generall councell The letter of the French prelates to Pope Boniface Anno. 1304. Pope Boniface besieged Pope Boniface brought to a straight Three conditions put to the Pope Here may all kinges by the French kyng learne how to handle the pope Boniface chuseth rather to die then to giue ouer his popedome Ex R. Aaesb The excessiue treasures of the Popes house noted A pretie handling of the pope The Pope deliuered oâ—t of prison What pouertie and affliction can do in plucking downe the pride of man Pope Benedictus 11. The kinges election in his owne realme frustrated Iohn Peckham Archb. of Cant. A point of practise in the court of Rome Ecclesiasticall persons exempted by the pope for not paying tribute to the kyng The Pope proceedeth against the manifest word in setting the Clergie free from the kinges tributes Ex Chron. Rob. Gisburnensis * Apostolica autoritaâ— frustra obtenditâ—â—â— bi Aposâ—â—â— ca scriptura contemâ—â—â— * Quiaâ—â—â— quisquss barbarismus Apostolicuâ— * Flores Attics eâ— ipso helicone desumpts * 〈◊〉 rhetorica * Taurscernu Ware the bulles home The Clergy denyeth to geue tribute to the king The Clergy secluded froÌ„ the kinges protection The Archb. of Cant. for his stubbernes had his goods confiscate to the kyng The variance betweene K. Edward and his Barons commons Petitions of the Barons and commoÌ„s to the king Magna Charta Charta de foresta Custome for Wolle The kynges answere to the petitioÌ„s of the BaroÌ„s the commons Humfrey Bonne Roger Bigot The articles conteined in Magna Charta Agreement concluded and sealed betwene the K. and his Barons The moderate and good nature of K. Edward noted Rob. Winchelsey Archb. of Cant. K. Edward was troubled with two Archb. of Cant. The church of Rome and Romish prelates set against kings and rulers Kings of England commonly troubled with Archb. of Cant. Priestes to haue but one benefice Varlaunâ—e betweene the Archb. of Yorke and the clergie of Duresme InquisitioÌ„ made against yl rulers and false officers Traibastoun Ex Chron. Tho. Walsinghams A false miracle well spied out of the kyng Ex codem ChroÌ„ A true miracle Victorie against the Saracens MertoÌ„ colledge builded in Oxforde I. Scotâ—â— duns Pope ClemeÌ„t 5 The Popes court translated to Fraunce A slaughter of nobles at the pompe of the popes coronation A CarbuÌ„cle in the popes myter valued at 6000. Florence Emperour no Emperour except he were coÌ„firmed by the pope The Templaries put downe The feast of Corpus Christi Septimus decretalium called the ClemeÌ„tines Henricus â— Emperour poysoned in the host Paleologeâ— Emp. of CoÌ„stantinople excommunicated with all his adherents by pope ClemeÌ„t for not suffering the Grecians to appeale to Rome Anno. 1327. Note the practise of the Romish prelates Platina in vit Innocentâ—â— When and how loÌ„g the Greeke church was subiect to Rome Ex Baptist. Egnat Rom. prime li. 7. The Greeke church demeth subiection to the Church of Rome Ex Chron. Nic. Triâ—â—l The popes exactioÌ„s coÌ„plained of in the parliament Ex hist. qus incipis aâ— Henrico seâ—â—â—â— The Popes getting in one yeare W. Testa the popes Legat sent into England First fruites first brought in by the Pope King Edw. with staÌ„deth the Pope his Legate First fruites of Abbeyes denyed to the Pope First
excluded out of the land The crowched Friers The knights of S. Iohn called the knightes of the Rodes Templaries burned at Paris to the number of â—â— The order of the Templarie put downe The horrible sect of the Templaries Cistercian Monkes for money redeme their exemptions of the pope The Fryers minorites deceiued of Pope Clement Ex Chron. Thâ— Wals. One thiefe be guileth mother Pope ClemeÌ„t excommunicateth the Venetians for making a duke The pryde and tyranny of Pope Clement 5. FrauÌ„cis Dádulus humbleth him selfe for his countrey Out of Sabellie and is alleaged in the booke named the Image of tyranny The pietie of Dandulus to his countrey Pietie thaÌ„kfully rewarded Rob. Winchelsey returned home from banishment Anno. 1311. The counting of the yeare was in the old time from Michaelmas to the same day againe Ex Chron. The. Wals. The Archb. of Cant excommunicateth the Bish. of Couentry for holdyng with Peter Gaueston Peter Gaueston taken of the nobles The kyng entreateth for Gaueston Guy of Warwike Peter Gaueston againe apprehended by Gwy of Warwike Peter Gaueston beheaded The corpes of Peter Gaueston buryed in the kinges Manor of Langley The Nobles of England cared not for the popes letters The Popes Legates not admitted of the Nobles of England Anno. 1312. The kyng ruled by foreine counsayle Makebates about the kyng Mediation for making peace The king reconciled againe with his nobles Anno. 1313. What diâ—cord doth in a common weale The Scotâ— rebel against the realme of England English men ouercome by the Scottse Pope Clement neuer late in the sea of Rome Ann. 1314. Miserable death and famine in England A description of an horrible famine in the realm of England Ex Chron. Tho. Wals. in vita Edwardâ— 2. The Scottes driuen out of Ireland Anno. 1317. The white battaile of the spiriâ—â—al men in Yorkâ—â—ire The two Spensers Two legates seat from Rome The Popes pillage The Popes legates spoiled of all their yl gotten treasure The Popes curse coÌ„temned of the Scottes The Clergie of Englande denyeth to contribute to the popes legates A prohibition against strange taxes impositions A prohibition for paying the Popes Peter pence Reade before so the liues of king Offa and kyng Adelwulfe The pryde of the Spensers Anno. 1321. That Thomas Earle of Lancaster came of Edmund younger sonne of K. Henry 3.22 of the greatest nobilitie of the realme put to death by the kyng Anno. 1322. The cruell reioysing of the kyng Anno. 1323. The king distressed again in Scot. land Polydoru Virgilius an Itallan wryter of our English stories Anno. 1324. The queene put to her pension The queene sent to F. Ser Prince Eâ— Prince Edward made duke of Aqutaine and Earle of PoÌ„â—at The queene the prince resuse to returne into England The queene the prince proclaymed â—â—â— tours in England The King coâ—spired priuely the death of the Queene and of his sonne Anno. 1325. Prince Edward betrothed to the Erle of Heynawdes daughter The queene returneth to England The landing of the queen Anno. 1326. The k. destitute of help and soldiors The answer of the Londiner to the kyng The liberties of the citie of London in going out to warre The kings proclamation The Queens proclamation The Queenes letter The Bishop of Exeter beheaded of the common at the staderd in Cheâ—pâ— The 〈◊〉 builded in Oxford 2. Colledges Exeter Colleage and Hart hall whose name was Guâ—lter Stapletâ—â— Hugh Spenser the father takeÌ„ and hanged in chayne The king taken in Wales Hugh Spenser the sonne taken and executed A bill exhibited in the parliament house against king Edward the secoÌ„d King Edward deposed by consent of the parliament house and his sonne Edw. chosen kyng Michael house in Cambridge founded Henry StauntoÌ„ founder of Michael house in Cambridge Nicolicus de Lyrd Guilielmus Ocham Tyranny odious to the people A spiritual Bul. called and areâ—ted before a leculat iudge Ex Tho. Walsing The â—ormâ— of wordes when any Bish doeth chalenge the priuiledge of the church against a secular iudge The Bishop rescued by the Clergie The K. proceedeth in iudgement against the B. the priuilegies of the church notwithstanding to the contrary Simon Mepham archb of Cant. Pope Iohn 22. a Monâ—â— Cidercâ—an A new solid heresie Heresy with the Pope to say that Christ the Apostles had no proper poâ—â—eâ—sions here Strife betweene the pope the Emperour Tâ—e Empeâ—â—â—r crowned against the will of the pope Pope Beneâ—â—tus 12. a Monke of Benedictes order Ludouicus the Emperour depriuel and deposed by Pope Benedict 12. A councel at Frankford The Emperours proteâ—â—ation to the councell of Germany Ex Hieroâ— Mario Elex CraÌ„â—â—â— Eâ— Chron. de â— mundi â—lalibus inâ—iâ—ulâ—s Râ—dimentum â—â—â—itiorum Pope Clement 6. The trouble of Ludouick â—he Emp. Heresie of the Popes making obiected against the Emperour The proude heart of the Pope Lewes the Emperour accused by the Pope for an hereticke A good faithfull Archbish. of Mentz Bribers corrupted with mony The pope sowet of discord and bloudshed The pope again stirreth vp war Charles the new Emperor put to flight by the Englishmen Ludouike the right Emperour resigneth vp hys Empyre Ludouike the Emperour impoysoned 1 Iudouicus Emperor martyr Gunterus de Monte Nigro made Emp. Gunterus the right Emperour poysoned The ruine of the Germaine Empire and the first cause thereof The yeare of Iubilei reduced to the L. yeare Pilgrimes in the yeare of Iubilei at Rome The abhominable blasphemous bull of pope Clement The pope commaundeth the Angels O blasphemy of the Pope Ex bulla Clementis Ex ChroÌ„ Wals. in vit Edu 3. The king resistâ—th the pope The tenthes of Church goods giuen to the kyng Anno. 1326. Oriall colledge and S. Mary hal in Oxford builded by K. Ed 2. A story of the commotion betweene the towne and Abbey of Bury Ex latiâ—â— quodam â—sgisâ—râ— The Abnet robbed The Abbot stolne away to Brabante The Abbot restored againe King Edward the 3. Anno. 1327. The defiance of the kyng of Scots The K. and Queene at Yorke with an army of â—000 men readie to meete the K. of Scottes entring the realme The great fraye in Yorke Carlile and new Castle then the keyes of England Northward â—ept with Garisons The Scots priuely passe ouer the riuer of Tine burning and spoyling the countrey all about The kings armie and the Scottes are so neare that eche seeth other The Scots thorough treason escape out of Englande vnfought withall The prouision left in the Scots campe The king returneth to London The mariage of K. Edward solemnised A parliament at Northampton The Ragman role deliuered vp to the Scotâ— The black crosse of Scotland The Bâ—râ—â— geue vp their titles in ScotlaÌ„d A parliament at Salisbury Eâ—rle Henry of Lancaster refuseth to come to the parliamâ—nt The Earle of Kent put to death giltles The Queene with childe by sir Roger Mortimer Sir Roger Mortimer Earle of March. arrained condemned and put to execution The queene put in
states of the church described 1. The martyrdome of the Church 2. The prosperity of the church 3. The corruption of the church 4. The correctioÌ„ of the church Ezech. 16. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Ezech. 23. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Osee. 2. Nahum 3. 5. The reformation of the Church Certaine notes and signes that the tribulation of the Church draweth neare 1. Signe 2. Thess. 2. Except there come a defection first howe it is to be vnderstanded 2. Note or token The Sinagogue and the church compared together in maners 3. Note oâ— token 〈…〉 Oligarchia is where a fewe beare al the sway and all the rest be nothing worth Esay 1. Amos. 4. Signe Prideâ— Prelates noted Amos 4. 5. Signe Sap. 16. The tyranny of prelates noted Ezech. 34. Micheas 3. Ezech. 34. 6. Signe Promoting of vnworthy ministers Haymo 7. Signe Ierem. 4. Ezech. 7. 8. Signe Zach. 7. Refusing of correction to the clergie Esay 30. Truth sheÌ„t Amos. 5. Osee. 4. Lack of lear ned priestes The third part of meÌ„ber of the subdiuision The first opinion The church where it is and in whoÌ„ it consisteth Eccle. 40. Ieremy 7. The 2. opinion Thren 5. Ezech. 12. Thren 4. The third opinion or errour Sap. 2. Prouer. cap. 1. The fourth opinion or errour Ierem. 8. Ierem. 13. Ierem. 17. Ezech. 21. Ionas cap. 3. Ierem. 26. The fourth part or member of the subdiuision Ieremy 18. Esay 5. Esay 30. Iosue 7. 1. Reg. 25. Esay 66. Psal. 71. Esay 51. The order of Iesuites Anno. 1367. The chiefe offices of the realme translated from the clergie to the Lordes temporal Pope Gregory xi Anno. 1370. The papacy reduced againe from Fraunce to Rome Militzius â— Bohemian for the truth persecuted by the pope Ex Bulla Gregory 11 The coÌ„ming of Antichrist prophesied K. Edward coÌ„plaineth of the popes reseruation of benefices The Pope put from his reseruing of benefices in England Quare impedit The law of â—munire 〈◊〉 the â—â—altie â—â—erof The Popes primacie here in engâ—â—â— bridled S. Bridget Ex lib. reuelationum Diua Bridgitta Da pecuniam Rome a fertile grounde of weedes cockle Catherina Senensis Ex Antonino part 3. histor The reformatioÌ„ of religion prophecied of before The prophecie of Katherine Note Mathias Parisiensis a writer against the pope Antichrist alreadie come The doctrine protestation of Mathias Ioannes MouÌ„â—ziger protestant against the pope Ann. 1384. Nilus the archbishop of Thessalonica Iacobus MisueÌ„sis and Militzius Militzius persecuted by the Pope Henricus de Hassia The citizeâ— of MoguÌ„tinâ— A briefe rehearsall of suche as were put to death for holding against the Byshop of Rome before the time of Wickliffeâ— Eckhardus â— Frier burned An Heremit disputing against the Popes sacrament Ranulphus Eâ— Archiuis Regiâ— Marestatis Parcial dissimulation in our histoâ—â—es of the Church of England Ex anno 6. reg â—dou 3. â—ut 1. The Archb. of Cant. came not to the parliament at Yorke and all for bearing the crosse Ex an 17. reg Edouards 3. tit 39. The Popes prouisions restrayned 〈◊〉 The church of England spoyled by the pope his foreiners The acte of K. Edwarde the first reuâ—ued for premunire tit 60. Anno. Reg. Edouardi 3 â— tit 33. Presentatiâ—â— within 4. â—onethes â—n reg 18. â— 34. No elections to be taken by the pope but onely by the K. anno reg 18. tit 35. Dispositions of benefices onely in the kynges hand an 18. Ed. 3. tit 36. Bulls froÌ„ Rome forbidden an 18 reg Ed. 3. tit 37. The Deanrie of Yorke taken froÌ„ the Cardinal an 18. reg Ed. 3. tit 38. The kings aunswere agreement to the foresayd petitions Note that the Byshops be not here named and yet the parliament standeth in force Alien monkes to auoyd an 20. Ed. 3. tit 30. The liuinges of straungers beneficed taken into the kings hand tit 21. The liuings of Romish straungers disposed to English men tit 32. tit 33. Cardinals depriued of their lyuings in England tit 34. Ex Arch 25. an reg Ed 3. The popes first fruitsâ— reseruatioÌ„s more huâ—â—full to the realm theÌ„ al the kyngâ— wars tit 14. To breake of all appeales to Rome tit 14. The request of the K. for causes not to be determined at Rome tit 7. What mischiefs come by transporting causes to Rome tit co The printed statute of prouision not agreeing in all termes against the pope with the record tit 9. Ex an reg Ed. 40. tit 7. videlicet The pope mindeth to send for the king vp by proceâ— K. Iohn could not without consent of parliament become tributary to the pope tit 8. Agreed by parliament that the K. by force should resist the Pope Braule betweene the 4. orders of Friers and the two vniuersities Ex. tit 10. The Friers subiect to the kings order only in all their controuersies parliament tit 12. Ex Archiuis regiae maiestatis an 50. Reg. Ed. 3. tit 94. Against the vsurpatiâ—n of the pope The Pope cause of all mischiefes in England The tresure of the Realme coÌ„ueyed away by the popeâ— meanes 〈◊〉 97. The Pope geueth example to 〈◊〉 benefices tit 99. Inestimable that the P. hath here out of England tit 1â—0 Reseruation of the church of England desired in the ParliameÌ„t tit 111. Actes made for no money to be transported tit 103. Againâ—â— the Popes lyge spies collectors tit 104. The Popes collection what it coÌ„meth to tit 205. The best dignities in England in the Cardinals tit 106. The Pope maintaineâ— the kings enemies with the kyngs money tit 207. The Popes practise in â—ngland to make mâ—ney tit 101. The law of 〈…〉 Against the popes vsurption tit 112. Englishe money payeth the Popes legates tâ—t 113. No good money in the realme for the pope and Card. 〈◊〉 114. The Popes colector or proctor driâ—â—n out of the realme 〈◊〉 115. The Popes collector to be examiâ—ed English meÌ„â—ood asses Order takeÌ„ in London against vsury â—â— 158. Complaynt against the B. of Yorke and his officers for their excelsiue â—â—ing for their admissions tit 171 Ex Archiâ—â— Reg. â—â—â— 3. an regni 51. tit 36. Against the popes proâ—â—sions from Rome ann reg â—1 tit 36 The effect of the ChaÌ„cellors Oration The cause of this parliament chiefly for the Popes vsurpation against the king Against the pope his prouisions from Rome â—n reg 51. â—it 35 The kynges â—â—swere Against the P. his dispâ—tations tit 62. By this Anteferri that is 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 the preeminence 〈◊〉 the kyng The popes lawe of preminerâ— which now we corruptly call premiâ—ine debaâ—ed by the K tit 78. Ex Actis parliaments in an reg Ed. rerâ—g 15 tit 24. Punishment of the clergie in the temporall mens handes Clarkes subiect to temporall lawe The raynment of the Archb. of Cant. an 15. Ed. 3. tit 49. Iohn Wickliffe sent with the kings Ambassadours by the K. Here beginneth the story of Iohn Wickliffe The blemishes of Wickliffe made worse then they be The testimonie of Walden an enemy in commendation of Wickliffe
of the subâ—â—â—ion of Walter Brute The subâ—â—â—sion of Walter Brute openâ—â— read at Herford A letter sent to Nicho Herford Nicolaitaens 1. q 1. ca Quicunque studet 1. q. 1. Si quis a Simoniacis Ex Leone Papa 2. q. 1. Brother in nature In maners no brother 5. Conclusions sent The epistle of Lucifer to the proud prelates of the popes clergie The difference betwene the bishops of the primitiue church and of the latter church Humilitie edifieth Pride destroyeth Placing ofproud prelates the cause of all mischiefe The Church neuer well gouerned since the Deuils often were take of the Church-men Pride in prelates noted Popish prelates neither geue to God not to Caesaâ— that which belongeth to God Caesar The double iurisdiction of the popes 2. swordes commeth of Lucifer The outragies of the popes clergie described Dominos Sanctos Sanctisimâ—â— The lasciuious and whorish lyfe of the Romish clergie The whorishe latter Church of Rome Pope successour not of Simon Peter but of SimoÌ„ Magus Wicked and vnworthy minysters admitted in the Popes church Vnworthy bestowing of benefices Acception of person Bribery Lorie of Lucre. Extortion Peruerting of Iustice. Destruction of true faith The life of papistes coÌ„trary to their teaching The Pope encreaseth â—ell Antichrist The pope a â—yned p 〈◊〉 of peace betwene princes The Roâ—â—ine empire craftely â—â—â—uerted by the pope Simonie the popes nurse Promoting of proud 〈◊〉 Cardinals Cloked holynâ—â— Wrasting of scripture Tyrannie crueltie by the pope Ex Registro Hereford Epist Lucif ad praelatos Vincent Spec. hist. lib. 25. cap. 89. Ex prophetia Hildegardis The deuill geueth thankes to clergie men The silence of priestes for not preaching the Gospell damneth many a soule The popes letter to the B. of Hereford The popes wilde Bull let loose against the seruauntes of Christ. A lack good hart what sorow the pope taketh As though no learning were but in the church of Rome The dragoÌ„ here spoureth out his floudes of water to drowne the Christians Behold the spirit of the popes meke holynes The bowels of Iesus Christ be full of mercy the bowels of the pope full of tryanny Helpe the pope at a pincheror els he is like to take a â—all The hoat coÌ„playning charitie of the B. of Herford W. Swinderby and Steuen Bel complayned of to the king Furiosoâ—â— coÌ„mittas gladium Pseudo catholica fides An other letter of K. Richard against W. Brute Walter Brute Whether the doctrine of Bruce was euer against reliâ—â—ce howe â—this lyke â—â— â—rut K. Richard â—t agaynst the Gospel â—â—â— by the Archb. and the prelates Ex Regist. W. Court â—â—â— Archb. Cant. Roger Dexâ—â—â— Nicholas Taylor Rich. Wagâ—â—fe Mich. Scriuener W. Smith Iohn Henry W. Parchnâ—nar Roger Goldsmith accused Roger Nicholas Richard Michell Willam and Roger accursed with booke bell and candle The whole towne of Leicester interdicted Matild an Anchores cited to appeare The kings proces sent by the B. to arch the 8. aforenamed Margaret Caily a Nun constrained agaynst her will to take againe her habite Matild recaÌ„teth William Smith Roger Dexter Alice his wife abiure The maner of their penance inioyned Ann. 1309. 3. kisses â—â— the â—â—olle The collecâ— of Katherin The Pater noster A. ue Maâ—â— Cold weather graciously considered Peter Pateshul against the friers Londinen against the friers Peter Pateshull The Friers accused with horrible crimes Anno 138â— Ex Chron. D. Albani Few of none burned in K. Richardes â—â—re Kings maâ—y tymes brought in â—â—â— much fâ—â—e of the Pope CommeÌ„daiâ—â—a of Queene Anna wife â—â— king Richard Anno. 1394. The mariage of Queene Anne to K. Richard The occasioÌ„ how the doctrine of Wickliffe come to Bohemia The death of Queene Anne Exsragmento Libri â—â—â—usâ—lem WigorneÌ„sos bibliothecae Ex accomnidâ—lo D. Mâ—ib Archb. Can. Queene Anne had the 4. Gospels with the Doctors in Englishe Tho. Arundell Arch. breaketh his owne promise Tho. Arundell and the B. of LoÌ„don go to IrelaÌ„d to the King to complain of the fauorers of Gods worde Ex histor D. Albâ—ni Anno. 1395. ConclusioÌ„s offred vp in the parliament houses Conclusions exhibited in the parliament Papisticall priesthood The single life of priestes He doth very excellently paint out the lecherous clergie He prophecieth agaynst moÌ„kery The fayned myracle of transubstantiation He meaneth here Wickliffe The feast of Corpus Christi inuented by Tho. Aquinas The exorcismes and blessinges of Priestes The difference betwene the ecclesiastical politike estate The foundation of Masses for the dead A hundred thou ses of almes suffâ—cient for England Pilgrimages oblations The Image of the Trinitie an abhominable thing A poore man the perfect Image of God Latria Dulia Ivdas lippes The deâ—â— of Tho. Becket â—â— Canâ—â—â— not to be counteâ—â— martyrdâ—â— Auricular confessiâ—â— Confession the minister of Iust. The impudent boâ—â—â—es of Priestes The pope treasurer of the Church in steede of treasure layeth vp coales How wat it lawfull the proose by experience Nunnes wydowes which vow single lyfe Rich Stury Lewes Clifford Tho. Latimer â— MonÌ„tacute good fauourers â— Pope Vibane 9. dead Anno 1389. Pope Boniface 9. The letters of pope Boniface 9. to K. Richard Anno. 1396. The death of W. Court my Archb. of Cant. Tho. Arundell Archb. of Cant. Ann. 1398. A letter of K. Richard â—â—o Pope Boniface 9. Desire to rule in the Church Greece renounced the Romish Church The king seemeth here to prophesiâ— Byshops taught by Christ not to play the Lordes The right ornament of a true Byshop A bald answere Publike respect to be preferred before priuate Aunswere to a popish obiectioÌ„ Hard counsell for the pope Vnitie of the church to be preferred before worldly dignitie The Pope will not loose his dignitie for any publike tranquiline Wicked flatterers about the pope Better that the order of the popes electioÌ„ should cease then the church should suffer any diuision Bishops of Rome appointed their successours to the time of pope Hillary Election of the pope not as was before Good counsayle lost Christes seameles coat broken The Popes compared to the souldiours that cursed christ A godly purpose if it had bene put in execution Seculare princes are to bridle the outragies of the pope Popes put downe by princes Lawful that Princes shuld withstand the tyranny of the Pope The kyng seemeth here to prophesie of the desolation of the Romaine pope The pope and Pharises newe crucifiers of Christ. The Popes vsurped iurisdiction neuer receiued in England before a late yeres Ex lib. Guliel Malmesb. de gestis pontif Anglorum Ex Mat. Paris lib. de vita HeÌ„ri Ex Archinis parlamentarijs An. 1. Reg. Rich. 2. tit 66. Tit. 67. Tit. 68. Tit. 77. Ex Anno. 2. Tit. 70. Tit. 71. Tit. 78. Ex 3. Anno. Reg. Rich. 2. Here note well a straunge proceeding But marke the straunge euent Tit. 44. Tit. 46. Ex 9. Anno eiusdem Regis Tit. 4. Tit. 36. Tit. 44. Tit. 26. An 13. Regis Rich. 2. Tit. 24. Tit.
34. Ex titu 9. Ex an 14. Regis Richardi secundâ— tit 6. Tit. 24. Against vsury Ex. tit 29. Vide articulum Tit. 29. Ex An. 17. Reg. Richâ— Titul 33. Ex an 20. Reg. Rich. 2. tit 22. Here the Archb. of Cant. goeth contrary to himselfe Titul 32. Tit. 36. Ex 21. an Reg. Rich. titul 15. Ex tit 16. Tho. Arundell Archb. of Cant. proued a traitour by parliament Ex tit 17. Anno. 1399. The depo 〈◊〉 of kyng Archb. the 2. The Story 〈◊〉 â—â—ge â—â—entable â—lâ—es and vertues mixt â—â— K. Rich. What it is â—â— the sixe in mainteâ—â—nce of the Gospell Aâ—â—icles 33. â—â—l against K. Richard Gods special lauour necessary for princes â—al â— The king ledde with lewde counsayle The nobles vp in armes against certaine of the kings counsailours Ex. Chron. D. Albani The second preparatine to the kings deposing I. Waltam B. of Salisb. makebate Tho. Arundell Archb. of York Londiners sauourers of Wickliffes doctrine Ex histor D. Albani cuius sic habet initium An. gratia c. Londiners complayned of to the king by the Byshops Beati pacifici The court remoued froÌ„ London to Yorke The 3. preparatiue to the kings deposing The king aresting his owne Vncle caused him to be put wrongfully to death The king aresting his owne Vncle caused him to be put wrongfully to death Erle of Notingham made duke of Northfolke The duke of Northfolke and duke of Hereford banished Tho. Arundell banished as a traytor by parliament Ann. 1399. What euil company doth about a kyng K. Richard returneth from Irelande to Milford hauen K. Richard forsake of his suâ—ieâ—s What it is for a prince to be beloued of his subiectes K. Richard agreed to resigned â— crowne The kyng committed to the Tower The wordes of Henry Duke clayming the crowne K. Henry 4. inthroned and crowned Anno. 1400. W. Sautre Martyr W. Sautre brought before the byshops in the conuocation The articles 〈◊〉 Sautre The answer of W. Sautre giuen vp in writing The crosse materially not to bee worshipped A man predestinate rather to be worshipped than an Angell that is to say neither can be worshipped without idolatrie How bread remaineth in the Sacrament The conuocation continued W. Sautre agayn examined Determination of the Church so to be folowed as it is ioyned to the will of God The sentence against W. Sautre A certaine processe against W. Sautre presented by the Bish. of Norwiche Proces against W. Sautre Ex Regist. Cantuar. Sentence of relapse Sentence of degradation The patteÌ„t and chalice takeÌ„ froÌ„ him The booke of a new TestameÌ„t taken froÌ„ him The Albe taken from him The candlesticke taper taken from hym The holy water bucke coniâ—â—ed from him He meaneth the legend booke as saith the Register The Surplice taken from him The church dore keyes taken from him Priuilege of the clergie taken from him The priestes cap taken from his head maketh vp all in all The cruell decree of the king agaynst Sawtre Preposterous zeale without knowledge Admonition to Princes K Henry the first of English kinges that tormented the Christians with fire Much murder beheading in K. Henryes time the 4. * It is to be doubted Ex calendario 〈◊〉 Anno 1403. Archb. of Yorke and L. Moubray against King Henry 4. L. Bardolfe Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland agaynst the king Ex histor Scala muÌ„di Articles set vpon church dores against K. Hen. 4. Ann. 1405. A bill of articles sâ—typ against king Henry 4. K. Henry periured K. Henry changed with vnluthe K. Henry charged with treason agaynst his soueraigne K. Henry charged with aâ—â—â—dâ—ring of his prince K. Henry charged with the orders of the church K. Henry charged with tyranny The K charged with euill gouernement K. Hen. charged with oppression and periury Three causes declared Earle of Westmerland against the Archb. Falsehood in 〈◊〉 The Archb. of Yorke craftely circumuented The Archb. of Yorke L. Tho'Moubray with many Yorke shire â—â—n executed The Earle of Northâ—berland L. Tho. Bar. dolfe slaine Anno. 1408. Abbot of 〈◊〉 Anno. 1409. Iohn Badby martyr Ex Regist. Tho. Arundel The articles read The Sacrament of Christes body I can not blame ye that ye are so angry for it was not for your profite The senteÌ„ce oâ— the B. of Worcester against Iohn Badby A table of monkes and friers about the condemnation of Iohn Badby Quare fremuerunt gâ—ntes Psal. 2. Scribes with Pharises The aunswere of Iohn Badby to the articles The substance of bread not chaunged in the Sacrament The coÌ„stancy of Iohn Badby before the Archb. The Bishops make sure work The Archb. 〈◊〉 and Iaylor A stiterunt reges terrae principes conuenerunt in vnum aduersus c. Psal. 2. Note here murdring wolues in sheepes cloathing The priâ—â— labourcâ—â— to turne Badby The sacrament solemnely brought to Smithfield at the burning of Badbye All the power of man set against the Gospel The Gospel of Christ counted as wicked and hereticall The cruell statute ex officio A bloudie law of king Henry 4. A bloudy statute The lawe of Maximinus and the statute ex officio compared A cruell constitution by the Archb. agaynst the Gospellers with 13. articles Blasphemy not of pure man but of true God Hee meaneth here of Thomas Becket his predecessour who had â—is braynes beat out in the time of K. Hen. 2 Scripture clarkly applyed This geare hangeth togea ther lyke germaâ—es lyppes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marke this you Grammarians Marke well the popes diuinitie An argument far fet that true doctrine conssisteth in making one head of the Church How aptly he painteth the proceedinges of his owne popish Church Apos 6. The figure of the black horse in the Apoc. doctorly expoâ—ded Behold the true image of Wolues vnder sheepes clothing The first coÌ„stitution No priestes to preach but by limitation of the prealates A ioly mene to bring the world into such darknes Constit. 2. Constit. 3. what tyraÌ„ny is this to bynde the preachers mouth what to say Constit. 4. A barre for the preachers Const. 5. A caueat for schoolemasters Const. 4. Books of Iohn Wickliffe forbidden Constit. 7. He confesseth that S. Ierome erred in his translation And yet the said Archb. coÌ„meÌ„ded Queene Anne for hauing the scripture in Englishe Constit. 8. Termes and propositions in disputing to be obserued Constit. 6. Authoritie of the popes decretals not to be doubted d vnder painâ— of heresie Adoration of the crosse * With all abhomination Constit 10. No priest to celebrate without their letters of orders Constit. 11. Oxford famous for sincere religion Inquisition to bemade through Colledges and halles of Oxforde I would 〈◊〉 like were vsed nowe for the banishing of papistry Constit. 12. Constit. 13. Easier to oâ—fend against the princes law then against the byshops Iohn Puruey Iohn Edward Iohn Becket Iohn Seynons abiured The articles 1 Their arcle coÌ„monly was thus that who so taketh vpon him the office of a
vpon a persone meete for the same therefore we will not for no mans pleasure neither may we without daunger of fame and of conscience deferre or protract any longer the consummation of the sayde election Wherefore my well beloued sonne seeing we haue had respect to your honour aboue that our right and duetie requireth studie to honour vs so much as your duetie requireth againe so that you may the more plentifully deserue fauour both at Gods hands and ours least that by doing the contrary you bring your selfe into such a pecke of troubles as afterwards you shall scarce rid your selfe of againe For this know for a certaine in the end it must needes fall out that hee shall haue the better vnto whome euery knee of heauenly earthly and infernall creatures doeth bowe whose turne I serue in earth though I be vnworthy Therfore settle not your self to obey their perswasions which alwayes desire your vnquietnesse whereby they may fish the better in the water when it is troubled but commit your selfe to our pleasure which vndoubtedly shall turne to your praise glory and honor For it shoulde not be much for your safetie in this cause to resist God and the Church in whose quarel that blessed Martyr glorious bishop Thomas hath of late shed his bloud especially seeing your father and your brother of famous memorie then kings of Englande did geue ouer those three wicked customes into the hands of the Legates of the see Apostolique But if you yeld your selfe humbly into our hands we will looke that you yours shall be sufficiently prouided for that no preiudice may arise hereupon to you warde Geuen at Laterane the x. yere of our Popedom Thus hast thou Gentle Reader the glorious letter of the proud Pope I beseeche thee marke it well Now to the story After this letter was sent out not long after proceedeth a charge and commaundement sent into England vnto certayn bishops there requiring them by authoritie Apostolicall that if the sayd kyng would not receaue the sayde Prior of Cant. his mōkes thē they should interdict hym throughout all hys realme For the executing whereof 4. Byshops were appoynted by the vsurped power of the popes bulles namely william B. of London Eustace B. of Ely Walter B. of Winchester and Giles B. of Herford Which sayd foure bishops went vnto the kyng and shewed theyr commission from the pope as is abouesayd willing hym to consent thereto c. But the sayd kyng refused the same and woulde by no meanes graunt to theyr request Wherupon the departing from hys grace went the morow after the Annuntiacion of our Lady and pronounced the sayd generall interdiction throughout all England so that the church dores were shutte vp with keyes and other fasteninges and with walles c. Now when the king heard of this he begon to be moued agaynst them and tooke all the possessiōs of the 4. byshops into hys hands appoynting certayne men to keepe the liuings of the clergy throughout the realme and y◠they should enioy no part therof Which being done y◠bishops seeing the same cursed all them that kept or should meddle with Church goodes agaynst the will of them that ought them and vnderstandyng of all that that the K. nothing regarded their doyngs they went ouersea to the Byshop of Canterbury informed hym what had happened Who hearing the same willed them againe to returne to Caunterbury and he would come thither to them or els sēd certayne persons thither in hys steed that should do as much as if he were there himself Then when the bishops heard this they returned agayne to England to Caunterbury which tidings came shortly to the K. that they were come agayne thither And because he might not hymself trauaile to thē he sent theyr Byshops Earles Abbots to intreat them that the archb Stephen whom he had chosen might be admitted promising the Prior and all the Monkes of Caunterbury in his behalfe that he should neuer take any thing of the church goodes agaynst the will of them that owe them but would make amendes to them of whom he had taken any such goodes and that the Church shoulde haue all her fraunchises in as ample maner as in S. Edwardes tyme the Confessor it had When the forme of agreement was thus concluded it was engrossed of payre Indentures which the foresayd 4. Byshops to the one part therof set their seales the other part the sayd bishops Erles abbots caried to shew the king When the K. saw the order therof he liked it wel sauyng he would not agree to make restitution of the church goods So he sent to the 4. byshops agayne that they should put out that point of restitution But they answered stoutly that they would not put out one word Then the king sent word to the Archb. by the 4. bishops that he should come to Cant. to speake with him and for his safe conduit to come and goe againe at his will he sent his iustices as pledges Gilbert Peiteuin William de la Bereuer and Iohn Letfitz Which thing thus done the Archb. Stephen came to Cant. and the K. hearing therof came to Chilham from whence he sent his treasurer the B. of Winchester to him to haue him put out of the indentures the clause of restitution aforesaid who denying to alter any word of the same moued that k. in such sort that immediatly it was proclaimed throughout england at the kinges commaundement that all those that had any churchliuing and went ouer the sea should come agayne into England a certaine day or els lose their liuings for euermore And further in that proclamation he charged al Shirifs within the realm to enquire if any Bishops Abbots Priors or any other churchman from that day forward receiued any commaūdemēt that came from the pope and that they should take his or their body and bring it before him And also that they shold take into theyr hands for the kings vse al the churchlands that were geuen to any man through the Archbishop Stephē or by the priors of Cant. from the time of the election of the Archb. And further charged that all the woods that were the Archb. should be cut downe and solde When tidings came to the Pope that the K. had thus done being moued thereby with firy wrath◠sent to y◠king two Legates the one called Pandulph and the other Durant to warne him in the popes name that he should cease his doinges to holy church and amend the wrong he had done to the Archb. of Cant. and to the priors the monks of Cant. and to all the Clergy of England And further that he should restore the goods agayne that he had taken of thē agaynst their wil or els they should curse the K. by name to do this y◠pope tooke them his letters in Buls patent These two Legates comming into England resorted to the king
vppon the same and in the time also of the sayde Parliament holden at Winchester the Pope sent two English Friers into the realme whose names were Iohn and Alexander with full authoritie after the largest sorte for newe contributions Who first pretending lowly submission to the King while they had leaue graunted to range about the Realme afterwarde comming to the Bishops and rich Abbots shewed themselues foorth in theyr full authoritie in such sort as they became rather tyrants then extortioners Amongest other comming to Robert byshop of Lyncolne who of all other bare a speciall minde to the order of Obseruauntes these two Friers as proude as Lucifer bringing foorth the terrible Mandate wyth the Popes Bulles required and eke commaunded vnder the Popes mightie curse to haue the gathering in his Diocesse of vi thousand markes Likewise of the Abbot of s. Albons they required iiii hundred Markes vnder great penaltie and that in short time to be paide The Bishop although well liking before that order of those Friers yet seeing the impudent behauiour and more impudent request of those Marchauntes thus aunswered to them againe that thys exaction sauing sayde hee the Popes authoritie was neuer heard of before and neyther was honest nor yet possible to be performed and moreouer was such as did not only concerne him but the whole publicke state of the Clergie and of the whole Realme in general and therfore it should be absurdly and rashly done of him to geue them aunswere heerein before the king and the rest of the Counsell wyth other to whome the matter generally did appertaine were made priuie thereunto c. and so for that time he shoke them of Paris fol. 210. Furthermore as touching the Abbot of S. Albones when he also alleged the same causes he pretended moreouer that he would appeale and so did to the Pope and his Cardinals Whereupon immediatly was sent downe from Pope Innocent an other Legate called Ioannes Anglicus an English Frier and Cardinall who bringing downe a newe speciall precept to the foresayde Abbot cited him eyther to appere at London the morow after S. Giles day or to disbourse to the vse of the Pope the foresayde 4. hundreth markes By reason whereof the Abbot was driuen to send his Proctors againe with a newe supplication to the Pope at Lyons who in the ende through great instaunce of monyed friendes agreed with the Abbot for two hundreth markes besides hys other charges born◠so was that matter compounded little to the Abbots profite Parisiens fol. 213. To recite all damages and greuaunces receiued by the B. of Rome in this realme of England neither is any history sufficiently able to comprehend nor if it were vnueth is there any that would beleeue it Notwtstanding to those aboue declared thys one I thought to commit like wise to memorie to the intēt that they which liue in this age now may behold and wonder in themselues to see in what miserable slauery passing all measure not onely the subiects but kings also of this Realme were brought vnto vnder the intollerable yoke of the popes tyrannie which in those daies neither durst any man cast of nor yet was able to abide As by this example ensuing with infinite other like to the same may appeare In the yeare of our Lorde 1248. after that Pope Innocent the 4. had taken such order in the Realme that all Prelates of the Churche were suspended from collation of any benefice before the Popes kinsfolkes and Clearkes of Italy had ben first prouided for It happened vpō the same that the Abbot of Abingdon had a commaundement from the pope to bestow some benefice of his Church in all hast to a certaine Priest of Rome which the Abbot as an obedient childe to his father the Pope was prest and ready to accomplish accordingly But the Romane priest not contented with such as fell next hand would tarye his time to haue such as were principall and for hys owne appetite hauing a speciall eye to the benefice of the church of S. Helene in Abingdon which was then estemed woorth an C. marks by yere besides other vailes and commodities belonging to the same the collation whereof the priest required by the authoritie Apostolicall to be graunted to him As thys past on it chaunced at last the incumbent to die and the benefice to be emptie Which estsoones being knowen the same day commeth a commaundement with great charge from the King to the Abbot to giue the benefice to one Aethelmare the kings brother by the mother-side who at the same time was possessed wyth so many benefices as the number and value therof was vnknowen The Abbot heere being in great perplexitie and not knowing what to doe whether to gratifie his king or to obey the Pope tooke counsell with his friendes Who well aduising the matter gaue him counsell rather to preferre the brother of his Prince and patrone so that the king would vndertake to stande in his defence against the Pope rather then the Romish priest whom alwaies he shuld haue lying there as a spie and watcher of him and like a thorne euer in his eye and so the king assuring the Abbot of hys vndoubted protection and indemnitie against al harmes the benefice was conferred foorthwyth to the kings brother The Romane priest not a litle agreued therat speedeth himselfe in all hast to the Byshop of Rome certifying him what was done and partly also as the maner is of men making it worse then it was Uppon whose complaint the Pope estsoones in great anger cited vp the Abbot personally to appeare before him to answer to the crime of disobedience The abbot trusting vpon the kings promise and protection which neither could helpe him in that case neither durst oppose himselfe against the Pope being both aged and sickely was driuen to trauaile vp to the Court of Rome in great heauines and bitternesse of minde Where in conclusion after much vexation and bitter rebukes besides great expenses he was faine to satisfie the Pope after his owne will compounding to giue hym yearely 50. markes in part of making amends for his trespasse of disobedience Ex Mat. Parisiens fol 222. To this also may be added an other like fact of the pope as outragious as thys against the house of Binham For when the benefice of Westle in the Diocesse of Eley was voide by the death of the incumbent who was an Italian one of the popes chamber the donatiō of which benefice belōged to the priorie of Binham an other Italian which was a bastard and vnlearned borne in the City of Ianua called Herrigetto de Malachana de volta brought downe the popes letters to M. Berardo de Nympha the Popes agent here in England with strait charge and full authority commanding him to see the sayd benefice to be conferred in any case to Herrigetto Yea and though the benefice had bene geuen already yet notwythstanding the possessor
subiect In the which Parliament time was prefixed for taking their iourney which shoulde be after the feast of S. Iohn Baptist the next yeare insuing Also they that were croysed were sworne to persist in their purpose and sentence of the popes great curse denouÌ„ced to all them that went from the same Parisiens fol. 211. Furthermore for the better speede in his iourny the king through al his realme caused it to be proclaimed that if any marchaÌ„t or other had bene iniured at any time by the kings exactours either by oppression or borowing of money let him bring foorth his bil shewing how or wherein and he should be recompensed At which time William Longspatha a worthy warriour with the Bishop of Worcester and certain other great men in the Realme of England mooued with the example of the Frenchmen prepared themselues likewise to the same iourney The next yere after thys ensuing which was 1248. the French king yet still remaining in hys purposed iourney Lady Blanche hys mother also the Byshop of Paris hys brother with the Lordes of his counsaile other nobles and his speciall frends aduertised him with great perswasions to alter hys minde touching that so aduenturous and so daungerous a iourney for that his vow sayd they was vnaduisedly made and in time of his sicknesse when hys minde was not perfectly stablished and what ieoperdies might happen at home it was vncertaine the king of England being on the one side the Emperor on the other side and the Pictauians in the middest so fugitiue and vnstable and as concerning his vow the pope shuld frendly dispense with him considering the necessitie of his realme and weakenesse of his body Besides all thys his mother vppon her blessing required him hys brethren of all loues desired him to stay at home and not in his person to adueÌ„ture other might be sent in his roume with no lesse furniture to atchieue that enterprise and to discharge him of his vow especially seeing at the making thereof his senses were feeble hys body weake and reason through sicknesse and very death almost decaied To whome the K. againe for so much sayde he as you say that for feeblenes of my senses I tooke this vow vpon me loe therfore as you here wil me I lay downe the crosse that I tooke and putting his hand to his shoulder tare of the badge of the crosse saying to the Byshop here syr I resigne to you the crosse wherew t I was signed At the sight wherof there was no smal reioysing to all that were there present To whome the king then both altering his countenance and hys speach thus spake My frendes sayde he whatsoeuer I was then in my sicknes now I thaÌ„ke god I am of perfect sense and reason souÌ„d and now I require my crosse again to be restored vnto me Saying moreouer that no bread shuld come in his head before he were recognised again with the same crosse as he was before At the hearing whereof al there present were astonied supposing that God had some great matter to worke and so mooued no moe questions vnto him Upon this drewe nie the feast of Iohn Baptist which was the time set for the setting foorth And nowe being in a readines the king in few dayes after was entring his iorney But yet one thing lacked For the King perceiuing the mortal variance betwene the pope and good Frederick the Emperour thought best first before his going to haue that matter appeased wherby his way both might be safer through the Emperours countries and also lesse ieoperdy at home after hys departure and therefore vpon the same tooke first his way to Lyons where the Pope was partly to take his leaue but most especially to make recoÌ„cilement betwene the Emperour and the Pope Where is to be noted by the way that as touching the good Emperour there was no lette nor staie Who rather sought all meanes how to compasse the popes fauor neuer could obteine it In so much that before he shuld be excommunicated in the Councel of Lyons he not onely answered sufficiently by Thadeus his atturney discharging himselfe against whatsoeuer crimes or obiections could be brought against him but so farre humbled himselfe to the Pope and the Councell that for all detriments damages losses or wrongs done of hys part what amendes soeuer the Pope could or would require he would recompence it to the vttermost This would not be taken Furthermore if the Pope hee sayde coulde not abide his tarying in his owne dominions and Empire he wold goe fight against the Saracens and Turkes neuer to returne into Europe againe offering there to recouer lands kingdomes whatsoeuer did at any time belong to Christendome so that the Pope onely would be contented that Henry his sonne which was then nephew to king Henry here in England should be Emperour after him Neither could this be admitted Then he offered for trueth of hys promise to put in the French king and the king of England to be his Suerties or els for triall of his cause to stand to their award and arbitrement Neither would that be graunted At least he desired that he might come himselfe and answere before the councell But the proude Pope in no case would abide that saying that he did not yet finde himselfe so ready and meete for Martyrdome to haue hym to come thether to the Councell for if he did he would depart himselfe c. Ex Math. Paris fol. 187. An. 1245. This obstinate rancor and deuiâ—ish malice of pope Innocent and hys predecessour against that valiant Emperor and against the Grecians what disturbance and mischiefe it wrought to the whole Churche what strength it gaue to the Saraceus and Tartarians howe it empaired Christian concorde and weakened all Christen lands not only the host of the French king did finde shortly after but christendome euen to this day may and doth feele and rue Neither can in stories be founde any greater cause which first made the Turks so strong to get so much grouÌ„d oner christendom as they haue then the pestileÌ„t working of this pope in deposing excommunicating this worthy Emperour For as there was neuer no Emperour of long time which more victoriously preuailed in bridling and keping vnder these enemies of Christ or would haue done more against them then the said Fred. if he might haue ben suffered so after the deposing excommunicating of him when the French king neither woulde abide at home as he was counselled neither was yet able wtout the help of other to withstand the force and multitude of the sayd SaraceÌ„s and Tartarians being now ioyned together neither yet could the Emperour be suffered by the pope to rescue the king it followed thereof that the good king being taken prisoner all his army destroied the Turkes thereupon got such a hand and such a courage against the Christians that euer since
statutes past in hys parliament tending to the preiudice of the Church of Rome the Popes primary viz. that if Abbots Priors or any other ecclesiasticall patrons of benefices shoulde not present to the sayd benefices within a certayne time the lapse of the same shoulde come to the ordinary or chapter thereof or if they did not present then to the Archbishop if the Archbishoppe likewise did fayle to present then the gyft to perteyne not to the Lord Pope but to the Kyng and hys heyres An other complaynt was this that if Archbishops should be slack in geuing such benefices as properly pertayned to theyr owne patronage in due time then the collation thereof likewise shoulde appertayne to the foresayd King and his heires An other complaynt was that if the Pope shoulde make voyde any elections in the Church of England for any defect foūd therein and so had placed some honest and discreete persons in the same that then the King and his heires was not bounde to render the Temporaltyes vnto the partyes placed by the Popes prouision Whereupon the Pope being not a little agrieued the Kyng writeth vnto him certifying that he was misinformed denying that there was any such statute made in that Parlyament And further as touching all other thinges he woulde conferre with his Prelates and Nobles and thereof would returne aunswere by hys Legates In the 20. yeare of his raigne another letter was writen to the Pope by the King the effect whereof in few wordes to expresse was this to certify him that in respect of his great charges susteyned in hys warres he hath by the counsell of his Nobles taken into his owne handes the fruites and profites of all hys benefices here in England To proceed in the order of yeares that in the 26. yeare of this king one Nicholas Heath Clerke a busy headed body and a troubler of the Realme had procured diuers Byshops and others of the Kinges counsell to be cited vp to the Court of Rome there to answere such complayntes as he had made agaynst them whereupon commaundement was geuen to the King to all the portes of the realme for the restraynt of all passingers out and for searching and aresting all persons bringing in any Bulles or other proces from Rome tending to the derogation of the dignity of the crowne or molestation of the subiectes concerning which Nicholas Heath the King also writeth to the Pope his letters complayning of the sayd Heath and desiring him to geue no eare to his lewd complaynts The same yeare the King writeth also to the Popes Legate resident in England requiring him to surcease from exacting diuers summes of money of the Clergy in the name of first fruites of benefices The 31. yeare of this Kinges reigne the King by hys letters complayneth to the Pope of a troublesome fellow named Nicholas Stanneway remaining in Rome whiche by his slaunderous complayntes procured diuers citations to be sent into the Realme to the great disturbaunce of diuers and sundry honest men whereupon he prayeth and aduiseth the Pope to stay himselfe and not to send ouer such hasty Citatiōs vpon euery light occasiō To passe further to the 38. yeare of the same King thus we finde in the Rolles That the King y◠same yeare tooke order by two of his Clergy to witte Iohn a Stocke and Iohn of Norton to take into their handes all the temporaltyes of all Deaneryes Prebendes Dignityes and Benefices being then vacant in England and to answere the profites of the same to the Kinges vse The same yeare an ordinaunce was made by the King and his Counsell and to the same proclaymed in all porte townes within the Realme that good and diligent search should be made that no person whatsoeuer comming frō the Court of Rome c. doe bring into the Realme with him any Bull instrument letters patentes or other proces that may be preiudiciall to the King or any of his subiectes nor that any person passing out of this Realme toward the Court of Rome doe cary with him any instrument or proces that may redound to the preiudice of the King or his subiectes and that all persons passing to the sayd Court of Rome c. with the Kinges speciall license do notwithstanding promise and finde surety to the Lord Chauncellour that they shall not in any wise attempt or pursue any matter to the preiudice of the King or his subiectes vnder payne to be put out of the Kinges protection and to forfeyt his body goods and Cattelles according to the statute thereof made Anno. 27. And thus much concerning the letters and writinges of the King with such other domesticall matters perturbations and troubles passing betwene him and the Pope taken out of the publique Recordes of the Realme wherby I thought to geue the Reader to vnderstand the horrible abuses the intollerable pride and the vnsatiable auarice of that Byshop more like a proud Lucifer then a pastor of the Church of Christ in abusing the king and oppressing his subiectes with exactions vnmeasurable not onely exercising his tyranny in this Realme but raging also agaynst other Princes both farre and neare emongst whom neither spared he the Emperour himselfe In the story and artes of which Emperour Ludouicus mentioned a title before pag. 273. whom the Pope did most arrogantly excommunicate vpon maundy thursday and the selfe same day placing an other Emperour in his roome Relation was made of certayne learned men which tooke the Emperour's part agaynst the Pope In number of whom was Marsilius Patauinus Gullermus Ockam Ioannes Gandauensis Luitpoldus Andreas Landensis Vlricus Hangenor treasurer to the Emperour Dante 's Aligerius c. Of whom Marsilius Patauinus compiled and exhibited vnto the Emperor Ludourke a worthy worke intituled Defensor pacis writē in the Emperors behalfe agaynst the Pope Wherin both godly learnedly disputing agaynst the Pope he proueth all Bishops and Priestes to be equall And that the Pope hath no superiority aboue other Bishopes much lesse aboue the Emperour That the word of God ought to be onely the chiefe iudge in deciding and determining causes ecclesiastical That not onely spiritual persons but say men also being godly and learned ought to be admitted into generall councels That the Clergy and the Pope ought to be subiect vnto Magistrates That the Church is the vniuersity of the faythfull and that the foūdation and head of the Church is Christ and that he neuer appoynted any vicar or Pope ouer his vniuersall church That Bishops ought to be chosen euery one by their own Church and Clergy That the mariage of Priestes may lawfully be permitted That S. Peter was neuer at Rome That the Clergy and Sinagoge of the Pope is a deune of theeues That the doctrine of the Pope is not to be folowed because it leadeth to destruction And that the corrupt matters of the Christians doe spring and flow out of the wickednes of the spiritualty c. He disputeth moreouer