Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny
King Edgar reduced England into a full and perfect Monarchy, he would suffer no man, of what degree soever he were, to da • lie out his laws without punishment▪ in all his time there was neither privy picker, nor open thief, for if any were a • heefe, he was sure to leese his life.
He coused Ludwallus, Prince of Wales, to pay him yearly for tribute 300. wolves, whereby within four years, a wolf could scarce be found in England and Wales.
He had in readiness 3600. ships of war, and in the Summer 1200. kept the East Seas, so many the West Seas, and so many the South Seas, in the winter he 〈…〉 Progress over the Land, to see how his Laws were kept, that the poor should not be oppressed by the mighty.
In the 13. year of his reign eight Kings that were under him, of which the King of Scots was one, came to him to Chester, and did him Homage, next day in a royalty he caused the eight kings, everyone rowing with an Oare, to carry him in a bo • e up and down the river to the Church of Saint John and unto his Palace again, in token that he was Lord of so many Provinces.
He sent one Aethelwold, an Earl of his privy Counsel, to see Elfrida, daughter of the Duke of Somerset, whose beauty was commended unto him, who told the King all things contrary, and after married her; the King came to see her, her husband had prayed her to put on her worst apparel, and disgrace her self as much as she could, but she set her self forth as gloriously as she could: when the King see her, he was not so much inflamed with love of her as with hatred to her husband, and sending for him to hunt with him, run him through with his sword, and killed him: Wherefore Elfrida built a Monastery of Nuns in remission of her sins.
He was incontinent, and lascivious in deflowering Maids, he deflowered Wilfrida, a Dukes Daughter being a Nun, and had a daughter named Editha by her; and he coming to Andiuer, thinking to have his pleasure of a Dukes Daughter, the mother grieving to have her daughter a Concubine, con • eyed another beautiful maid into his bed instead of her Daughter, which the King perceiving, made the Maid Mistress of both her Master and Mistress. He had another Concubine Edelf •• eda, daughter to Duke Ordmere a professed Nun, of whom he begat Edward. But his greatest offense was in that he was the first, and chiefest cause of this Monkery: for lying with this Ethelfleda, Dunstone held him from Coronation seven years, and had seven •• eres penance enjoined him. After he had raingned 16. years he died, and was buried at Glastenbury. His penance was, to wear no Crown seven years, to fast twice a week, to give his treasure to the poor, and to build a Monastery of Nuns at Shaftsbury, as he had robbed God of one Virgin, so he should restore many; and that he should expel Priests and Canons, and place Monks in their place.
As for the lying Miracles, that all were healed of any disease that prayed at the Tomb of this Ethelfleda, and how Saint Dunstone hunted the Devil away with dogs, and caught him by the nose with a hot pair of tongues, and many other miracles of this Dunstone, with many other lying miracles before; in this Treatise I have omitted, thinking them not worthy to be abridged, referring thee therein to the Book at large.
Edward succeeded Edgar, being his bastard son by Ethelfleda the Nun, by the means of Dunstone and the other Bishops, only to maintain their Monkery, and Egel • ed the lawful son of Edgar was put back: then they supposed they had established the Kingdom of Monkery forever. Yet Alferus, Duke of Mercia, following the Queens mind, with other great men, drou • the Monks out of the Cathedral and other Churches, and set in the Priests with their wives again: there were great contentions about the matter, and two Councils. In the first Council, they being almost all against Dunstone, he turned them by making a Crucifix speak on his side, which most likely was the voice of some Monk through a Cane. And in the second Council, the roof of a Chamber brake▪ where they were all assembled, and all fell down saving Dunstone, which stood upon a beam, which did not fall: this was likely done to by policy upon this the matter ceased, and Dunston had all his will.
King Edward after he had reigned almost 4. years, was murdered, and Egelred his brother succeeded him: the Queen being consenting to his murder, in repentance of her fact, built two Nunneries, one at Amesbury, the other at We • ewell, this was Edward the Martyr.
After Pope Agapetus the 2. succeeded Pope John the 13. he is noted to be an Adulterer, Incestuous, and Tyrannous: of some of his Cardinals he put their eyes out, of some he cut out their tongues, of some their fingers, of some their noses. In a general Council before Otho the first Emperor of the Germans, it was Articled against him, that he never said Service, that in saying Mass, he did not Communicate: that he committed Incest with two of his Sisters: that at Dice, he called for the Devil to help him: wherefore he was deposed, and Pope Leo substitute in his place: but after the Emperor was gone, by the Whoores of Rome, and their great promises, he was restored again, and Leo deposed. In the tenth year of his Popedom he was s •• nd with a man's wife, and so wounded by her husband, that in eight days he died. After him, the Romaines elected Benedictus the first, without the Emperor.
Because they had put down Leo and chosen another without his consent, the Emperor came with his Army, and set up Pope Leo the eight again; wherefore Leo Crowned Otho for Emperor, and entitled him Augustus, and what Carolus magnus had given to the Sea, and people of Rome, he by a Synodal Decre▪ granted to the Emperor and his successors. The Emperor again restored to the Sea of Rome, all such donations and possessions as Constantine, as they falsely pretend, or which Carolus Magnus took from the Lumbards, and gave to them.
After him succeeded John the 14. against whom, for holding with the Emperor, Petrus, the chief Captain of the City, with two Consuls, and twelve Aldermen, and other Nobles, laid hands upon the Pope, and imprisoned him eleven months: the Emperor came to Rome with his Army, executed the chief doers of the fact.
But he committed Petrus to the Popes arbitrement, he caused him to be stripped naked, his beard to be shaven, and to be hanged by the heir of the head a whole day, then to be set upon an Ass, his face turned backward, his hands bound under the Asses tail, and so to be led through the City, then to be scourged with rods, and banished the City; from this Pope proceeded first the Christening of Bels.
Benedictus the 6. succeeded him, who was imprisoned by Cinthius a Captain of Rome, and there slain. Then came Pope Donus the 2. after whom, Boniface the 7. was Pope; he 〈◊〉 the citizens of Rome to conspire against him, took the treasure of Saint Peters Church, and st • le to Constantinople. The Romaines set up John the 15. Pope; Boniface, by his treasure, procured a Garison to take his part, and returned to Rome, he took Pope John, put out his eyes, threw him in prison, and famished him, but he, not long after, suddenly died. The Romaines drew his carkeasse about the streets by the feet after his death, in despiteful manner, the people exclaiming against him.
Pope Benedictus the 7. succeeded him by consent of the Emperor Otho, the second, and reigned 19. years. After him succeeded John the 16. after him, John the 17. after him, Gregory the 1. Crescentius, with the people of Rome, and the Clergy, conventing against him, set up Pope John the 18. Wherefore the Emperor Otho the 3. sent an Army into Italy, got the city, and took Crescentius the Consul, and Pope John, he put out the eyes of Pope John, and then killed him: he set Crescentius upon a vile Horse, his nose and ears cut off, his face turned to the horse tail, and after his members were • nt off, and he hanged upon a gibbit. He assembled a Council at Rome, where he established the Empire in his own Contry, and by the consent of Otho, ordained seven to be Electors; three Bishops, three Princes, to wit, Prince Palatine, the Duke of Saxony, the Marquess of Brandenburge, to whom was added the King of Boheme to give the odd voice, if the eauen voices could not agree: this Constitution being begun, Anno 997. was after established in Germany by Otho, 1002. which order remaineth to this day.
After the death of King Edward, Egelred his younger brother, reigned in his stead; upon his Coronation a cloud was scene through the Land, one half like blood, the other half like fire; shortly after, the third year of his reign, the Danes ariued in sundry places of this Land, and did much spoil, and retired to their ships again, and about the same time a great part of London was consumed with fire. The King besieged the Bishoppe of Rochester; Dunstone required the King, for Saint Andrew's sake, to give over the siege, yet he would not depart until the king had of him 100. lib. of gold.
The Danes, seeing the hatred of the Subjects against the King, rose again, and 〈◊〉 great harm in many places in England, that the King granted them great sums of money for peace, and a sore sickness of the bloody Flix, and hot Feuours fell amongst the people, of which many died; and a like murren amongst the beasts, and for lack of Justice, many thieves and bribers were in the Lan • .
Not long after, the Danes invaded the land again in such sort that the King was so seek in which Coste he should first withstand them, and was compelled to appease them with great sums of money; and for lack of a good Go • ernour, many things perish • in the Land: for the King gave himself to Lechery, and polluting his Subjects, disinheriti • g them, and causing them with great sums to reda •• e the same again. 〈◊〉 paid the Danes tribute yearly, which was called Dane-gilt; which tribute increase • ▪ from 10000. lib. yearly, and in five or six years, it came to 40000. lib. yearly. • dricke Duke of Mercia, and Alfrike Admiral of the Ships, warned the Danes 〈◊〉 whatsoever the King devised against them, wherefore the king put out the eyes of th • Admirals son, and of the two sons of Duke Edricke.
The Danes thus prevailing, were so proud, they forced the Husbandmen to plo • , and sows their lands, and the whilst would sit at home with their wives and daughters▪ and fared of the best, when the Husbandmen fared but scantly of their own; they were glad to please them, and call them Lord Danes▪ which after was turned to a name of •• proby, when they rebuked another, they called him Lurdaine.
The king in the 21. year of his reign, married Emma, the Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy, which Marriage inhaun • ed the Kings mind, that he sent secret, and strait Commissions to the Rulers of every town in England, that upon 〈◊〉 Brices day, at an hour appointed, the Danes should be suddenly slain, and so it wa • performed.
Then Swanus king of Denmark, hearing of this slaughter of the Danes, with a great Hoste and Nauie, came into England, and did much spoil, but at length he was met with of Duke Vskatell, and beaten, and many of the Danes slain, wherefore they returned to Denmark.
The next year Swanus entered into the Land again, and spoiled the Contry, and ever when as he heard of the Kings Hoste coming, he took ship again, and went to a • other part of the Contry, and when the King would meet him by Sea, he would fly, or else bribe the Admiral, so they brought the Englishmen into unspeakable misery, that the king was fain to give them 30000. lib. for peace. But after Swanus broke cou • nant, and landed in Northumberland with a great Hoste, proclaiming himself King, caused the Earl with the Rulers of the contry, to swear him fealty: so he Conquered through the Contry▪ and took pledges of them. He took Winchester, and Oxford, and came to London, hearing the King was there; he went into Kent, and conquered Canterbury, where he fired the city, and slew 900. Monk of the Abbey of Saint Augustine's, and 8000. of the men and women of the City, and they stoned Elphegus •• shoppe of Canterbury to death at Grinewich because he would not give them 3000. lib.
The King, for fear, sent his wife Emma and his two sons, Alfred and Edward, 〈◊〉 the Duke of Normandy; after, the King fled to the Isle of Wight, and went thence 〈◊〉 to Normandy to his wife. Swanus teared exceeding impositions upon the people, and required a great sum of money of Saint Edmunds lands, which being d • nyed him▪ because the Land was free, he spoiled the Contry, despising the Martyr, and mena • ing the place of his Sepulcher: wherefore the people fell to prayer, and fasting, so that shortly after, Swanus suddenly crying and yelling amongst his Knights, died: wherefor Canutus his son ruling as King after his father, built the Abbey of S. Edmundsbury our Saint Edmond's Sepulcher, and ditched their Land with a great ditch; ordained a House of Monks there, and g • ue them their au • tient freedoms. After that, it was us •• that the Kings of England when they were crowned, offered their Crowns to Saint Edmond's shrine▪ and bought them again.
King Eldred hearing the death of Swanus, returned into England. Canutus fled to Sandwich, and cutting off the noses and hands of the pledges, which his Father left 〈◊〉 him, sailed into Denmark.
The next year Canutus returned again with a great Host, and forced the people to be sworn unto him, and give him pledges. In this season King Eldred died at London, after he had reigned 38. years, and was buried in Paul's.
After whose death the most part chose Canutus, the King of the Danes, King; generally all the Clergy men choose him, but the Citizens of London, and certain Nobles choose Edmund, the eldest son of Egelred King; who for his hardiness to endure labor was surnamed Ironside. Betwixt these two martial Princes many great battles were sought, with no great difference of victory; at length, by rensent, they two only tried the quarrel in the fight of both Hosts, and when they had assayed each other with sharp words and strokes, they both agreed, and kissed each other, and divided the Land between them, and during their lives loved as brethren. Shortly after, one of the sons of Duke Edricus aforesaid killed King Edmund, after he had reigned two years. He left two sons behind him, Edmund and Edward, whom the wicked Duke took from their mother, she not knowing of her husbands death, and presented them to Canutus, saying; Ave Rex solus. Canutus sent them to his brother Swanus, King of Sweueland, to be • lain; but he sent them to Solamon King of Hungary, where Edmund married the Kings Daughter, and died: and Edward was married to Agatha the daughter to the Emperor Henry the fourth.
Then Canutus held a Parliament, established the Crown to himself, he disdained ever after those whom he found false to their native King, some of them he exiled, some he beheaded, and some died suddenly by the punishment of God; and wicked Duke Edrike was beheaded, an • his head set upon London bridge.
In the mean time Swaynus▪ his brother, King of Denmark, died, and the Land fell to Canutus, he 〈◊〉 toither, and took possession thereof, and returned, and married Emmalate wife of Egelred by whom he had a son called Hardyknight. He held a Parliament at Oxford, where it was agreed that Englishmen and Danes should hold the Laws made by King Edgar.
Then the Danes begun to be Christians, and Canutus went to Rome, and returned. He governed the L • nd 20. years, and left two sons, Harold and Hardeknight, which was made King of Denmark in his Fathers time.
Harold, called Harefore for his swiftness, succeeded him, he banished his Stepmother Emma, and took away her goods and Jewels. Hardeknight King of Demmarke succeeded him, and when he had reigned two years, being merry at Lambeth, he was suddenly struck dumb • and died, being the last king of the Danes that reigned in England.
In the time of these Danish Kings, there was one Godwine, an Earl in England, when the aforesaid two s • nnes of King Egelred, Alfred and Edward, came from Normandy to England to visit their mother Emma, and brought with them a great company of Normaines, this Godwine, having a Daughter named Godith, whom he thought to have married to Edward, and made him king. He persuaded the king Hardeknight that the Normaines should be slain, and gat authority to order the matter himself. Wherefore he met them at Guildowne, with a company of English Soldiers, slew almost all the Normaines, winding their gots out of their bellies, and put out the eyes of Alfred the eldest brother, and sent him to the Abby of Eli, where he fed him with bread and water, until shorty after he died. Edward escaped to his mother, who fearing Godwine, sent him again into Normandy. This cruel fact to the Normaines, seemeth to be the cause why the Just Judgment of God, shortly after, Conquered the English Nation by the Normaines.
After the death of king Hardeknight, last king of the Danes, the Lord's sent into Normandy for the aforesaid Edward, younger son of Queen Emma, to take possession of the Realm, who came with a few Normaines, and was crowned at Winchester. He married Godith, Daughter of Earl Godwine, he ruled with much wisdom and 〈◊〉 24. years.
In his time his mother Emma was accused to be too familier with Alwine Bishop •• Winchester, by the council of Godwine, they were committed to prison; many of 〈◊〉 Bishops labored for them to the King, but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury stop •• their su • e, saying; How dare you defend her, she hath def • med her son the 〈◊〉 and taken her ler • erous Lemman the Bishop: she is accused to be consenting to • he death of her son Alfred, and procured poison for her son Edward; it she will 〈◊〉 bare footed for her self four steps, and for the Bishop five, upon nine 〈…〉 , if she escape harmless, they shall be af • oiled: she agreed theris: then the • ing and many Nobles being present, she was led blindfold to the place, where Irons lay burning hot, and passed the nine shares unhurt, when they opened her eyes, and she s • e her self past the pain, she kneeled down and gave thanks to God, then the King asked her forgiveness but the Archbishop f • ed into Normandy.
The said cruel 〈◊〉 Godwine took bread and eat it, in witness that he was not guilty of the death of Alfred the Kings brother, but as soon as he had recei • ed the bread he was choked at the table, before the king at Winsor, and he was conveyed to Winchester and buried.
Harold the second son of Godwine succeeded Edward, who was the last King of the S • x • ns. Then the Kings so • ne of Denmark came into England with 300. ships, who entered the North, and claimed the Land; the Lord's of the country rose against them, but the Danes had the victory, then H • rold gave them a great battle, and got the victory, and slew the King of Denmarkes son. After this victory Harold waxed proud and covetous, and would not divide the pr • y to his Knights, but kept it to himself.
Whereas Harold had sworn to William Duke of Normandy▪ after the death of King Edward, to take possession of the Kingdom of England to his use, according to the will of King Edward, that the Duke of Normandy should succeed him. The Duke sent to him, admonishing him of the Couenants that were agreed upon betwixt them▪ Harald answered thus, That such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden, concerning the Land of another, without the consent of the Lord's of the same, especially because need and dread compelled him thereto.
Whereupon Duke William prepaired his Army, and sent to Pope Alexander concerning his Title, and • oiage, the Pope confirmed him in the same, and sent him a Banner. And they took shipping with a great company, and landed at Hastings in Sussex, the Normans and Harald joined battle in the place where af • ter was built the Abby of Battle in Sussex, where the Normaines obtained the victory through the Just Providence of God, where Harold was wounded in the left eye with an arrow, and incontinently died, when he had reigned nine years, and was buried at Wal • ome.
This Duke William and King Edward were by the Fathers side, Cosen Germaynes.
After this Gregory the first, succeeded Sylvester the second; he sat 4. years, 〈◊〉 month and 8. days Pope. By the testimony of Stella, Benno, and Platina, and many others, he was a Sorce • er, and was exal • ed to the Papacy by the Devil, upon this condition, that after his death, he should give himself to the Devil. He demanded of the Devil how long he should • nioy his Popedom. He answered, Untill thou say Mass in Jerusalem thou shalt live. At length the Pope▪ in Lent, saying Mass in the Temple of the Holy Cross, which Church (unknown to him) was called Jerusalem▪ then he knew he should die; then repenting, he confessed his fault before all the people.
• f • er him succeeded John the 19. which brought in the Feast of All-Souls to be celebrated next after All-Saints day, by the means of Odilo, Abbot of Cl • nake. This Abbot, thinking that Purgatory should be in Mount E • na, dreamed upon a time that h • e, by his Mas • es, had d • liuered diverse Sou • es from thence; saying, that he heard the voices and lamentatious of D • uils, crying out, for that the Souls were taken from them by Masses, and Dirges fun • rall, Pope John the 20. succeeded him, and after him Sergius the 4 after him Benedictus the 8. then John the 12. who was pr • moted by Art Magicke of diverse Sorcerers. He brought in the fast of Saint John Baptist eauen, and of Saint Laurence. After him followed Pope Benedictus the 9. aspiring to his Papacie by Magicke, practicing Incha • tments and Con •• rations in words: he resisted the Emperor Henricus the third, son of Conradus, and placed in his room Pe •• us King of Hungary. After for fear of Henricus, he was fain to sell his Sea • so Gratianus, called Gregory the sixth, for 1500. lib. at which time there was three Popes in Rome together reigning, one against another, Benedictus the 9. Sylvester the 3. Gregorius the 6. for which cause, Henricus, surnamed Niger, the Emperor, displaced these three monsters, placing for them Clement the second; and En • cted that no Pope shou • d be chosen without the consent of the Emperor: and the Romans made an Oth to the Emperor to that effect. But the Emper • ur being gone, they forgot their Oath, and poisoned the Pope; which 〈◊〉 some impute to Damasus the 2. his successor, and some to Erazutus, which poisoned six P • p • s.
Damasus within 23. days after he was Pope, was poisoned. • hen the Romaines, and Cardinals, sent to the Emperor for a Pope, who g • ue them Leo the 9. He kept two Councils, one at Uercellis, where the Doctrine of Beri • garius against the Real presence was condemned: the other was k • pt at Moguntia, where, amongst many decrees, Pri • sts were utterly excluded from marriage, and that no • ay man • ight give • eni •• ce, Bishopric, and Spiritual promo • ion, Leo being at Wormes with the Emperor on Christmas day, he excommunica • ed the Sub • eacon, for not reading the Episte in Latin▪ the Archbishop being at Mass, staid and would go • no further, unless his Subdeacon were rest • red: whereupon the Pope released him. Leo was poisoned by Brazutus, the first year of his Popedom. Victor the • . succeeded him, he kept a Council at Florence, he deposed diverse Bishops and Priests for Simony, and Fornication: of Simony, because they were took their li • ing of Secular m • n for money • for fornication, because they were married. In his • econd year he was poisoned also▪ by the said Brazutus, by the procurement of Hildebrand his master.
Stephanus the 9. succeeded him, he was chosen without the Emperor, he accused the Emperor of Heresy, for deminishing the authority of the Romaine Sea. He likewise called it Simony for secular men to present to a Spiritual Living. He sent Cardinal Hildebrand with Commission to reform the matter: in the mean time he, tasting Brazutus cup, died.
After him the Romaines set up Benedictus the tenth Pope: but Hildebrand persuaded the Clergy to choose Nicolaus the second, who by force caused the other Pope to vnpope himself.
Nicolas called the Council of Lateran, in which he vnderminded the Emperors • urisdiction, and gave the full authority or choosing the Pope unto a few Cardinals, and certain Catholic persons, and against such as be Popes without the full consent of the Cardinals, he thundereth terrible blasts of excommunication, accursing them and their children with denils; giving power to Cardinals, with the Clergy and 〈◊〉 , to depose such person, and call a general Council, where they will, against them. In this Council Beringarius was forced to recant his Doctrine against the Real presence in the Sacrament, and the term of transubstantiation was there first devised. He displaced the right Heir of the Dukedom of Ap •• lia, and placed Robertus Quistardus to be Duke, and general Captain • of Saint Peters land: but it standeth not with the Gospel, a Bishop with outward arms to conquer Christian men and countries. After he had reigned three years and a half, he met with Brazutus cup, and turned up his heels. Then the Emperor set up Coralus Pope, but Hildebrand set up Alexander the second, who overcame Coralus. Then there was a Council kept at M • ntus, where Alexander was declared Pope, and it was concluded that Priests should have no wives, and those that had wives should say no Mass: no Benefices to be bought for money, Alle • uia to be suspended in Lent, that no • pirituall man should enter into any Church by a Secular man, that the Pope should be elected only by the Cardinals, this Alexander being at Mass, as he was preaching unto the people, told them he would not sit in the place, except he had the license of the Empe • our, which struck Heldebrand into such a furis, that as soon as Mass was done, he forced him into a Chamber, and beat him with his 〈◊〉 , rating him that he would seek favor of the Emperor; and kept him in Custodie, all • wing him but twenty pence a day: and Heldebrand incroched all the revenues of the Church unto himself. At l • st Alexander, under this miserable indurance, died, having been Pope 11. years and a half.
THE FOURTH BOOKE Containing other 300. years, from WILLIAM the Conqueror, to the time of JOHN WICKLIFFE.
W ILLIAM the Conqueror was the base 〈◊〉 of Robert Duke of Normandy, Nephew to Ki • g Edward after the 〈◊〉 said Uictory against Harald, he was receiver King over England, and was Crowned upon Christmas day. The year before his coming was a great blasing Star the space of seven days, he made the Englishmen pay for every twenty Acres of land 6. • . yearly wherefore many rebelled, but he conquered them: many of his Lord's departed into Scotland, wherefore he kept them that • aried the straiter. He gave the Nomaines the chiefest possessions of the Land, he changed all the temporal Laws of the Realm, and set strait Laws upon the Spiritualtie. He built four strong Castles, two at York, one at Nottingham, and another at Lincoln.
In the 3. year of his reign, Harald and Canutus, sons of Swanus King of Denmark, came into the North Contry, but, after much spoil, King William chased them to their Ships, and he was so displeased with the Inhabitants for favoring them, that he destroyed the Land from York to Du • ham, so that nine years after the Province lay waste and vnman • red.
In the 4. year of his reign Malcoline King of the Scots, entered into Northumberland and destroyed the Contry, and slew men, women, and children; but within two years King William made such war with the Scots, that he forced Malcome, their King to do him Homage.
In the same 4. year of this King, there was holden a Council of the Clergy at Winchester, at which was present two Cardinals from the Pope, and the King was there present: diverse Bishops, Abbots, and Priors, by the means of the King, were deprived, without any evident cause, that the Normaines might be proffered unto the rule of the Church, as his Knights were to the rule of the Temporalty.
O •• Thomas, a Normaine, was preferred unto the Archbishopric, of York, and one Lanfranckus an Italian, was made Archbishop of Canterbury, betwixt them grew a contention, about giving and taking the Othe of obedience; but the King appeased it, and the Bishop of York, built the Minster of York, and gave possessions thereto. But when these two Archbishops came to Rome for their Pale, the contreuersie renewed betwixt them for the Primacie, the Pope not disposed to decide the matter, sent them home to have their matter determined; so the mat • er came before the King and Clergy at Windsor, the Archbishop of Canterbury said; Since the time that Austin converted this Land to Christianity, and was made Archbishop of Canterbury, and Primate of all England, by Pop • Gregory, the Primacie hath succeeded there ever since, and being York tooks the Christian Faith from thence, it was reason it should be subject thereto. The Bishop of York answered, that the Britain's, the fi • st possessors of this Kingdom, which endured from Brutus to Cadwalader, 2076. year • s, under an hundred and two Kings, and they received the Christian Faith in the year of Christ 162. In the time of Lucius their King, Elutherius being Pope, who sent thither Fagamus and Damianus Preachers, who ordained in the realm 28. Bishops with two Archbishopes, Theonus Archbishop of London, and Theodosius Archbishop of York, so it continued 300. years▪ until the Saxons (being Infidels) subdued the Realm, and divided it into seven Kingdom, and so it continued until Gregory sent hither. Austin to convert the Realm, who was after made Archbishop of Canterbury; and it was Gregory's purpose to reduce the new Church of the Saxons to the order that was in the old time amongst the Britain's, under the two Metropolitaines of London and York: yet he gave Agustine this prerogative during his life time, to have the Jurisdiction above all the Bishops and Priests in England; but after his dec • ase London and York to oversee the charge, and he willed no distinction of Honor to be betwixt London and York, but that he that had been longest Bishop of the place should be preferred. Upon this it was decreed that York should be subject to Canterbury, and that wheresoever Canterbury would hold a Council, York, with his Bishops, should come thither, and be obedient to his Decrees; and when Canterbury should decease, York should come to Duer to consecrate the new Archbishop: but if York decease, his successor should resort to Canterbury, and where the Bishop of Canterbury should appoint, to receive his consecration, swearing obedience.
In the 9 year of King Williams reign, another Counsel was holden at London, w • ere was decreed that the Bishop of York should sit on the right hand of Canterbury, and London on the left and in his absence Winchester; and that Bishops should translate the Seas from v •• lages to cities; that Monks should have nothing propper, and if any so had, he dying vnconf • ssed, should not be buried in the Churchyard; that no Clarke or Monk should be retained in another Di • cesse without Letters testimonial; that none should speak in the Council without leave, but Bishops and Abbots; that none should buy or sell any • ffice in the Church; that neither Bishop, Abbot, nor any of the Clergy should be at the Judgment of any man's death or dismembering.
At this time diverse good Bishops displaced Monks, and restored married Priests again, the Bishop of Winchester placed above 40. Canons instead of Monks for his part, but this godly enterprise was stopped by Lanfranke the Archbishop of Canterbury; he plucked down the old Church of Canterbury and built up the new.
After the death of the Pope Hildebrand succeeded, who was surnamed Gregory the 7. he was a Sorcerer, and the principal cause of all the per • urbation that hath been since in the Church, for before he wrought his feats, setting up and displacing what Bishops he listed, setting them against Emperors, and destroying Matrimony under color of chasti • ie; the Church was in some order, and Popes quietly ruled under Christian Emperors, and were defended by them.
He first, contemning the authority of the Emperor, thrust in himself to be Pope, vanting himself to have both the Ecclesiastical, and the Temporal sword, committed to him of Christ, and full power to bind and loose what he lifted, he challenged all the Dominion both of the East and West Church; he set at light Kings and Emperors, who reigned but at his godamercie; Bishops and Prelates as his underlings he kept in awe, suspending, cursing, and chopping off their heads. He •• irred up wars, releasing Othes, Fidelitie, and due allegiance of Subjects to their Princes. To this scope tended chiefly all his practices, to abolish the marriage of Priests, and to translate the authority Imperial unto the Clergy, as appeared before in the Council of Later • n; for though he was not then Pope in name, yet was he Pope indeed, and ruled the Pope as he listed. In a Council which he held at Rome, he enacted that no Priest hereafter should mary, that those that were married should be Diuorced, and that none hereafter should be admitted Priest, but should swear perpetual Chastity.
The Clergy of France resisted this Decree, and said it was repugnant to the word of God, that the Pope should take from Priests that which God and Nature had given them; and against the Doctrine of Saint Paul; I have no commandment of God touching Virginitie, and he that cannot live continent, let him mary. And that it was against the Canons of the Apostles, and the Nicene Council: and that thereby would be opened a pernicious window to uncleanness, and fornication, and conclude • d, they had rather give up their benefices then forsake their lawful wives against the word of Christ. Likewise, the Priests of Germany were as stout against the Pope: but at last, this greediness of Liuings, in weak Priests, made them to yield up their godly liberty to wicked tyranny.
He preached, in a great assembly, that the Emperor should die before Saint Peters day next, and should be so dejected, that he should not be able to gather together above six knights, and that if this prophesy were not fulfilled, they should pluck him from the Altar, and he would be no more Pope. And when he had gone about diverse ways to murder the Emperor, and yet God preserved him beyond the appointed time, them subtly he turned his tale, and said, he meant of the soul of the King.
About the time Hildebrand was made Pope, there was great wars betwixt Otho Duke of Saxony and the Emperor, which was a fit occasion for the Pope to work his seats. First, he excommunicated all that received Spiritual livings of Laymen, and all the givers thereof, which he called symony, whereupon he sent Legates to the emperor, to appear before him at the Council of Lateran. The Emperor appeared not: whereupon he threatened him excommunication, and to deprive him of his Crown, If he would not renounce the heresy of Simony, which was, giving of Spituall Liuings. Wherefore Centius, a Romaine Captain, caught the Pope, and shut him up into a Tower; the next day the citizens plucked down the Tower, and delivered the Pope, and cut off the noses of the men of Centius, but he escaped to the Emperor. The emperor, being moved with this arrogancy, called a Council at Wormes, where all the Bishops of Germany deposed Hildebrand. The Pope, in his Council of Lateran, excommunicated and deprived as many as took the Emperors part, and excommunicated the emperor, deprived him of his empire, and all his subjects of their Oath of allegiance. As soon as he rose out of his papal seat, to excommunicate the Emperor, the seat being but new, and of strong timber, suddenly shiuered and rent us pieces. The princes of Almany all concluded to forsake Henry, and choose another emperor, except he would submit himself, and obtain the Popes pardon. The Emperor, with his wife and young son, all having forsaken him, laying apart his regal ornaments, in sharp winter, came bare foo •• d to the gate of Canossus, where fasting from morning to night, humbly he desired to be absolved, and to come in and speak with the Pope, Thus he continued and could not be let in, in three days: the fourth day, being brought to the Pope, he surrendered his Crown and princely ornaments unto him, desiring he might be forgiven, and he would never do against him again. He told him, he would not absolve him, but upon condition he should do such penance as he should enjoin him, and appear at the Council when he should send for him, and answer there all objections laid against him▪ and stand to his pleasure whether he should have his Kingdom restored, or loose it; and should do nothing as a King, until the cause were tried: and, upon his Oath, for performance hereof, he was absolved. For all this the Pope sent to France, for their consents, that Rodulphus should be Emperor. Then there was sent to Rodulphus b • ing Duke or Sw •• ia a crown from the pope, with this very, Petra dedit Petro, Petrus Diadema Rodulpho. Then he gave in commandment to the Archbishop of Ments, and of Cullen, to elect Rodulphus emperor, and anoint him King, and defend him with all their strength. Whilst this conspiracy was in hand, the Emperor was absent, and the Popes Ambassadors with him, and, unknown to him, Rodulphus was elected Emperor: the Bishop of Stasbrough 〈◊〉 Henry the emperor thereof, who seeing the Saxons so bent against him, marched forward with his Soldiers to defend his right, but first sent to Rome, requiring the Pope to excommunicate Rodulphus. But he minding nothing less, sent word that he would not condemn any person without hearing the cause: so, under color of Law, disapp • inted Henry; who being forsaken on every side, with his men attempted battle with Rodulphus: there was great slaughter on both sides, but no victory, so yet both chal • nged the Empire. Then they both sent to Rome for the Popes determination, to whether of them the Empire appertained: the Pope willed them to break up their A • mies, promising shortly to call a Council, where this matter should be disputed; but before the messengers returned, they had another conflict, but no victory So both being wearied in war, (the Romish beast being the cause thereof) and the Pope perceiving these wars would be to the great calamity, not only of Germany, but to other Nations, devised another way to help Rodulphus; sent a Commission to the Archbishop of Treuers, and others, giving them in charge to call a Council to sit at Almany to determine • he right, promising what they determined, he by the au • horitie of God omnipotent, and of Saint Peter and of Sant Paul would ratify the same: but Henry the Emperor would not permit a Council to be had in Germany, except they would first deprive Rodulphus. The Legat • perceiving that was against the Popes drift returned. The Pope hearing his purpose disappointed; drue another excommunication against Henry the Emperor, hereauing him of his Kingdom, sending them through all places, thinking thereby to further Rodulphus part, biginning his excommunication with these words Blessed Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and thou Paul also, teacher of the Gentiles, give ear unto me a little, I beseech you, and gently hear me &c. I take this matter in hand that my brethren (whose salvation I seek) may the more obey me, and know that I trust upon your defense (next to Christ and his mother) and thereby resist the wicked, and am ready to help the faithful. I entered this Seat against my will with tears, thinking myself unworthy to occupy so high a Throne, I chose not you, but you chose me, and • aid this great burden upon Our shoulders. Then reciting the whole matter of the Story before, concludeth therefore; • trusting in the Judgment and mercy of God, and in the supportation of the blessed Virgin, and bold upon your authority (meaning S. Peter & S. Paul ) do lay the sentence of Curse upon Henry & his adherents. And again. I take his regal Government from him▪ discharging all Christian men of their Oaths to him, and forbidding them hereafter to obey him in anything, but to take Rodulphus for their King, &c. Therefore▪ O blessed Princes of the Apostles, confirm this your authority that all may know as you have power to bind and loose in Heaven, you have also power on earth, to give and take away Empires, Kingdoms Principa • ities, and whatsoever belongeth to mortal men on earth. For if you have power to Judge • of matters of God, how much more of profane things; and if you can Judge the Angels which rule proud Princes, how much more the princes. Let all Kings and princes, by this example, know your power, that they may fear to contemn the commandment of the holy Church. Exercis • quickly this Judgment upon Henry, that all may see him fall from his Kingdom, not by chance, but by your only work: notwithstanding, this I would crave of you, that he being brought to repentance, through your intercession, yet in the day of Judgment may find grace with the Lord.
Pope Hildebrand further deposed the Archbishop of Rauenna for taking his part. commanding all priests not to obey him, and sent another with full authority thither. Upon this Henry and Rodulphus tried the matter with sword, with much blood: whereas Henry, with God's favor against the Judgment of Hildebrand, had the victory, Rodulphus greatly wounded, was carried to Herbipolis, where he commanding the Bishops▪ and doers of this conspiracy to be brought to him, and lifting up his right hand, which was deadly wounded said; This hand gave the Oath to Henry my prince, and hath so often fought against him by your in •• igation but in vain▪ go and perform you Oath and alegiance to him your King, for I must go to my Fathers, and so died.
Henry, after his enemy subdued, and wars ceased in Germany, remembering the injuries of Hildebrand, by whom he was twice excommunicated, expulsed from his Kingdom, and making suit three days in sharp winter, and could find no favor, and by him his enemy was incited and aided against him, assembled a Council of 1083. Bishops at Brixienc • , where he purged himself, and accused Hildebrand of diverse c • imes: to be an usurper, perjured, a Nigroma • cer, a Sorcerer, a sower of discord; and that his Father had set in diverse Popes in Rome by his assignment, without other election, and now this Bishop, contrary to his Oath, thrust in himself, without the will and knowledge of him, being their King and Magistrate. For in the time of Henry the third, his Father, this Hildebrand and others, had took a corporal Oath, that during the life of him, and this Henry his son, now king, they should no • presume themselves norsuffer any other to aspire to the Papal Seat, without the approbation of the said Emperors. Wherefore, the aforesaid Council, with one agreement, condemned this Gregory that he should be deposed.
The Sentence of the Council of Brixia against Hildebrand.
BEcause it in known this Bishop, not elected of God, but intruded himself by f • and and money, subue • ted Ecclesiastical order, disturbed the government of the Empire, •• nacing death of body and soul unto our peaceable king, set up a per • ured king, making discor • s amongst friends and brethren, Diuorcements amongst the married: (for he took away the marriage of Priests, as Henricus Mutius witnesseth) therefore we here in the name of God congregated, do proceed in Canonical Judgment against Hildebrand, a man most wicked, preaching Sacrilege and burning, maintaining perjury, and murders, calling in question the Catholic Faith of the body and blo • d of Christ, following of Diuinations and dreams, a manifest Nigromancer, a Sorcerer, infected with a Pith • nical spirit. We adjudge him to be deposed, and expelled, and unless he depart upon the hearing hereof, to be pe • pstually condemn •• d. This be • ing sent to Rome, they elected Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna, which was deposed by Hildebrand as aforesaid, in his place, and named him Clement the 3. And because Hildebrand would not give over his hold, the Emperor with an Army came to Rome to depose him: and Hildebrand sending to the Countess Mathilda, before mentioned, required her, in remission of all her sins, to withstand the Emperor, and so she did; but the Emperor besieged the City all the Lent, and after Easter got it, and coming into the Temple of Saint Peter, placed Clement in his Papacie Hildebrand •• ed into Ad • ans Tower, where being besieged, he sent for Robert Guischardus a Normaine, who with his Army, when the Emperor was gone, burst in at one of the gates of the C •• y, spoiled it, and delivered Hildebrand, and carried him to Campania, where not long after he died in exile. In the mean time, whilst the Emperor was at Rome, the Abbot of Cluniake, and the people of Rome, exhorted Hildebrand to Crown Henry Emperor at Lateran, and they would • ause the Emp • rour to depart with his Arm • to whom he answered, he would, so the Emperor would submit himself, ask pardon, amend, and promise obedience. The Emperor not agreeing to the conditions, departed, and took the new Pope with him. The Emperor was wont to pray in the Temple of Saint Mary, Hildebrand knowing by spies the place where he was wont to pray hired one to carry up stones to the roof of the Church, to let them fall upon his head when he was at prayers; the hireling, • aying his stones in order, fell down and was slain. The Romaines understanding the truth, drew him three days, by the legs, through the streets for example; but the Emperor, of his meekness commanded him to b • buried. Hildebrand, being a dying, bewailed his faults, and sent a Cardinal to the Emperor to desire him forgiveness, and to pardon the Emperor and all his par • akers, quick and dead, of the danger of excommunication. From this Pope sprang all mischief, pride, pomp, and tyranny, which since reigned in his successors; hence was the subjection of Temporal Regiment to the Spiritual, and the suppression of Priests marriages: here came in the authority of both Swords to the Spiritualty, so that the Magistrates could do nothing in giving of Bishoprics, benefices; in calling of Counceis, in correcting the excesses of the Clergy, but the Pope must do all. Nor no Bishop, nor Passor, in his own Parish, could excommunicate, or use any 〈◊〉 discipline, against his flock, but it was only the Popes Prerogatiue. In him was the first example of persecuting Empe • ours and kings with rebellion and excommunication; then Victor the third was made Pope, who likewise shown himself staut against the Emperors; but God gave the shrewde cow short horns: some say he was poisoned in his Chalice, and reigned but one year and a half. Notwithstanding the Popes followed still the steps of Hildebrand, as the Kings of Israel Jeroboam: in the time of this Victor began the Order of Monks of the Charterhouse.
Next him V • banus the 2. was Pope, which confirmed the Acts of Hildebrand, and gave new Decrees against Henry the Emperor, and against Clement the Pope, he held two Councils, one at Plac •• tia, the other called Synodus Claromontana, wherein he caused all Christian Princes • o war against the Sa •• cens, for recovering Jerusalem: whereupon 30000. were appointed for the same business, by the said Urbanus.
The King of Galacia, with the whole Di • ces of Saint James, was excommunicated for the prisoning of a certain Bishop.
About this time the King of England favored not much the Sea of Rome, for their pride and exactions, and would not suffer his subjects to give to Rome, saying; The followed not Pet • rs steps that h • nted for rewards, nor had Peters power, which had not his holiness.
The order of Cisteri • ns was first est • blished in Burgundia, by the same Urbanus the seven Canonical hours were first instituted in the Church▪ By him, the order of the Cartus • an M • nkes was confirmed. He Decreed no Bishop to be made, but under the name of some place, he Decreed that Ma •• ens and hours of the • ay should every day be said, and that the Mass of our Lady should be said every Saturday, and the Clergy that had wives, should be deprived of their Order, and that it was lawful for subjects to break the Oath of Alegiance with such Princes as were excommunicated, and that it was not lawful for a man and his wife, both together▪ to Christian a child, with many moe matters.
After him followed Pascalis the 2. he putting on a purple Uesture and a tire on his head, was brought upon a white Palfrey, into Lateran, where a Scepter was given him, and a girdle about him, which having seven Keys, with seven Seals, to token the seven powers by the seven graces of the holy Ghost of binding, loosing, shutting openning, sealing, resigning and Iudging, which the Emperor Henry the 4. hearing of, thought to come to Italy to salute the new Pope, but understanding the Popes mind against him, changed his purpose. This Pascalis d • posed all such Abbo • s, and Bishops, as the Emperor had set up; and banished many that strived, at that time, for the Papacie, and made an Army against Clement, whom the Emperor made Pope, as aforesaid, and being put to flight, not long after d •• d. About the same time, the Bishop of Fluence began to teach and Preach of Antichrist then to be borne, as Sabeli • us 〈◊〉 . Pascalis put to silence the said Bishoppe, and condemned his Bo • kes, by a Council, which he assembled at Tre • as. Maried Priests, in this Council, were condemned for Nicholaitans. All Lay-men, that gave Spiritual Dignities, were condemned of Simony. The Statu • e of Priests Tythes was renewed, counting the selling thereof sin against the holy Ghost. He renewed the excommunication of Hildebrand against Henry the Emperor, caused cer • aine Bishops to deprive him of his Crown, and to place his son • Henry the 5. in his Fathers room; these Bishops required of the Emperor his Diademe▪ P •• ple, • ing, and other ornaments of his Crown: when the Emperor would know the reason, they aleadged, the Popes pleasure, and for selling Spiritual Liuings: but these Bishops being demanded of him, could not deny but he took nothing of them, they being preferred by him: well, said he, you requi • e me well, and admonishing them of their Oath and alegiance, as he sat in his Throne, they pl • cke away all his Cu • periall Ornaments. The good Emperor, being destitute, said, Videat Deus & Iudicat. Thus leaving him, they confirmed the Kingdom to his Son, and caused him to drive his Father out, who with nine persons, did •• y to the Dukedom of Li • burg, the Duke bearing of it, made after him, the Emperor having before put him from his Kingdom, being afraid of death, cra • ed pardon of him, and not revengement, the Duke pitying his estate, remitted his displeasure, and received him to his Castle, and collecting men of War, brought him to Colin. His Son hearing thereof, besieged the City, but he escaped by night to Leodium, thither all they that had compassion and consiant hearts resorted to him, so he was able to pitch a Field against his enemies, and so did, he desired his friends, if they that had the victory, they would spare his son, in that sight the Father had the victory, and the Son was chased, but in another battle the Son had the victory, and the Father was taken, who being utterly dispossessed, was fain to crave of the Bishop of Spire, whom he had done much for, to have a Pr • bendry in the Church, to serve in our Ladies quire, who swore by our Lady he should have none. Thus he came to Leodium, and there, for sorro • died, after he had reigned 50. • ears. Pope Pascalis caused his body to be taken our of the grave, and to remain at Spites five years without burial.
About this time Anselmus Bishop of Canterbury, which brought in the Conception of our • ady to be hal • wed; accused King Henry the first of England, to Pascal • s for making certain Bishops by his own election; the Kings Proctor, in his behalf, signif •• d to the people, that the King, for the value of his Kingdom, would not forgo his right, in setting in Bishop▪ and Pr • lates. The Pope answered. Before • od, I for the price of my head, will not permit it unto him. The Archbishop returning home, being the Popes Legate, was turned out of his Bishopric, and goods.
Henry the 5. Emperor, after his fathers death, reigned twenty years, being at Rome, could not be crowned, except he would relinquish his claim of making Popes, or any other Bishops: there was such a stir made by the Pope, that if the Emperor had not defended himself with his own hands, he had been slain. But the Emperor having the victory, took Pope Pascalis, led him out of the city, made him agree to cr • wne him, and to allow him his prerogative of election of Popes, and other Bishops; and being crowned, returned with the Pope to Rome. But as soon as the Emperor returned to Germany, the Pope called a Syno • e, • euoking his agreement, and exc • mmunicated the Emperor, as he had done his Father. The Emperor 〈◊〉 a • it, marched to Rome, and put the Pope to flight, and placed another in his 〈◊〉 . The German Bishops, with all they might, stirred the Saxons against the • r Caesar, it gr • we at length to a pitched Field. The Emperor, seeing no end of his conflicts, was fain to forgo his priu • ledge of the Popes election, and other things belonging to the Church, and Churchmen.
In the time of Pascalis, li • ed Barnardus, of whom sprung the Barnardine Monks.
The Emperor had no issue, his wife was Mathildas, daughter of King Henry the fi • st of England, which was God's just Judgment for deposing his Father. Pascalis being dead, Pope Gelasius was chosen by the Cardinals, without the Emperor; and the Emperor made another Pope, Gregorius the 8. which made Pope Gelasius 〈◊〉 into France, and there died. The Cardinales choose Calixus the 2. Pope, without the Emperor; who before he came to his Seat in R • me, sent his Legate to excommunicate the Emperor, and drove Gregorius, the Emperors Pope, out of Rome. The Emperor fearing the vain thunderbolts of the Popes curse, persuade • d by his Princes and f • iends, resigned his • y • le, pertaining to the 〈◊〉 of the Pope, and the inuestiture of Bishops. This being set vy in writing, in the Church of Lateran, in triumph of the Emperor thus sub • ued. Then the Pope made out, and took his fellow Pope Gregorius, set him on a Camel, his face backward, holding the tail for a bridle, brought him thro • gh the streets of Rome, and sho •• him, and thrust him into a Monastery. • ee established the Decree of the Papal Sea against the Emperor, and brought in the four Ember-fasts, called ember • aies. He ordained the order of Monks, called Praemonstratenses. It was 〈◊〉 by him to be judged adultery for any person to put away his Living or Bishopric • • uring his life, according to Saint Paul; The wife is bound unto the husband as long as he liveth.
By a general Council at Reims, he decreed, all Clergy men should put away their wives, or be deprived of their Liuings, whereupon an English writer made these verse • :
Pope Honorius the • . succeeded him, he sent one John Cremensis Cardinal, Legat into England, and Scotland, in color of redress, but to fsill his purse, as all other did after him in those days; afte • he had well refreshed himself in Bishops and Abbots houses, he assembled the whole Clergy, inquired of Priests wives, and made a Sta • tute they should have no women in their houses, unless i •• h kindred as were not to be • usp • cted, and the offend • r of this Act, to forfeit all his Spiritual promotion, and that no kindred should mary until the seventh generation; and r • fling within hours at night, was taken in the same vice he was so strict against, to no little shame of the Clergy.
At this time the Emperor Henry the 5. died without issue, the Imperial crown came to Lotharius Duke of Saxon. Not long after deceased Henry the first, King of England.
In this Honorius his time, came a Priest to Rome, called Arnulphus, who preached vehemently against the pride, avarice, and incontinency of the Clergy, and exhorted them to follow Christ. He was well respected of the Citizens, but the Cardinals and Clergy hated him, and made him away in the night by drowing him. Sabelicus and Platina say, they hanged him. His Martyrdom (he said) was revealed to him by an Angel in the Desert, and said unto them. I know you will kill me privily, and no marvel; for if Saint Peter were here, and rebuked your vices that exceed, you would serve him so, and said with a loud voice; I am not afraid to suffer for the truth, but God will be revenged, you play the blind guides, and lead the people to Hell.
In the second Book of Councils, printed at Colen, either this Arnulphus or about his time, one complaineth of the number of Holly days, and the increase of vice thereby▪ whores, say they, vantage more in one Holy day, then in fifty other days: and of the curious singing in Cathedral Churches, wherein much time is spent that might better be be • towed in other Sciences, and learning. And of the multitude of begging Friars, and other professed men and women, the cause of Idleness, and uncomely life; of promotion of evil Prelates, and their negligence in reproving vice. Of the wantonness of their servants, and their excess in apparel: Of the excessive gains of the prelates and their officers for their Seals: giving them, they care not for what, so they get money. That Prelates be too slack in looking to non residents. Of giving benifices, not for godliness and learning, but for favor, friendship, or hope of gain, of which cometh the great ignorance in the Church. How Prelates wast the Church goods in superfluity on kinsfolks, or worse ways, and not on the poor. How, by negligence, the Books of the old Co • ncels, and o • the new, are not to be found, which should be kept in all Cathedral Churches. The negligence of Pre • ates, and their voluptuousness, by example of Storks, whose nature is, if one leave • his mate, and join with another, all the rest fly on him, and pluck his feathers off: so, and much more, should prelates d • e to their fellows, that defile so many▪ and stink in the whole Church. And as E • dras, in purging Israel from strange women, began with the priests, so now the purgation ought to begin with them, as it is written in Ezechi • ll: Begin with my Sarctuary. &c.
Again, if the whole Realm of France was interdicted, because Phillip the King, had but one Concubine, which was not his lawful wife. And the King of Portugal, sequestered from his Dominion, and thought by the Clergy insufficient to rule. What shall be said to prelates which abuse men's Wives, Uirgings, Nuns, and are insufficient to take charge of Souls.
About this ti •• e the Order of the Knights of the Rhodes, called Iohannits, and the Order of the Te •• lers rose up.
After Honorius succeeded Pope Innocentius the 2. At every mutation of new Popes, came new troubles, sometime two Popes, sometimes three together. The Romaines elected another Pope, called Anacletus, betwixt whom was great conflicts. The Duke of Sicily taking with Anacletus, until Lotharius the Emperor drove Anacletus 〈◊〉 of Italy.
This Pope decreed that whose struck a shaven Priest, should be excommunicated, and not absolved but only by the Pope.
Stephen king of England, reserved to himself the authority of bestowing Spiritual livings, and of investing Prelates.
At which time Lodouicus the Emperoue would have done the like, had not Bernardus give in him contrary council.
At this time came in the manner of cursing with Book, Bell, and Candle, in a Council of London, holden by William Bishop of Winchester, under Pope Celestinus, successor of Innocentius.
After Lotharius succeeded in the Imperial Crown, Conradus Nephew of Henry the fifth, he reigned 15. years. There was diverse Popes in his days, as Celestinus the 2. Lucius the 2. E • genius the 3. at which times the Romaines endeauored to recover the old manner of choosing Con • uls, and Senators; but the Popes, being in their ruffe, would not abide it▪ which caused much civil war; insomuch that Pope Lucius sent 〈◊〉 the Emperor for aid, who thought to have dest • oyed them in the Senate: but they were ware o • it, and were all in array, the Pope being in the fight was well pelted with stones and blows, that he lived not long after.
Eugenius cursed the Romaines for that matter with excommunication, which when he saw would not serve, came upon them with his Host, and compelled them to abolish their Consuls▪ and to take such presidents as the Pope should assign.
Then followed Anastatius the 4. after him Adrianus the 4. an English man, called Breakespeare, belonging once to Saint Albons, he likewise kept great slur • e with the Citizens of Rome, to abolish Consuls, with cursing and wars until he had brought them under.
In the mean time Fredericus, called Barbarossa, succeeded Conradus in the Empire, marched to Italy to subdue rebels; the Pope and his Clergy met him to have aid against their enemies, the Emperor lighted to receive him, and held his left stirrup where he should the right, the Pope displeased, he smiling, excused himself as not used to hold stirrups, and that it was not of duty: the next day the emperor sent for him, received him, and held his right stirrup, and all was well. When they came in the Pope told the Emperor that his predecessors left some token of benevolence for crowning of them; as Carolus Magnus subdued the Lumbards, Otho the Bexingarians, Lotharius the Normans; therefore required him to restore the Country of Ap • lia to the Church of Rome. He and his Princes seeing he could not otherways • e crowned, promised to do it, and the next day was crowned. Whilst the Emperor was providing for Apulia, the Pope excommunicated William Duke thereof, and sent Immanuel Emperor of Constantinople, incensing him to war against the said Duke. Th • Duke hearing it, sent unto the Pope for peace, promising to restore what he would, which the Pope, by the Council of the Cardinals, would not grant. The Duke put Immanuel the Emperor to flight, and besieged the C • tie Bene • entum, where the Pope and Cardinals were looking for victory, that they were glad to entreat for the peace they refused, the Duke only granted not to invade the possessions of Rome, and the P • pe made him King of both Sicils.
The Pope was so troubled with the Senators and Consuls of Rome, that when his curses would not avail, he was fain to remove from Rome to Ariminium.
The Emperor, considering the wrongs the Pope had done to his predecessors required of the Bishops of Germany Homage and Oath of alegiance, commanding if the Popes Legates came thither without sending for, they should not be received, charging his subjects not to appeal to Rome, and prefixed his name in his Letters before the Popes name.
Whereupon the Pope wrote to him, that God promiseth long life to th • m that honored their Parents, and death to them that cursed them: and the word of truth saith▪ He that exal • eth himself shall be brought low. He marvelled not a little that he shown not the reverence he ought to blessed Saint Peter▪ and the holy Church of Rome 〈◊〉 prefer your name before Ours, wherein your incur the note of insolency, or rather arrogancy. How keep you the Oath of fidelity to Saint Peter and us, seeing you require Homage and Alegiance of them that be God's, and all the sons of the high God, and presume to join their holy hands with yours; and exclude from your Churches and Cities our Cardinals, Legates from our side; amend, amend: • hile you go • about to obtain the things you have not, I fear me, your Honor will loose the things which you have.
The Emperor wrote again, that Justice giveth to everyone his, We derogate not from our parents, as We have received our Imperial Crown of them, we render their due and •• ue Honor to them again: and forasmuch as duty of all sorts of men is to be sought out, did not Constantine restore Peace to the Church, and of his liberal benig • ity, & other Princes, gave whatsoever Regality or Patrimony the Sea of your Papacie hath, as is to be found in the Chronicles? Of them that be God's by adoption, and hold Lordships, why may not we require Homage and sworn Alegiance, when he that is you • master and ours paid • oule and tribute for himself and Saint Peter to Caesar, giving you example to do the like, and therefore saith, Learn of me, for I am humble and meek. • herefore▪ either render our Lordships, or if they b • too sweet to you, give God his due, and Caesa • his due. We shut out the Cardinals because we see them no preachers but prowlers, not repayrers of peace, bat rakers for money; not Pillars, b • t pollers of Church. When we see them such as the Church requireth them to be, then they shall find us ready to receive them with stipends and all necessaries. By your inferring such questions, not conducing to Religion▪ you incur no little blemish of your humility, which is keeper of all virtues; let your Fatherhood beware, least in moving such questions, as seem unseemly for you to do, you give on offense to such as •• pend on your word, and give ear to your mouth as an evening shoure. We cannot 〈◊〉 fell you of that we hear, seeing now the detestable beast of pride doth cr • epe into th • Seat of Peter, providing always as much as we may for the peace of the Church.
Upon this, the Pope sent a Bull against the Emp •• our, excommunicating him conspired with the Duke of Apulia, and sought all ways to i • fest him, and set all men against him, especially the Clergy.
The Pope wrote to the Bishops of Germany, that the Empire of Rome was translated from the Greeks to the Almaines, so that the King of Almaine could not be called Emperor▪ before he were crowned by the Pope. Before his consecration he was a King, after an Emperor: he hath the name of King by the Princes election, the name of Emperor, Augustus, and Caesar, by our consecration, ergo, by us he reigneth Emperor. Pope Zacharias promoted Carolus to the name of Emperor, after that▪ all the Kings of Almaine were called Emperors, and Advocates to the Sea Apostolic. So that Apu • ia, conquered by him, was subject to the Pope; which Apuli • , with the citi • of Rom • , is ours, and not the Emperors. Our seat is at Rome, the Emperors at Aquis • n Ardenna, which is a wood in France. Whatsoever the Emperor hath, he hath of us: we may translate it to the Grees again, as Zacharias did to the Almaines, it lieth in our power to give it whom we will being set up of God above gentiles and Na • ions, to destroy, pluck up, build and plant.
When this Emperor Predericus came first to Rome, the Pope shown him a picture of Lotharius the second Emperor, with verses, showing how he first sware to the city, after was made the Popes man, and so received the Crown of him. Fredericus di •• red that the picture might be abolish • d, least hereafter it cause discention.
The Pope seeing the emperor loath to be subject to his Sea, devised all crafty ways to bring him under. First, taking occasion by the imprisonment of the Bishop of Laodicia, sent unto him diverse sharp Letters, and not so sharp as prou • and disdainful, wherein the salutation was, Salutat vos beatissimus pater noster Papa, & vniuersitas Cardinalium, ill vt pater, hii vt fratres, meaning he should understand himself to be subject to the Pope, no less then the Cardinals; where reciting, what many and great benefits, and fullness of Honor, he had received of him. The emperor with his princes, perceiving whereat the Pope, by his Legates, shot, could not •• ree such a proud Message, so that much contention fell betwixt the Legat • and princes, of whom then, said the Legates doth Caesar receive his Empery, if not of the Pope? With which words the princes were so offended, that they would have v • ed violence, if the Emperor had not stayed them, and commanded the Legates away straight, charging them not to turn by the way to any person, but straight to depart home. And to certify the whole Empire of the matter, he directed Letters to this effect. First, he greatly sorroweth that the root and foundation of dissensions, and evil, should rise from the holy Church, imprinted with the Seal of love and peare of Christ, where with we fear (except God prevent it) the whole body of the Church will be polluted, and the unity broken between the Spiritual and Temporal Regiment. Then he showeth them the manner of the proud Legacy as aforesaid, and touching his straight sending them home, without tarrying, or going out of the way, was, because there was Letters found about them to the Churches of Germany, to spoil the Altars of our Churches, to carry away the Jewels thereof, to fley the lym • es and plats of the golded crosses thereof, &c.
This Letters of Caesar fretted the Pope, who wrote again to the Bishops of Germany, accusing the Emperor, willing them to work against him what they could. They answered him again with all obedience, yet excusing the Emperor, and blaming him rather, exhor • ing him henceforth to temper his Letter and Legacies with more modesty, which council he followed, seeing he could prevail no other way.
In his time lived Gracianus, compiler of the Popes decrees. Petrus Lumbardus, Pet • us Comester, Auicenna, Abbas Ioachimus, and the order of Hermits rose by William Duke of Aquitania, and afterward a Friar.
This Hadrianus walking with his Cardinals to a place called Auignon, was choked with a Fly▪ getting into his thr • at, when he had reigned 4. years and odd months, He would say in his latter time, there is no more miserable life then to be a Pope, and come to it by blood, which is not to succeed Peter, but Romulus, who to reign alone, slew his brother. Though he was bad, his successor was worse, Pope Alexander the 3. The Emperor, with nine Cardinals, set up another Pope, Victor the 4. betwixt whom there was great and long discord.
The Emperor being required therefo, sent for them both to hear their cause, and Judge the matter. Victor came, but Alexander • isdainfully refused to appear. Whereupon the Emperor, with full consent of his Bishops and Clergíe about him, ratified the 〈◊〉 • lection of Victor, and so brought him into the City to be received and placed. Alexander flying into france, accursed them bath, as maan to be cast out of all Christian 〈◊〉 sending Letters there of into all Christiandome; and with money and flattery, not the greatest part of the City to savor him, and to set vy such Consuls for his purpose: 〈◊〉 returned from France to Rome, and was received with much savor, through the help of Phillip the french king. The Emperor hearing thereof, came with great power to Italy, where he destroyed great cities, and came to Rome, required the Citizens that the cause betwixt the 〈◊〉 Popes might be decided, and he that had the bestright▪ to be taken for Pope, and then he would restore to them that which he had taken. Alexander, doubting his part, and the wills of the Citizens, having ships prepared, fet • hed a course about to Uenis. The Emperor required the Uenetians to send him, but they would not: wherefore Fredericus sent thither his Sonn • Otho, with men and ships well appointed, charging him to attempt nothing before his coming: notwithstanding he joined with the Uenetians in battle, and was overcome, taken, and brought into the City. The farther to redeem his Son, was compelled to submit himself to the hope and entreat peace.
To the Emperor coming to Uenis at S. Markes Church, where the Pope was, there to take his absolution, was hid to kneels down at the popes feet, the proud Pope set his foot upon the Emperors neck, and said.
Super aspidem & basilicum ambulabis, & concultabis leonem et Draconem. • e an • i •• red; Non tibi, sed Petro. The Pope again. Et mihi, & Petro. The Emperor fearing more quarreling, held his peace, and peace was made betwixt them. First, that he should receive Alexander for true Pope; then, that he should restore to the Church of Rome all that he took from it, thus he obtained his son.
Alexander was Pope • 1. years, he kept sundry Councils at • urd and Lat • ran, wh • re he confirmed the proceedings of Hildebrand, and other his predecessors. In this time spung up the Doctrine of the Waldenses, which was of one Waldus a chief Senator of Lion • in France.
The aforesaid Gratianus, master of Decrees, and Petrus Lumbardus, at this time did much maintain proud Prelacie; after whom followed two, as evil or worse▪ Franciscus and Dominicus, maintaining as much blind hypocrisy. I • pleased God to raise up the Waldenses against their Doctrine of Pride and hypocrisy. Thus we never see any great corrup • i • n in the Churc • , but s • me spark of the true ligh • of the Gospel by God's providence, doth remain, howsoever their aduersari •• 〈◊〉 them, yet by the Judicial •• aying their Articles, thou shalt find that they maintained nothing else, but the same doctrine wh •• h we now defend; yet I suppose the Papist did gather th • m, and wrest them otherwi • e then they were meant, as they did them of Wiclife and H • s.
It chanced that certain of the chief of the city of Lions went a walking, with the aforesaid Waldus, of whom came the Waldenses was one, one of them f • ll down suddenly dead, the sight whereof smo • e this Waldus with a • eepe and inward repentance, with a careful study to reform his life. First▪ he began to give large alms to the needy. Secondly, to instruct his family and himself, with the knowledge of God's word. Thirdly, to exhort all that resorted to him to rep • ntance and v • r • uous life, by his alms, and diligent teaching, more resorted to him daily, to whom he gave certain rudiments of the Scripture.
The Bishops and Prelates seeing him so meddle with Scripture, and to have such a resort about him, though it were but in his own house, moved with great malice against him, threatened to excommunicate him, if he did not leave so to do. He neglecting the threatenings of the wicked, said; God must be obeyed more then man, and was the more diligent to set forth the Doctrine of Christ against the errors of Antichrist. When they saw their excommunication despised, they ceased not with prison, with sword, and banishment to prosecute, till they had driven the said Waldus and all his favorers out of the city. Here followeth their Articles they held.
1 That the holy Scripture is to be believed, in matters pertaining to salvation, and no man besides.
2 All things, contained in holy Scripture, necessary to salvation, and nothing to be admitted in Religion, but what only is commanded in the word of God.
3 To be but one only Mediator, other saints to be made in no wise Mediators, to be invocated.
4 That there is no Purgatory, but all men either by Christ are Justified, or without Christ, condemned; besides these two neither three nor four places.
5 That all Masses, sunge for the deads, are wicked and to be abrogated.
6 All men's traditions to be rejected, at least, not to be reputed necessary to salvation: therefore singing, and superflueus chaunting in the Chaun • ell to be left▪ constrai • ied and prefixed • aste bound to days and times, differences of meats, varieties of • egres and orders of Priests, Friars, Monks, Nuns, super • luous holy days so many been dictions, and hallowing of creatures, vows, Pilgrimages, with all the rablement of Ceremonies brought in by men to be abolished.
7 The supremacy of the Pope, usurping above all Churches, and especially above all polliti • ue Realms and Gouernments: or for him to occupy and usurp the Jurisdiction of both swords to be denied, neither that any other degree is to be received in the Church, but only Priests▪ Deacons, and Bishops.
8 The Communion of both kinds to be necessary to all people, according to the institution of Christ.
9 I ••• m the Church of Rome to be the very Babylon spoken of in the Revelation, and the Pope to be the fountain of all error, and the very Antichrist.
10 They reject the Popes pardons and indulgences.
11 The marriage of Pri • sts and ecclesiastical persons to be Godly and necessary in the Church.
12 Such as hear the word of God, and have a good Faith, to be • he right Church of Christ, and to this Church the Key • s of the Church to be given, to drive away wolves, and to institute true Pastors to preach the word, and institute the Sacraments, these were their principal Articles.
Being exiled, they dispersed in diverse places of whom many remained long after in Bohemia.
E • ease Sylvius in the Bohemian Histories, writeth that these Articles they held.
The Bishop of Rome to be equal with other Bishops, no difference of degrees amongst Priests, no Priest to be reputed for the dignity of his Order, but for the worthiness of his life.
No Purgatory, as before, in vain to pray for the dead, a thing only • ound out for the lu •• ee of Priests. The Image of God (as of the Trinity) and of Saints to be abolished. The hallowing of •• ater, and palms, a ridic • e. The religious of begging Friers to be found out by the Devil, That Priests sho • l • not incro • h riches, but be content with their Tythes, and men's devotions. The preaching of the Word to be free to all men, called thereunto.
No deadly sin to be tolerated, for what respect soever of greater commodity to ensue thereby. Confirmation of Bishops, with oil, and extreme v •• tion, none o • the Sacraments. Auricul • r confession, but a toy. Baptism to be ministered only with pure water, without mixture of holy oil. The Majesty of God not to be restrained more within Temples, Monast • ries or Chapels, then anywhere else.
Priests apparel, ornaments of Altars, Uestments, Corporaces Chalices, patenes, and other Church-plate, to serve in no steed. It maketh no matter in what place the Priest consecrateth the Sacrament, and that it is sufficient to use only the Sacramental words, without other superstitious ceremonies. Prayers to Saints vain, they not able to help. In saying, and singing the hours and Matins of the day, the time lost. A man ought to cease from his labor, no day but Sunday. The Feasts of Saints to be rejected▪ coacted feasts have no merit. The truth o • these Articles be the less to be doubted, being set out by a Popes pen.
They being accused slanderously by one Doctor Augustine, unto the Bohemian King, gave up their confession, with an Apology of their Faith.
They held Thomas Aquinas author of Purgatory. Concerning the Supper of the Lord, their Faith was, it was to be eaten, and not to be shown, and worshipped. That it was for a memorial and not for a Sacrifice, to serve for the present, not to be reserved; to be received at the table, not to be carried out of doors, according to the use of the primitive Church, when they used to communicate sitting: this they proved by Cronicles, • and by Origen upon the third of Moses. Doctor Austin asked them, whether it were not the same Christ in the Sacrament which is in heaven, else how can it be said, there is but one Faith, and one Christ; then, why he should not be worshipped in the Sacrament as well as in Heaven. They answered to this effect; that the same Christ that is in Heaven is in the Sacrament, but after diverse manners, in Heaven he is corporally, locally, with the full proportion and quantity of the same body wherewith he ascended, and to be seen in the Sacrament, he is but sacramentally to be remembered, not to be seen; our bodies receive the sign, our spirit the thing signified.
They asked him again, whether Christ was not as well in them that receive the Sacrament, as in the Sacrament before it was received, and why it should not be worshipped as well in the breast of the receiver, as before it is received, seeing • e is in a more perfect manner in • an then in the Sacrament, in it he is but for a time, not for the sacrament s • ke, but f • r man's sake. In man he is for his own sake, not for a time but forever, as it is written, Qu • manducat hunc panem, viuat in aeternum.
Then they asked whether he was there wholly God and man, which if he grant it, it is contrary to Nature and Faith, that any creature should be changed into the Creator. If he say, it is changed into his body and soul, and not into the Godhead, then h • e separates the natures of Christ, if he say into the body alone, and not the soul, then he separateth the Natures of the true manhood, and so cannot be the same Christ that was betrayed for us, so to what part soever he should answer he could not defend transubstantiation without great inconueni •• ce of all sides.
It appeareth in a certain Libell of Inquisition that upon their kne • s with great reverence they used to pray, every morning, and every evening, and that they used to say grace before meat and after: and after meat to edify one another with some instruction.
They were so diligent and painful in teaching that Reynerius an old Inquisitor against them writeth, that one of them to bring another unto the faith, in the night, and in winter swam over the River Ibis to come to him, to teach him, and they were so perfect in the Scripture, that he heard an unlettered man that could say the book of Job word by word without book, with others which had the New Testament perfectly by heart.
He writeth moreover, that none durst stop them for the number of their favorers: saying, I have often been at their examination, and there were numbered forty Churches of their opinions, in s • much that in one parish of Camma • h were ten open schools of them, and when he had spoken what he could against them, he is driven to confess that they both live justly before men, and believe all things well • of God, and hold all the Articles contained in the Creed; only they blaspheme the Church of Rome and hate it.
Touching the • r persecution, which commonly followeth true preaching, they being scattered from Lions, that the sound of their doctrine might gee abroad • n the world; some went as it is said into Bohemia, many into other provinces of France; some into Lombardy and other places, but these could not be suffered to live at rest, as may appear by the consultations made by the Lawyers & Bishops of France against them, writ above three hundred years agone, remaining yet in writing▪ whereby it appeareth there were a great many in France.
Besides there was a Counsel kept in Tol • se about 355. years agone▪ and all against these Waldenses, they also were condemned in another Counsel at Rome before that.
What persecutions they had in France by three Archbishops, appeareth by their writings: who is such a stranger, that knoweth not the condemnation of the Waldenses, done so many years agone, so famous, so public, followed upon with so great labor, expenses and travel; and sealed with so many of their deaths; so solemnly being condemned, and openly punished, where • by we may know persecution to be no new thing in the church of Christ, when Antichrist three hundred years agone did rage against the Waldenses.
But there was never more trouble then was against them of late, in the year • 545. in France by the French King, which followeth in this book, when we come to the year wherein it was done, where it shall be set forth more at large. In which persecution is declared, that in one town Cabria by Miuerias were slain eight hundred persons at once, not respecting women, children, nor any age: and forty women, most of them great with child, were thrust into a Barn, the windows kept with pikes were fired and consumed: besides in a Cave not far from Mussin, were five and twenty persons fired and destroyed the same time; the same tyrant at Merindolum, seeing all the rest were fled away, finding one young man, caused him to be tied to an Olive tree, and destroyed with torments most cruel: the foresaid Reynerius speaketh of a Glover, one of them in the town of Cheron, that in his time was brought to execution.
There is an old Monument of processes, wherein appeareth 443. brought to examination in Pomarina, Marchia, and places there ab • ut, in the year 1391. thus much of the original doctrine, and lamentable persecutions of the Waldenses, who as it is said began about the time of Pope Alexander. Now for as much as Thomas Becket happened in this Popes time, let us somewhat story of him.
THE HISTORY OF THOMAS BECKET Arch-bishop of Canterbury.
KIng Henry the second K. of England conventing his Nobles & Clerks required to have punishment of certain misorders of the clergy, but the Archbishop Thomas Becket would not agree thereunto: the King came to this point to know whether he & the rest of the Clergy would consent to the customs set forth in Henry the fifth his time, he with the rest of the Bishops, upon consultation held, they would consent with this exception, Saluo ordine suo, so all other Bishops being particularly demanded, except Christopher, who seeing the King angry, said, for Saluo ordine suo, he would bona fide, the King told them he was not well content with that exception which was captious and deceitful, having some venom lurking under, therefore required an absolute grant: they answered, they would not bind themselves in no other manner, at which the King and all the Nobility were not a little moved: the King, when he could get no other answer, departed with gret anger, not saluting the Bishops: Chester was greatly rebuked of his fellows for changing the exception; the next day the King took from the Archbishop all such Manors and Honors as he had given him before being Lord Chancellor; not long after unknown to the Bishops he sailed into Normandy; not long after the Bishop of London followed after him to crave his favor, and gave him counsel to join some of the Bishops with him, least if all were against him, he might the sooner be overthrown: thus by his means the greatest number of the Bishops were reconciled unto the King, only the Archbishop with a few other remained in their stoutness: when the King saw no fear or threats could turn him, he assaid him with gentleness but it would not serve, though many Nobles labored to exhort him to relent unto the King: Likewise the Arch-bishop of York, with diverse other Clergy men, Bishops and Abbots, especially Chester did the same: besides his own house daily called upon him, no man could persuade him; at length understanding what danger might happen by the Kings displeasure, not only to himself but to all the Clergy, and considering the old kindness and love of the King towards him in times past, was content to give over unto the Kings request, came to the King at Oxford, and reconciled himself: whereupon the King received him with a more ch • erefull countenance, saying, he would have his Ordinances confirmed in open sight of his Bishops, and all his Nobles; after this the King being at Clarem Doune, called all his Peers and Prelates before him, requiring to have that performed which he had promised in consenting to the observing his Grandfathers ordinances and proceedings; the Archbishop drew back, and would not that he would before, yet with great tears, entreaties, and persuasions of Bishops and of two Templars, that desired him on their knees, with tears, and with threatenings of Imprisonment, and other dangers he did agree only, with a clause of exception, bona fide, and he and all the Bishops set too their hands and seals.
Alanus recordeth that the Archbishop in his voyage to Winchester greatly repented that he had done, so that he kept himself from all company, lamenting with tears and fasting, and afflicting himself, did suspend himself from all divine service, and would not be comforted before he had sent to the Pope, and were assoiled of him, the Pope in his Letters not only assoiled him from his trespass, but with words of great consolation, encouraged him to be stout in the quarrel he took in hand. Upon this, Becket took no small heart & consolation: The King hearing of him, & how he denied to set his seal to those sanctions, which he condescended too before, took no little displesure against him, threatened him of banishment & death, called him to reckoning, and burdned him with payments: the Archb▪ thought to make an escape out of y • realm, attempting to take the Sea, with two or three privily. Amongst other the kings ordinances. This was one, that none of the Prelasie or Nobility without the Kings license, or his Justices, should depart the Realm. So Becket twice attempted the sea to fly to Rome, but the weather served not, which being known and noised abroad, the Kings Officers came to seize upon his goods to the Kings behalf, but finding Becket at home and returned, they did not proceed on their purpose, Becket seeing this, went to the Court, the King taunted him gestingly, as though one realm could not hold them both, but shown him no great favor. The Arch-bishop of York did labor to renew peace and love betwixt the King and him, but the King would not be reconciled, except the other would subscribe unto his laws, which Becket would not grant to, but by virtue of his Apostolic authority, gave censure upon these Laws of the King, condemning some, and approving some as catholic. The Pope sent the Arch-bishop of Rotomage to the King, to ma • e peace betwixt the King and Canterbury: the King was content, so the Pope would ratify his Ordinances, which could not be obtained at the Popes hands. The King sent to the Pope to obtain of him, that the same authority of the Apostolic Legacy might be conferred unto another after his appointment, which was the Arch-bishop of York, but the Pope denied; but he was content, so the King would be Legate himself, at which the King was angry, and sent to the Pope again, according to the old practice of popish Prelacy to play on both sides: privily he conspireth with one, and openly dissembleth with the other, He granteth the Legate should be removed, and the Archbishop of York placed in the office, and writ to Becket that he should take no harm thereby, for the Kings Ambassadors had promised him, and did offer to swear unto him, that the Letters which they obtained, should not be delivered unto the Archbishop of York, without the Popes consent therein: assure yourself it is not, nor never shall be our will nor purpose to subdue you or your Church unto any, save only the Bishop of Rome; therefore if you see the King will deliver the said Letters, give us knowledge, & we will clearly exempt by our authority Apostolical, both your person, your Church, and your Citty committed unto you from all jurisdiction of any legacy. Upon these letters and such other, Becket took all his stoutness against the King. The King after he had received his letters from the Pope, was more strong in his purposed proceedings against the Archbishop, and proceeded to punish the offenses of Clergy men, and there was above 100. found that had committed homicide and murder, beside other offenders: he adjudged them first to be deprived, and then committed to the secular power. This seemed to Becket to derogate from liberty of holy Church, that secular power should give judgment upon the crimes of Ecclesiastical persons, they pick this law out of Anacletus and Euaristus, who deduce this constitution from the Apostles, that all Ecclesiastical persons, shall be free from secular jurisdiction. The King daily incensed more & more against Becket, cited him to appear at a certain day and place, where at the time all the Peers, Nobles, with the Clergy were assembled by the Kings proclamation, where great fault was found with Becket because he did not appear but by Deputy. Whervpon by the public sentence both of the Nobles and Bishops, all his moveables were adjudged to be confiscate to the King: the stuborne Archbishop answered, he was primate & spiritual Father, not only of all other in the Realm, but of the King himself, and that it was not convenient the Children should judge the Father, and the the flock the Pastor: but especially complaineth of his fellow Bishops which should have took their Metropolitans part; the next day the King laid an action against him for the injury done to his Marshall, and required the Archbishop to repay him 500. marks which he lent him when he was Chancellor: he answered it was given him, but could bring no probation thereof: whereupon the King required him to put in an assurance for the payment: whereupon 5. persons of their own accord st • pped in and were bound for it, else the Archbishop had been in a great strait: the third day he was charged with other monies due unto the King, by reason of many Bishoprics, & Abbaricks which he had kept long vacant in his hands, & he & all the Bishops being shut into a room together by the Kings appointment, they did all take counsel what was best for the Archb. to do in this case, they all advised him to yield to the Kings Laws, or else he would be in danger and the rest of the Clergy, or else to resign his Arch-byshoppricke, and then no doubt the King would have compassion on him, if not, they saw no other way but he would loose his life, and then what good would his Byshoppricke do him: to this effect was their consultation. Becket checked them with rebukefull words, you go about to cherish your own cowardliness with a shadow of sufferance, and with dissembling softness to choke the liberty of the Church: who hath thus bewitched you O insatiable Bishops! is not God able to help the state of the Church without the sinful dissimulation of the teachers thereof? when should the Governors thereof put themselves in danger for the Church, but in the distress thereof, I think it no greater merit for the ancient Bishops to found the Church with their blood, then for us to effude our blood for the liberties of the same, and I think it not safe for you to swerve from the example which you have received from your holy Elders. Then the Arch-bishop sent for two Earls, to whom the Archbishop said: touching the matters betwixt the King & us, we have conferred, we would crave respite until the morrow, then we will be ready to give our answer unto the King: two Bishops were sent to the King with this message, which the King granted, the convocation being dissolved, the most part of the Bishops separated themselves from the Arch-bishop▪ for fear of the Kings displeasure: he being thus forsaken, sent for the poor, lame, and halt, to furnish his house, saying by them he might sooner obtain his victory, then by them which had slipped from him; the said day appointed was Sunday, therefore nothing done, the next day he was sick of the Gout, he could not come, it was thought he feigned, the Earl of Deuon: and the Earl of Leicester were sent to him, to try the truth of the matter, and to cite him to appear at the Court, the Bishops came to persuade him to submission to the will of the King, of all his goods and Arch-bishoppricke, if peradventure his indignation might swage by that means▪ else perjury would be laid to his charge for breaking his oath made to observe the Kings Ordinance, he answered it was dolorous that the world was against him, yet it grieveth me most, that Sons of mine own Mother be pricks and thorns against me, but I charge you be not present personally in judgment against me, and that you shall not so do I appeal to the Church of Rome, the refuge of all such as be oppressed, and if any secular men lay hand on me, as it is rumord they will, I straitly charge you, that you exercise your Ecclesiastical censure upon them, as it becometh for your Father and Arch-bishop, & whatsoever happen, I will never cowardly shrink, nor vily forsake my flock: then he addressed himself to his Mass of S. Stephen with all solemnity, with his Metropolitan pall, which was not used but upon holy days: the Mass beginning with Sederunt principes, & aduersum me loquebantur. The Bishop of London accused him that it was done by art Magic, and in contempt of the king, then the Archbishop went to the Court, and to make him more sure, he privily taketh the Sacrament within: as he was entering into the door of the Kings Chamber, he taketh the Cross with the Cross-staff from the Cross-bearer, and carried it himself: one of the other Bishops would have borne the Cross, saying it was not comely for him, the Bishop of London told him, if the king met him so, he would draw his sword at him; he answered, the Kings sword strikes carnally, but mine spiritually striketh himself down to hell. The King complained to the Nobles and Bishops, that he shown himself as a traitor, all gave witness thereto, affirming him always, to be a vain and proud man, so altogether with one cry, called him Traitor, and being he had received such great benefits, preferments and honors of the King, and thus requite it, was well worthy to be handled as a perjured Traitor: The Bishop of Excester desired him to have compassion of himself, and of them, else they were all like to perish, for there cometh a precept from the King for your apprehending and suffering as an open Rebell, and whosoever shall take your part, and the Bishops of Salisbury and Norwich are to be had to the place of execution, for their resisting, and making intercession for you. He answered, Auoyd hence from me, for thou sauorest not the things of GOD. Upon great consultation, the Bishops agreed, that they would appeal the Arch-bishop to the Sea of Rome upon perjury, and that they would oblige themselves to the King, with a sure promise to do their dil • gence in deposing of him, so the King would promise their safety; it being so finished, two Bishops were sent to him instead of them all, which said, once you were our Archbishop, and we bound to your obedience; but now, being you once sware fidelity to the King, and do resist him, neglecting his Laws, appertaining to his ter • rne honor: Wherefore we here pronounce you perjured, neither be we bound to give obedience to you, but putting our selves and all ours in the Popes protection, do appeal you up to his presence, and assignd him his time to appear: the Archbishop answered he heard him well enough, and sendeth to Rome in all hast, signifying to the Pope the whole matter, to whom the Pope writeth again: we are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most deer Brother, remember that the Apostles departed away rejoicing from the face of the Council, receive consolation that w • may rejoice with you in the Lord, who hath preserved you in this distress to the corroboration of the Catholic verity, and God through his punishment of afflic • ions hath wiped away the blot of your offenses, that they might not be called to account in the day of Judgment: be not grieved that you are appealed to the Apostolic Sea, which to us is grateful and accepted, draw not you back spare not to follow the appeal, for the authority of the Church of Rome tendereth your constancy, our diligence shall be to preserve the right and preeminence of your Church to you, as one working for the Church, a constant and valiant Champion, I thought good especially to premonish you, neither for adversity nor whatsoever happens renounce not the right and dignity of your Church.
The Archbishop sitting with his Cross in his hand as before was not abashed at all that was: the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand marks, and fruits and revenues of the Realm in the time when he was Chancellor; he answered, the King knew how often he had made reckonings of those things, and that Henry his Son and heir, with all the Barrons, and the Lord chief Justice of England told him was free and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts, computations on the Kings behalf, and so taking his discharge entered into his office, for other accounts he would make none: when his answer was brought to the King, he required the Barons to do their office, who adjudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison: the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Devonshire, and the Earl of Leicester to show him his Judgment; to whom he said, hear my Son and good Earl, how much the soul is more precious then the body, so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King, no Law doth permit the child to condemn their Father: wherefore to avoid all your judgments before you all I appeal to the Sea Apostolic, and as for you my fellow Bishops, which rather obey man then God, you also I call and claim to the Judgment of the Pope, and I do depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholic Church, and of the authority of the Apostolic Sea: whilst they returned this answer to the King, the Archbishop passed through the throng and took horse, holding the bridle in one hand, and his Cross in the other; the Courtiers followed, saying, tarry Traitor and here thy Judgment; the utmost gate being locked, one of his servants found a bunch of Keys & trying them found the right and opened the gate, he went to the house of the Cannons where he did lie▪ and calling to him the poor where they could be found, after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars; but whilst the King was at supper, he changed his garments, and named himself Derman, and made an escape to the Sea, and taking ship sailed into Flanders, and thence iournied unto France; the King sent the Bishop of London, and the Earl of Arundell unto the King of France, to require him not to receive the Archbishop, nor retain him in his Dominion, and that he would be a means to the Pope not to show any familiarity unto him, but the French King, contrary to the Kings Letters and request, not only harboured and cherished him, but writ to the Pope, entreating him upon all loves, as ever he would have his favor to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket. The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander, by the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Chichester, Exeter, with other Doctors and Clerks: with the Earl of Arundel, with certain moe Lord's and Barrons, they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court, the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consitory with his Cardinals, when the Ambassadors were called for the hearing of Beckets matter, and the Bishops everyone in order had made his Oration, the Pope did not accept some of their speeches, and disdained some: wherefore the Earl of Arundell disdained in this manner, spake:
Though I am unlettered, and cannot understand what these Bishops have said, neither can utter my mind in that tongue which they have done, yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may, which was not to contend with or injury any man, especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoop, but our Legacy is to present, in the presence of the whole Church of Rome, the devotion and love of our King, which he ever had and still hath towards you, and that it might the better appear to your excellency, he hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and chiefest subjects of such worthiness and parentage, that if he could have found greater in his Realm he would have sent them, for the reverence of your person and holy Church of Rome: I might add more, which your Sainctitude hath already proved, the hearty fidelity of our King towards you, who at the entrance to his Kingdom, submitted himself, and all his, wholly to your will and pleasure, and we believe there is none more faithful in Christ then he, nor more devout to God, nor more moderate in keeping the unity of peace: neither do I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury, a man not unfurnished with gifts in his calling, being both sage and discreet, saving that he seemeth to some more quick and sharp then needeth, if this blot had not been, the King and he had not discented: then both the temporality and spiritualty might have flourished one with the other in much peace, under so worthy a Prince, and so virtuous a pastor, therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence, is that through your favor and wisdom the neck of this discention may be broken, and reformation of unity and love by some good means may be sought.
But the Pope would not condescend to their suit, which was to have two Legates sent from his popish side into England, to examine and take up the controversy between the King, and the Archbishop, but because Becket was absent he willed them to tarry his coming up: for he being absent he would in no case proceed against him, but they alleged there time appointed to be ended, and having other lets they could not wait for the coming of Becket, and so returned back, there cause frustrated, without the Popes blessing to the King.
Within four days after, Becket cometh to the Popes Court, offered the pope a scroule of the custom and ordinances of the King: the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them, and blamed Becket for so much yielding to them at the beginning: yet because he was repentant, he was content to assoil him for the same, and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church: The next day, the Pope and his Cardinals being assembled in his secret chamber, Becket made an Oration to them to this effect: he confessed with grief the cause of these perturbations was because he entered into the sold of Christ, not by the door of Christ, because the King made him Bishop, not the Pope, and if I had resigned it to the King again at his commandment, I had left a dangegerous example unto the Catholic Church: therefore now recognising my ingress not to be Canonical, and my ability not sufficient for such a charge: therefore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishopric here of Canturbury, and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope, and desired a Bishop to be provided for the Church of Canturbury, and so with tears ended.
This done he was bid stand a part, after consultation they concluded, being he had ventred his goods, dignity, and authority, and his life, for the liberties of the Church, if he should now be deprived at the Kings pleasure it would be an exampl • to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case, and so weaken the Catholic Church, and derogate the Popes authority, and his cause being maintained it would be a president to others to do the like, so he received his Pastora • l Office at the Popes hand again with commendation and much favor, and • he Pope sent him unto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France, with a Monks habit, where he was two years; thence he removed to Senon, where he was five years; so he was in exile seven years.
The King being certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket, then unto him, was wrathful, and sailing into Normandy sent over certain injunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect.
1 Whosoever brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket, so be apprehended and executed as a Traitor.
2 That no Clarke, Monk, or convert of any other country, without the Justice and Kings Letters, to pass over or return into the Realm, otherwise to be imprisoned.
3 None to appeal to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them.
4 No Decree from them to stand in force or be received in England upon pain of imprisonment.
5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict, they shall be exiled with all their kindred, and take none of their goods with them, and be bound without special license not to resort where the Arch-bishop was.
6 All the possessions and goods of such as favored the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King.
7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realm to be warned in every Sheere within three months to repair home, or else their rents and goods to • eturne to the King.
8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid unto the Apostolic Sea, but to be reserved unto the Kings Coffers.
The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees, here set out, which are these: that all Hauens be diligently kept, that no interdict or curse be brought in, if the bringer be a religious man, his feet to be cut off; if a Priest to loose his pr • uy members; if a layman to be hanged; if a Leper to be burned; if a Bishop will depart for fear of the Popes Interdict, let him have nothing with him but his Staff, and that a • l Scholars and Students beyond the Seas sha • l repair home or loose their Benefices, and if they remain still to loose the liberty of all returning: if any Priest for the Popes interdict will refuse to sing, to loose his privy members: In sum all such Priests as show themselves Rebels to the King, to be deprived of their Benefices.
Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should be exiled with their goods with them, and sent to him, which was no little vexation to him to behold.
Moreover, the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack, where he lay, not to retain him in his house, or else he would drive out of his Realm all the Monks of his Order: whereupon he removed, by the French Kings appointment, to Senon as aforesaid, and found of him five years.
In the mean time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope, and from the Pope to the King; and betwixt the Archbishop and others, where I find only rehearsals of matters, which are declared sufficiently in the History, whereof if the Reader be desirous to see, let him resort to the book at large.
After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. year of Henry the second, the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would proceed in excommunication against his own person, made his appeal to the presence of the Pope, requiring to have certain Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side, to take up the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him; requiring also that they might be absolved, that were interdicted: whereupon two Cardinals sent from the Pope, with Letters from the Pope came into Normandy, where they appointed the Bishop to meet before the King, but the Arch-bishop delayed his coming, until eight days after, neither would come any further then Grisorsium, where the two Cardinals, and the Archbishop with other Bishops conventing together, had a treaty of reconciliation, which came to no conclusion.
The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect: coming to England we found the controversy more vehement then we would, for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred up the French King against him▪ and made the Earl of Flanders his open adversary: and after the King had received your Letters, and brought forth other Letters, diverse and altering from them received of us, be was moved with no little indignation; saying, that since we came from you, the Archbishop received of you other co • trarie Letters, whereby he was exempted from our Judgment: Moreover, the King and the Bishops there did affirm, that the complaint that was made unto you of the ancient customs of his progenitors, for the most pa • t was false; affirming farther to us, that if there were any customs and laws in his time that seemed pr • judicial to the Statutes of the Church, he would willingly revoke and disannul the same: therefore we & other Bishops and Abbots of the land, hearing the King so reasonable, labored by all means that the King should not break from us, but incline to us, and to have the matter brought before us, betwixt him and the Archbishop. Wherevpon we sent our own Chaplains with Letters to him, appointing him the time and place, where safely he might meet with us, yet he made his dilatories till eight days after, which • tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought: thus when he refused to meet us in the borders of the King, though we offered him safe coming: we to satisfy his mind condescended to meet him at a place which he appointed within the Land of the French King, we exhorted him humbly to submit himself unto his sovereign and King, who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities: after advise with his Couns • ll, he said he would submit himself to the King saving the honor of God, the liberty of the Church, the honesty of my person, the possessions of Churches, and the Justice of him and all his in all things: we asked him whether h • would submit himself to us, as the King and the Bishops were content to do: he said he had a commandment from you not to answer before he and all his were restored to all their possessions, then he would proceed in the matter as he should receive commandment from the Sea Apostolic, whereof we made relation to the King, yet keeping back a great part, which we had heard and seen: which when the King and Nobles understood, the King said he was so much the more clear, for that the Archbishop would not stand to Judgment: after much heaviness and lamentation of the King, Bishops, and Abbots, they required of us whether we had any power to proceed against him, and perceiving we had none, least the Archbishop should work any disquietness to any of the Noble personages of the Realm agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience, prefixing accordingly the term of their appeal.
The Archbishop saying, he stood only for the peace of the Church, one of the Cardinals offered him, if he would relinquish his Bishopric, the King should relinquish his Customs. He answered, He could not renounce his Church, saving the honor of the Church and his person, but it standeth upon the souls health, and honor of the King to renounce his customs.
After the Cardinals were gone, the French King seeing the King of England disquieted, and s •• icitous of peace, pretending to set agreement betwixt them, the King and the Arch-bishop, both were content to stand to his arbiterment. The Archbishop prostrating himself at the feet of the King of England, said he would commit the whole matter to his own arbiterment, Saluo honor Dei, the King was highly there-with displeased, rebuking him of pride and stubbornness, and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him, and he a person unkind and forgetful.
And speaking to the French King there present said, whatsoever displeaseth this man he saith it is contrary to the honor of God, and by this means will vindicate to himself that which is his own and mine too, there have been Kings of England of greater and less puissance then I am, & there have have been Archb. of Canterbury both great & holy men, what the best of them have done to my predecessors before me, let him do the same to me and I am content: the standers by with one voice cried, the king hath debased himself enough to the Bishop, the French King said what my Lord will you be better then those holy men, will you be greater then Peter, you have peace and quietness put in your hands if you will take it: he answered, my predecessors everyone in his time did pluck up, and correct something in his time, though not all things, for then there would be no cause of this fire of temptation to try us: though some have been slack, we are not to follow their examples, we rebuke Peter for denying Christ, but we commend him for resisting Nero, he could not in his conscience consent unto him; he did not dissemble, whereby he lost his life: by such oppressions the Church hath always grown, our forefathers suffered, because they would not dissemble the honor of Christ, shall I▪ to have the favor of one man, suffer the honor of Christ to be suppressed: the Noble men standing by, noted him of arrogancy, and willfulness: and one openly protested, that seeing he refused the request of both kingdoms, he was worthy of the help of neither: as England had rejected him, so France should not entertain him.
One of the Archbishops Chapleins writeth that the French king prostrated himself at the feet of the Archb. repented he had given him such council in a case pertaining to the honor of God, & desired to be assoiled, and that Henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his Realm: the French King utterly denied the Kings request, and took part rather with the Archbishop.
The King of England returned from Normandy into England & in the 16. year of his reign kept his Court of Parliament at Westminster, & by assent both of the Clergy & Temporalty, caused his son Henry to be crowned King: the Coronation was done by the Archbishop of York, other Bishops assisting Becket: not being called took no little displeasure; and so did the French King, hearing that Margaret his Daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband: whereupon he came with a great army to Normandy, but the King sent his son to him which entreated peace, promising that his son should be crowned again, and his daughter crowned with him.
Becket sent to the Pope, complaining of four Bishops, especially the Archbishop of York, who durst be so bold in his absence, without his license to crown the king, being a matter peculiar to his Jurisdiction, at whose instance the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London: the other three with the Archbishop he suspended: they resorted to the King, declaring how miserable there case stood, for fulfilling his commandment, the King was highly moved.
The King of France with his Clergy and Courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the Pope to excommunicate the King of England, also thinking to have some advantage against the Realm, neither was the King ignorant of this, which made him the readier to agree.
The pope sent two Legates with full commission, either to drive the K. to be reconciled, or to be excommunicated: the King seeing himself in great straits, which he could not avoid, and by the mediation of the king of France, and other great prelates and Princes of the king, was content to be reconciled with the Archb. whom he received into his Realm, and granted him free return to his Church.
But he would not grant him his lands until he came into England, and did see how he would agree with his subjects, he was ioifully received of his church, albeit he was not very welcome unto the young king: so that coming to London to the king, he was returned back to Canterbury and bid to keep his house, he excommunicated one Robert de Brocke on Christmas day, for cutting off the tail of one of his Horses the day before, he would not absolve the foresaid four Bishops without cau • else and exceptions, who went to Normandy to the king, and complained of the miserable state & uncourteous handling, which made him conceive such displeasure towards Becket, that he lamented oft to them about him, that none would revenge him of his enemy: upon occasion of which words, 4. addressed thenselves in great heat of hast, within 4. days after, the said Christmas day they came to Canterbury, they pressed at length into the palace, where the Arch-b. was sitting with his company about him: they said they brought him a commandment from the king, bad him choose whether he would receive it openly, or secretly, the company being commanded away, and he alone, they told him the King commanded him to repair to the King his son to do his duty, and swear fidelity for your Baronage, and to amend those things you have committed against him, in denying to be sworn to him: he perceived their intent, and called for his company, and they commanded him in the Kings name that he should absolve the 4. Bishops: he answered, he did not excommunicate them, but the Pope, if that were their grief they should resort to him; seeing you thus stand against the Coronation of our new King, it seemeth you aspire to take his Crown from him, and to be King your self: he said nay, if he had three crowns he would set them all upon him, except his father there is none whose honor I now tender and love, and touching the sequestering of the Bishops, there was nothing done without the assent of the King, for I complain to him what injury my Church had by their crowning the • ing, he gave me leave to seek my remedy at the Popes hand, they said what doest thou ma • e the King a Traitor and bewrayer of his own son, when he commanded them to cr • wne him, and then gave thee leave to suspend them for so doing; and they said, thinkest thou we the kings subjects will suffer this, thou hast spoken enough against thine own head: the Achbishop said, since my coming over, • e hath suffered many injuries and rebukes conc • rning myself my men, cattle, wines, and other goods: yet the King writ to his son I should live in safety and peace, and now you come hither to threaten me; they answered, if you have any • niury, the law is open, and • e said he sought for remedy at the Kings hands as long as he could be suffered to speak with him, but now I am stopped and can find no redress, nor can have the benefit of law or reason, such law as an Arch-bishop may have I will Realm: then they denounced he had spoken words to the jeopardy of his head, so they depart, charging the Monks in the Kings name to keep him forth • coming: the Arch-bishop would not fly for the king nor any man: the names of the four Soldiers were, first, Renold Berison: Secondly, Hugh Morteuill: Thirdly, William Thracy: Fourthly, Richard Britto: who going to harness themselves, returned the same day, but the Hall door being shut, they went to a back door, and broke up a window: the Monks had gotten the Arch-bishop into the Church, and caused his cross to be borne before him, and proceeded into the Quiere, the Harvest men following came to the Church door, the Monks would have shut the door, but as the Story saith the Bishop would not suffer them: so they came into the church, and the Bishop meeting them on the stairs was slain, every man striking him with his sw • rd in the head, who fied into the north, and at length were pardoned of the Pope by the Kings means, and went to Jerusalem.
Newbergensis an ancient Chronographer condemneth the doings of Becket.
Cesarius a Monk in his eighth book of Dialogues 48. years after the death of Becket, writeth that it was a question amongst the Masters of Paris, whether Thomas Becket were saved, or damned.
But it is certain this antheme collected and primered in his praise is blasphemous.
Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit, fac nos Christ scandere quo Thomas asendit.
Wherein is a double lie, first that he died for Christ; secondly, that his bond should purchase heaven, which none of the Apostles durst challenge, for then Christ died in vain.
After his death the king fearing the popes curse, which the French king helped forwards what he could, the King sent his excuse unto the pope which he would not hear. And after second messengers which some of the Cardinals received, showing them that the pope used to curse & assoil on good-Friday, which was near at hand, and it was noised that the King, Bishops & realm, should be interdicted: and hereupon the kings messengers were put into prison, some of the Cardinals shown the pope that the Kings messengers had power to swear that the King should obey his penance which was taken both for the King & the Archb. of York, so that in the said day, the pope only cursed the deed, doers, consenters, aiders & harbourers of them: the deed-doer • had in penance to go in linen clothes barefoot, in fasting & prayer, to Jerusalem, who by this hard penance are said to die in few years after.
Two Cardinals were sent to inquire who were consenters to his death, the king, being not certain wherefore their coming was, with a great power entered into Ireland, giving charge that no bringer of any brief should come into the realm, or pass out without special license, and an assurance to bring nothing prejudicial to the Realm: the King in short time subdued the whole land of Ireland, which was governed by five Kings, of whom four submitted themselves; only the fifth, the king Tonacta, denied to be subdued, keeping himself in woods and Marshes.
In this time the two Cardinals were come to Normandy: the next year in October, the king went to them, & made his purgation touching the death of Becke • , taking his oath he was never aiding nor consenting, but only spake rigorous words against him; wherefore for penance he was sworn to send so much money to the holy land, & should find two hundred Knights for the defense thereof, and should set forth by Christmas following his own person to fight for three years, exc • pt the pope should dispence with him: and that if he went into Spain, & fought with the Sarrac • ns, as long as he was there he might prolong his journey to Jerusalem.
Itē, that he should not hinder or cause to be hindered any appellatio • s made to R • me.
Item, That he nor his Son should dissent from Pope Alexander, nor his Catholic successors.
Item, That the goods and possessions taken from the Church of Canterbury should be restored.
Item, that the foresaid decrees established against the church should be extinct, and repealed, besides other secret fastings and alms enjoined him.
All these conditions the King and his Son agreed unto, debasing himself with humility and submission before them whereof the Cardinals took no little glory, using this verse • of the Psalm: Qui respicit terram, & facit eam tremere: qui tangit montes & fumigant.
The returning from Normandy, by reason the Scots had made a road into England, by the way, as soon as he came to the fight of Beckets Church he lighted & went barefoot to his toombe, whose steps were found bloody by the roughn • sse of the stones, and received a whip, with a rod, of every Monk of the Cloister, whereby thou mayest see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those days, and the slavery that Kings and Princes were brought too under the Popes Clergy, the same year almost the whole City of Canturbury was consumed with fire, and the said Minster church clean burnt.
The next year in a convocation of Bishops, Abbots, and other of the Clergy at Westminster, there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops, whether York must bear his Cross in the Dioces of Canterbury, and whether the Bishoprics of Lincoln, Chichester, Worcester, and Hereford, were of the sea of York.
Wherefore the one appealed the other unto the presence of the Pope.
How much better had it been if the Supremacy had remained in the King, whereby much travel, and great wasteful expenses had been saved, and there cause mor • indifferently, and more speedily decided.
Divers of Gloucester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury, because being summoned they refused to appear: a Cardinal by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace: by the means of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claim to Gloucester, and absolve the Clerks thereof, & the bearing the cross and other matters was referred to the other Bishops, and a league of truce for five years betwixt them.
The next year Henry the second denided the Realm into six parts, & ordained three Justices of assise on every part: to the first Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge shire, Huntingdon-shire, Buckingham-shire, Essex, Hereford-shire: to the second Lincoln-shire, Nottingham-shire, Derby-shire, Stamford-shire, Warwick-shire, Northampton-shire, Leicester-shire: Thirdly, Kent, Surry, South-hampton-shire, Sussex, Berk-shire, Oxford-shire: Fourthly, Heriford-shire, Gloucester-shire, Worcester-shire, Salop-shire: Fifthly, Wilt-shire, Dorcester-shire, Sommerset-shire, De •• n-shire, Cornwall: Euerwick-shire, Richmond-shire, Lancaster, Copland, Westm • r-land, Northumberland, Cumberland. In this year the Archbishop of Canterbury made three Arch-deacons, where there was but one, and the K. granted the pope, that no Clarke should be called before a temporal Judge, except for his offense in the Forest or his lay-fee that he holdeth, and that no Bishopric or Abbey should remain but one year in the Kings hands without great cause,
This year there was great controversy betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Abbot of S. Agustine, he being Elect, whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him, or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated: The • bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope, and went thither with a fat purse, procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrate him in his Monastery, because it did properly belong to the Jurisdiction of Rome, & should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience, & if the • rchb. refuse to do it, then he should do it: the Archb. understanding it, & loath to yield, used policy, he watched a time when the Abbot was frō home, came to the Monastery, with all things appointed for the business, called for the Abbot to be consecrated: the Abbot not being at home, he feigned himself not a little gree • ed: whereupon the Abbot was disappointed, fain to fill his purse a new, & make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he received his consecration.
This year a Cardinal was sent into England, (as few years there was not one sent to get m • ny, he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York & Canterbury, who kept a Council at Westminster, to which all the chief of the Clergy resorted with great confluence; York thinking to prevent Canterbury, came first and placed himself on the right hand of the Cardinal: Canterbury seeing the first place taken, refused to take the second: York alleged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans, that he that should be first in election, should have the preeminence in dignity, and go before the other. From words they went to blows, Canterbury having more servants was to strong for York, plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinal, treading on him with their feet that it was well he escaped alive: his Robes were all rent from his back, this Noble Roman Cardinal which should have ended the strife committed himself to flight: the next day York shown his Rochet to the Cardinal to testify his wrong, and appealed, and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury, and certain of his men to the Pope.
The kingdom of England in the Henry this second his time, extended so far as hath not been seen: The King of Scots, with all the Lord's spiritual and temporal, did him homage for them and their successors: Ireland, England, Normandy, Aquitane, Gaunt &c. Unto the mountain of Pireni, in the utmost parts of the Ocean in the British sea: protector of France, and offered to be King of Jerusalem, by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospital there, which he refused, alleging his great charge at home, and it might be his sons would rebel in his absence.
The fame of his wisdom, manhood, riches, was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome, and from the Emperor of Constantinople, and from many great Kings, Dukes, and other great men to determine questions of strife, and ask council of him: he reigned thirty five years, and having great wars, yet never set tribute or tax upon his subjects, nor first fruits, nor appropriations of benefits upon the Clergy; yet his treasure being weighed by King Richard his Son after his death, weighed 900000. pounds, besides Jewels and Household-stuff, of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of York, for he had procured a Bull of the Pope, that if any Priest died without Testament, he should have all his goods.
His Son Henry, whom he joined with him in his Kingdom, and at his Coronation served him as a Steward, and set the first dish at the Table, renouncing the name of King, the Archbishop of York sitting at the right hand of the young King, he told him, he might greatly rejoice, being no King had such an Officer as he had, the young King disdaining his words, said; My Father is not dishonored, for I am a King and a Queens Son, and so is not he. He took Arms with the French King against his Father, and persecuted him, but after he had reigned a few years, died in his youth by the just judgment of God.
After his death, his Son Richard, called Cor-de-Lyon, rebelled against his Father, and John his youngest Son did not degenerate from his Brothers steps, the said Richard brought his Father to such distress of body and mind, that for thought he fell into an Ague, and within fou • e days died, Richard meeting his Corps, beginning to weep, the blood burst out of the Kings nose at the coming of his Son, giving a monstration that he was Author of his death.
His Children, after his death, worthily rewarded for their unnaturalness, lost all they had beyond the Sea which their Father had gotten.
Alexander Pope decreed, that no Arch-bishop should receive the Pall, unless • he first sware obedience to the Pope. These be the words in Engl • sh of the giving of the Pall.
To the honor of Almighty God, and of blessed Mary the Virgin, and of blessed S. Peter, and S. Paul, and of our Lord Pope, and of the holy Church of Rome, and of the Church committed to your charge: we give you the Pall taken from the body of Saint Peter, as a fullness of the Pontifical Office, which you may wear within your own Church, upon certain days expressed in the privilege • of the said Church, granted by the Sea Apostolic.
This Pall ought to be asked with great instance, and within three months, without which Pall he is not Arch-bishop, but may be deposed. The same Pall must be burned with him when he dieth, and when it is given, some privilege must be given with it, or the old renewed, the Arch bishops pay sweetly for it.
Every Bishop must swear to be obedient to Saint Peter, the Apostolic Church of Rome, and to the Pope, to do nothing whereby either of them, or any member of them may be impaired, nor help, counsel, or consent unto any so doing, not to utter their council any way sent to them, to anybody to their hurt, to reta • ne and maintain the Papacy and the Regalities of S. Peter against all men, honorably to entreat the Popes Legates going and coming, and help them in all necessities, to be ready to come to a Sinod being called, without any lawful let, to visit the Palace of the Apostles every third year, by himself, or a Messenger, except otherwise licensed by the Pope, not to sell, give, or lease out any the possessions of his Church without the Popes license, So God help him and the Holy Ghost. By this Oath, the Bishop could do nothing but what the Pope would in general councils, which was the corruption of them.
Besides this, it was decreed in the said council of Rome, by 310. Bishops, by Pope Alexander, that none should have spiritual promotion, except he were of full age and borne in wedlock: that no Parish-Church should be void above six months; that none within orders should meddle with temporal businesses; that priests shall have but one Benefice; that Bishops be charged to find the Priest a living until he be promoted.
That open Usurers shall not communicate at Easter, nor be buried within the Church yard.
That nothing shall be taken for ministering Sacraments, or burying.
Item, that every Cathedral Church should have a Master to teach Children freely, without taking anything for the same.
In this Council the vow of Chastity was laid upon Priests, Thomas Becket and Bernard were canonized for Saints.
In this year Richard, the eldest Son of Henry the second, succeeded his Father, at which time Clement sat Pope, succeeding Gregory, who died a little before for sorrow, for loss of the Holy Cross by the Popes means. He and Frederick the Emperor, and Phillip the French King, went with their Armies to Palestine, achieving the recovery of the Holy Land. Richard in this journey gat Cyprus, Acon, Ptolemayda, Surrah. For preparation for this journey he sold Lordships, Castles, Offices, Liberties, Privileges, Byshopprickes, &c. He said he would sell London, if he could find one able to buy it: Many Bishops purchased to their Bishopprickes diverse Lordships. The Bishop of Winch • ster purchased Werregraue, & Meues. The Bishop of Duresme, Hadberge, with all their appurtenances for 500. marks, and purchased the whole Province of the King for his own, and himself to be made Earl of the same.
In this Kings days there fell a great dissention in the Church of York, betwixt the Arch-bishop of York, and the Dean, because evening Song was begun before the Arch-bishop came, his Grace coming into the Choir, was angry, because they tarried not for him, and commanded the Choir to stay: the Dean • and Treasurer willed them to fing on, the Choir left and recanted, and begun again. The Treasurer not to take the foil, caused the lights to be put out, so the evening Song ceased, for the Popish evening Song is blind, without light, though the Sun shine never so bright: His Grace suspended the whole Church from Divine service until the parties had made him amends. The next day being Ascension day, the Dean and Treasurer would make no sar • sfaction, the people would have fallen upon them if his Grace had not let them. The Dean was fain to fly to his House, and the Treasurour to Saint Williams Tomb for succor: The Bishop excommunicated them, and the Church was suspended from Service that day. Thus much of the Heroicall c • mbat betwixt these Ecclesiastical persons.
King Richard, in his journey aforesaid, talked with Abbot Joachim of his Uisions and Prophesies, especially of Antichrist: he expounded unto him the place in the Reu • lation. There be seven Kings, five are fallen, one is now, another not yet come, He said they were seven Persecutors of the Church: Herod, Nero, Domitianus, Maxentius, Mahomet, Turka, the last, which is not yet come, was Antichrist, which is already borne at Rome, and should be there exalted into the Apostolic Sea, as the Apostle faith; He is an Adversary, and exhalteth himself above all that is called GOD, then the wicked man shall be revealed, and the Lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth, and destroy him with the brightness of his coming: Why said the King, I thought Antichrist should have been borne in Anti • ch, or Babylon, and of the Tribe of Dan, and ruled in Jerusalem three years and a half, and disputed against Enoch and Elias, and put them to death, and then died himself, and that sixty days of repentance should be given to them that were seduced by his preaching.
When King Richard went his journey, he committed the Custody of his Realm principally to the Bishop of Duresme, and the Bishop of Eli, and to two Lay men: The two Bishops fell at variance for superiority, at length this order was taken by the King, that Duresme should have v • der his custody from Humber is the Scottish Seas. Eli was ordained Chancellor, having under his government from the said stood of Humber, all the South parts besides: but Eli being more ambitious, so practiced with the King and his Ambassadors, sending his Letters to the Pope, obtained the authority Legatiue upon the whole Realm of England, and became so ambitious and proud, that all the Realm cried out of him, he being intolerable unto the Clergy and Layty. He assembled a general Council at London, in color for Religion, but it was for his own pomp and oppression of the Clergy and Layty, wonderfully oppressing the Commons. He used • o ride with & thousand Horses: Noble-men's Sons were glad to be his Slaues. He married his Cozens Neeces and kinswomen (I will not say his Daughters) unto the best Barons and Earls, yet his Grand-father was a poor plowman, and his Father a Cow-heard; and having thus tyrannously abused his office, fearing examination, fled with a few of his trusty servants to Dover Castle, to have stolen beyond Sea: and coming in a woman's apparel with a pe • ce of cloth under his arm, and a mete rod in his hand, being taken upon susp • tion, his Kercheefe plucked off, his Balaam's mark or shaven Crown appeared: the people wondered, rai • ed and spit on him, and drew him, some by the arms, some by the legs over the Sea sands, until they brought him to a dark Seller with shame enough to be kept, till the Council • ent for him to the Tower of London, where he was • xamined, deprived, and banished the Realm: after restored by King Richard, and sent to Rome, but died by the way.
As King Richard returned from the Holy Land, driven by di •• resse of weather about the parts of Austria, he was taken in Synaca by Hubald, Duke of the same country, and sold to the Emperor for 60000. mark: the Emperor writ of the matter to the King of France, that he might rejoice with 〈◊〉 : at len • th King Richard was ransomed for 140000. Crowns, and as he was coming into England, besieging a Castle in Pictauia, took his deadly wound, and being sick, amongst others, Fulco Archbishop of Roane came to him, who said to the King: O mighty King thou hast three Daughters very vicious, provide good Husbands for them, least thou incur great damage, and th • utter ruin: the King called him lying, and mocking hypocrite; saying all the world knoweth I have no daughters; he answered yes if it p • ease your Grace, I mean greedy couetousn • sse, mischievous pride, filthy • uxury: again I say, O King, beware of them and get them marriages: Wherevpon the King calling his Lord's and Barrons, ••• laring the matter to them, and said; wherefore here before you all, I give my Daughter swelling pride unto the proud Templars to Wife; and my Daughter greedy Auaric • unto the covetous and Cistertian Monks; and last of all t • y filthy Daughter Luxury, to the riotous Prelates of the Church, whom I think v • ry meet for them.
The King not long after departed without issue, and John his Brother reigned after him: the Arch-bishop putting his crown upon his head, swearing him to de • end the Church and his good laws and destroy the evil, and except he thought in his mind to do this, he charged him not to presume to take upon him this dignity: On John the Baptist day next after, he went to Normandy, where he was royal • y received, and a truce made betwixt him and the French King: and the Earl of Flanders, and all the Lord's of France that were in league with King Richard, cam • to him, and were sworn unto him.
Not long after the French King made Arthur Knight, and took homage of him for Normandy, Britain, and all his possessions beyond the Sea, and promised him help against King John: after the French King, and King John with their Nobles spake together an hour: the French King asked him much land for himself, and King Arthur, wh • ch he would not g • ant, but departed in w • ath.
The same year a Legate came into France, and commanded the King upon pain of interdiction to deliver one Peter out of prison, which was elected to a Bishopric, who was delivered, the same Legate came into England, and commanded King John upon pain of interdiction to deliver the Arch-bishop whom he had kept in prison two years, which the King denied until he had paid him six thousand marks, because he had took him in harness in a field against him, and he swore him he should never bear harness against a Christian man.
This time King John & his wife were divorced, because they were in the third degree of kindred, and after by the Council of the French King, was married unto the Daughter of the Earl of Anguilla, and then Arthur of Brittan did homage for Britain, and other his possessions to King John.
This time was strife betwixt the King and the Archbishop of York, because he would not suffer the Sheriff to do such affairs as he had to dee in his Dioces for the King, and excommunicated the Sheriff, and would not go with the King into Normandy, to make the marriage betwixt the French Kings Son and his Niece.
The King of France required King John to depart with all his Lands in Normandy and Pictauia, &c. unto Arthur his Nephew, else he would war against him, which he denying, the next day the French King, with Arthur, set upon certain of his Towns and Castles in Normandy, but he was so repulsed of the English, who followed so near, and so enforced upon them, that they took Arthur and many other Prisoners, and left none to bear tidings home. This Arthur was the Son of Geffery, the elder Brother of King John: Geffery was the third Son of Henry the second, and John was his fifth Son. Arthur being taken, was brought to the King home, he exhorted him with many gentle words, to leave th • King of France and incline to his Uncl • , he stoutly required the kingdom of England, with all things thereunto belonging, to be restored to him as lawful heir of the Crown: Whereupon he was committed to the Tower of Roane, where • he finished his life. No Story agreeth certainly how, whether by leaping into the Ditch or no.
The next year King John lost all his possessions in Normandy, by the force of the French King.
This year grew great dissention about choosing the Archbishop of Canterbury, the younger sort of the Monks there, at midnight, and before the old Arch-bishop was buried, and without the Kings assent, elected one Renald, sending h • m to the Pope, charging him upon his oath to be secret, but he revealed the matter, whereby the rest of the Monks sent privily to Rome, and sent to the King for h • s ass • nt to choose an Archbishop: the King granted their petition, desiring them to show • auour to John Gray, Bishop of Norwich, which they did, and elected him, and the King sent to Rome at his own charge, to have this election ratified: • he Suffragans of Canterbury sent likewise to Rome, to have both those elections frustrated, because their assents were not to them.
The next year the Pope d • cided the matter betwi • t the Monks and Suffrigans, pronouncing with the Monks, charging the Suffragans and Bishop to meddle no more with that election.
The next year the Pope decided the controversy betwixt the younger Monks and the elder Monks, and condemned both their elections, comma • nding them to choose Stephen Langton, Cardinal of Saint Chrisogone for their Arch-bishop; they said they durst not for fear of the King, and that it was prejudicial to their liberties. He in a fury said, We will you to know, that we have full power over the Church of Canterbury, and are not wont to tarry the consent of Princes; therefore We comma • nd you, under pa • ne of the great curse, that you c • use him. Whereupon they all assented, saving he whom the King had sent for the Arch bishop of Norwich.
Upon this the King conceived great displeasure against the Monks of Canterbury, wherefore he banished 64. of them out of the Land.
The King sent Letters to the Pope, sharply expostulating with him, for re • u • ing the Bishop of Norwich, and setting up one Stephen Langton (unknown to him, and brought up in the kingdom of France amongst his enemies) Archbishop of Canterbury: and that the Monks without his consent, presumed to promote him, and meruailed that the Pope did not reuolue with himself, how necessary his favor had ever been to them. What great revenues had proceeded hence, thither, the like whereof hath not been received out of any Country on this side the Alps, and that he would stand for his liberties unto death, nor would not be so shaken from the election of the Bishop of Norwich, which he seeth so commodious to him, and that if his request were not heard, he would provide by Seas that there should be no more such g • dding to Rome, to export the riches of his Land thither, whereby he is less abled against his Enemies, and that he had sufficient Prelates of his own, and hath no need of any from abroad.
Pope Innocentius writ to him again. Whereas we have written gently to you, conc • rning the matter of Canterbury, you have written to us after a threatening sort; and where we, above our duty, have given to you, you have not given to us ou • duty, which you are bound to do, and though your savor (as you say) be necessary for us, yet consider, ours is not a little opor • une unto you; and whereas we have not show • d the like honor to any Prince, as to you, you have so much derogated to our Honor, as no Prince besides hath presumed to do. Where you say, the Archbishop is unknown to you, and brought up amongst year enemies. Then be showeth how learned • e was, how he was Prebend at Paris, and of an ho •• st stock, borne an Englishman, and known to the King being he wrote to him three times before; and saith, that at the Monks request he sent his Letters once or twice to the King for his assent, although was not the manner of the Sea Apostolic, who hath the fullness of the power of the Church of Canterbury, to wait for princes consents in such elections: therefore, according to the Canons of the Fathers, w • did pro • ide that the said Church should be no longer 〈◊〉 of her Pastor: therefore, being this election hath so orderly proceeded upon a person so meet for the same, w • e will not for any man's pleasure, nor may without danger of • ame and conscience defer the consummation thereof. And my son, seeing we ha • e respected your Honor more then our duty is, study to Honor us so much as • u • tie requireth, that you may deserve favor at God's hands and Ours, and least doing contrary, you bring you self into such a pe • ke of t • oubles, that you cannot ri • yourself again, for it will fall out, he will have the better to whom every knee doth bow, whose turn I serve in the earth: therefore obey not them that desire unquietness, that they might f • sh the better in a troubled water. It will not be for your safety and glory to resist God and the Church, in whose quarrel the blessed and glorious Martyr, Bishop Thomas hath lately shed his blood; especially seeing your Father, and brother being Kings of England, did give over those three wicked Customs into the hands of the Sea Aposto •• ke: but if you will yield yourself humbly into our hands, we will look that you and yours shall be sufficiently provided for. Thus have you the glorious Letter of the proud Pope, I beseech you mark it well.
Not long after proceeded a commandment to certain Bishops, requiring them by the authority Apostolical, that if the King would not receive the Prior of Canterbury, and his Monks, then they should interdict him through his Realm. Whereupon the four Bishops, of London. El • , Winchester, and Herford, shown the King thereof, but the King refused the same, and would not grant their request, whereupon they pronounced the said In • erdiction throughout England and Wales, and the Church doors were shut up, with keys, and other fastnings.
Then the King took all the possessions of the four Bishops into his hands, and appointed certain to keep the Liuings of the Clergy throughout the Realm. The Bishops cursed all that kept, or meddled with Church-goods, against the wills of the owners. Then they went to the Bishop of Canterbury, and shown him all the matter, he promised, he would shortly come to Canterbury himself, or send some which should do as much as himself. 〈◊〉 came to the King, that the Bishops had been beyond-Sea, with the Archbishop and were returned. He sent to them Bishops, Earls, and Abbots, to show that the King would receive the Archbishop Stephen, and the Prior, and all the Monks of Canterbury, promising on his behalf, that he should never take anything of the Church-goods, but would make amends for them taken, and the Church should have all her Franchices, as amply as in King Edwards time the Confessor.
This agreement was concluded, and engrossed in a pair of Indentures, the said four Bishops set their hands to one part, the other part was carried to the King, which he liked well, but he would not make restitution of the Church-goods. The four Bishops would not agree to put out that Article, then the King sent for the Archbishop to come to him and speak with him at Canterbury, and for his safe conduct to come and go at his will, sent three Justices to be pledges for him: whereupon the Archbishop came to Canterbury, and the King came to Ch •• ham, and sent his Treasurer to him to put out the clause of restitution, which he denied to do, or any word of the same.
Then the king caused to be procl • imed throughout the Realm, that th • se that had any Church-livings, and went beyond-sea, should return at a certain day, or loose the •• Liuings forever. And that all Sheriffs should inquire if any Church-man, from that day forward, received any commandment from the Pope, to apprehend him and bring him before him: and that they should take into their hands, unto his use all the Church Lands, that were given by the Archbishop Stephen, or the Priors of Canterbury, from the time of the election of the said Archbishop, and that all the woods of the Archbishop, should be cut down▪ and sold.
Thou the Pope sent over two Legates, which resorted to the King at Northampton, where he held his Parliament, and saluted him, they said, they came from the Pope, to reform the peace of holy Church, and we admonish you, in the Popes behalf, that you make full restitution of the goods that you have ravished of holy Church, and of the land, and that you receive Stephen Archbishop, into his dignity, and the Prior of Canterbury, and his Monks, and yield again to the Archbishop, all his Lands and rents; and Sir, yet moreover, that you shall make such restitution to them, as the Church shall think good.
The King answered, he would gladly grant their request touching the Prior and Monks of Canterbury, but touching the Archbishop, let him give up the Archbishopric, and I will give him some other Bishopric; upon this condition I will admit him, otherwise not.
Then one of them said, holy Church was never wont to disgrade Archbishop, without reasonable cause, but to correct Princes, that were disobedient to her. What now, (quoth the King) threaten you me? They said, You have told us what is in your heart, now we will tell you what is in the Popes will. He hath wholly interdicted and accursed you, for your wrongs to holy Church, and the Clergy, and we do accurse all those that shall common with you hereafter, and we assoil all Earls, Barons, Knights, and others from their homage, fealty, and service they should do to you; and to confirm this, we give power to the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich; and the same power over Scotland, we give unto the Bishops of Rochester and Salisbury; and in Wales, we give the same power to the Bishops of Saint David, Landaffe, and Saint Assaph. And we send throughout all Christendom, to all Bishops, to accurse all that help and comfort you in any need. And we a •• oil all your adversaries, and command them to war • with you, and with all that are enemies to the Church: Then the king answered; What may you do more? They said, we say to you in verbo Dei, that no heir of yours, after this day, may be crowned. Then the King sware, if he had known their news, he would have kept them out this tweluemonth.
Upon this occasion Pope Inocent commanded ageine, in pain of his great curse, that none should obey King John, nor keep company with him, to eat, drink, common, or Council with him, or his servants to do him any service, at bed, board, hall, or stable. But, the greater part that sled from him by this means, of diverse and sundry diseases, that year, died. Betwixt England and France, that year, fell great amity, but false, to the bitter betraying of England.
Further, the Pope with his Cardinals, gave sentence definitive, that King John should be deposed from his Regal Seat, and promised Phillip the French King full remission of all his 〈◊〉 , and clear possession of the Realm of England, unto him and his heirs, if he did either kill him, or expel him.
Moreover, he wrote unto other Nations, that they should take upon them the badge of the Cross, and revenge him of the manifold injuries done to the universal Church, by the cursed Tu • ke, and Pagan, King John.
The next year, the French King, manned with the Bishops, Monks, Prelates, and Priests, and their servants, began his att • mpt, in hope of the Crown of England, but the English Nauie took 300. of the French Kings ships, loaden with wheat, wine, meat, flesh. Armor, and other necessaties for war, and burnt 100. within the Haven, and took the spoil of them.
The Priests of England provided them a false prophet, one Peter Wake • ield, they noised daily amongst the Commons, that Christ had twice appeared to him, in shape of a child betwixt the Priests hands, once at York, and again at Pomfret, and breathed, saying: Peace, peace, peace, and that he was wrapped in spirit, and he saw the • oyes of Heaven and sorrows of Hell. He prophesied of King John, that he should reign no longer then • scention day, within the year of our Lord 1213. Being asked the question, he could not tell whether he should be slain, expelled, or of himself give over the Crown: but he was sure, he nor none of his stock should reign, that day once fi •• shed. The King laughed thereat, when he saw himself out of dange • . He prated thereof at large so, that they which l • ned the King, apprehended him, and put him in prison, the King not knowing thereof: the fame hereof went through the whole Realm, and the more, becau • e he was imprisoned. When the prophesied Ascension day was came, King John commaun • ed his Regal Tent to be spread abroad in the open field▪ and passed the day with his Noble Council, and men of Honor, in the greatest solemnity that ever he did before. When that day was passed withal, his enemies turned it to an all • goricall understanding, and said, He is no King, for the Pope reigneth, and not he▪ yet reigned he still, and his son after him, to prove the prophet alyer. And because this false prophet had troubled the Realm, perverted the people, raised the Commons against the King, and was carried over the Sea by the Prelates, and gave encouragement to the French King to invade the Land, the King commanded the false prophet should be hanged, and his son, least anymore should rise of his race. At length, the King seeing himself so compassed with enemies, and treasons, and great danger that was like to follow, especially fearing the French King▪ was enforced to submit himself to that execrable monster, and Antichrist of Rome, converting his Land into the patrimony of Saint Peter, as many other had done before him: for he was sure, though not without shame, being under his protection, no foreign Potentate was able to subdue him.
King John made a Letter obligatory to the Pope, in this manner; Whereas we have grievously offended God, and our mother Church of Rome, and our body and Realm is not a sufficient satisfaction to him that humbled himself on the Crosie for us, through Council of the noble Earls and Barons, we freely grant unto God and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and to our mother Church of Rome, and to our holy Father Pope Inocent the third, and all the Popes that come after him, all the Realm, and patronage of the Churches of England and Ireland, with all the appurtenances, for the remission of our sins, and the help of our kinsfolks souls, and of all Christian Souls; so that henceforth we will hold as Farmer to her Mother Church, doing fealty to the Pope, and his successors. We will do homage to the Popes Legate▪ as it were in the Popes presence; paying • or all manner of Custom which we sho • ld do for the said Realms yearly 1000. marks of silver, saving to us and our heirs, our Justices and our Franchises, and other realties that appertain to our Crown. And for the assurance hereof, we bind our successors and heirs, that if any of our heirs shall go against these things, and being warned, will not an end, he shall then loose the foresaid Realms for evermore.
But before the relea • meant of the Interdiction, the king was compelled to give over his Crown and Scepter to the Antichrist of Rome for five days, and to receive it at another Cardinals hands.
Then all that had their hearts wounded for obeying their liege King, came and were absolved of their own Bishops, but the Spiritual men were compelled to seek their absolution of the Pope. Some of the Clergy were not pleased that the King should be absolved, until the King had paid all which any of the Clergy should demand, and complained of the Popes Legate, that he was too partial for the King, in the matter of restitution, and because he went, with the Kings Officers, to the Cathedral Churches, Abbyes, Priories, and other Churches vacant, and appointed two Iucumbants, to every place, one for the King, and the other for the parties, and commonly compelled the election to pass upon him whom the king nominated.
The Archbishop called a Council at Oxford, some would not tarry, seeing the confysion thereof, others reviled the king most spi • efully, behind his back, saying; he ought to be taken for no Governor of theirs, that it grew to a grievous tumult, and most grievous commotion.
In this years Pope Inocent held the Council at Rome, called Lateran; it was pretended to be for the r • formation of the Church Uniuersall, and to have the holy Land recovered from the Turtes: but it was because the Doctrine of the Truth, which they call Here ••• , begin to 〈◊〉 very high, by reason whereof the Emp • rour Otho, and many other Priests and their Countries were excommunicated.
In this Council he established by public Deerce, that the Pope should have the correction of all Christian Princes, and that no Emperor should be admitted, except he were s • orne to him, and Crowned of him.
Item, that whosoever spake eu • il of the Pope, should be punished in Hell, with eternal damnation.
Item, Transubstantiation was first invented, brought in, and a Pix ord • ined to cover the bread, and bell to be rung b • fore it, when it went abroad; and the Mass to be made equal with Christ's Gospel.
Item, the Act was established and ratified, of compelling Priests to abjure lawful m •• iage.
Mark how the Priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king John so, Stephen Lancton, Archbishop of Canterbury, in this Council was excommunicated of Pope Inocent, with all th • se Bishops, Pre • lates, Priests, Barons, and Commons, which had been of Council with him in the former Rebellion; and when the Archbishop had 〈◊〉 instant suit to be absolved, the Pope answered; I swear by Saint Peter, thou shall • not so soon obtain thy absolution: for thou hast hurt the king of England, and injured • uch the Church of Rome. He was also suspended from Church, saying Mass, or exercising other Ecclesiastical Office, because he would not execute the Popes curse upon the said Rebellious Barons, and cursed all the other rebels with b • ll, book • , and candle, and they appealed to the general Council.
In the same year, many were summoned to Rome, because they would not consent to the Kings deposing, and submitting to the Pope. Thus the whole Realm was miserably divided into two factious, some Lord's, and Gentlemen, a great number followed the King, and loved his doings.
Others fled to the French King, desiring of him his eldest son Lodowicke, and they would elect him their King, and that he would send with him a mighty Army, to subdue the King: but as certain Lord's and Barons were choosing Lodowicke for their king, the Pope sent a Cardinal to stop their rash and cruel attempts, charging the French king, upon his alegiance, with all possible power, to • auour, and de • end King John of England, his Feoda • y, or Tenant. Tho French king answered. The Realm of England was never yet part of Peters patrimony, neither now is, nor ever should be. No Prince may pledge, or give away his Kingdom, without the lawful consent of his Barons: If the Pope shall se • up such a president, he shall, at his pleasure, bring all Christian Princes, and their Kingdoms to naught, Though he be my adversary, I much lament that he •• th brought the noble ground, and Queen of Provinces, under miserable 〈◊〉 . The chief of his Lord's standing by, cried by the blood of God, in whom we hope to be saved, we will stick in this Article to the loosing of our heads, that no King may put his • and under tribute, and make his Nobility captive servants.
Lodowicke 〈◊〉 that his purposed journey might not us let, for the Barons have elected me, and I will not loose my right, but fight for it to death, and I have fri • ndes there: to which the King answered not, belike doubting somewhat, because he saw all 〈◊〉 of the Priests, that they might live licentiously in wealth, free from the Kings yoke.
The same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by Clergy men, that the King knew not where to find trusty friends. At length he went to Dover, looking for aid from other quarters, to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from Flanders, 〈◊〉 , Holland, and many other parts. It was reported the Pope writ to them to a • de him. First, b • cause he submitted his kingdom to his protection, and he had taken upon him the 〈◊〉 of the white Cross, to win again Jerusalem. Thirdly because he had gotten by him, England, and Ireland, and was like to loose both.
Upon the A ••• nciation day of our Lady, he • ooke upon him his voyag • again •• • he Turks, to recover Jerusalem. He told his servants 〈◊〉 did prospe •• with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdoms to the Church of Rome.
In this year, one Simon Langton was chosen 〈◊〉 of York, but he was deposed by the Pope, because he was brothe • to Stephen • rchbishop of 〈◊〉 , w •• m the Pope hated, having brought him up of naught, and • ound him so 〈◊〉 , and he places the Bishop of 〈◊〉 in his • oome.
The 〈◊〉 night the Pope renewed his curse upon the king of France his 〈◊〉 , for usurping upon king John, and against the said Simon Langton, and Geruas Hobruge, for provoking him to the same, with won • erfull 〈◊〉 , cousing, the • else to ring, ca • les to be •• ghted, and doors opened, the 〈…〉 to be red, committing them wholly to the Deu • l, and communded the • ishops and 〈◊〉 to poblish it through the whole Realm, to the • error of all subjects. The 〈◊〉 Simon, and Geruais der ••• d him and appealed unto the 〈◊〉 all Council, for Lodowicke and themselves. The Magestrates, and citizens of London did likewise 〈…〉 at the Popes commandments, and kept company with the excommunicated, at • able and Church, in contempt of the Pope, and 〈◊〉 . Lodowicke, at 〈◊〉 taking himself, king, made Simon Langton hig • Chancellor, and Geruais Hobruge, his chief Preache • : vy whose daily Preaching, the Bar ••• , and Citizens bring excommunicated, caused all the Church doors to be opened, and 〈◊〉 sung, and Lodowicke was sit for them in all paints.
About this time Cardinal Pandulphus was made Bishop of Norwich, for gathering Peter 〈◊〉 , an old • illage of the Pope, & other great labors • one by him for the Pope.
About this time one Uicont of Meinn, a 〈◊〉 man, which came over with Lodowicke, felll •• cke, and called to him certain English Baron • , and said; I pity the destruction that is coming towards you and your Realm • . Prince Lodowicke hath sworn a great oath, and sixteen of his Earls and Nob • es are of 〈◊〉 with him, that if he obtain the Crown of England, he will • anish and deprive of their Lands and goods, all that h • now findeth to go against their leach King, and are Traitors to him; upon my Faith, n • w lying at God's mercy, I was one that was 〈◊〉 to the same: and with tears, he said, take heed in time, your King for a 〈◊〉 hath kept you under, but if Lodowicke prevail, he will put you from all, he had them keep his counce • l, and so he died. This troubled the Barons, and seeing withal 〈◊〉 Prince Lodowicke obtained by wars, he gave to French men in spite of them, saying they were but Traitors.
They at length concluded to submit themselves, 〈…〉 never drunk before: I trust this Wassell shall make all England glad, and drank a great draught thereof, the king pledged him: the Munke went away, and 〈◊〉 bu • st out, and he died, and had ever after three Monks to sing continually Mass for his Soul, confirmed by their general Chapter. I would you would see how religiously they bestow: heir confessions, absolutions, and Masses.
King John feeling himself not well, asked for Simon the Monk, they answered▪ he was dead; then the took his Chariot, and departed, and died within three days. He admonished that his Son Henry would learn by his example, to be gen • le and leuing to his native people. He being imbalmed, his bowels were bur •• ed in Crompton Abbey, his Soldiers • olded his Corps triumphantly in Armor, and honourably buried him in the Cathedral Church or Worcester, having reigned 17. years, 6. month • , and odd days.
After whose death the Princes, Lord's, Barons, and strangers, that were on the kings part, with the Council of the Legate Gualdo, proclaimed Henry his son king, and at Gloster, with the Earl there, they anointed and Crowned him King, b • the Legate Gualdo, assisted with the Bishops of Winchester, and Bath, and called him Henry the third.
The Pope sent with all speed, that they should mightily stand • ith the young king, being but ten years old, and defend England with Arm • ur, and his thundering curses against Lodowicke. He confirmed his Legat Gualdo, and committed to his discretion all that appertained to his Office, none to appeal from him. He compelled the Prelates to be sworn to the young King, and punished them which refused, Th • Bishop of Winchester laid a heavy talk upon his beneficed men, to help the king in his wars.
Gualdo left not one beneficed man unpunished, that had taken part with the French King.
In this year, Gualdo was sent for home to Rome▪ for by this time he had welfa • oredly vnladen the purses of the Clergy men, and returned with all his bags well stuffed, leaving Cardinal Pandulfe behind him, to supply his Baliwicke The Bishop of Lincoln, not long before, paid 1000. marks for recovery of his Office, and an hundred marks to the Legate, for his goodwill; so were other holy Prelates and Priests taught by his example.
Inocentius Pope, condemned Almeri • us, a worthy Bishop, for an heretic, for teaching, and holding against Images: also he condemned the Doctrine of Joachim Abbas, as before, for heresy. He brought in first the paying of privy ty • hes, and the receiving once at Easter, and the reservation of the Sacrament, and the going before it with a bell and a light.
He stirred up Otho against Phillip the Emperor, because he was elected without his will, whereupon followed much slaughter in Germany; and against Otho, which he had made Emperor, he set up Frederick king of Ci • le, and caused the Archbishop of Mayence to excommunicate him▪ and depose him of his Empire: for which cause, the Princes of Germany did invade his Bishopric, and burned his possession: all was because Otho held certain Cities, Towns, and C • stles, which the Pope said belonged to him.
In his time came the order of Black Friers, called the Preaching Friars; it began of one Dominic a Spaniard, who after he had Preached ten years against the Albigenses, and others that held against the Pope, coming to Lateran, desired to have his Order of Preaching Friars confirmed, which the Pope refused, until he dreamt that the Church of Lateran was ready to fall, until Dominic came and propped it up with his sholders, and so preserved it. The Pope waking, called Dominic to him, and gr • nted his request. Dominicks mother being great with child, dream • she had a wolf in her womb, which had a burning tor • ch in his mouth, the which dream, the Preachers of that order advance to their glory.
In his time came up the order of the Minorits, of one Frances an Italian, he left off shoes, had but one cote of vile cloth, and an hempen cord about his middle, and so appareled his Disciples, teaching them to fulfill the perfection of the Gospel, walk in poverty, and holy simplicity; this rule was confirmed by Pope Innocent. Many Nobles, and others, in Rome, built manflons for him and his disciples, he was likewise str •• t to his flesh, leaving clothes▪ in winter, he 〈◊〉 himself in Ice and snow, he called poverty his Lady, he kept nothing over night, he was so desirous of Martyrdom, that he went to Siria to the Solda • , who received him honourably: it is written that Christ and his Saints marked him with five wounds. These Franciscans, or begging F •• ers, though they have but one Rule, they have many Orders, there by 101. several sorts of Friers and Nuns, which the reader, if he be disposed, may see in the book at l • rge, with their names, Fol 70.
Hildegardis a Nun a Prophetess, lived in the year 1170. She reprehendeth grievously the abominations of the l • ues of the Spiritual Papists, the contempt of their Office, and destruction of God's children with these words; Now is the Law neglected amongst the Spiritual, which negl • ct to Preach, and to do good things. The masters and Prelates, sleep and negl • ct Justice. The Church appeared to her in the shape of a 〈◊〉 , her face 〈◊〉 with dirt, and her 〈◊〉 rent, complaining that the Priests did not shine over the people neither in Doctrine, not example; but contrary, did drive the innocent lamb from them, that Eccles • asticall order grew worse and worse, and Priests destroyed the law of God, and did not teach it; and proph •• eth to them God's heavy wrath and punishments.
She prophesieth likewise of the reformation of Religion, and saith, it shall be most godly, saying; Then shall the Crown of the Apostolical honor be divided, because there shall be found no religion amongst them, and the name of that dignity shall be despised, and they shall s • t over them other men, and other Archbishops, and the Apostolical order shall have scarce Rome, and a • ew other Countries thereabout, under his Crown • ; and this shall be done partly be war • es, and partly by a common consent of Spiritual and Seculer persons, then Justice shall flourish, and men shall honestly apply themselves to the ancient Custo • es and disciplines of the ancient.
She prophes • eth likewise of Friars; There shall rise a senseless, proud, greedy people, without Faith, and subtle, which shall eat the s •• nes of the people, pretending in Order of certain devout persons, under the dissimuled cloak of beggars, pr • ferring themselves before others in feigned devotion, in puffed up knowledge, and preten • ed holiness, walking without 〈◊〉 , and the • ea • e of God, finding out many new mischiefs, strong and sturdy. Of wise men, and Christ's faithful that Order shall be accursed; they shall cease from labor, and study for quietness, rather taking on them the Order of flatterers then beggars, they shall study altogether how to resist the Preachers of the truth, and kill them with the mighty. The Devil shall root four vices in them, Flattery, Enui • , Hypocrisy, and Backbiting: that by flattery, they may ha • e bou • tifull gifts; that by Hypocricie they may please men, and by Back • iting, dispraise others, and extol themselves, for the praise of men, and s • ducing of the simple. And in example of Martyrs, having no devotion, shall preach instantly. They shall speak evil of Princes, and withdraw the Sacraments from Pastors, rere • uing the alms of the poor, weak, and needy; and conveying themselves into a multitude of people, being familier with women, teaching them how to deceive their husbands, and friends, and convey away their goods by stealth, and give it them, and say that they w • uld pray for them; so that they cover other m • ns faults curiously, and forg • t their own utterly. They shall take away things fr • m Pirates, thieves, Church-pillars, from Usurers, Heretics, and Apostates, Adulterers, lecherous women, b • ud • , from the mighty, p • riured Merchants, false Judges, Soldiers, Tyrants, Princee living against the Law; and they shall follow the Devil, and sweetness of sin, de • icatenesse of life and 〈◊〉 to their eternal damnation, all men shall see this, yet shall they daily become more indurate and wicked. But when their iniquities, and seducings shall be tried, men shall cease to give them, then shall they go • about hungry, and looking down to the earth like mad dogs, and shrinking in their necks, like Turtles, that they may be filled with bread, then shall the people say, Woe • unto you wretches, children of sorrow, the world seduced you, the Devil snared your mo • ths, your flesh slippery your heart without taste, your minds wandering, your eyes delighted in vanity, and madness, your p • nches desire sweet dishes, your feet swift to mischief; consider how you were accounted 〈◊〉 and zealous, poor rich men, and simple stout men; but you were devout slatterers, false betrayers, perverse back • i • ers, holy hypocrites, pervert • rs of the truth, too much strict and precise, proud, shameless, and unstable Doctors, delicate Mar • yres, professors for lucre sake, meek slanderers, religious covetous, lowly proud, godly hard men, pleas • nt liars, peaceable persecu • ors, oppressors of the simple, inuenters of evil Sects, unmerciful lovers of the world, sellers of pardons, spoilers of benefices, unprofitable makers of prayers, seditious conspirers, drunken whisperers, desirous of honor, curious in men's faults, the extortioners of the world, insatiable preachers, pleasers of men, seducers of women, so we • s of discord. Moses well prophesied of them in his Canticle; A people without Council and Wisdom, would God they were wise and understood, and foresaw the latter ends to come, you built aloft, and when you could build no higher you fell down. Like Simon Magus whom the Lord repressed, and struck with a mighty plagne, so you likewise have fallen through your deceiveable wickedness, lies, 〈◊〉 , the people shall say to them, away teachers of peruersitie, subuerters of verity, brethren of the Shunamite, father of Heretical pra • i •• e, false apostles, you seem to follow the life of the Apostles, but follow not their steps one • ot, you children of iniquity, we will none of your trades and ways, for presumptuous pride hath deceived you, and insatiable concupiscence subverted your erroneous heart, and when you coveted to climb up higher and higher, then, by the just Judgment of God, you have fallen down to everlasting shame.
About the same time that the Franciscans, and Dominic Friars began, sprang up the Cro • bearers, or Crouche • Friars, by Pope Innocent the 3. who raised an Army, signed with the Cross on their breast, to 〈◊〉 against the Albenses, whom the Pope and his sect account Heretics. About the parts of Tholous, I find in some records, that the opinion of them was sound enough, professing against the wanton wealth, pride▪ and tyranny of the Prelates, denying the Popes authority to have ground in Scriptures, neither could they away with the ceremonies or traditions, as Images, Pardons, Purgatory, calling them blasphemous occupyings; many of them were slain at times, and burned by the Pope, and Simon Ecclesiasticus, with other moe.
After King John, as aforesaid, had submitted himself, and his whole Realm under tribute to the Pope it is incredible how the insatiable a • arice of the Romaines did oppress the Commons, and all estates of the Realm, especially the Churchmen, who, what for the Pope, for the Legates, for the Holy Land, and other subtle devises to get away their money, were brought to such slavery and penury, that whereas the King durst not, or could not remedy their exclamations, they were almost driven by for • e to remedy their own wrongs, that they writ to the Bishops, and other Ec • les • asticall Governors, that they had rather die then be thus confounded of the Romans, that it was not unknown to them, how they had deposed men, and given away the B • nefices after their own lust, and how they have thundered excommunications against you, if you place any, in any Spiritual Living, in any of your Dioces within the Realm, until f • ue Romaines in every Dioces, and in every Cathedral, such as the Pope shall name, be provided for, to the value of 100. lib. yearly; and what other grievances they do inflict to the Layty, and Nobles. Wherefore, w • considering the rigorous austerity of the • omanists, which take upon them to Judge • and condemn us, and lay on us intoll • rabble burdens: therefore upon a full advise had amongst us, we have though good rather to resist then to be subict to their intolerable oppre • sions, and greater slau • ry to be looked for hereafter. Therefore we straitly command you, as your friends, that you do not intermeddle, or take part with them, let • ing you understand for truth, that in case you shall be found culpable herein, not only your • oods and possessions shall be in danger of burning, but a •• o your bodies, shall incur the same peril as shall the said Romish oppr • ssors.
In the reign of Henry the third, who succeeded King John, and reigned 57. years, Cardinal Otho was sent to the King with Letters to him and other places for exactions of Money: the Letters were to require for the Pope two Prebends in every Cathedral Church, a portion of every Abbot, and of every Convent, as much as belonged to one Monk: their good being equally divided, because the Church of Rome of greatly slandered, that none could proceed there in any cause without great gifts and expenses, whereof the poverty of the Church is the cause; therefore it is sit, that you as natural Children should help and succor your Mother, for if we should not receive of you and other good men, we should lack, which were a great dishonor to our dignity. The King answered, He could do nothing, because it concerned the Commons, and he ass • mbled a Council, he was answered, they could conclude nothing, because the Arch-Byshoppe, the King, and other whom it concer • ed were not there.
The next year the same Cardinal came again into England, and summoned all the Cl • argy to another Council, to be held in the Cathedral Church of S. Paul in London, for redressing of diverse and sundry matters concerning Benifices Religion, and other abuses of the Church: putting them in fear and hope, some to lose, and some to obtain spiritual promotions at his hands. Divers pre • ious rewards were offered him, in Pal • ries, in rich Plate, and Jewels, in costly and sumptuous Garments richly furred, in Coyne and Uictuall, &c. The Bishop of Winchester sent him fifty fat Oxen, and hundred coome of pure Wheat, eight tun of chosen W • ne, likewise other Bishops offered to the Cardinals Box after their ability.
The Cardinal commanded, at the West end of Saint Paul's Church, a high solemn Throne of great State to be prepared, rising up with a glorious Scaffold: before the Cardinal begun his Sermon, there happened a great discord betwixt the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York, about sitting on the right hand of the glorious Cardinal: the Cardinal shown them a Bull of the Pope, in the midst of which was pictured the Cross, and Paul pictured on the right side of the Cross, and Peter on the left: saying, yet there is no contention betwixt these two, yet Saint Peter for the Prerogatiue of his Keys, and for the Preeminence of his Apostle-ship, and Cathedral Dignity, seemeth most worthy to be placed on the right side, and from that time forth, the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury hath enjoyed the Dignity and Pr • heminence of the • ight hand.
The Cardinal, sitting like a God in the midst betwixt them, made his Sermon upon these words; In the midst of the Seat, and round about, were four Beasts, full of eyes behind and before. He compared them about him to the four Beasts, declaring how they ought to have eyes before and behind; that is, they must be careful and provident, as well in disposing secular things, as wise and circumspect in spiritual matters, contriving, and joining wisely things past with things to come. And this was the greatest effect of his Clearkely Sermon.
Then he gave forth sundry Constitutions and Statutes, for ordering of Churches, dedicating Temples, for seven Sacraments, for giving Orders, farming Benefices, Collations, and resignations, Priests apparel, and single life, for eating of flesh in religious Houses, for Arch-deacons, Bishops, Proctors, &c. The King dreading the Commons, willed him to repair home to Rome, but he could not so be rid of him, but he renewed his commission, and still applied himself to his Harvest, gleaning and raking what he could, writing his Letters to every Bishop or Arch-Deacon, for procurations to bear his charges, and withal, to be speedily collected and sent to him. Provided, that the sum collected, should not exceed above four Markes of a Living, and where small Liuings were two Liuings to join, and if any contradicted or gain-said him, to excommunicate them.
And they sent forth Preachers and Friars in all places, to persuade men to fight against the common enemy the Turk, whom when they have bound with a vow, and signed with the cross, then they send their Bulls to release them for money, and the Bishops and Arch-deacons to proclaim it.
The Pope was not ashamed to require the fifth part of every Ecclesiastical living, and further, he promised and gave to the Romans, for helping him in wars against Frederick the Emperor, which had married King John's daughter: the gift of all the spiritual livings in England, belonging to the religious houses, and thereupon sent express Commandment to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other four▪ Bishops joined with him that they should provide spiritual livings, for three hundred Romans, in the best Benefits in England, at the next voidance, so that the said Bishops should be suspended in the mean time from all collation of Benefice: the Arch-bishop seeing their unreasonable oppressions being not able to endure it, went into France.
And further one Petrus Rubeus, was sent from the Pope, to go from Bishop, to Bishop, Abbot and Abbot, telling them such a Bishop, such an Abbot hath given thus much unto the Popes Holines, trusting you also will not be behind, in a matter that so much concerns the good of the Church, by which cunning subtlety he gathered together into the treasury of the Church such a Mass of money as is almost incredible to believe.
At length the Bishops, Abbots, and Arch-deacons came to the King, whose Father they had so obstinately resisted and repugned; lamentably complaining of their extreme miseries, of the immeasurable exactions of the Pope, so all the Prelates were called together, and upon talking together made many exceptions aga • nst the same: the Legate and his follow hearing these allegations, seeing their own utter confus • on, were the less importunate.
Not long after this followed a general Council at Lions, in the Kingdom • of France, called by Pope Innocentius: in the which Council the English Nation did exhibit sundry Articles of all their greeuances, and that the Italians did succeed one another in the benefices, whose language they could not understand, and that there was no preaching in their Churches, nor no alms given to the poor, and that there came fresh Letters from the Pope, commanding the Prelates to find at their proper costs and charge for a whole year, some ten armed soldiers, some more, some less, to be ready at the Popes commandment, when, or where be should appoint.
After these terrible greeuances and enormities, the States of England consulting together, directed their Letters to the Pope for Reformation: First the Abbots and Priors, then the Bishops and Suffragans, after the Nobles and Barons, and last of all the King, but all was never the better.
Not long after the Pope sent for new tallage and exactions, which when it came to the Kings ear he vehemently disturbed writ severally to every Bishop, in manner following.
THat whereas we have heretofore written to you, once, twice, thrice, both by our Priuy Seal, and our Letters Patents, that you should leuy for the pope no exactions, either upon the Clergy, or Laity, yet you vilepending our commandment, and contrary to our provision made in our last Council at London, have proceeded in collecting the said your taxes and tallages whereupon we greatly marvel and are moved: Wherefore we straitly will and command you, that you do so no more, as you will enjoy our • auour and your possessions; and if you have made any such collection or gathering, that you suffer it not to be transported out of the Realm, but keep it until the return of the Ambassadors, and that you make this our inhibition common to your Arch-Deacons and Officials.
At length the Ambassadors came home, bringing word that the Pope was greatly displeased with the Realm, saying; Rex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat & frederiscat suum habet consilium, ego vero & meum habeo, quod & sequar, &c. And that they were half counted Schismatics, for speaking in the Kings behalf, and could no more be heard, the King being insenfed here-with, sent out Proclamations through all the Realm, that none should consent to any tax of Money for the Pope: he hearing of it, in cruel rage sent to the Prelates, upon pain of interdiction to provide the said sums of Money by the Feast of Assumption, the King for fear of the Pope, durst not stand to the liberties of the Church.
Moreover, the gulf of the Romish Avarice waxt so immeasurable, that he shamed not, upon his curse, to ask the third part of Church goods, and the yearly fruit of all vacant Benefices.
Otho coming to Oxford, lying in the house of Osney, was received with great honor, the Scholars presenting him honorable Dishes and rewards Dinner being done, they came to welcome him; coming to the Gate, the Porter an Italian asked what they would have, and holding the door half open, with contumelious terms, thrust them out, they with force thrust open the gate, and came in, the Romaines within fell to alarm by the ears together, some of the Scholars going • or Weapons, the Master Cook cast scalding liquor, wherein meat was sodden, in the face of a poor Scholar, an Irish-man, which waighted for Alms: another Scholar a Welsh-man seeing it, shot the Cook thorough with an Arrow, and killed him: Whereupon was a great clamour, the Cardinal hearing the tumult, like a valiant Romaine, ran up into the steeple, and locked himself 〈◊〉 until midnight. The Scholars sought all corners for the Legate, crying out; Where is that Usurer, that Sym • niacks, that Proylar and Extortioner of our Liuings and Monies? Who perverteth the King, and subuerteth the Kingdom, enriching himself with our spoils: The Cardinal heard all this and held his peace, and conveyed himself by night unto the King, and the King sent to Oxford a garrison of armed men to deliver the Romaines which were hid, for fear of the Scholars. One Odo a Lawyer, and thirty of the Scholars were apprehended and carried to Wallingford Castle, and thence in Charts to London, and by much entreaty of the Bishops, were brought bare-footed to the Legates door, where they pardoned, and the Uniuersity released of interdiction.
The State of Germany, and of the Emperor Friderick the second, was then as much or more pitiful then that of England, who were so persecuted by Pope Innocentius, Honorius, Gregorius, Celestinus, Innocentius the fourth, infamed with excommunications, and did commonly war against them in open field, and all with English men's Money: first they made him Emperor against Otho, whom they deprived, then for claiming his right in Apulia and Sicilia they accursed him, when they had warred against him, they sent him to fight against the Turks, who recovered Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Ioppe, from the Souldane. Whilst he was occupied in these Wars, these unholy Fathers invaded his Lands and possessions at home, subduing Apulia under his own possession, and inhibiting his Soldiers to go over to him, and when the Emperor sent to the Pope and other Christian Princes his Letters gratulatory, declaring what God wrought by him against the Turks, the Pope stayed the Messengers, kept the Letters close, and caused it to be noised abroad that the Emperor was dead, and the said Pope Gregory the ninth wrote to the Souldane, that he should not render the holy Land into the Emperors hands. The Emperor hearing this stir of the Pope, took truce with the Souldane for ten years, and repayreth home, and driveth the Popes Army out of Apulia, and recovered all the Pope had gotten from him before: The Pope laid his curse upon the Emperor, for making truce with the Souldane, and conspired with the Tuscanes and Lombards against him: the Emperor, at the instigations of the Princes, glad to compose with the Tyrant▪ was fain to ransom the absolution of the Pope for ten hundred thousand ounces of gold, and yet he sent to the Princes of Germany, charging them to admit none of the Emperors stock to be King of the Romaines, and stirred up the Cities of Italy against him. The Emperor understanding his politick and subtle trains, marched into Italy, where he put down the Rebels, and recovered again the Cities belonging to the Empire. Wherefore a new excommunication was laid upon him, and all his Subjects released of obedience and loyalty, and much indulgences and eternal life promised to them that would fight against him. After Gregory, succeeded Celestinus the fourth, who reigned not long. After him, succeeded Innocentius the fourth, who following the steps of his predecessors, called a general Council at Lions, as is before mentioned, where standing up, he cited the Emperor: his Legate required lawful time for him to come, which he would not grant, but in his fury denounced him accursed, and deprived him of his Imperial Dignity, charging him with perjury and sacrilege, writing Libels of defamation to all Kings.
The Emperor made purgation of these • landers, charging the Pope, not with feigned, but true and most heinous crimes, of slander, falsehood, perdition, perjury, rebellion, hypocrisy, and proveth him by his Letters, to be very Antichrist. He wrote to the French King, that he much marveled that the prudence and wisdom of the French-men, did not more quick then others see the Popes subtlety and covetousness, purposing to subdue all Realms as he hath done England, and doth presumptuously achieue to subdue the Majesty of the Imperial Crown. This Emperor departed to Apulia, and there died, being poisoned, as some think, by means of the Pope.
In the time of this Innocent, died one Robert Grosted, Bishop of Lincoln, a famous learned man, as that time served, whose Sermons to this day are extant, in the Queens Library at Westminster. There is one special Sermon written to Innocent. Cestrensis writeth, that he was grieved for the exactions of the Pope in England, and would not admit of the Popes Nephew to be Canon of his Church. Writing to the Pope, that he could not admit such into his Church, which did neither know themselves, nor their charges: he was therefore called to Rome and excommunicated, who appealing from the Pope to Jesus Christ, shortly after departed. Two years after the said Pope being asleep, one appareled Bishoplike, appeared unto him, and striking him with his Staff, said; Surge miser & veni in iudicium,