Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3 2

Andronicus insignibus Imperii à patre Michaele Palaeologo ornaretur, ipse patri jurat, se Dei Ecclesiam pie veneraturum, ejusque privilegia modis omnibus culturum, et inviolata conservaturum esse: (A Clause never inserted into the Oath, Writing, promise of any precedent Emperor) Postea, se vitam et Imperium patris sui expertem insidiarum usque ad ejus obitum pro virili conservaturum. His peractis, omnis Romanus populus usitatum jusjurandum Andronico novo Imperatori dedit. Patriarcha vero et Collegium Sacerdotum jusjarandum suum praescriptum, in sacros codices retulerunt: se et successores suos, ejus Imperio non esse insidiaturos, profitentes. Pater autem permisit, edictis subscribere rubris literis, caeterum sine mense & indictione: sed, Andronicus, Christi gratia Imperator Romanorum.

Soon after this Oath prescribed and taken, Charles King of Italy, and Earl Baldwin, raising great forces to besiege Constantinople, and unite the Empire thereof to that of Germany, by the Popes instigation; to prevent this danger Palaeologus the elder sent Ambassadors to Pope Gregory, to mediate an accord between the Greek and Roman Churches; Cujus haec tria Capita fuerunt; Primum, ut in sacrorum voluminum Psalmodiis Papae, cum quatuor Patriarchis mentio fieret. Alterum, utliceret cuivis Romam veterem, quae Curia major et perfectior est, appellare. Tertium, ut illi Principatus in omnibus deserretur. Which agreement was so much opposed by the Patriarch Joseph, that he deserted his See, and the College of the Priests mutinied the people against him: whom he could not pacify by his persuasions, nor yet by imprisonments, exiles of Be • as, & other Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests who obstinately opposed this accord; which rendered him so odious, that, post obitum Graecorum Imperatorem Palaeologum sacra arcent Sepultura Constantinopolitani Sacerdotes, quod Romanae Ecclesiae sententiam in Concilio Lugdunensi amplexus esset; whereupon he was privately buried in the night by his sons command procul à castris, vix plebeia sepultura, multa terra obrutus, id solum cavens, ne à feris discerperetur. After which, the Patriarchs of Constantinople grew so rebellious and refractory against the Emperors, that they were either banished, deprived by them, or resigned their Patriarchships when they could not have their wills. Whereupon they made choice of aged, simple, and illiterate persons to be Patriarchs, who through ignorance and simplicity were most apt to obey them, ut dicto eis obedientes sint tanquam mancipia et nullo ipsis verbo refragentur; no Oath at all (for ought I find) being imposed on the succeeding Emperors, whether, crowned in their Fathers or Grandfathers life, or after their deaths; witness the Coronation of Michael Palaeologus the son of Andronicus 4. Nonas Februarii, octava Indictione.

Moreover it is observable, that in the form of the Coronation of the Greek Emperors collected by Johannes Cantachuzenus about the year 1330. (afterwards Emperor himself) seconded by Codinus, and printed in Mr. Selden, there is no mention of any Oath, condition or promise at all made by the Emperor at his Coronation to the Patriarch, relating to the Churches or Clergies privileges or Liberties, only Patriarcha in formam Crucis VERTICEM Imperatoris, sacro unguento perluit, & elato voice addit, Sanctus: Quod si adest Imperator antea coronatus, cum Patriarcha novo Imperatori coronam imponit, & exclamat Patriarcha, dignus, &c. Tum descendit de ambone Imperator, & paratam ibi Coronam à propinquis, aut Eunuchis, eam similiter tenentibus, uxoris capiti imponit (according to their ancient Custom, not the Patriarch) quae maritum Imperatorem adorans, it à se illi subjectam profitetur. Hoc igitur modo Imperator Conjugem suam coronat. Si antea Corona ipse indutus fuit, inter sacra nuptiarum id facit. After which follow some prayers, without any Oath or promise exacted from him by the Patriarch, to prevent all such Usurpations over the Emperors by their Patriarchs, as some of them exercised, and Popes usurped by degrees over the German Emperors by their Coronations.

The Custom of Crowning the German Emperors, and anointing them on the Crowns of their heads at first, like the Roman, (since translated by Pope Innocent the Third to their shoulders or arms,) was derived to them from the Greeks, as Onuphrius, and Mr. Selden inform us.

The first Emperor Crowned in Rome by any Pope, was Charles the Great, Anno Christi 800. crowned by Leo the Third (after his purgation upon Oath on the Holy Evangelists made before Charles, as his restorer, and Sovereign Judge of the Crimes objected agianst him,) cuncto Romano populo acclamante, Carolo Augusto A DEO coronato (originally, but only ministerially by the Pope) Magno et pacifico Imperatori Romanorum, vita et victoria. Post quas laudes, unctus oleo ab Apostolico in templo Sancti Petri, à CAPITE usque ad pedes, et circundans Imperatoria vest atque Corona 8 Kal. Januarii, Indictione nona, antiquorum jure Principum, ab eo adoratur, (not the Pope by him) et ablato Patricii nomine, Imperator & Augustus appellatur; without any Oath, Promise, homage, fealty or subjection then made by him to the Pope, or Roman Church; But on the contrary, Charles then received from this Pope, a Privilege to elect and invest both the Pope, and all Archbishops, and Bishops in his Empire, as Ludovious Pius his Son did, An. 815. and the Emperor Otho the 1. An. 964. who deposed Pope John the 13. expelled Benedict, (set up by the Romans without his license) created, and afterwards restored Leo the 8. who confirmed this privilege, and Crowned him Emperor. Yea Henry the 5th, (though set up by Popes in his deposed Fathers stead, by tyranny, war, rebellion, for defense of this Privilege of Investitures) when he came to Rome to be Crowned by Pope Paschal the 2d. not only received a new Charter of the premised Privileges granted to Charles the Great, from this Pope and his Cardinals, subscribed with their hands, seals, and ratified by their solemn Oaths; but likewise refused to take any corporal Oath to them to confirm his Covenants and agreement, upon their release out of Prison; dicens, Imperatorem nemini jurare debere, cum juramentorum sacramenta ab omnibus sunt sibi adhibenda; as Hermoldus expressly records. Which proves this Oath of Fealty which Gratian inserts into his Decrees, as made by the Emperor Otho to Pope John before his coming into Rome to be crowned, to be an Imposture, since mentioned by no old Historians, yea contradicted by Othoes deposing John, setting up another in his stead, and the new Privilege of Investitures granted him by Leo at his Coronation; Juramentum Ottonis quod fecit Domino Papae Joanni. Tibi Domino Joanni Papae ego Rex Otto promittere et jurare facio, per Patrem, & Filium, & Spiritum sanctum, & per lignum hoc vivific • crucis, & per has reliquias Sanctorum, quod si permittente Domino Roman venero, sanctam Romanam Ecclesiam et te rectorem ipsius exaltabo, secundum meum posse; et vitam aut membra nunquam, neque ipsum honorem quem habes, mea voluntate, aut meo consilio, aut meo assensu, aut mea exhortatione perdes. Et in Roma nullum placitum aut ordinationem faciam de omnibus quae ad te aut ad Romanos pertinent, sine tuo consilio; Et quicquid de terra sancti Petri ad nostram potestatem pervenerit tibi • eddo, et cuicumque Italicum regimen commisero jurare faciam illum, ut adjutor tui sit ad defendendum terram sancti Petri secundum suum posse. This Oath though forged, with some new Additions to it, Popish Canonists, Advocates hold the Emperor ought to take to the Pope, as bound thereto not only out of reverence, and spiritual devotion to the Pope and Church of Rome, whom he ought by natural right to defend, but as an Oath of Fealty, as being the Popes Vassal and inferior, from whom he receives and holds his Crown; Upon which ground he ought to kiss the Popes feet, lie prostrate before him when crowned, serve him as his Subdeacon, yea hold his stirrup, and then lead his horse by the bridle for some space, as you may read in Dr. Marta, and others quoted by him; whose Arguments Antonius de Rosellis (a learned Lawyer under the Emperors Sigismund and Frederick the 3.) recites, and then refutes in a special Chapter, to which I refer you. What Oaths of fealty and allegiance Popes have since extorted from the German Emperors at their Coronations, (by depriving those who opposed their usurpations by tumults and wars raised against them, and setting up Usurpers in their steads,) will appear by these 2. Verses engraven by the insolent Pope Innocent the 2. on the walls of his Palace in Rome, after he had crowned Lotharius Emperor.

I shall only observe, that Popish Canonists, and Romish Doctors from the Popes Coronation of Emperors and Kings, argue his absolute Spiritual and Temporal Monarchy over them, as their Sovereign Lord; because they receive their Crowns and unction from him. A mere ridiculous consequence, because as they are both real and actual Emperors, Kings, before and without their Coronations, so Popes and Prelates are but their mere Ministerial Officers therein, to anoint and set their Crowns upon their heads, when, where, and by what Bishops they please to appoint, (as the Nobles are who carry their Imperial Robes, Crowns, Swords, Scepters, and perform other Services at their Coronations,) as they likewise are when they baptize, marry them, not their Lord's: else if this Argument holds firm, the Cardinals who elect, consecrate, crown the Pope himself, and his Confessor who absolves him, must be his Lord's Paramount both in his Spiritual and Temporal pretended Monarchy; and every Bishop who consecrates his Metropolitan, must thereby become his Sovereign, and absolved from all subjection to him; which will prove fatal to the Popes Supremacy, and to Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Archbishops Hierarchies. All Pontificians therefore must renounce this Argument, and subscribe to the resolution of Thomas Waldensis, (a great stickler for the Pope, Bishops, yet ingenuous in this particular.) Quanquam ministerio Episcoporum solennitates adbibentur Regibus unctionis, ju • jurandi, fidei et coronae, non tamen habet Regia illa dignitas ortum a Sacerdotio, quanquam per Ministerium Sacerdotis habeta Deo; sicut nec ordinatus quisquam habet ordinationis ortum a Praesule, aut Sacramentum Eucharistiae a Sacerdote quolibet celebrante; ab homine enim est solennitatis ministerium, Deus vero solus largitur efficium: not the Pope or Bishops.

I shall now pass from the Emperors to the Kings of France. After Charles the Great and Ludovicus Pius, were anointed Emperors by Popes at Rome, for defending them and that Church against their enemies, and declared it to be their duty, ut defensio, et exaltatio vel honor Sanctae Dei Ecclesiae congruus maneat, et pax et justitia in omni generalitate populi magis confirmetur; the Kings of France who were no Emperors, began to be crowned by their own Bishops, who thereupon contrived and imposed an Oath upon them at their Coronations, to advance their own Prelacy and Canons; which Oath, as Peter de Marca Archbishop of Paris observes, ea mente eisque verbis olim ita conceptum suit, ut Reges tempore inaugurationis suae, CUSTODIAM CANONUM subditis suis promitterent, Quod eo pertinebat, ut sponderent nec a se violandos Canones, nec ab altis. Extat illius Sacramenti antiquaformula, quod Philippus 1. patre Henrico Rege superstite, ac illius auctorit •• e praestitit, anno 1059.

Ego Philippus, Deo propitiante, mox futurus Rex Francorum, in die ordinationis meae promitto coram Deo & sanctis ejus, quod unicuique de vobis et Ecclesiis vobis commissis CANONICUM PRIVILEGIUM, et debitam legem atque justitiam conservabo, et defensionem quantum potero (adjuvante Domino) adhibebo, sicut Rex in suo Regno, unicuique Episcopo et Ecclesiae sibi commissae, per rectum exhibere debet. Populo quoque Nobis credito dispensationem legum in suo jure consistentium, nostra authoritate concessurum.

Hujus formulae potiora verba (adds Marta) transcripta sunt ex ea quae Hincmarus Remensis Archiepiscopus a se conceptam Ludovico Balbo Caroli Calvi filio porrexerat, cum Regnum Compendii suscepturus ungeretur Anno 877. Sponsio autem illa Ludovici excerpta est à Capitulis quae Carolus Calvus codem Anno apud Carisiacum statuerat. Quam quidem promissionem, non sacramentum, vocant Proceres Gallicani, sed pardonationem: Est pardonatio, quam Dominatio vestra nobis fidelibus vestris pardonavit & subscripsit. Unde Ludovicus Balbus codem verbo utitur in sponsione sua: Promitto & pardono vobis, id est, concedo & indulgeo. Ante illa tempora sponsio quidem a Regibus inaugurandis concipiebatur; sed aliis verborum solennibus, quamvis eadem signification; ut patet ex repromissione quam Carolus Calvus praestitit, cum in urbe Metensi Lotharii Regnum adipisceretur Anno 869. Sciatis, me unicuique in suo Ordine secundum sibi competentes leges tam Ecclesiasticas, quam mundanas, legem & justitiam conservare: Quod etiam repetitum est in secundo capite conventus apud Carisiacum habiti. In eandem sententiam Reges Galliarum se deinceps usgue ad haec nostra tempora jurejurando adstrinxerunt, etsi formulis diversis. By virtue of this Coronation Oath, he informs us, that Philip the 4. and Charles the 6. and 7. of France, held themselves obliged to defend the Rights of Bishops, their Canons, and Ecclesiastical discipline. The Ceremonies, Prayers, Unction and Oath used at their Coronations in later ages, you may peruse in Mr. Seldens Titles of Honor, and Laurentius Boch • llus his Decreta Ecclesiae Gallicane, l. 5. Tit. 2. De Consecratione & Coronatione Regis Franciae, c. 1. who cap. 4. inserts a learned Epistle of Ivo Carnotensis to the Pope, justifying his Coronation of Louis King of France, against the complaint of the Archb • shop and Church of Reims, who pretended that the Right of Consecrating the French King belonged only to them, refuting this their Monopoly by sundry presidents of French Kings Crowned elsewhere by other Bishops, in other Churches, asserting this claim of theirs to be warranted by no Law, nor Custom, and to be prejudicial to Kings themselves, as well as to other Bishops and Churches.

I shall not insist upon the Unctions or Coronations of the Kings of Jerusalem, Spain, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Sicily, Scotland, or their Coronation Oaths, which were not ab origin, but came in by degrees in later ages, by the Practice of their Bishops, to advance their Jurisdiction and Power over them, as their Vassals; witness this Magisterial resolution of Martinus Laudensis, Dr. Marta, and other Canonists, Omnes Reges qui unguntur ab Ecclefia, sunt Uassalli Ecclesiae; ergo idem dicendum est de Imperatore; & nullus est Regum qui non sit subditu • Romanae Ecclesiae. When these foreign Kings began to make any Corporal Oaths to Popes or their Metropolitans at their Coronations, I cannot certainly determine, only it is observable, that the Kings of Sicily (claimed by Popes as St. Peters Patrimony, and thereupon usually crowned by them) never used to take any Corporal Oath upon any occasion, by the Custom of that Kingdom; therefore not at their Coronations, as is evident by this Epistle of William King of Sicily to our King Henry the 2d. Anno 1176. in answer to the request of his Messengers, Qui & postulaverunt instantius, (to confirm a Mariagecontract between his daughter and this King with his Corporal Oath) ut idem manu propria juraremus: Quod quia regni nostri semper, et nostris fuit progenitoribus insuetum PERSONALITER JURARE, non duximus expedire. Quare praedicti nuncii vestri quaesierunt, ut sicut ab honorabilibus personis feceratis illud in anima vestra jurari, sic et nos similiter in anima nostra fieri faceremus. Nos equidem, et quod a nostris nunciis in bestra praesentia constitutis super concessione matrimonii ex parte nostra juratum est, ratihabitione firmamus, et quod vobis praesentibus in anima vestra juratum est, grato assensu recepimus, ac si manu propria jurassetis, cum unum et idem putemus Sacramentum quod vel manu propria fit, vel in anima jubentis et praesentis juratur. If then the Kings of Sicily never used in that or former ages to make or subscribe any Corporal Oath with their own hands; Whereupon this King refused, though importuned to ratify this marriage agreement with such an Oath, submitting only, that his proxies should swear for him on his Soul, as King Henries likewise did, it is certain they then never made any personal Oath to the Pope, or their Metropolitans at their Coronations; and probably very few Kings else, till succeeding ages.

For our ancient British Kings Coronations, Diadems, Crowns, before they became Christians, Geoffrey Monmouth stories, that Dunvallo Molmutius, cum totam Insulam omnino subjugasset, fecit sibi diadema ex auro. Hic Leges quae Molmuntinae aicebantur inter Britones statuit, quae usque ad hoc tempus inter Anglos celebrantur. After whose decease, Duo filiiejus, Belinus videlicet & Brennius contendebant uter eorum regni diademate insiguiretur. Post Garguunt, Guithilinus, regni Diadema suscepit. Post Marciam Tifilius sumpto diademate regni gubernaculo potitus est. Post Gorbonianum, Arthgallo frater • jus Regio diademate insignitur. Defunct • Eliduro, suscepit Gorboniani filius regni Diadema. Post Hel • , Cassibellanus in Regem sublimatur, moxque ut Diademate insignitus suit, &c. contigit ut totius regni Monarchia sibi cederet: During his reign. Julius Caesar invaded our Isle of Britain: Cui successit Tenuantius, Diademate igitur infignitus regnum in diligentia obtinuit, Anno Christi 124. Defuncto Coilo, filius ejus unicus, cui nomen erat Lucius, regni Diademate infignitus est, who soon after embraced the Christian Religion, and was baptized, (being the first Christian King in this Isle, or world) and converted the Heathenish Archflamins Sees in this Isle into Archbishoprics, and the Flamines into Bishoprics, as our ancient H • storians generally write, though our greatest Antiquaries of modern times refute it, as fabulous. He deceasing without issue, after many Conflicts between the Britain's and Romans, Triumphatis Romanis, cepit Asclipiodorus regni Diadema, et Capiti suo, populo annuente imposuit; without any Archbishop, Bishop, or Priest. Postea insurrexit in Regem Asclepiadorum, Coel Dux Colecestriae, & praelio conserto eum peremit, regnique diademate sese insignivit. Not long after Constantius the Emperor arriving in Britain, made a firm league with Coel, who dying 8. days after, insignivit se Constantius regni Diademate, duxitque filiam Coel, cui nomen erat Helena, on whom he begat Constantine the Great, to whom he gave the Kingdom of Britain at his death, 11 years after; who also obtained the Empire of the world. Octavius usurping the Crown, he gave his daughter together with the Realm to Maximianus, cum Diademate: who being slain at Rome, thereupon Gratianus Municeps cepit Regni Diadema, et sese in Regem promovit. During whose reign the Britain's being infested by the Scots, Picts, Norwegians, and the Romans after several requests being unable to aid them, they thereupon An. 435. sent Guithelin Londoniensis Archiepiscopus to Aldroenus King of Little Britain in France, proffering him the Kingdom, to aid them against these insulting enemies; who refusing it for himself, recommended his Brother Constantine to them, furnishing him with soldiers to affist them. Cum grates ei egit Archiepiscopus, vocato Constantino, ei in haec verba arrisit: Christus vincit, Christus imperat, regnat Christus; Ecce Rex Britanniae desertae, Adsit modo Christus. Ecce spes nostra et gaudium. Who presently arriving in Britain, and obtaining a victory over their enemies by his own and the scattered British forces resorting to him: Facta intra Cicestriam concione, erexerunt Constantinum in Regem, regnique Diadema capiti ejus imposuerunt, Anno Christi 435. Defuncto Constantino, An. 455. there being a difference between the Nobles which of his sons should succeed, Constance his eldest son being a professed Monk, Vortigernus Comes Gewissanorum qui omni nisu in regnum anhelabat, goes to Constance at Winchester, persuading him to accept the Regality; who maxim gaudio assented to him, & quicquid callebat ipsum velle, jurejurando promittebat. Caepit igitur eum Vortigernus, duxitque Regiis ornamentis indutum Londonias, atque vix annuente populo, in Regem erexit. Tunc defunctus erat Guithelinus Archiepiscopus, nec fuit alius qui ipsum inungere praesumstsset, quia ex Monacho transferebatur. Nec tamen idcirco postposuit Diadema, quod ipse Vortigernus vice Episcopy capiti ejus imposuit. Sublimatus igitur Constance, totam Justitiam regni Vortigerno commisit, &c. who soon after suborning his guard of Picts to murder Constance; Tandem cum neminem sibi parem conspexisset, imposuit capiti suo Coronam Britanniae, An. 454. Magnates Britanniae Regem Vortigernum penitus deserentes, unanimiter Vortimerum filium suum Regem sublimaverunt. Anno 464. Merlin prophesied, interfecto Hengesto Ambrosius coronabitur. Non mora, crastino die applicuit Aurelius Ambrosius; convenerunt itaque Britanni, & convocato regni Clero unxerunt et erexerunt Aurelium in Regem, reg • ique Diadema capiti suo imponens, &c. After whose death, Anno 498. Uther Pendragon cum festinatione Wintoniam venit, & convocato populo regni & Clero, Britanniae Diadema suscepit, annuentibusque cunctis sublimatus est in Regem; After whose death, defuncto Rege, convenerunt Pontiffces cum Clero regni et populo, & ipsum infra Choream Gigantum more Regio humaverunt. Quo facto, Dubritius urbis Legionum Archiepiscopus, sociatis sibi Episcopis et Magnatibus, Arthurum filium suum juvenem 16. annorum Regni diademate insignivit, et in regem magnifice erexerunt, one of the first Kings crowned by our Bishops. Leland writes, that he saw the form of his Crown in his Seal, represented to us in Mr. Selden, and Speeds History, An. 537. King Arthur after all his foreign Victories returning into Britain in triumph, resolved to be new CROWNED at Caerleon on the feast of Pentecost. The form and solemnity of his second and his Queens Coronation too, (the first of this kind, if real) is thus related by Ge • ffry Monmouth. Cum igitur solennitas Pentecostes advenire inciperet, post tantum triumphum maxima laetitia fluctuans, Arturus affectavit Curiam ilico tenere in nrbe Legionum, regnique Diadema capiti suo imponere. Wherupon, inviting and summoning by his Messengers all the Kings, Dukes, Nobles, and Metropolitans subject to him, there appeared 12 Kings, sundry Dukes, Consuls, Nobles from all quarters (whose names he recites) Trium etiam Metropolitanarum sedium Archipraesules, Londoniensis videlicet, Eboracensis, necnon ex urbe Legionum Dubritius. Hic Britanniae Primas, & Apostolicae sedis Legatus (if we may credit him) tanta religione clarebat, ut quemcumque languore gravatum suis orationibus sanaret. Omnibus denique in urbe congregatis, solennitate instant, Archipraesules ad palatium ducuntur, ut Regem diademate regali coronarent. Dubricius ergo, quoniam in sua diocesi Curia tenebatur, paratus ad celebran • um obsequium, hujus rei curam suscepit. Rege tandem insignito, ad templum Metropolitanae sedis ornate conducitur: à dextro enim & à levo latere, duo Archiponrifices ipsum tenebant. Qnatuor autem Reges, Albaniae atque Cornubiae, Demetiae & Venedociae, quorum illud jus fuerat, quatuor aureos gladios ferentes ante ipsum, praeibant. Conventus quoque multimodorum ordinatorum, miris modulationibus praecinebat. Ex alia autem parte Reginam suis insignibus laureatam, Archipraesules atque Pontifices ad templum Deo dicatarum puellarum conducebant. Quatuor quoque praedictorum Regum Reginae quatuor albas columnas de more p • aferebant. Mulieres autem quae aderant illam quam maximo gaudio sequebantur. Postremo peracta processione, tot organa, tot cantus fiunt in utrisque templis, ita ut pro nimia dulcedinae milites qui aderant nescirent quod templorum prius peterent. Catervatim ergo nunc ad hoc, nunc ad illud ruebant, nec si totus dies celebrationi deditus esset, taedium aliquod ipsis generaret. Divinis tandem obsequiis in utroque celebratis, Rex et Regina diademata sua deponunt, assumptisque levioribus ornamentis, ill ad suum palacium cum viris, haec ad aliud cum muli • ribus exaltata incedunt. I omit the residue of this solemnity, wherein I observe no solemn Unction or form of Prayers, or setting the Crown on the Kings head in the Church, but only in his Palace, mentioned in this solemnity, without any Oath administered to him. An. 540. Mordredus Arthuri Nepos (in his absence) cui idem Arthurus Britanniae regnum commisit, per tyrannidem et proditionem Diademate ipsius sese secerat insigniri. An. 542. Rex Arthurus de vita desperans, Constantino cognato suo Britanniae concessit Diadema. After whose death, Anno 545. Aurelius Conanus, per omnia Diademate dignus, nisi civilis belli fuisset amator, regnum obtinuit, by force, treachery and tyranny, imprisoning his Uncle who ought to have reigned, and murdering his two sons. After which as Gildas our ancientest British Historian, (who writ about the year 564. or soon after,) complains and relates. UNGEBANTUR REGES non per Deum, sed qui caeteris crudeliores extarent, & paulo post ab UNCTORIBUS, non pro veri examinatione trucidabantur, aliis electis trucioribus, &c. Reges habet Britannia, sed TYRANNOS; which passage is recited verbatim by Galfr. Monmutensis Hist. Brit. lib. 9. c. 3. Whence some conceive our British Kings were anointed when crowned, and that sometimes by their Archbishops, or Bishops; other times by their Nobles, who soon after murdered, and succeeded them; rather as Tyrants then Kings. After many Civil Wars and Usurpations between the British Tyrants, and Saxon invaders, about the year 603. Cadwin by the unanimous consent of all the Princes and Nobles of the Britons assembled together at Legecester, was elected and made King of the Britons; Insignito illo regni Diademate. He conquering the Saxons; thereupon rogabat Cadwinum Edwinus, ut sibi Diadema habere liceret; ut advenae Saxons, quisemper proditores ejus extiterant, in uno cum illo Regio Diademate incipiant insigniri. Which his Counselors refused to assent unto; aiebant enim, Contra jus, veterumque traditionem esse, Insulam UNIUS CORONAE DUOBUS CORONATIS SUBMITTI DEBERE; Cadwallo after him Quendam solemnitatem Pentecostes Diadema Britanniae portando celebravit, where universi Anglorum Reges praeter Oswinum solùm adessent; Of his or Cadwalladers the two last British Kings Unctions, there is no express mention in our Historians, of any Coronation Oath, or promise made by them or any British King, much less to maintain the Churches or Clergies Liberties.

As for our first Saxon Kings who expelled the Brittons, and by their swords erected their several kingdoms, there is no mention of their Coronations or Unctions in Beda, Florentius Wygorniensis, Simeon Dunelmensis, Henry Huntindon, or other of our ancient Historians. The first of our Saxon Kings presented to us with a Diadem, is Aidulf King of the East-Angles, about the year 674. After him, upon the expulsion of Beorred King of Mercia for his Tyranny, Offam in Regem tam Clerus quam populus coronavit, An. 758. who stamped a Crown on his coyns; whose successors used several forms of Crowns till the Conquerors time; which you may view in Speeds History, and Mr. Seldens Titles of Honor. The first Saxon King we read to be anointed, was Egbert, about the year 790. whom his father King Offa, loving his ease, ante mortem suam in Regem inunctum successorem dimisit. Ille sedulo paternae immanitatis vestigia declinans, privilegia omnium ecclesiarum, quae seculo suo genitor attenuaverat (by severing all the Bishoprics in his Kingdom from the See of Canterbury) prona devotione revocabit; Praedium quoque quod Pater Malmesburiae abstulerat, reddidit in manus Cuthberti tunc illius loci Abbatis, h • rtatu Athelardi Archiepiscopi Cantuariae, strenui sane & Deo digni viri; most likely at his anointing him King; as the coherence of the story intimates, he living but 4. months after. Anno 854. Aethelwlfus Rex filium suum Aelfredum (being but 5. years old) magno nobilium & etiam ignobilium numero constipatum, maximisque muneribus honorifice Roman transmisit, quo tempore Dominus Leo Papa 4. Apostolicae sedi praeerat; qui praefatum infantem Aethelredum oppido ordinans, UNXIT IN REGEM; (sui patris rogatu) & in filium adoptionis sibimet accipiens, confirmavit; as Asserius Menevensis his Tutor, Simeon Dunelmensis, (who adds, & ad p • triam atque ad Patrem cum benedictione Sancti Petri Apostoli direxit) Florentius Wygorniensis, Radulphus de Diceto, Johannes Brompton, and others out of them relate. William Malmesburiensis writing of his advancement to the Crown, An. 872. after Aethelwlfus death, records, Aelfredus filius Aethelwulphi junior, qui unctionem Regiam et Coronam a Papa Leone Olim Romae susceperat, ut praediximus, regnum accepit; without any new Unction or Coronation that we read of. Matthew Westminster stories, Anno Christi 854. Rex magnificus Occidentalium Saxonum Aethelwulphus, cum honor maximo Romam profectus, duxit secum Aelfredum filium suum juniorem, quem caeteris omnibus plus dilexit, ut à Papa Leone moribus pariter & Religion informaretur ibidem (which Florentius Wygorniensis, and the premised Historians refer to the year next after his premised mission thither, and Unction) ubi cum anno integro Rex cum filio demoratus fuisset, fecit filium suum ibi a Papa in Regem coronari; atque ad patriam rediens; exorta est contra a Regem p • aedictum quorundam Magnatum conspiratio, ita quodfacta conspiratione ab Aethelbaldo filio Regis primogenito, & Sciriburnensi Episcopo Alstano, cum Eandulfo Somersatensis pagi Comite, quod à Roma repatrians nunquam reponeretur in regnum. Causa una erat, quod filium minorem Aelfredum, quasi aliis à regni sort exclusis, in Regem Romae fecerat coronari; Whereupon he divided his Realm between himself and his eldest son Aethelbald. Our elegant Historian Aelredus Abbas Rievallis informs us, that this King, Aelfredum filium suum minorem misit Romam, ut sanctissimorum Apostolorum precibus commendaretur, & à Summo Pontifice benediceretur. Vener abilis autem Summus Sacerdos Leo vultum & statum pueri contemplans, cum in to divinae praesentiam majestatis scintillantium virtutum indiciis persensisset, tempus & aetatem regnandi Regiae unctionis Sacramento praeveniens, sicut quondam sanctus Samuel puerum David, ita eum in Regem sanctissimus Praesul devotissime consecravit. Verum postmodum cum Patre Roman repetens, paternorum honorum in omnibus cooperator & adjutor esse promeruit. To which he subjoins of King Edward, A famosissimo quippe & christianissimo Rege Aluredo omnium Regum Angliae sanctus Leo Papa in ipsa urbe Roma consecravit et unxit in Regem, generatione sextus. Hence Johannes de Brompton writes, Regiam unctionem primus omnium Regum a Papa, ut scribitur, accepit. And William Thorn in his Chronicle affirms, Iste Elfredus fuit primus Rex Angliae qui inunctus erat. Yet Mr. Selden thinks this Unction was only at his Confirmation, and was mistaken for his Royal Unction at his Coronation, by all these Historians; (which is improbable) those who were confirmed in that age being anointed with holy Chrism in the foreheads.

After this I find frequent mention of our Saxon Kings consecrations at their Coronations by their own Metropolitans or Bishops, but none of them by the Pope: for the very next year after, An. 855. Eadmundus ex prosapia antiquorum Saxonum originem ducens, provinciae Orientalium Anglorum culmen regiminis suscepit, anno à nativitate sua 13. ab omnibus regionis illius Magnatibus et populis Rex electus, et ad regimen multum renitens compulsus, ab Humberto Helmhamensi Episcopo, in villa Regia quae Bures nuncupatur, munus consecrationis accepit, et coronatur.

Anno 901. after King Alfred's death, Eadwardus ejus primogenitus, regni Angliae diademate est insignitus, consecratus in Regem a Pleimundo Dorobernensi Archiepiscopo apud Kingestune; After his decease, Anno 940. Aethelstanus, or Adelstanus filius ejus primogenitus apud Kingestonam, Regiam Villam Rex creatus, ab Aethelmo Dorobernensi. Archiepiscopo consecratur. Anno 945. Eadmundus Rex Anglorum consecratus est ab Odone Dorobernensi Archiepiscopo apud Kingestune; after whose murder, An. 946. Eadredus frater ejus consecratus est ab Odone Archiepiscopo apud Kingestune, et regni Diadema ab eo suscipit. An. 955. Successit ei in regnum Eadwinus, Eadmundi Regis filius, & apud Kingestonam ab Odone Cant. Archiepiscopo Regiam unctionem suscepit; as Mat. Westminster; or Rex consecratus est, as others story. An. 973. Eadgarus Rex Anglorum Pacificus (in the 15. or rather 16. year of his reign, not before) Anno aetatis suae 30. 5 Idns Maii die Pentecostes, à beatis Praesulibus Dunstano & Oswaldo, et a caeteris totius Angliae antistitibus, praesentibus Magnatibus universis apud Akemancestre, or Civitate Acamanni, quae hodie Bathonia dicitur, Coronam portabit, et ibidem cum maximo honor benedicitur, consecratur, et in Regem inungitur. After his decease Anno 975, there arising a contest which of his sons should succeed him, thereupon Archipraesules Dunstanus & Oswaldus cum Coepiscopis, Abbatibus, Ducibusque quamplurimis in unum convenerunt, et Eadwardum, (ut pater ejus praeceperat) eligerunt, electum consecrarunt, et in Regem unxerunt apud Kingestune. Upon his treacherous murder by his Mother-in-law to advance her son, his Brother Aethelredus a sanctis Praesulibus Dunstano Cantuariensi, & Oswaldo Eborac • nsi, & decem Episcopis die Dominica 8. Kal. Maii Anno 979. in Kingstona Regni diadema suscepit, et ad regni fastigium est consecratus. All these consecrations of our Saxon Kings were without any solemn Oath or promise made by them at their Coronations, to or before their Archbishops or Bishops. Mr. Selden hath printed an ancient Saxon Pontifical concerning the Ceremonies, Rites and Prayers used in the anointing, and crowning of our Saxon Kings and Queens, made by their Bishops much about this time, having no Coronation Oath or Interrogatories; many of which prayers, as well as the anointing and crowning are still retained, and yet used at the Coronations of our Kings and Queens.

King Aethelred deceasing Anno 1016, post multas hujus vitae tribulationes, Canutus the Dane then invading and possessing a great part of the Realm: Post mortem ejus, Episcopy, Abbates, Duces, & quique Nobiliores Angliae, & maxima pars Regni, tàm Clericorum quam Laicorum, in unum congregati, pari consensu, ad eum in Suthamptoniam venientes, in Dominum et Regem sibi Canutum eligerunt, omnem{que} progeny Regis Aethelredi coram illo abnegando repudiantes, pacem cum eo composuerunt, et fidelitatem juraverunt: Duibus et ill JURAVIT, Duod et secundum Deum et secundum saeculum fidelis esse vellet eis Dominus. This is the first solemn Coronation Oath I find made by any of our Kings, and that by a foreign invader, usurper of the Crown, upon the abjuration of the Right heir, and Saxon royal Line by treacherous perfidious Bishops, Abbots, Clergymen, Nobles, to establish him and his posterity in the Royal Throne. Cnut hereupon, after his pilgrimage to Rome, more advanced the Privileges of the Clergy then any of our former Kings, putting them only to their purgations for Capital crimes whereof they were accused before the Bishops, the original ground of exempting Clergymen from secular Jurisdiction for capital crimes, and of other encroachments in succeeding ages. At Cives Londonienses, & pars Nobilium qui eo tempore consistebant Londoniae, Clitonem Eadmundum unanimo consensu in Regem lebavere, qui à Levingo Dorobornensi Archiepiscopo apud Londonias consecratus est; without any Oath at all, like his predecessors, being right heir to the Crown; who soon after conquered Cnut in 5. set battles, and had probably forever driven him and the Danes quite out of the Realm, had those perfidious Prelates, Nobles, and others who revolted to, and Crowned Knute for their King, adhered to him, and those Saxons who crowned him being their lawful King. After Cnutes decease, Harald his reputed Son, regni Angliae diademate insignitus est; without any mention of his Unction or Oath. He dying about 4. years after, An. 1040. Hardecnute then in Flanders, was sent for by the unanimous consent of the Nobles, as well English as Danes, as right heir to Cnut, ut ad Angliam veniret, Regni Diadema suscepturus. Qui consiliis Magnatum illico adquiescens, estate media venit in Angliam, & gratanter ab omnibus susceptus, ab Eadsio Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo in Regem est consecratus, regnique solio mox sublimatus, apud Londoniam, without any Oath.

After his short reign, Anno 1042. ejus frater Edwardus (styled the Confessor) annuente Clero & populo Londoniis in Regem eligitur, & ab Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi Eadsio, & Eborac. Alfrico, cum sibi subjectis Episcopis in Regem magna pompa apud Wintoniam (or Westm. as others story) coronatur, ungitur, et consecratur, prima die Paschae Nonas Aprilis; not one of our Historians making mention of any Coronation Oath then ministered unto or taken by him; only William of Malmesbury stories, that before his arrival in England, when he was sent to by the Nobles to be Crowned, upon terms proposed to him by Earl Godwin, Nihil erat quod Edwardus pro necessitate temporis non polliceretur; ita utrinque fide data, quicquid petebatur (privately by Godwin) Sacramento firmavit, before his arrival in England. I find Archbishop Stratford in his insolent Epistle to King Edward the 1. (wherein he advanceth the Popes, Bishops Authority, Canons, Constitutions, above the Crowns, Laws, Customs of Kings and Emperors, who must subject their necks to them; and that Clergymen are not obnoxious to any Secular Powers, Judges, for Capital offenses, but only to their Bishops, by the Laws of King Cnut) affirms, Sanctusetiam Edwardus in regnum Angliae sublimatus, PRIUS JURAVIT, se Leges Canuti Regis inviolabiliter ser vaturum. And then asserts, that the Church was in possession of the Liberties he contended for, tribus temporibus Regum dibersarum linguarum Insulae praedictae, et praecipue et indubitanter tempore Sancti Edwardi; who ratified the Laws of Knute. I must acknowledge, that in the Laws of King Edward the Confessor, cap. 17. (not in Cnutes) I find this Law inserted, De Regis Officio, & de Jure & appendiciis Coronae regni Britanniae. Rex autem, quia Vicarius summi Regis est, ad hoc est constitutus, ut regnum terrenum, & populum Domini, et super omnia sanctam veneretur Ecclesiam ejus, et regat; et ab injuriosis defendat, et maleficos ab ea evellat, et destruat, et penitus disperdat. Quod nisi fecerit, nec nomen Regis in eo constabit, verum testante Papa Joanne nomen Regis perdit, &c. (After which follows in a different Character, as an additional Appendix since annexed to this Law.) Debet vero de jure Rex omnes terras & honores, omnes dignitates, & jura & libertates Coronae regni hujus in integrum cum omni integritate, et sine diminutione observare, et defendere; dispersa et dilapidata, et amissa regni jura in pristinum statum et debitum viribus omnibus revocare, &c. Debet vero Rex Deum timere super omnia et diligere, et mandata ejus per totum regnum suum servare. Debet etiam sanctam Ecclesiam regni sut cum omni integritate et libertate, juxta Constitutiones Patrum et praedecessorum servare, fovere, manutenere, regere, et contra inimico • desendere, ita ut Deus prae caeteris honoretur, et prae oculis semper haveatur. Debet etiam bonas leges, et consuetudines approbatas erigere, pravas autem delere, et omnes a Regno deponere. Debet judicium rectum in regno facere, et justitiam per consilium Procerum regni sui tenere. Ista vero debet omnia Rex in propria persona, inspectis et tactis sacrosanctis Ebangeliis, et super sacras et sanctas reliquias coram regno, et Sacerdotio, et Clero IUKAKE, antequam ab Archiepiscopis et Episcopis regni coronetur. From whence sundry persons have concluded, that King Edward the Confessor, yea all or most of our Saxon Kings before him at their Coronations, took such an Oath as this Law mentions, before they were Crowned by the Archbishops and Bishops; but finding no mention of any such Oath prescribed to him or his predecessors, in any of o • r ancient Historians, and some Clauses thereof being transcribed verbatim out of the Great Charter of King John, and Henry de Bracton, I cannot but esteem it a figment of punier times, after such Oaths imposed on succeeding Kings by our Bishops at their Coronations, to enlarge, support their own and their Churches Jurisdictions, privileges, beyond their ancient limits.

As for the Coronation Oath mentioned in Bracton, viz. That the King (of England) at his Coronation ought BY AN OATH taken in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to promise these 3. things to the people subject to him. Imprimis, se esse praecepturum, et pro viribus opem impensurum, ut ECCLESIAE DEI & omni populo Christiano vera pax omni suo tempore observetur. Secundo, ut rapacitates, et omnes iniquitates, omnibus gradibus interdicat: Tercio, ut in omnibus judiciis aequitatem praecipiat & misericordiam, & quod per justitiam suam firma ga • deant pace universi: without any Clause concerning King Cnntes Laws, or defense of the Churches Liberties, it relates not to Edward the Confessors Law or Oath. It is very true, that the Pope and Prelates taking advantage of this King Edwards extraordinary devotion and simplicity, encroached some more privileges then they had before; especially the Monasteries of Westminster and Ramsey, as his Charters to them demonstrate: which he thus prefaced; Summum Regibus et Principibus bonum est sanctam Ecclesiam Dei exaltare et honorare, quia cum eam exaltant et honorant, cum ea, et in ea, et per eam exaltantur et honorantur; Which though true in a right sense; yet not as abused, to the diminution of the Rights, Prerogatives, Revenues of the Crown, the Common Laws of the Realm, or Laymens Liberties, or to advance the Prelates, Clergy above them, as their Lord's paramount, who then engrossed to themselves alone, the Title of the Church, excluding the Laity, whereas this King included the Christian Laity within the Title of the Church, as well as the Clergy.

After this King Edwards funeral, An. 1066. Comes Haroldus, contrastatum & Jurejurandum, contemptor praestitae fidei (to wit, to William Duke of Normandy, that he should succeed Edward) ac nequiter oblitus sui Sacramenti, throno Regio se intrusit, per Archiepiscopum Eboracae Aldredum solenniter coronatus, as Ingulphus Abbot of Croyland living in that age, relates. Florentius Wygorniensis, Radulphus de Diceto, Eadmerus, Roger de Howden, Grafton, and others story; Haroldus Comes Godwini filius, quem Rex ante suam decessionem Regni successorem elegerat, a totius Angliae Primatibus ad Regale culmen electus, eodem die ab Aldredo Eboracensi Archiepiscopo in Regem est consecratus, without mentioning any Oath proposed to or by him. Yet Matthew Paris, Matthew Westminster, and some others story, extorta fide à Majoribus, capiti proprio imposuit Diadema▪ sibique Regnum sine Ecclesiastica authoritate imponendo asseruit, und • Papam Alexandrum, et omnes Angliae Praelatos sibi creavit inimicos: being loath this their acquired privilege of Crowning Kings should be interrupted, as if thereby they received their Crowns and Regal authority from them alone, and that upon such Conditions, Oaths as they should prescribe them. But though Harold when Crowned King by Archbishop Alfred took no Coronation Oath, yet Florentius Wygorniensis stories of him, Mox ut regni guvernacula susceperat, leges iniquas statuere, aequas caepit condere, Ecclesiarum et Monasteriorum patronus fieri; Episcopos, Abbates, Monachos, Clericos, colere simul et venerari; to obtain their favor and assistance; he being as Ingulphus, William Malmesbury, Ailredus Abbas, Henry Huntindon, Mat. Paris, Mat. Westminster, the Chronicle of Brompton, Henry de Knyghton, Thomas Walsingham, Mr. Fox, Mr. Lambard, Speed and others, style him a perjured Usurper of the Crown, to which he had no color of Title, but by a feigned designation of King Edward, by which also William of Normandy claimed it, when as Edgar Athelin had the sole legal hereditary right and title to it, as all Historians accord.

King William the 1. styled the Conqueror, by the slaughter of Harold and most of his Army in a bloody battle, claiming the Crown but by a little better Title than he, as (though a bastard) near allied to Edward the Confessor, who designed him to be his heir and successor, (his sword proving more successful than Harold's,) refused to be crowned by Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury, (whom h •• soon after deprived, imprisoned till his death,) but was crowned by Aldred Archbishop of York, (though he consecrated and crowned Harold King) who prescribed him an Oath, as Simeon Dunel • ensis, Florentius Wygorniensis, Roger de Howden, Thomas Stubbs, and others thus relate. Ipsa Nativitatis die ab Aldredo Eboracensium Archiepiscopo apud Westmonast. in Regem totius Angliae sublimiter coronatum inunxit, et consecravit honori •• ce, prius (ut idem Archiepiscopus ab eo exigebat) ante Altare Sancti Petri Apostoli, coram Clero et populo JUREJURANDO PROMITTENS, Se belle Sanctas Ecclesia • ac Rectores • arum defendere, (which Clause occurrs not in any former O • th) necnon et cunctum populum sibi subjectum juste et regali providentia regere; Rectam legem statuere et tenere; rapinas, injusiaque judicia penitus amovere, or interdicere. William of Malmesbury one of our exactest Historians, living in or near that time, renders his Oath thus, without this first Clause; Exhortatus Aldredus consecrationem egit, exacto prius coram omni populo JURAMENTO, quod se modeste erga subditos ageret, et aequo jure tam Anglos quam Francos, tractaret. The Chronicle of Brompton thus relates the story of his Coronation and Oath. Cumque Wilhelmus Dux Normanniae, Conquestor Angliae, tyranni nomen exhorresceret, & nomen legitimi Principis induere vellet, à Stigando Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo in Regem petiit consecrari; Ille vero, ut quidem dicunt, cruento viro, & alieni juris invasori manus imponere formidans, nullatenus adquievit: unde licet ipse Willielmu • eundem Stigandum ut noverat, multis modis blande honoravit, ipsum tamen nunquam postmodum cordialiter amavit, &c. Requisitus igitur Eboracensis Archiepiscopus Aldredus, vir utique bonus & prudens, intelligensque cedendum esse tempori, & divinae nequaquam resistendum ordinationi; Hoc modo hominem ferocissimum spirantem adhuc, minarum & caedis in populum mitem reddidit, & religiosis pro conservanda republica, fuendaque Ecclesiae disciplina sacramentis astrinxit, & in ipso proximo sequenti die Nativitati • Domini post victoriam de praedicto Rege Haraldo habitam, Londoniis apud Westm. hoc munu • implevit, ipsumque Regem Willielmum ad jura Ecclesiae Anglicanae tuenda et conservanda, populumque suum recte regendum, et leges rectas statuendum, sacramento solempniter astrinxit. John Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury in his arrogant Epistle to King Edward the first in the 9. year of his reign, affirms; Wilhelmus etiam Rex, cui sanctus Edwardus regnum contulit, Leges ipsius Sancti servandas esse concessit, as if he promised it by his Oath at his Coronation. But this was no express clause in the Oath prescribed him by Aldred at his Coronation, but in a subsequent Oath Anno 1072. (as Speed computes it) when King William entering into a Parley with the English Nobility (who intended to set up Edgar Atheling King, for violating their ancient Laws, and introducing new) he by Archbishop Lanfrancks advise, taking his Oath upon the Holy Ebangelists, and the Relics of St. Alban the Martyr, (the Oath being ministered to him by Abbot Frederick of St. Albans, elected Captain of the forces then raised against him.) Iuravit bonas et antiquas regni Leges, quas sancti et pii Angliae Reges, et maxim Rex Edwardus statuit, inviolabiliter observare. Et sic pacificati ad propria laeti recesserunt; which Clause was afterwards inserted into sundry of our Kings Coronation Oaths. This Archbishop Aldred from his very Crowning and prescribing this Coronation Oath to King William, grew so insolent, and exercised such authority over him, like a Father, ut cum ill caeteris imperaret, ab eo sibi • imperari aequanimiter sineret. I shall instance only in two memorable particulars: The Sheriff of York by this Kings Writ seising upon some provisions of this Archbishops to victual the Castle of York, refusing to restore them upon his demand, the Archbishop thereupon repaired to the King for reparations to Westminster; Cum autem venisset coram Rege, & Rex ei assurgere & osculum porrigere parasset, ill substitit, et cum baculo Pontificali stola circundatus, nil veritus Maiestatem Regiam, neque asiantium Principum proterviam, eum talibus verbis allocutus est. Audi, inquit, Willielme Rex, cum esses alienigena, & Deo permittente, nostraeque gentis superbiam puniente Regnum Britanniae, quamvis multo cum sanguine optinuesses, ego te in Regem consec • abi, et coronam capiti tuo cum benedictione imposui; Nunc autem quia ita meruisti, pro benedictione maledictionem tibi imponam, sicut Ecclesiae Dei Persecutori et Ministrorum ejus oppressori, et pr ••• issionum atque ju • amentorum quae mihi coram Altare Sancti Petri jurasti, transgressori. Ad haec verba Rex tremefactus procidit ad pedes ejus, humiliter afflagitans, ut in quo tam grabem meruisset sententiam aperiret. Qui vero assistebant Regi Primates regui in Archiepiscopum frementes, minisque et terroribus adversus eum insurgentes, ipsum merito de medio debere tolli, vel in exilium extra Regnum expelli, qui tanto Regi tantam injuriam irrogasset, urgebant eum ut Regem quam citius erigeret. Ille vero non minis vel terroribus territus, Sinite, inquit, boni biri, finite illum jacere; non enim jacet ad pedes Aldred • , sed ad pedes Petri Apostoli. Debet enim experiri Petri potentiam, qui non est veritus Petri Vicario irrogare injuriam. To which I shall add another insolency of his towards this King, upon the same account that he was crowned and blessed by him, thus recorded by Malmesbury. Cum Rex importabilis tributi pensum à Provincialibus exigeret, convenit eum per legatos Antistes, quos agre admissos cum turbulento responso abegisset; non moratus ill, maledictionis telum in illum et omnem ejus vibrabat progeniem. Praefatus; Posse se maledictionem dare merito, qui benedictionem dedisset immerito; quod cum relatum esset Regi amicorum admonitione delinitus misit, qui Episcopum exorarent. Veruntamen praevenerat Nuncios mors Antistitis, qui ex aegritudine animi (ut plerumque fit) contracto morbo decubuerat, because he could not have his will in all things.

King William the Conqueror being sick, devised Normandy to Rohert his eldest son; the Realm of England to William Rufus his second; and a great sum of money to Henry his youngest son, and then deceased 27 Sept. 1087. in Normandy. Whereupon Wilhelmus filius ejus, qui cum regni fastidia fratri suo Roberto, praeripere gestaret et Lanfrancum, sine cujus assensu in regnum ascisci nullatenus poterat, sibi in hoc ad expletionem desiderii sui non omnino consentaneum inveniret, verens ne dilatio suae consecrationis inferret ei dispendium cupiti honoris, cepit tàm pro se, quam per omnes quos poterat FIDE, SACRAMENTOQUE Lanfranco promittere, ju •• itiam, aequitatem, et misericordiam se per totum regnum, si Rex foret, in omni negotio servaturum, PACEM, LIBERTATEM, SECURITATEM ECCLESIARUM CONTRA OMNES DEFENSURUM; necne praeceptis atque consiliis ejus per omnia et i • omnibus obtemperaturum. Sed cum post haec in regno fuisset confirmatus posiposita pollicitatione sua (made to Lanfranc in Normandy, not at his Coronation as Eadmerus stories) in contraria dilapsus est. Super quo cum à Lanfranco modeste redarguaretur, et ei sponsio fidei non servatae opponeretur, furore succensus. Qui, ait, est qui cuncta quae promittit implere possit? Ex hoc igitur non rectis oculis super Pontificem intendere valebat. After this Oath and promise thus made, he hasting into England with Lanfranc. Sexto Kal. Octobris die Dominica in Westmonasterio à Lanfranco Archiepiscopo consecratus est in Regem; quo author et annitente coronatus. Gervasius Dorobornensis in the life of Lanfranc writes. Convocatis Episcopis & Primoribus Angliae, Lanfrancus elegit Willielmum filium Regis, sacravit et coronavit in Regem: bunc enim antea educaverat & militem fecerat: Not one of our Historians mention any Oath administered to, or taken by him at his Coronation; Soon after all the Norman Nobility but Lanfranc, resolving to make Robert his elder Brother King of England, and to deliver him up prisoner to him, or murder him; raising up arms against him for that end in several places. His auditis, Rex fecit congregari Anglos, et ostendit eis traditionem Normannorum, et rogavit, ut sibi auxilio essent eo tenore, ut si in hac necessitate sibi fideles existerent, meliorem legem, quam vellent eligere, eis concederet, legesque promisit exoptabiles, et omne injustum Stottum interdixit, et concessit omnibus sylvas suas et venationem: (an apparent evidence he made no such Oath or promise to them at his Coronation) Sed quicquid promisit parvo tempore custodivit. Yea he bore such a secret hatred to Lanfranc for exacting the premised Oath and promise to him, and reprehending him for breaking it, that he banished him the Realm for a time as some write; and immediately upon his decease, ipsam totius Angliae, Scotiae et Hiberniae, necnon adjacentium Insularum matrem, Ecclesiam scilicet Cantuariensem, invasit, cuncta quae juris illius erant, intus et extra, per Clientes suos describi praecepit, taxatoque victu Monachorum inibi Deo servientium, reliqua sub censum atque in suum dominium redigi jussit, &c. keeping the Temporalties near 5. whole years in his hands before he advanced another Archbishop to that See. Nec ista quae diximus Ecclesiae Cantuariensi facta sunt, desaevit immanitas ista etiam in cunctis filiabus, qui viris suis, Episcopis scil. seu Abbatibus decedentibus, in viduitatem ea tempestate, cadebant. Et quidem ipse primus hanc luctuosam oppressionem Ecclesiis Dei indixit, nullatenus eum ex paterna tradition excipiens. Destitutas ergo Ecclesias solus in Dominio suo tenebat; as Eadmerus, then living complains. Thus Lanfranck and our other Prelates endeavoring to exalt, enlarge the Liberties and Privileges of the Church, by advancing William to the throne, putting by Robert, and obliging him by Oath, to preserve the peace, Liberties, Immunities of the Church against all men, and to obey their precepts, counsils entirely in all things; were by divine retaliation more frustrated of their expectations and pretended or real Liberties by him, then by his Father the Conqueror.

William Rufus being slain by casualty or rather treachery in NewForest An. 1100. (thereupon as our ancient Historians relate;) Cum Magnates Angliae ignorarent quid actum esset de Roberto Duce Normannorum, Regis defuncti fratre primogenito, qui jam per quinquennium in expeditione Hierosolymitana moram pertraxerat, timuerunt diu sine regimine vacillare. Quod Henricus fratrum ultimus & juvenis sapientissimus, cum callide cognovisset, congregato Londoniis Clero Angliae & populo universo, promisit emendationem legum, quibus oppressa fuerat Anglia tempore patris sui et fratris nuper defuncti, ut animos omnium in sui promotionem accenderet et amorem, et ut illum in Regem susciperent et patronum. Hereupon the Bishops and Clergy, to regain and enlarge their Privileges, Ad haec Clero respondente & Magnatibus cunctis, quod si animo volente ipsis vellet concedere, & charta sua communire illas libertates et consuetudines antiquas, quae floruerunt in regno tempore Sancti Regis Edwardi; in ipsum consentirent, et in Regem unanimiter consecrarent. Henrico autem hoc libenter annuente, et se id facturum cum juramento affirmante, consecratus est in Regem apud Westmonasterium, in die Assumptionis beatae Mariae, favente Clero et populo, cui continuo à Mauritio Londinensi Episcopo, & à Thoma Eboracensi Archiepiscopo, (in the absence of Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury) corona capiti imponitur. Eadmerus writes, that he sent Messengers and Letters to Archbishop Anselm then in exile, to hasten his coming into England; seipsum regnumque suum, ejus consilio ac moderamini se subjecturum pollicens: In ipso suae consecrationis die, bonas et sanctas omni populo Leges se servaturum, et omnes oppressiones et iniquitates, quae sub fratre suo emerserant in omni sua Dominatione, tam in Ecclesiis quam in secularibus negociis prohibiturum et subversurum sposponderat. Et haec omnia JUSJURANDI interjectione firmata per totum regnum divulgatum ire praeceperat. Cum fuerat diademae insignitus, has libertates subscriptas in Regno, ad exaltationem Sanctae Ecclesiae, et pacem populi tenendam concessit. Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae, Hugoni de Boclande Vicecomiti, & omnibus fidelibus suis, tàm Francis quam Anglicis in Herefordscyre, salutem. Sciatis, me Dei misericordi • , & communi Consilio Baronum Regni Angliae, Regem esse coronatum. Et quia Regnum oppressum erat injustis exactionibus, ego respectu Dei & amore, quem erga vos omnes habeo, sanctam Dei Ecclesiam liberam facio, ita quod nec eam vendam, nec ad firmam ponam, nec mortuo Archiepiscopo, vel Episcopo, vel Abbate, aliquid accipiam de dominio Ecclesiae, vel de hominibus, donec successor in eam ingrediatur, &c. This was one of the first considerable usurpations our Archbishops and Bishops made upon the Kings and Crown of England by virtue of this Kings Coronation Oath and Charter in pursuit thereof (being not next heir to the Crown, but Robert, whom they deprived of it) whereby they devested them of their ancient prerogative, to sell, farm out, or receive the fruits, profits of all or any Archbishoprics, Bishoprics, Abbeys, Monasteries Temporalties during their vacancies, till their plenarties, under pretext of the Churches Liberties: and encouraged the Pope and Archbishop Anselm to extort from him soon after the ancient Right, Privilege of Investitures of Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, per annulum et baculum; and publicly to renounce it, to the prejudice of his Successors, in a Council at London, Anno Dom. 1107. wherein, annuit Rex & statuit, ut ab eo tempore in reliquum, nunquam per donationem baculi pastoralis bel annuli, quisquam de Episcopatu vel Abbatia per Regem vel quamlibet laicum manum Investiretur in Anglia; to the great impairing of the Rights of his Crown, Nobles, the dishonor of himself and his successors, and grand advancement of the Popes and Prelates Jurisdictions. Moreover this privilege of crowning our Kings, and prescribing an Oath, Charter to King Henry when crowned, so puffed up Archbishop Ralph, (Anselms next successor) that at the solemn Coronation of his Queen Adelicia, he imperiously commanded the King to pull off his Crown, and could hardly be persuaded by the Nobles present not to pull, or strike it off his head in a most arrogant manner, because he or his predecessor had not set it thereon; thus related by Matthew Parker his successor, and others. Cum Rex post Pentecosten Londinum rediens corona insignitus in throno sederet, et tum Regina consecranda et coronanda esset, Rodulphus Archiepiscopus tunc missam celebraturus, sacris altaribus astitisset, advertit Regem sedere in solio suo coronatum, & admiratus est; Sciens regni coronam se illi non impos • isse, nec illam ab alio positam se praesente, jure ferre debutsse. Divertit igitur infulatus & sui Patriarchatus stola redimitus ab altari, & ad Regem (quia absent Anselmo, à Thoma Eboracensi Archiepiscopo, in consecratione Diadema impositum ei est) accessit. Cui accedenti Rex comiter assurrexit. Quaesivit Archi • piscopus, quis ejus capiti Coronam imposuisset? Ad quo Rex demisso vultu, Mea, inquit, haud refert, ideoque neque illius memini. At Archiepiscopus atra bile percitus, inquit: Nullo id jure fecit, quisquis ill suerit: proinde aut tu a gerenda Corona cessabis, aut ego ab administranda missa, nec quamdiu capiti suo hoc modo insederit, propositi negotii executor non existam. A • haec Rex nihilo turbatus, vultu placido & modesto respondit: S • , ut a • s, hoc Diadema capiti meo non jure imponitur, tu id facias, quod juri censeas consentaneum, ego non refragabor. Quo dicto, accessit propius Archiepiscopus, manusque ad Diadema Regis capiti detrahendum attollens, cum Rex etiam fibulam sub mento ligatam, qua Diadema capiti vinciretur, solveret; Proceres, Regis modestiam, et Archiepiscopi iracundiam admirantes, una voice in Archiepiscopum ferebantur, instabant{que} ne in tam solemni Reginae coronatione Regi Diadema auferret. Quorum clamoribus actus Rodulphus vix est inflexus, quin Regiam coronam de capite Regis excussisset. Eadmerus, and Gervasius Dorobornensis write; Pontifex elevátis manibus sustulit coronam de capite Regis. Quod hi qui circumstabant intuentes, omnes clara voice Pontificem parcere, et Regio capiti Coronam remittere petiverunt. Adquievit ill, et mox juxta Regem Coronatum astans, Canticum Gloria in excelsis, exorsus est, & subsequentia, ut consuevit, choro canente, missa illa quiet peracta est. Ex quo perspici possit (writes Archbishop Parker) quam intempestive et impudenter le • itate Principis, illius generis homines abusi sunt, qui Monachali sanctitate se digniores reliouis, et in Principes habere imperium putabant; by this pretended Right of Crowning them.

Upon the death of this Archbishop Ralph, his next successor William Corbell, together with the rest of the Bishops advanced by this Kings favor, after his decease, thinking that King Henry (though very indulgent to them) used himself not altogether for their purpose, and that they should do God good service in providing for the better advancement of the Church, if they might set up and create a King chiefly by their especial means and authority, who would follow their Counsel better, and reform such things as they judged amiss, (as Raphael Holinshed observes) contrary to their express Oaths to King Henry, and Maude his right heir (to crown her Queen after his decease,) most perfidiously put her by the Crown, (as they did Robert his elder brother, when they crowned him in his stead) electing and Crowning Stephen his Nephew against his and their Oaths, for their King; Wilhelmus quoque Cant. Archiepiscopus, qui primus Sacramentum secerat Imperatrici de regno Angliae, Stephanum (prohdolor, adds Howden) in Regem benedixit. The Solemnities and Prayers used at his and his Queens Coronation, are at large recorded in Gervasius Tilburiensis his Chronica, col. 1587, 1588. to which I refer you. What new Oath, Articles the Prelates and Clergy for enlargement of their Jurisdiction and Liberties prescribed to him, and what a new Prelatical Conditional Oath of fealty they took to him; William of Malmesbury living in that age will best inform us, who relates, Anno 1135. Non multo post adventum Comitis, juraverunt Episcopy sidelitatem Regi, (conditionally, that is, Trayt • rously I might say, writes Speed) quamdiu ill libertatem Ecclesiae et vigorem disciplinae conservaret: Ipse quoque juravit juxta tenorem scripti, quod sic habetur in subditis. Ego Stephanus gratia Cleri et populi in Regem Angliae electus, et a Domino Willielmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariae, et Sanctae Ecclesiae Romanae Legato consecratus, et ab Innocentio Sanctae sedis Romanae Pontifice postmodum confirmatus, respectu et amore Dei, sanctam Ecclesiam liberam esse concedo, et debitam reverentiam illi confirmo. Nihil me in Ecclesia, vel in rebus Ecclesiastieis Symoniace acturum, vel permissurum esse promitto. Ecclesiasticarum personarum et omnium Clericorum, et rerum eorum justitiam et potestatem, et distributionem bonorum Ecclesiasticorum in manu Episcoporum esse perhibeo et confirmo. Dignitates Ecclesiarum privilegiis earum confirmatas, et consuetudines earum antiquo tenore habitas, inviolate manere concedo et statuo. Omnes Ecclesiarum possessiones et tenuras, quas die illa habuerant, qua Wilhelmus Rex, avus men's, fuit vivus et mortuns, sine omnium calumniantium reclamatione eis liberas et absolutas esse concedo. Si quid vero de habitis aut possessis ante mortem Regis, quibus modo careat, Ecclesia deinceps repetierit, indulgentiae et dispensationi meae, vel discutiendum, vel restituendum reservo. Quaecunque vero post mortem Regis liberalitate Regum, largitione Principum, oblation vel comparatione, vel qualibet transmutatione sidelium collata sunt, confirmo: pacem me et justitiam in omnibus facturum, et proposse meo conservaturum promitts. Forestas, quas Wilhelmus Rex avusmens, & Wilhelmus secundus Avunculus meus instituerunt & tenuerunt, mihi reservo. Caeteras omnes, quas Henricus Rex superaddidit, Ecclesiis et Regno, quietas reddo et concedo. Si quis autem Episcopus vel Abbas, vel alia Ecclesiastica persona ante mortem suam rationabiliter sua distribuerit, vel distribuenda statuerit, firmum manere conceds. Si vero morte praeoccupatus fuerit, pro salute animae ejus Ecclesiae consilio eadem fiat distributio. Dum vero sedes propriis fuerint pastoribus vacuae, et ipsae et omnes earum possessiones in manu et custodia Clericorum, vel proborum hominum ejusdem Ecclesiae committantur, donec pastor canonice substituatur. Omnes exactiones & mescheningas, & injustitias, sive per Vicecomites, vel per alios quoslibet male induct as funditus extirpo. Bonas Leges, & antiquas, & justas consuetudines in murdris, & placitis, & aliis causis observabo, & observari praecipio, & constituo: apud Oxeneford Anno incarnationis Domini 1136. Regni mei primo. Nomina testium, qui multifuerunt, apponere fastidio; quia pene omnia it a perperam mutavit, (being destructive to, and inconsistent with the ancient Rights of the Crown) quasi ad hoc tantum jurasset, ut praevaricatorem Sacramenti se regno toti ostenderet; as Malmesburiensis, and Matthew Paris too concludes almost in the same words, who recites the Heads of his Oath and Charter.

And here I cannot but observe the admirable Providence and divine Justice of God upon our perjured Bishops and Prelates; who violating their sacred Oaths to the Empresse Maude and her father, in disinheriting her and Crowning Stephen, to advance their own Hierarchy, Canons, Liberties and Jurisdictions, to which they obliged him both by his premised Coronation Oath, Charter, and encouraged him thereby to violate them soon after; yea, made him a principle instrument to imprison their persons, seise their Castles, Treasures, and trample their Canons under feet, burn, tear the Books of the Canon Law, by which he would not be judged, and prohibit all Lectures of it by Vacarius and others in the University of Oxford, to their great disappointment, discontent; and involved the whole Kingdom in bloody wars during most of King Stephens reign, wherein these perfidious, ambitious Prelates were the greatest sufferers, as my First Tome will at large inform you. Moreover, it is observable, how God crossed the King by his Bshops, and made them enemies to each other in the point of crowning his son; An. 17 regni sui Rex Stephanus filium suum Eustachium Regio Diademate voluit insignire: postulans igitur ab Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi Theobaldo et caeteris Episcopis, ut eum in Regem ungerent, et benedictione sua confirmarent, repulsam passus est. Papa siquidem literis suis Archiepiscopo prohibuerat, ne filium Regis in Regem sublimarent; videlicet, quia Rex Stephanus regnum contra jusjurandum praeripuisse videbatur. Intimo igitur dolore decoctus & ira nimia fervescens, tàm pater quàm filius in domo quadam omnes includi jusserunt, et vehementer angariantes, ut postulata peragerent, compellabant. Illi summo perterriti timore, (Rex namque Stephanus nunquam Clericos liquide dilexerat, by reason of their perjury and encroachments on the Crown, & pridem duos incarceravit Episcopos) restiterunt tamen, capitum suorum periculo nihil metuentes. Recesserunt tamen omnes illaesi. possessionibus quidem spoltati, quae postea Rege poenitente habuerunt; as Henry Huntindon and others story.

Upon the death of King Stephen, Anno 1154. who (after many years bloody intestine wars) to procure his peace was enforced to adopt and declare Henry the 2 ^d , son of the Empresse Maude, to be both his adopted son, successor, and right heir to the Crown. Henry arriving in England, 14 Kalendas Januarii die Dominica apud Westmonasterium ab omnibus Rex acclamatus, à Theobaldo Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo in Regem consecratur, benedicitur et inunctus est, praesentibus Episcopis, & Baronibus regni Anglorum & Ducatus Normannorum; (Radulfus de Diceto adds, praesente Archiepiscopo Eboracensi & aliis Episcopis Angliae, Rogerus Eboracensis Archiepiscopus manum non opposuit:) h • reditariumque regnum fine diminutione suscepit, congaudentibus & conclamantibus turbis, Vivat Rex; writes the Chronicle of Brompton: Astantibus & cooperantibus Archiepiscopis duobus, Episcopis 14. Comitibus & Baronibus Anglicanis et transmarinis, & innumera multitudine plebis. Regina quoque Alienora, à Rege Francorum Ludovico repudiata, cum ipso Coronata est; as Gervasius Dorobornensis stories. Anno 1158. qui erat Annus 4. regni sui, idem Rex Henricus secundo se fecit coronari apua Lincolniam extra muros Civitatis in Wickeford. Anno Gratiae 1159. qui erat Annus 5. regni sui, idem Rex Henricus tertio fecit se, et Alienor. uxorem suam coronari apud Werecestre; ubi cum ad oblationem venirent, deposuerunt coronas suas, et ras super altare obtulerunt; voventes Deo, quod nunquam in vita sua de caetero coronarentur; as Roger de Howden, with others story. I find no mention of any Oath prescribed to him by the Bishops, or taken by him at either of these 3. Coronations in any of our Historians, which they would have mentioned, had he taken any; the last Oath prescribed by the Bishops to King Stephen being such, as the Bishops who opposed his Title durst not tender him at his Coronations.

Anno 1170. King Henry the 2 ^d . resolving to Crown his son Henry King in his life-time, Idibus Julii, Convenerunt ad mandatum Regis Anglorum Henrici apud Westmonasterium, Rogerus Archiepiscopus & omnes Suffraganei Cantuariensis Ecclesiae Episcopy ad Coronationem Henrici filii Regis primogeniti, qui patre jubente coronatus est solenniter a Rogero Eboracensi Archiepiscopo 14 Kalendas Julii, contra prohibitionem Domini Papae; qui literas ipsi Archiepiscopo & aliis Episcopis in haec verba direxit.— Universitati vestrae authoritate Apostolica penitus inhibemus, ne quisquam vestrum novum Regem coronando, si forte casus emerserit, absque assensu Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi, et Cantuariensis Ecclesiae conniventia, secundum ejus antiquam consuetudinem et dignitatem manum apponere, qualibet occasion praesumat, aut id aliquatenus attemptare.—Sed haec frustra, quia antequam literae essent promulgatae, negotium fuerat consummatum. Hereupon, Pope • lexander the 3d. (at Archbishop Beckets instigation, then in exile for his Rebellion and Sedition against the King,) excommunicated the Bishops of London, Salisbury, and most other B • shops of England, and suspended the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Durham, together with the B • shops of Exeter, Chester, Rochester, St. Assaph and Landaff, ab omni officio Episco • ali et di • ni • ac • , pro remeraria praesumptione in Coronatione novi Regis, con •• m • to Thoma Ca ••• ariensi Archiepis • opo, ad cujus officium de antiquo jure dinoscitur pertinere. I • Coronati • ne vero illius, NULLA de more, DE CONSERVANDA ECCLESIAE LIBERTATE, CAUTIO JURATORIA EST PRAESTITA, NEC (sicut aiunt) A VOBIS EXACTA: (as this Pope writ to these Bishops, for which he and Becket were much incensed against them) Sed potius JURAMENTO ASSERITUR CONFIRMATUM, ut Regni consuetudines antiquas, SUB QUIBUS DIGNITAS PERICLITATUR ECCLESIAE, illibatae debeant omni tempore observari. In quo etsi multum praenominati Regis vehementia nos perturbat, amplius tamen de vestra et aliorum Episcoporum vestrorum possumus infirmitate moveri, qui quod dolendo diximus, facti sunt arietes non haventes cornua, &c. Noveritis itaque vos, tamdiu av Episcopali officio, commissa Nobis a Deo authoritate suspensos, donec ad sedem Apostolicam, de tanto excessu satisfactur • accedatis, nisi praefato Archiepiscopo ita satisfacere curaveritis, ut poenam istam ipse judicet relaxandam. These high affronts, (together with Beckets insolent Letter to the King, telling him; That by the Canon not Common Laws, nor yet by the Secular power, but by the Bishops and Priests, Almighty God would have the Clergy of the Christian Church to be governed and ruled; that Christian Kings ought to submit all their doings unto Ecclesiastical Rulers, and not to prefer themselves; for it is written (in the Canon Law) That none ought to judge the Bishops, but only the Church, neither doth it pertain to man's Law to give sentence upon any such; but many Bishops have excommunicated Kings and Emperors, &c.) so highly incensed King Henry the 2d. against Pope Alexander, that by the advise of Gilbert Bishop of London and others, he sent express Messengers and solemn Letters to this Pope, in quibus express Domino Papae denunciarent, quod nisi superbiam Thomae Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi severitatis pede contereret; Ipse, et omnes Barones Angliae, cum viris Ecclesiasticis ab ejus obedientia recederent: And the King was so extraordinarily enraged against Archbishop Becket, that he was almost besides himself; asserens, se ignobiles et ignovos homines nutrivisse, quorum nec unus tot sibi illatas injurias voluerit vindicare. Whereupon 4. of his Courtiers jur amento se constrinx • runt, to reduce Becket to a dutiful submission to the King, by absolving those Bishops excommunicated and suspended for Crowning his son; (unde videtur, quod ei vellet Coronam de Capite • ollere; as they told Becket,) or else to kill him; who refusing to absolve them upon the Kings Message to, and their expostulations with him, they thereupon slew him as an incorrigible obstinate Traitor, and Rebel to his Sovereign, though soon after Canonized, adored by the Pope and Clergy for a most glorious Saint and Martyr for the Liberties of Holy Church, whose blood was more effectual to save those who prayed to him, then the blood of Christ himself.

From which passages, I shall observe these three particulars; 1. What a usurped absolute power Becket and the Archbishops of Canterbury claimed, in and by reason of their frequent Coronation of our Kings, that they must not be crowned but by what Bishops they pleased, as a right belonging to them, the violation whereof, though by our Kings express commands in their absence, demerited the severest Ecclesiastical censures. 2ly. Pope Alexanders and Beckets outrageous indignation against the Archbishop of York, and other Bishops who crowned young King Henry, for not proposing to, and exacting from him a Cautionary Oath at his Coronation, for the confirmation of the Churches Liberties, which they imposed on and exacted from Henry the 1. and King Stephen, to the great derogation of the Churches honor and privileges, but only this laudable, usu • l Oath, perpetually to maintain the ancient Constitutions and Liberties of the Kingdom, by which the pretended Liberties and Canons of the Church they contended for were endangered. 3ly. King Henry the 2. his great indignation, magnanimous Opposition and resolution against these usurpations and proceedings both of the Pope and Archbishops, as tending to his uncrowning, unkinging; threatening totally to renounce and cast off both the Pope and Church of Rome, if they did not right him therein against Beckets insolencies: and animating his Courtiers to kill him as an unsufferable, incorrigible Arch-Traitor, not worthy to breath any longer within his Dominions.

King Henry deceasing Anno 1189. Richard the 1. his son and heir repairing into England, was Crowned with extraordinary solemnity, ceremonies and prayers by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury, Anno 1189. die Dominica 3. Septembri • ; the solemnities and prayers used at his Coronation are at large related by 〈◊〉 phus de Diceto, Gervasius Dorobornensis, the Chronicle of Brompton, Henry Huntindon, Matthew Paris, Thomas Walsingham, and others. The Oath he then took at the High Altar in Westminster Abbey, is thus registered in Brompton. Coram praedict is Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Comitibus, Baronibus, (there named) Clero & populo Richardus Dux haec tria Sacramenta fecit. Inprimis, itaque juravit & vovit Sacrosanctis Evangeliis, & plurimorum Sanctorum reliquiis coram co positis, quod pacem et honorem et reverentiam omnibus diebus vitae suae portabit Deo et Sanctae Ecclesiae, et ejus ordinatis. Deinde, juravit quod rectam justitiam exercebit in populo sibi commisso. Deinde, juravit quod Leges malas & consuetudines perversas, si aliquae sint in Regno suo, delebit, & bonas custodiet. Deinde exuerunt eum vestibus suis quibus indutus fuerat, &c. Deinde Archiepiscopus Cantuar. unxit eum in Regem, infundens oleum sanctum desuper eum in tribus locis, scilicet in capite, in scapulis, et in brachio dextero, cum orationibus, &c. Deinde posuit super caput ejus consecratum pannum, &c. Deinde vestierunt eum Regalibus vestimentis, &c. Deinde tradidit ei Archiepiscopus gladium, &c. Deinde indutus mantello, ductus est ad altare, et conjuratus ab Archiepiscopo et prohibitus ex parte Dei, ne hunc honorem sibi assumat, nisi in mente habeat tenere sacramenta et vota quae superius fecit, (not used to any of our precedent Kings at their Coronations) Et ipse respondet, Se per Dei auxilium omnia supradicta observaturum bona fide. Deinde cepit coronam de altari, & tradidit eam Archiepiscopo, qui posuit eam super caput Regis; et sic Coronatus, Rex ductus est ad sedem suam, &c. Quia vero tunc temporis Londoniensis vacabat Ecclesia, Radulphus de Diceto Ecclesiae S. Pauli Decanus, tam in Dleo sancto, quam in Chrismate ministravit Archiepiscopo, as Diceto himself and Walsingham relate.

Anno 1194. King Richard the 1. upon his return from the Holy Land, and redemption from his long captivity; in the 5. year of his reign, apud Wintoniam in Octabis Paschae, Consilio Primatum suorum, licet aliquantulum renitens ignominia captivitatis jam detersa, quast Rex novus solenniter Coronatus est, Huberto Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo missam celebrante, & Williemo Rege Scottorum piissimo tune praesente. Post Coronationis suae solempnia (not particularly related) portus marinos statuit observare, &c. I find no Coronation Oath then prescribed to or taken by him at this his second Crowning.

King Richard deceasing Anno 1199. thereupon Earl John his brother, was crowned and sworn Duke of Normandy at Rhoan, and afterwards crowned King of England, rather by election then as an hereditary King, (Arthur Duke of Britain, son of his elder brother, having the best right to the Crown, as many asserted) whose Coronation Mat. Paris, Howden, and others out of them, thus relate. Comes Johannes Rothomagum veniens, in Octavis Paschae gladio Ducatus Normanniae accinctus est, in matrice Ecclesia, per Ministerium Walteri Rothomagensis Archiepiscopi, ubi Archiepiscopus memoratus ante majus Altare in capite ejus posuit Circulum aureum, habentem in summitate per gyrū rosulas aureas artificialiter fabricatas. Et Dux coram Clero et populo juravit super reliquias sanctorum et super Evangelia sacrosancta, quod ipse sanctam Ecclesiam et ejus Dignitates bona fide et sine malo ingenio defenderet, et ordinatos honoraret: Juravit etiam, quod Leges iniquas, siquae essent, destrueret, & bonas surrogaret. Per idem tempus, Dux Normanniae Johannes transfretavit in Angliam, & apud Sorham applicuit octavo Kalendas Junii, & in crastino vigilia, viz. Dominicae Ascensionis, Londonias venit, ibidem coronandus. Congregatis itaque in adventu ejus, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Comitibus, & Baronibus, atque aliis omnibus, qui ejus coronationi interesse debuerunt, Archiepiscopus stance in medio omnium, dixit: Audit universi, Noverit discretio vestra, quod nullus praevia ration alii succedere habet regnum, nisi ab universitate Regni unanimiter, invocata Spiritus gratia electus, et secundum morum suorum eminentiam praeelectus; ad exemplum & similitudinem Saul primi Regis inuncti, quem praeposuit Dominus populo suo, non Regis filium, nec de Regali stirpe procreatum. Similiter, post eum David Semei filium: hunc quia strenuum & aptum dignitati Regiae, illum quia sanctum & humilem. Ut sic qui cunctos in regno supereminet strenuitate, omnibus praesit & potestate & regimine. Verum si quis ex stirpe Regis defuncti aliis praepolleret, pronius et promptius in electionem ejus est consentiendum. Haec idcirco diximus, pro inclyto Comite Johanne, qui presens est, frater illustrissimi Regis nostri Richardi jam defuncti, qui haerede caruit ab eo egrediente, qui providus & strenuus & manifest nobilis, quem nos, invocata Spiritus sancti gratia, ration tam meritorum, quam sanguinis Regii unanimiter elegimus universi. Erat autem Archiepiscopus vir profundi pectoris, & in regno singularis columna stabilitatis, & sapientiae incomparably • . Nec aust erant alii super his adhuc ambigere, scientes quod sine causa hoc non sic distiniverat. Verum Comes Johannes & omnes hoc acceptabant, ipsumque Comitem in Regem eligentes et assumentes, exclamant dicentes, UIUAL REX. Interrogatus autem posteà Archiepiscopus Hubertus, quare haec dixisset; respondit, se praesaga mente conjecturate, & quibusdam oraculis edoctum & certificatum fuisse, quod ipse Johannes Regnum et coronam Angliae foret aliquando corrupturus, et in magnam confusionem praecipitaturus. Et ne haberet liberas habenas hoc faciendi. Ipsum electione non succession haereditaria, eligi debere affirmavit. Archiepiscopus autem imponens capiti ejus coronant, unxit eum in Regem apud Westmonasterium, scilicet in Ecclesia Principis Apostolorum, Dominicae Ascensionis die, sexto Kalendas Junii, Philippo Dunelmensi Episcopo appellante, sed non obtinente, ne coronatio illa •• eret in absentia G. Archiepiscopi Eboracensis. In hac Coronatione Rex Johannes triplici involutus est sacramento: Quod viz. Sanctam Ecclesiam et ejus ordinatos diligeret, et eam ab incursione malignantium indemnem conservaret: &, quod perversis Legibus destructis, bonas substitueret, et rectam justitiam in Regno Angliae exerceret. Deinde adjuratus est ab eodem Archiepiscopo ex parte Dei, et district prohibitus, ne honorem hunc accipere praesumeret, nisi in mente habeat opere, quod juraverat, adimplere. Ad hoc ill respondens, promisit se per auxilium Dei, bona fide, ea quae juraverat, servaturum. In crastino autem, homagiis & fidelitatibus acceptis, &c.

In this Kings Coronation (during whose reign the Pope and Prelates usurped more, and greater Jurisdictions over his Person, Crown, Realm, than in all former Kings reigns, as I have already evidenced) we may observe: First, Archbishop Huberts arrog • n • , cunning, disloyal speech; wherein by his own Archiepiscopal Authority (as the Grand Oracle, Pillar both of Church and State) he proclaimed before all the rest of the Bishops of England, (being 13 in number named by ^k Howden) besides Johanne Dublinensi, & de Raguse Archiepiscopo, & Rogero de Sancto Andraeae in Scotia, being there present and assenting to it, and before all the Nobles and people then present at his Coronation; That the Crown of England was merely Arbitrary, and elective at the people's devotion, adding to the Lay-Peers Conditions, these his Clergy Sophismes, and second seed-plot of Treasons; implying, That as he got the Crown by election, so he might as justly lose it, by ejection or demerit, (as he afterwards did, upon this very ground, as John Speed observes.) 2ly. That he prescribed him a Coronation Oath, different from, and larger in the first Clause concerning the Church, then that of King Richard the first.

In the 9th year of his reign, the Bishops of London, Eli, Worcester, Hereford, Bath and Wells, interdicting the Realm by Pope Innocent the 3d. his command; (at the instigation of Simon Langeton Archbishop of Canterbury) who afterwards at their instigation excommunicated and deprived King John of his Crown, and before his absolution by force and fraud they compelled him to take this Oath, for satisfying of 40000 Marks, and all other damages to themselves, ratified with his Charter, and the Oaths, Charters of the Nobles and other Sureties therein named.

EGO Johannes Dei gratia Rex Angliae, Dominus Hiberniae, Dux Normanniae, Aquitaniae, & Comes Andeg. praestito juramento promitto, quod tantam pecuniam in manus venerabilium patrum S. Cantuar. Archiepiscopi, & W. London, H. Lincoln. ac E. Elyensis Episcoporum, vel eorum quos ad hoc duxerint deputandos, restituam hiis quibus facienda est restitucio, computatis illis quam persolvi eidem Archiepiscopo & Episcopis, aut aliis hoc negocium contingentibus, de ipsius consilio vel mandato, quod summam Quadraginta Millium marcarum complebo; quibus solutis, et cautione praestita inferiùs annotata, necnon relaxata sentencia Interdicti, deinde singulis annis duodecim Millia marcarum in duobus terminis, commemoratione videlicet Omnium Sanctorum sex Millia, et totidem festo Ascensionis, apud Ecclesiam Sancti Pauli London. eisdem faciam exhiberi, donec tota summa fuerit persoluta quae taxante Summo Pontifice, declarabitur per inquificionem de mandato ejus proinde faciendam. Et ad hoc fideliter exequendum, obligo me per proprium juramentum, ac per patentes literas stgillo meo munitas, necnon per fidejussionem venerabilium patrum P. Winton. & J. Norwic. Episcoporum, acnobilium virorum Cestrensis & Winton. Comitum, & Willielmi Briwerr. atque Willielmi Marescalli Com. de Penbroc, si fuerit praesens in Angl. vel Comitis de Ferrar. seu Com. Arundell. si dictus Wilhelmus Marescall. forsitan absens fuerit, eorum juramentis et litteris roboratam; Ita quod tam haeredes mei quam successores eorum pari obligacione teneantur astricti. Et si forsitan quisquam de successoribus eorundem vel nequiverint vel nolucrint ad hanc • obligacionem induci, ego alium idoneum fidejussorem constituam, secundum formam inferiùs annotatam: Actum autem est hoc apud Andegav. septimo-decimo die Junii, anno regni nostri sexto-decimo, Coram Magistro Pand. Domini Papae Subdiacono & familiari ad hoc specialiter destinato, in praesencia venerabilium patrum J. Norwic. & W. Andeg. Episcoporum; R. Com. Cestr. W. Com. de Ferrar. Magistri Alani & Walteri Clericorum Domini Cantuar. Archiepiscopi, Regin. de Pontibus senioris, Pagani de Rupe forti, & Thom. de Erdinton.

This Oath and Caution being given to them before their return into England, upon their arrival here soon after in the 15. year of his reign, they likewise enforced him to take these New Oaths they prescribed to him, before they would absolve him from his Excommunication, and the Kingdom from the Popes Interdict; thus related by Matthew Paris. Rex autem cum Episcoporum adventum cognovisset, venit obviam illis, & viso Archiepiscopo et Episcopis, cecidit pronus ad terram ad pedes eorum, lachrymis profufis, ut de se et de regno Angliae misericordiam haberent. Videntes ergo Archiepiscopus & Episcopy tantam Regis humilitatem, (which had better became them than him) cum lachrymis illum de terra levaverunt, ducentes à dextris & à sinistris, ad ostium Ecclefiae Cathedralis, ubi cum Psalmo Quinquagesimo, videntibus Magnatibus cunctis, & ubertim prae gaudio flentibus, sicut mos est Ecclesiae, illum absolverunt in Capitulo Wintoniensi. In hac autem absolutione juravit Rex, tactis sacrosanctis Ebangeliis, (as if he were then re-crowned, and made King de novo) quod sanctam Ecclestam, ejusque ordinatos diligeret, defenderet et manuteneret, contra omnes adversarios suos pro posse suo; quodque bonas leges Antecessorum suorum, et praecipue Leges Edwardi Regis revocaret, et iniquas destrueret, et omnes homines suos secundunt justa Curiae suae judicia judicaret, quodque fingulis redderet jura sua. Juravit etiam, quod omnibus ad Interdicti negotium pertingentibus infra proximum Pascha plenariam restitutionem faceret ablatorum, sin autem, in pristinam excommunicationis sententiam revocaretur. Juravit praeterea Innoceutio Papae ejusque Catholicis successoribus, fidelitatem et obedientiam, sicut superius in scripto redactam continetur. These new Oaths being thus extorted from him, this Trayterous Archbishop on the 8. of September being assembled cum Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Decanis, & Baronibus in Civitate London. apud Sanctum Paulum; In hoc colloquio convocatis seorsim quibusdam regni Proceribus cepit affari eos secretius in hunc modum, (to raise up a new Rebellion against him;) Audistis quomodo IPSE apud Winton, Regem absolvi, ET IPSUM JURARE COMPULERIM, quod leges iniquas destrueret, & leges bonas, viz. Leges Edwardi revocaret, et in regno faceret ab omnibus observari, &c. Which Clause thus imposed on, and extorted from him in his new Oath by this Archbishop, differing from that at his Cornation, (agreeing with that extorted for the Conqueror) was afterwards inserted into the Coronation Oaths of King Edward the 3d. and Richard the 2d. by their Bishops, and is still continued.

King John soon after at the Bishop of London's request, issued this Writ to release a Clerk imprisoned in the Fleet, from prosecuting a suit in Court Christian for a Lay-fee, against his Prohibition.

REX Custodi Carceris le Flete, salutem. Mandamus tibi, quod Willielmum de Bureford Clericum, qui captus fuit et incarceratus, eo quod secutus est placitum in Curia Christianitatis de laico feodo Willielmi de Fulebret & Sibillae uxoris suae contra Prohibitionem Iusticiariorum, liberari fac. Venerabili patri W. London. Episcopo; quia ill manucepit, quod ill recto habebit, ubi illum habere debebit. Et in hujus, &c. T. meipso apud Novum Templum London. 20 die Novembr. Clergymen being then imprisoned for such contempts, notwithstanding their pretended Liberties, and this Kings new Oath.

King John departing this life An. 1217. (qui se multis exosum praebuit, tum propter tributum, quo sub perpetua serbitute regnum Angliae & Hyberniae compedivit, tum propter guerram quam sua merita provocarunt, &c. vix alicujus meruit lamentatione deplorari; as Mat. Westminster writes.) Louis the French Usurper and the Barons adhering to him being then possessed of London and Westminster, Henry the 3d. his son was thereupon Crowned at Gloucester (when he was but 9. years of age,) thus related by Matthew Paris. Defuncto Johanne Anglorum Rege, convenerunt apud Gloverniam in vigilia Apostolorum Simonis & Judae, in praesentia Walonis Apostolicae sedes Legati, Petrus Wintoniensis, Jocelinus Bathoniensis, & Sylvester Wygorniensis Episcopy; Ranulphus Comes Cestrensis, Wilhelmus Mareschallus Comes Pembroc. Wilhelmus Comes de Ferrariis, Johannes Marescallus, Philippus de Albeneio, cum Abbatibus, Prioribus, & turba multà nimis, ut Henricum Johannes Regis filium primogenitum in Regem Angliae exaltarent. In crastino autem, paratis omnibus ad coronationem necessariis, Legatus supradictus associatis sibi Episcopis & Comitibus memoratis, duxerunt eum ad Ecclesiam Conventualem cum processione solcmni, Regem acclamando. Ubi ante majus altare constitutus, juravit coram Clero et populo, appositis sibi sacrosanctis Evangeliis & plurimorum Sanctorum reliquiis, dictante juramentum Jocelino Bathoniensi, Quod honorem, pacem, et reverentiam portabit Deo et Sanctae Ecclesiae, et ordinatis, omnibus diebus vitae suae. Iuravit etiam, quod in populo sibi commisso, rectam justitiam tenebit: quodque Leges malas, & iniquas consuetudines, si quae sunt in regno, delebit, & bonas observabit, & ab omnibus faciet observari. Deinde, fecit bomagium Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae et Innocentio Papae de regno Angliae & Hyberniae; et juravit, quod mille marcas, quas Pater ejus Romanae contulerat Ecclesiae, fideliter persolveret, quamdiu praedicta regna teneret. Et his it a gestis, Petrus Wintoniensis & Johannes Bathoniensis Episcopy, ipsum in Regem ungentes, coronaverunt solenniter cum canticis et modulationibus, quae in coronationibus Regum solent decantari. Henry de Knyghton writes, Coronatus est & in Regem consecratus, astante Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo Stephano, per manum Walli, Apostolicae sedis Legati. But Matthew Paris living and writing in that age, and Thomas Walsingham are to be credited before him, who writ but in the latter end of King Richard the 2d. his reign. Tandem expletis Missarum solenniis, duxerunt Regem cum processione solemni, Episcopy & Comites sae • edicti, regalibus indutum, ad mensam; ubi omnes in ordine suo consedentes, epulabantur in laetitia & exultatione. In Crastino autem Rex cepit homagia e • sidelitates ad omnibus Episcopis, Comitibus, et Baronibus, aliisque omnibus qui aderant, et omnes ei fidelissimum obsequium promiserunt.

Wherein we may observe; 1. That King Henry by and with the advise of the Popes Legate, as well as of his Nobles, was anointed and crowned King, not by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but by the Bishops of Winchester and Bath; and that not as an elective King, as his Father King John; and as Louis the French Kings son, elected, crowned King by the rebellious Barons, but soon after rejected, and sent packing into France, never to return again into England. 2ly. A Coronation Oath administered to him though but an infant of 9. years, the same in substance with that which his Father King John took at his Coronation. 3ly. A new Additional Clause added to it by the Popes Legate, never taken by any King before or since, faithfully to pay the 1000. marks which his father had conferred on the Church of Rome, so long as he should hold the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, for which he made his homage to the Church of Rome and Pope Innocent before his actual Uncton and Coronation, as King. 4ly. That the next day after he received all the Homages and Fealties of the Bishops, Earls, Barons, and others, as his father did at his Coronation, who very ill observed them.

Anno 1220. Coronatus est idem Rex apud Westmonasterium, in die Sanctae Pentecostes à Stephano Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo, praesente Clero & populo totius regni; or praesentibus Pandulpho Legato, Episcopis, & aliis Pralatis, Comitibus, Baronibus & Majoribus Angliae; as Matthew Westminster stories; 16 Kalendas Junii, Anno regni suo quinto; without any new Oath or Unction mentioned by our Historians (whether ancient or modern) who relate it.

In the last of those 50 Articles pro quibus Episcopy Angliae fuerant pugnaturi, drawn up by them in the 41 year of King Henry the 3d. they thus complained. Cum Dominus Rex juraverit in Coronatione sua conservare jura et libertates Ecclesiis datas, et ease consirmaverit in principio Magnae Chartae; incessanter tamen a Ministris suis impug • antur, turbantur, & mutilantur, non solum generales, sed etiam speciales, datas scilicet per praedecessores suos, & ab ipsis confirmat •• , & etiam de novo datas, &c. But I find no such express Clause as this mentioned by our Historians in the Coronation Oath prescribed to him, as they here alleged, but only in subsequent Oaths; by which they endeavored to justify all their encroachments upon the Kings Prerogative and Subjects Liberties, comprised in their 50. Articles, and their Antimonarchical Constitutions made in the Council of Lambeth under Archbishop Boniface held that year, against the Kings express Prohibitions.

King Henry after a very troublesome, yet the longest reign of any King before or since, departing this world Anno 1272. when his Son Prince Edward was warring in the Holy Land against the Saracens; he was presently proclaimed King, but not crowned till after his arrival in England in the year 1274. the manner whereof is thus related by Matthew Westminster, Walfingham, and others out of them, Dominica inter Octavas Assumptionis B. Virginis, in Ecclesia Westm. Eadwardus in Regem inungitur, et Aelianora, soror Regis Hispaniae, in Reginam, a Roberto Archiepiscopo Cantuar. xiiii. Kal. Septembr, pariter coronantur. Huic Coronationi interrerant Alex. Rex Scotiae, & J. Comes Britanniae, cum suis uxcribus, sororibus quidem Regis Eadwardi. Et in crastino Coronationis suae recepto publice homagio & fidelitate Alexandri Regis Scotiae, &c. Not one Historian or Record mention any particular Oath or demand then exacted from, made or taken by him to or before this Archbishop at his Coronation. In the Patent Rolls in the second year of his reign there is only this Memorandum entered of his Coronation. Memorandum, quod Edwardus Rex Angl. applicuit apud Dovorr. die Jovis proxima post festum Sancti Petri ad vincula Anno Domini M. CC. LXXIV. Et die Dominica prox. sequente sollempniter coronatus fuit in Ecclesia beati Petri Westm. Anno Domini supradicto, & anno regni ejusdem Regis secundo; Without recording any Oath then taken or Promise made by him, to maintain the Bishops, Clergies, Churches pretended exorbitant Rights, Liberties, and Usurpations on his Crown or Dignity; Yet certain it is he took an Oath to maintain and preserve the rights of his Crown and the Laws, as these Clauses and the like (frequent in sundry of his Prohibitions to Popes Delegates, Bishops, and others) evidence, Tepescere non possumus, quin exhaeredationem nostram quae statum Coronae nostrae contigit, sicut EX SACRAMENTI VINCULO ASTRINGIMUR pro viribus evitemus. Ne Coronae et dignitatis nostrae jura depereant studiosam nos debet operam adhibere, et ad ea manutenenda et conservanda eo potius debemus esse solliciti, quo ad hoc VINCULO JURAMENTI TENERI DINOSCIMUR & ASTRINGI; he opposing the Popes and Prelates Incroachments of usurped Jurisdiction to the prejudice of his Crown, more then all his premised predecessors, as obliged thereunto by his Coronation Oath.

His Son Edward the 2d. succeeding him, and reigning as a King by descent one whole year or more before he was Crowned, Anno 1309, sexto Kal. Martii, die videlicet Sancti Matthaei Apostoli Rex et Regina cum solennitate maxima apud Westm. ab Episcopo Winton. and others, (Commissione Roberti Archiepiscopi Cantuariae exulantie, as some; or as William Thorn stories, adhuc in Romana Curia agent, et eisdem vices suas committentis) magnifice coronatur. Cicestrensis and Henry de Knyghton add, these Bishops crowned him authoritate Papae Clementis, eo quod Robertus Cantuariensis tunc apud Romam exulabat, for his Treasons against King Edward the 1. Of which this Pope made this advantage, to interpose his usurped Authority in this Coronation: (as his predecessor did in the case of young King Henry during Beckets exile) which yet met with some rubbs from the Nobles, who requested him to remove Peter Gaveston from his Court; sed R • x noluit consentire: idcirco proposuerunt Comites Coronationem Regiam impedire. Quod Rex intelligens, promisit bona fide, se facturum illis in Parliamento proximo quicquid peterent, ta • um ne coronatio differatur; yet he ind • sscreetly, Coronam Sancti Edwardi (wherewith be was Crowned) tradidit Petro ad portandum manibus inquinatis; ex quo non immcrito indignati sunt populus atque Clerus. Fuit autem ibi tanta congressio populi, ut nec Regi Cor • nato, nec Episcopis ipsum Coronaturis pepercit violentia populi, et ideo cum festinatione nimia et quasi sine reveren • ia fuit is • a solemnizatio consummata; as Walsingham stories. What Oath they then administered to the King in this crowd and confusion, is not particularly related by any Historian or Record I have seen: Only I find in the Register of Writs and sundry Records, that this King inserted this Clause into his Prohibitions and Writs, ad Jura Regia; Eo studiosius nos decet operam adhibere, & solicitius extendere manam nostram, quod ad hoc VINCULO JURAMENTI teneri dinoscimur & astringi. And that in the 14th year of his reign he refused to secure or remove from him the two Spensers till the next Parliament, upon some of the Barons demands, or to give them a safe conduct to repair to his Parliament besides his Writ of Summons, upon this ground among others; Postremo cum juramento addidit, quod noluit Sacramentum violare ad quod adstrictus fuerat IN CORONATIONE SUA, concedendo literas pacis et indulgentiae tam notorie delinquentibus in suae personae contemptum, et totius regni perturbationem, et Majestatis Regiae laesionem; as those Lord's were guilty of, who resused to come to his Parliament upon summons, raised forces against him and the Spensers, and yet presumed to demand his Letters of pardon for themselves and their Companions; which Clauses refer only to the second Clause in the Oath of King Edward the 2d. and 3d, concerning the peace of the Realm.

Anno gratiae 1327. Upon the forcible traiterous imprisoning, deposing of King Edward the 2d. by his Queen, and Earl Mortimer, and electing his son Edward the 3d. King in his stead, whiles living, cui Electioni consensit Archiepiscopus Can tuariae et omnes Praelati; & Archiepiscopus assumpto themate, Vox populi, vox Dei sermonem fecit populo, exhortans omnes, ut apud Regem Regum intercederent proelecto; Coronatus est apud Westmonasterium per Cantuariensem Archiepiscopum Walterum in Regem (qui Regem patrem plane deseruit) die Dominica in vigilia Purificationis, as Cicestrensis and Matthew Westminster; or in Conversione Sancti Pauli, viz. 8 Kalendarum Februarii, as others write. None of our Historians make any particular mention what Oath he took; I shall therefore present you with this Memorandum both of the day of his Coronation, and the Interrogations and Oath then tendered to him out of the Clause Rolls in the Tower.

Without any other Interrogation, Admonition or Clause, concerning maintaining and defending the holy Church and her Liberties. The first Clause in this Oath, was taken verbatem out of the premised Oath enforced upon King John by Stephen Langeton Archbishop of Canterbury before his absolution from his Excommunication, not extant in his Coronation Oath.

I find in most of the Writs of Ad Jura Regia, (of which there were multitudes in this King Edwards reign) this Clause relating to this his Coronation Oath, quod ad hoc, or prout JURAMENTI VINCULO tenemur et astringimur. And in the printed Statutes of 15 E. 3. Parl. 1. and the Kings Proclamation for reversing it, 18 E. 3. Stat. 3. c. 1, 2. & 25 E. 3. Stat. 6. against Provisions, there are these Clauses inserted concerning this Oath: By the bond of OUR OATH, we be bound to the observance and defense of the Laws and Customs of the Realm; The King as he is bounden by HIS OATH to do the same to be kept as the Law of this Realm. The King having regard to the quietness of his people, which he chiefly desireth to maintain in quietness and peace, and to govern according to the Laws, Vsages, and Franchises of this Land, AS HE IS BOUND BY HIS OATH MADE AT HIS CORONATION.

After King Edward the 3d. departed this life, his Grandchild Richard the 2d. was crowned King. The Petitions, Claims of Nobles and others to do special services at his Coronation, by their tenures; with the Judgments given on them; and the solemnities, Ceremonies used at his Coronation, are specially recorded at large in the Clause Roll of An. 1 R. 2. m. 43, 44, 45. with this Title to them. Processus factus in Coronatione Domini Regis Angliae Richardi secundi, Anno regni sui primo. At the cloze whereof there is there is this Memorial entered. Memorandum, quod praedictus Rex Castellae & Legionis, Dux Lancastriae & Seneschallus Angliae; istum processum per manus suas proprias in Cancellaria Domini Regis liberavit, ibidem in Rotulis Cancellariae irrotulandum. In which unquestionable Record, the Oath which the Archbishop of Canterbury (Simon Sudbury) then prescribed to and received from him, is thus recorded.

Dominus Rex, &c. subsequenterque capto per praefatum Archiepiscopum Cant. Sacramento Dom. Regis corporali, de concedendo et servando cum sacra confirmatione Leges et Consuetudines ab antiquis justis et Deo devotis Regibus Angliae, progenitoribus ipsius Regis plebi regni Angliae concessis, et praesertim leges, consuetudines et libertates a gloriosissimo et sanctissimo Rege Edwardo Clero populoque regni praedicti coucessis: et servando Deo et Ecclesiae Sanctae Domini; Cleroque et populo pacem et concordiam integre in Deo, fuxta vires suas: et de faciendo fieri in omnibus judiciis suis aequam et rectam Iusticiam et discretionem in misericordia et veritate; et etiam de tenendo et custodiendo justas leges et consuetudines Ecclesiae; ac de faciendo per ipsum, Dominum Regem ease esse protegendas, et ad honorem Dei corroborand. quas vulgus juste et rationabiliter elegerit fuxta vires ejusdem Domini Regis: Prafatus Archiepiscopus ad quatuor partes pulpiti praedicti ascendens, exposuit & enarravit universo populo, qualiter dictus Dominus Rex hujusn • di praestitit Sacramentum: inquirens ab eodem populo, Si ipsi consentire vellent de habend. ipsum Regem Dom. suum ligeum, & ad obediendum ei tanquam Regi & Domino ligeo? Qui utique unanimiter consenserunt. Then follow some other solemnities, and the Homages made to the King by sundry Noble men, while the Bishops were chanting their Mass. After that the manner of the Kings return from the Church to his Palace; in what Order the Bishops, Nobles, and others sat at his Feast; and his solemn Procession to Paul's Church with his Prelates, Nobles, Trayn the next day; with the sum of their Prayers for his happy Reign and Government.

In the Parliament Roll of 1 H. 4 nu. 16 & 17. after the recording of King Richard the 2. his Renunciation of his Right to the Crown, and the Articles then publicly drawn up and read against him in that Parliament, they thus record the particular branches of the Coronation Oath which the Kings of England used to make to the Archbishop, and King Richard took at his Coronation.

Sequitur forma Juramenti soliti in consueti praest • ri per Reges Angliae in eorum coronatione, quod Archiepiscopus Cantuar. ab eisdem Regibus, exigere et recipere consuevit; prout in libris Pontificalium Archiepiscoporum et Episcoporum plenius continetur: Quod quidem Juramentum Richardus Rex Angliae post Conquestum secundus, in Coronatione sua praestitit, & ab Archiepiscopo Cantuar. erat receptum, et illud idem Iuramentum dictus Rex postmodum iteravit, prout in Rotulis plenius reap • iri poterit de Recordo.

Servabis Ecclesiae Dei, Cleroque et populo pacem ex integro, et concordiam in Deo, secundum vires tuas. Respondebit, Servabo. Facies fieri in omnitus Iuditiis tuis aequam et rectam Iustitiam et discretionem in misericordia et veritate, secundum vires tuas, Respondebit, Faciam. Concedes justas leges et consuetudines esse tenendas, et promittis prote ease esse protegendas, et ad honorem Dei corroborandas, quas vulgus elegerit secundum vires tuas. Respondit, Concedo et promitto. Adj. cianturque praedictis interrogationibus quae justa fuerint. Pronunciatisque omnibus, confirmet Rex se omnia servaturum Sacramento super Altare prestito coram cunctis.

Thomas Walsingham, who at large relates the Form and Solemnities of this King Richards Coronation, hath added this New Clause to the beginning of his Oath then taken, not extant in the premised Records; nor in Juramentum Regis quand • coronatur, printed in Totles Magna Charta, London 1556. part 1. f. 164. After the Bishops Sermon, (writes he) Iuravit Rex coram Archiepiscopo, et Proceribus qui ibi aderant, quoniam ip •• soli Iuramentum audire poterunt.

Primo, quod Ecclesiam suis permitreret gaudere libertatibus, et eam et Mininistros ejus honoraret, et fidem rectam teneret; & rapacitatem, & omnes iniquitates in omnibus gradibus interdiceret.

Secundo, ut leges terrae bonas ubique servari faceret, & praecipue Leges Sancti Edw • rd • Regis & Confessoris, qui in eadem requiescit Ecclesia, & malas leges faceret abrogari.

Ter • io, ut non esset personarum acceptor, sed judicium rectum inter virum & virum faceret, & praecipue misericordiam observaret, sicut sibisuam indulgeat misericordiam • lemens & misericors Deus.

Q • ibus expletis Archiepiscopus, praecedente eum Marescallo Angliae, Domino Henrico Percy, convertit se adomnes plagas Ecclesiae, indicans populo Regium juramentum, & quaerens, &c. as in the Clause Roll of 1 R. 2. forecited.

From which Records and Historian I shall observe: 1. That this and other our Kings Coronation Oaths were compiled by our Archbishops and Bishops, and entered by them in their Pontificals. 2ly. That they assumed this transcended Jurisdiction to themselves, to prescribe what new Articles, Interrogations they thought meet to our Kings at their Coronations, which they must solemnly promise and swear to observe, before they would crown them; for which end they inserted this Clause into their Pontificals, immediately after the Kings Oath; Adjicianturque praedictis Interrogationibus quae justa fuerint. Pronunciatis omnibus, Rex confirmet se omnia servaturum, Sacramento super Altare protinus praestita coram cunctis, &c. 3ly. That they cunningly inserted into this young Kings Coronation Oath this new Clause, not extant in any former Oath, Et etiam de tenendo et custodiendo justas Leges et Consuetudines Ecclesiae, &c. to advance their own Ecclesiastical Laws, Canons, and Customs, made for their own grand • ur and advantage in their Convocations, without the consent of King, Lord's and Commons in Parliament; and that (as I conceive) in opposition to the Petition of the House of Commons in the Parl. of 51 E. 3. some few months before; That the Commoners shall not be bound by any of the Constitutions made by the Clergy for their advantage, without the Commons assent thereto in Parliament; car eux ne beullent estre obligez a nul de voz Estatutes ne Ordinances faitz sanz lour assent: with King Edward the 3d. and other our Kings Writs, Appeals, Protestations against them, mentioned in my Epistle Dedicatory. 4ly. If Tho. Walsingham may be credited against our Records, they likewise added another new Clause to King Richards Oath, placed in the very front thereof; which they backed with these other passages inserted into their Pontificals for their own advancement, honor, protection by our Kings above all other Subjects, as receiving their Crowns, Swords, Scepters from them alone, for their special defense. For after the Kings anointing by them on the Crown of his head, breast, shoulders, shoulderblades, hands and boughs of both his arms, they used these speeches to him at the delivery of his Sword and Scepter. Post haec Archiepiscopus cum Episcopis tradidit ei gladium, it a dicens; Accipe gladium per manus Episcoporum, licet indignos, vice tamen et autoritate sanctorum Apostolorum consecratas, tibi regaliter impositum, nostraeque benedictionis officio ad defensionem sanctae Ecclesiae divinitus ordinatum, et esto memor de Psalmista, qui prophetavit, dicens: Accingere gl • dio tuo super femur tuum potentissime, ut per eundem vim aquitatis exerceas, molem inquitatis potenter destruas, et sanctam Dei Ecclesiam, ejusque fideles propugnando protegas, nec minus sub fide falsos in Christiani nominis hosts execretis ac destruas, &c. Statim post haec. &c. Archiepiscopus dans ei Sceptrum, &c. dicens, Accipe Sceptrum Regiae potestatis insig • e, virgam scilicet regni rectam, virgam veritatis, qua te ipsum been regas, sanctam Ecclesiam, populum viz. Christianum tibi a Deo commissum, (not the Bishops and Clergy only, who would appropriate the Title of the Church to themselves) Regia virtute ab improbis defendas, pravos corrigas, rectos Pontifices, et ut viam rectam tenere possint tuo juvamine, dirigas, &c. Osculatus est Rex Episcopos omnes et Abbates (but none of his Nobles) à quibus statim ductus est postea ad Regale solium, Episcopis inchoantibus hymnum, Te Deum laudamus. Finito hymno, Archiepiscopus ita eum allocutus est: Sta, & retine amodo locum quem hucusque paterna succession tenuisti haereditarie, indico tibi delegatum per authoritatem Dei omnipotentis, et praesentem traditionem nostram, scilicet omnium Episcoporum, caeterorum que Dei servorum; et quanto Clerum sacris Altaribus propinquiorem, tanto ei potiorem in locis congruis honorem impendere memineris, quatenus mediator Dei & hominum, te mediatorem plebis in hoc regni solio confirmet, & in regnum aeternum regnare faciat Jesus Christus Dominus noster. Which words and form they have since continued.

The same Solemnities, Ceremonials, Prayers, Speeches used at this King Richards Coronation, and the Interrogations, Oath prescribed to K. Edward the 3d. (without the new additions to King Richards) for ought appears to me continued without any alteration till K. Edw. the 6. together with this Petition, or Monitio Episcoporum ad Regem, et legitur ab uno, (not mentioned by Walsingham, but in the Roman, & other of our own Pontificals, tending only to establish Bishops Canonical Privileges, Laws and Constitutions;) Domine Rex, à vobis perdonari petimus, ut unicuique de Nobis et Ecclesiis Nobis commissis, Privilegium et Debitam Legem atque Iustitiam et defenstonem exhibeatis, sicut Rex in suo regno debet unicuique Episcopo et Abbati et Ecclesiis sibi commissis. Whereunto Respondit sic Rex, (by their prescription, before he must be Crowned) Animo libenti & devoto promitto vobis, et perdono vobis et unicuique vestram, et Ecclesiis vobis commissis Canonicum Privilegium, (defined by the Popes and their own Canons) & debitam legem & justitiam servabo, & defensionem quantum potero, adjuvante Deo exhibebo; sicut Rex in regno unicuique Episcopo, Abbati, et Ecclesiis sibi commissis, per rectum exhibere debet. But by reason of King Edward the 6. his tender years, and the changes then made in the Religion publicly professed, some Alterations were made both in the Ceremonies, Prayers, and Oath itself at his Coronation, by the Lord Protector and ten of the Privy Councils advise, whereof Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of Durham were two; who prescribed him this new Oath, different in some particulars from all preceding it.

The Archbishop standing before the King, shall ask him with a loud voice in manner and form following;

Will ye grant to keep to the people of England and other your Realms and Dominions, the Laws and Liberties of your Realm, and other your Realms and Dominions. I grant and promise.

You shall keep to your strength and power, to the Church of God, and to all the people, holy peace and concord. I shall keep.

You shall make to be done after your strength and power, equal and rightful justice in all your Dooms and Judgments, with mercy and truth. I shall do.

Do ye grant to make no new Laws, but such as be to the glory and honor of God, and to the good of the Commonwealth; and that the same shall be made by the consent of your people, as hath been accustomed? I grant and promise.

Then shall the King rise out of his Chair, and by them that before assisted him, be led to the High Altar. Where he shall make a solemn Oath upon the Sacrament, laid upon the High Altar, in the sight of all the people, to observe the premises; and laying his hand again upon the Book, shall say;

The things which I have before promised, I shall observe and keep: So God help me and these holy Evangelists, by me bodily touched upon this holy Altar.

At the Coronations of King James and King Charles the 1. and 2. the Interrogations to, and Oath taken by King Edward the 3d. were used and taken by them, with most of the premised Ceremonies, Prayers, passages used at King Richard the the 2d. his Coronation, some whereof were omitted at King Edward the sixths. Which having elsewhere published at large, I shall here omit.

By these Historial Collections of the Coronations of foreign Emperors, Kings, and our own British, Saxon, Danish, Norman, English Kings, by Popes, Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops, with the several Oaths, promises they exacted from them, and altered, enlarged by degrees when crowned, especially when they set the Crown upon Usurpers heads, and disinherited the right lawful heirs, you may most clearly discover, what successive encroachments they made upon their Royal Soveraignties. What strange Conclusions many Popes, Popish Bishops, Canonists and others have thence deduced, I shall here briefly inform you.

1. That all Christian Emperors, Kings, Princes, receive their Crowns, Swords, Scepters, Royalties, and Royal dignities only from Popes, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, as Pope Boniface the 8. with sundry other Popes, Popish Canonists, Jesuits, and our Archbishops Aldred of York, Ralph and Hubert of Canterbury have asserted; who are solidly refuted by John Servin, Advocate to King Henry the 4th. of France in his Vindiciae, and others forecited.

2ly. That the Pope and every Bishop is Superior to Emperors and Kings; because without contradiction the less is blessed, consecrated by the greater, Hebr. 7. 7. as Emperors, Kings, are by Popes and Bishops, not they by them; Yea, Episcopus superminet Regibus, et quibuscumque aliis terrenis Principibus dignitate est praeferendus, quantum plumbum vincitur ab auro: Et Sacerdotium tanto majus est Imperio et omni seculari Principatu, quanto coelum terra preciosius, et anima est corpori praeferenda; as our Thomas Waldensis, Cardinal Bellarmine, and others determine.

3ly. That as they consecrate, bless, crown them Emperors and Kings: so by the like reason they may execrate, excommunicate, uncrown them, if they violate the Oaths and Conditions prescribed to them at their Coronations: which was our Archbishop Aldreds, Ralph and Huberts doctrine, as well as Popes. Hence Pope Gregory the 9th, upon Sir Robert de Twenge and others threshing out the corn and plundering the goods of Italian Clergymen beneficed in England by Papal provisions, was so highly offended with King Henry the 3d, that in an oversharp Letter to him, he vehemently reprehended him for suffering such rapines in his Realm to be done to Ecclesiastical persons, non habens respectum ad juramenta quae juraverat tempore Coronationis suae, non solum de pace Ecclesiae manutenenda, verum etiam de recta justitia tam Clericis quam La • cis se • vanda. Mandavit igitur Regi in eisdem literis sub poena Excommunicationis et Interdicti firmiter praecipiens, quatinus diligenti facta inquisitione, si quos hujus violentiae inveniret authors tam graviter puniret obnoxios, ut ex poena illorum caeteris metum incuteret & terrorem.

4ly. That Emperors, Kings are but the Popes, Bishops Vassals, and their Coronation Oaths mere Oaths of Fealty to them, as their superior Lord's.

5ly. That by these their Oaths, and the Liberties, Privileges of the Church, the persons of Popes, Bishops, and all inferior Clergymen, are totally exempted from the secular Jurisdiction, Judicature of Emperors, Kings, their Judges, and Courts; so that they neither can nor ought at all to imprison, condemn, execute, banish, deprive them for any capital Crimes or Offences whatsoever, but must refer them wholly to be tried, judged, purged in, by and before a Synod of Bishops, or their own Metropolitans or Ordinaries; & that they ought not to put them to death till first convicted, degraded, and delivered up by them to the secular powers. Upon which account Adam de Arleton Bishop of Hereford in the 17. year of K. Edward the 2. being accused, arrested and examined of High Treason, before the King and alt the Lord's in Parliament, for receiving, aiding, counseling, maintaining Mortimer, with other Enemies of the King, and furnishing them with great store of armed men: peremptorily refused to answer his Charge without the connivance and consent of the Archbishop, and the other Bishops his Peers, because he was a Minister, a Member of the Church, and a Bishop. Whereupon the Archbishop and Bishops presently demanded him as a Member of the Church, to be delivered to their Custody and Trial: Some few days after the King resolving to arraign him for this Treason before his Royal Tribunal; the Bishops hearing of it, thereupon the Archbishops of Canterbury, York, and Dubblin, accompanied with ten Bishops more, and a great troop of men, with their crosses born up before them, marched to the Court where he was to be arraigned, chased away the Kings Officers, took the Prisoner from the Barre by force before he had made any answer, and carried him away with them; firmly enjoining all there present on the behalf of God, that none of them under pain of Excommunication should presume to lay violent hands upon this Trayt • r to bring him back to the bar, whom they had thus violently rescued from public Justice. The King being exceedingly moved with this unparalleled insolency and affront, as he had reason, commanded the Inquest to be impannelled in his absence; who finding him guilty of the Treason and Rebellion whereof he was indicted, according to the truth of the matter: he thereupon seised his Temporalties, Lands, Goods, and banished the Bishop; who notwithstanding his proscription, was by confederacy of these Archbishops and Bishops with strong hand kept safe from the Kings Justice, in the Archbishop of Canterbury (Walter Reynolds) his custody: And not long after, this Trayterous Prelate and his Rescuers confederating with the Queen and young Prince Edward, by force of arms imprisoned, deposed the King himself, without any Trial, Crowned his Son King in his stead; and then murdered him, by this Trayterous Bishops ambiguous unpointed Advise, Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est.

6ly. That Kings and Emperors by the Oaths taken at their Coronations, are bound to obey, maintain, execute all the Popes, Bishops Ecclesiastical Decrees, Canons, Constitutions, Censures of Excommunication, Interdicts, Deprivation, yea of death itself in cases of Heresy or Apostasy, and to become their Bailiffs, Gaolers, Executioners, without examining the justice or legality of their proceedings or sentences, under pain of being excommunicated, interdicted, and deprived of their Offices; as not only Popes, but Boniface, John Peckham, John Stratford, and other Archbishops of Canterbury and their Suffragans have resolved in their Convocations, and Constitutions. Hence our learned Martyr William Tyndale, in a Book printed Cum Privilegio, London 1573. complained, That the Bishops with the Pope by a certain Conspiration and secret Treason, have with falsehood taken from all Kings and Emperors their right and duties, which now they call their Freedoms, Liberties and Privileges, AND HAVE MADE EVERY KING SWEAR TO DEFEND THEIR FALSHOOD AGAINST THEMSELVES. So that if any man shall contend to restore Kings again unto their Duties and Kight, and to the room and authority which they have of God, and of shadows to make them Kings indeed, and to put the World into order again, then the Kings deliver up their swords and authority unto these Hypocrites to s • ay them. The Emperors and Kings are nowadays but even Hangmen unto the Popes and Bishops, to kill whomsoever they condemn, without anymore ado, as Pilate was unto the Scribes and Pharisees, and the High Bishop (or Priest) to Hang and Cricify Christ. For as those Prelates answered Pilate (when he asked what ill he had done?) If he were not an evil doer, we would not have brought him unto thee; as who should say, we are too holy to do anything amiss, thou mayst believe us well enough, yea, and his blood be on our heads, said they: kill him boldly, we will bear the Charge, our souls for thine; We have also A LAW by which he ought to die, for he maketh himself God's son. Even so say our Prelates, He ought to die by our Law, He speaketh against the Church; And, YOUR GRACE IS SWORN TO DEFEND THE LIBERTIES & ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH, and to maintain our most holy Fathers authority, our souls for yours, ye should do a meritorious deed therein. Nevertheless as Pilate escaped not the judgment of God, even so it is to be feared least our Temporal Powers shall not. Wherefore, be learned ye that judge the earth, least the Lord be angry with you, and ye perish from the right way. So this our Godly Marty • , who experimented the truth thereof soon after, for opposing the Popes and Bishops Usurpations on the Crown, &c. and translating the Bible into English.

7ly. Some Popes, Popish Prelates, and Canonists both at home and abroad, have pleaded an Exemption from all Subsidies, Aydes, Taxes even for the defense of the King & Realm against foreign Enemies, unless specially authorized & approved by the Popes antecedent Bulls, as being contrary to their Coronation Oath, and the Churches Liberties. Witness the insolent Bull of Pope Boniface the 8. and the contests thereupon between King Edward the 1. his Bishops and Clergy, here recited at large, before which his Predecessor Pope Honorius the 3d. seemed to be of a contrary opinion in this memorable Bull of his to the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots and Clergy of Ireland, for a liberal Ayd to King Henry the 3. thus enrolled in the Patent Roll of Anno xi H. 3. casually omitted in its proper place.

HOnorius Episcopus, Servus servorum Dei, Venerabilibus Patribus, Archiepiscopis & Episcopis, & dilectis filiis Abbatibus, Prioribus, & aliis Praelatis ac Rectoribus Ecclesiarum in Hibernia constitutis, salutem & apostolicam benedictionem, Non laeditur libertas Ecclesiastica, set defenditur, cum defensori ejus statu rerum et temporum exigente▪ subsidium liberaliter exhivetur. Cum ergo karissimo in Chr • sto filio nostro H. Regi Anglorum illustri, multa immineant necessariarum honera expensarū, ac propter hoc sibi mandaverimus à Clero Angliae subsidium exhiberi; Universitatem vestram sollicitandam duximus & hortandam, per Apostolica vobis scripta mandantes, quatenus cum regnum Hiberniae ad ipsum pertinere noscatur, ac per hoc eidem incumbat defendere vestrarum Ecclestarum libertates et jura, vosque deceat ipsi cum exposcere videtur necessitas liberaliter subvenire, collectam, pensatis singularum Ecclesiarum facultatibus, faciatis ad expensarum ipsius Regis honera supportanda, cum consilio venerabilis fratris nostri Archiepiscopi Dublin. aliquos viros notae prudentiae ac probatae fidei eligentes, qui pecuniam recipiant per subventionem hujusmodi colligendam, ipsamque assignent ipsi Archiepiscopo & duobus aliis qui ad hoc idonei videbuntur, per eos ad expensas ipsius Regis quae videbuntur ei & regno suo magis necessariae ministrand. Mandatum nost • um taliter impleturi, quod ipsum Regem ad vestrum et Ecclesiarum vestrarum faborem per hoc specialiter inclinetis, gratamque vicissitudinem ab eo expectare possitis tempore oportuno. Nolumus autem quod exhibitio subbentionis huju • modi trahatur ad consequentiam, vel praejudicium generet Ecclesiasti • ae libertati. Dat. &c.

Moreover, this Pope was very wary in denouncing any Excommunications, whether general or special, against the King or his Brother, without his special mandate, as this Record then entered with it informs us.

HOnorius Episcopus, &c. dilecto filio R. Sanct. Angeli Diac. Card. Apostolicae • edis Legato, salutem, & Apostolicam benedictionem. Discretioni tuae authoritate praesentium mandamus, quatenns karissimi in Christo filii nostri illustris Regis Angliae, vel nobilis viri R. Com. Pict. fratris sui, ad denunciationem vel prolationem generalis et specialis sententiae Excommunicationis per te vel per alium non procedas, nisi super hoc mandatum nostrum susciperis speciale, Dat. Lat. Id. Ma • i, Pontif. nostri, &c. An. x ^o . Though Boniface and other Popes since made no bones at all to excommunicate all Emperors, Kings, Princes, who should demand, and all Clergymen who should pay any Subsidies, without his antecedent special license. Upon which account, Doctor Marta, and some other Canonists cited by him peremptorily resolve; Ecclesiastici sunt immunes a quibuscunque Lalliis, Collectis, Lributis, et sunilibus oueribus realibus, personalibus et mixtis. Ecclesiam nullo modo teneri solvere Lributum, etiam de illis bonis quae antea Lributaria erant, et postea in Ecclesiam sunt translata. Praedia tributaria in Ecclesiam translata, et locus suppositus Lributo, Ecclesiae traditus, non debent amplius solvere tributum, quia sunt haec omnia Deo dedicata; Rex nullo modo potest imponere extraordinaria subfidia, quando istud juravit, prout facit Rex Neopolis, quando invaditur ab hositbus, nulla praecedente culpa Principis aut Civium; nist de consensu eorundem subditorum propter magnam necessitatem, qui possunt remitters juramentum.

8ly That Popes and Bishops by their own inherent Papal and Episcopal Authority, both in their Ecclesiastical Synods, Consistories, and Visications, may lawfully make what Oaths, Canons, Visitation Articles they please, and impose, enforce them not only on their own Clergy and Under Officers, but likewise on Church wardens, and other Laymen, yea excommunicate them for refusing to take such Oaths, or make presentments by virtue of them on all such Articles which they prescribe them, till they submit thereto; seeing they have from time to time both made, prescribed Oaths, Articles to Emperors and Kings themselves at their Coronations, and altered or enlarged them as they thought meet: Witness the Oaths not only introduced and imposed on King John before his absolution from his Excommunication and the Kingdoms Interdict by the Popes Legate and his Bishops, with Pope Gregory the 9th. his new Oath of Homage and Allegiance imposed on all our Bishops and Abbots; the Oaths de Calumnia, & veritate dicenda, and Visitation Oaths enforced by Bishop Grosthead, his Officers, and others, against our Laws, and King Henry the 3d. his Prohibitions to restrain them, related in my 2d Tome; but likewise the Oaths prescribed by Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury An. 1293. to his Judges, Advocates, Clerks, Officers, Proctors in the Arches; and this Oath of John Archbishop of York, and other our Bishops imposed upon the Lollards in their Provinces and Dioceses, to worship Images, &c. and obey their Laws, Canons, Constitutions; entered with this special Memorandum in the Clause Rolls of Anno 19 R. 2.

MEmorandum, quod primo die Sept. Anno regni Regis Richardi secundi post Conquestam decimo nono, Wilhelmus Dynet, Nicholaus Tayllour, Nicholaus Pouther, & Wilhelmus Steynour de Notyngham, in Cancellaria ipfius Regis personaliter constituti, sacramenta divisim praestiterunt sub eo qui sequitur tenore. I Willyam Dynet before yhowe worschipefull Fader and Lord Archbisshop of Yhorke and yhowr Clergy with my free will and full avisede, swear to Gode and to all his seyntes, upon this holy Gospel's, yat fro this day forthwarde I shall worship images, with praying and offering unto hem in the worschip of the Seintes, yat yey be made after; and also I shall never mor despise pylgremage, ne states of holy Chyrche in ne degree: And also I shall be buxum to the Laws of holy Chyrche, and to yhowe as myn Archbysshop, and to myn oyer Ordinars and Curates, and keep yo laws upon my power, and meynten hem. And also I shall never more meynten, ne tochen, ne defenden Errors, conclusions, ne techinges of the Lollards, ne swych conclusions and techinges that men clepyth Lollards doctryn. Ne I shall her books, ne swych books, ne hem or ony suspect or diffamede of Lollarderye resceyve or company withal wittingly, or defend in yo matters; and if I know any swych I shall with all the haste yat I may do yhowe or else yo ner officers to wyten, and of her books. And also I shall excite and stir all yo to good doctryn yat I have hinderd with myn doctryn up my power. And also I shall stonde to yho declaracion wych es heresy, or error, and do yerafter. And also what venance yhe wool for yat I have don for meyntenyng of this falls doctryn enjoin me, I shall fulfill i • ; and I submit me yerto up my power. And also I shall make no other gloss of this myn oath bot as ye words stonde. And if it be so that I come again, or do again this Oth, or any party thereof, I yholde me here cowpable as an Heretyk, & to be punished be ye law as an Heretyk, & to forfeit all my godes to the Kynges will withowten any othir process of Law: and yerto I require ye Notarie to make of all this, ye which is my Will an Instrument agains me. Et ex habundanti idem Wilhelmus Dynet eodem die voluit et recognovit, quod omnia bona et catalla sua mobilia nobis sint forisfacta in casu quo ipse juramentum praedictum, seu aliqua in eodem juramento contenta de caetero contravenerit ullo modo.

In this impious Oath, compiled and enforced upon the Kings Subjects by the Archbishop of York, then Lord Chancellor of England, by his own Archiepiscopal Authority, we may observe: First, that it is directly contrary to the letter of the second Commandment, to sundry other Texts in the Old Testament, and to Acts 17. 24. to 30. Rom. 1. 22, 23, 25. 1 Cor 8. 4, 5, 6. c. 10. 7, 19, 20. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 John 5. 21. Rev. 9. 20. in the New. 2ly. Against the express Laws, Statutes of the Realm, and Liberty of the Subjects persons, consciences. 3ly. That it prescribes a blind obedience to all the Canons, Laws, prescriptions of the Archbishop or other Ordinaries and Curates. 4ly. That it subjects those persons who took it to a confiscation of all their goods to the King for the breach of it, or any particular Clause, Article thereof, without any other legal process, trial, conviction, and likewise to a Writ de Haeretico comburendo; though the violation of any branch thereof was never declared Heresy by Scripture, nor by any of the 4. first General Councils; nor was against any Article of the Nice • e or Apostles Creeds. 5ly. That it obliged them to submit to all penances they should impose upon them, and to betray, discover to them and their Officers, both the persons, books, writings of all others reputed Lollards. By which exorbitant Oath and proceedings, the Bishops became Masters of all men's lives, liberties, estates whom they pleased to accuse of Heresy, or declared to be Heretics, and would not wholly submit themselves to their Ecclesiastical usurped authority; which made every Archbishop and Bishop an absolute Pope within his own Province and Diocese.

What strange, &c. and Visitation Oaths, Articles, for turning our Communion Tables into Altars, and railing them in Altar-wise against the East end of Chancels, bowing to, or towards the Altar; receiving the Communion only at their new Rayles, with other Innovations, tending to the countenancing or introduction of Popish superstition, devotion, Ceremonies, contrary to our Laws, have of late times been rigorously imposed upon Ministers, Church-wardens and others, by Ecclesiastical censures, to the general discontent, scandal, oppression, grievance of the people, by sundry Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, in their Synods, Visitations, enforcing every Church-warden to pay 4 s. 4 d. or more, for taking his Oath, and 6 d. 8 d. or 12 d. for their Books of Articles, besides extorted fees for every presentment on them; (a new extortion, against all Laws and Canons too) their own printed Canons, Constitutions, Visitation Oaths, and Books of Articles,; with the Votes passed against them in Parliament, That they were against the Kings Prerogative, the fundamental Laws of the Realm, the Liberty and property of the Subject, and of dangerous consequence; the Impeachments of several Bishops for them by the whole House of Commons, and the Statutes of 17 Caroli 1. ch. 17. & 13 Car. 2. ch. 12. & 13 Car. 2. ch. 1. declaring, condemning such Oaths and all others made or imposed by any Authority without the Kings Majesty's royal assent, and both Houses of Parliament, to be null and boyd in their first Creation to all intents and purposes whatsoever, and against the fundamental Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, will at large demonstrate.

9ly. Some of our Archbishops of Canterbury have grown so insolent, that because some of our Kings were not crowned by them, or their predecessors in their absence, when exiled by them for their Treasons and Rebellions, as upon that account alone to pull the Crown violently from the Kings head at the solemn Coronation of the Queen; and to excommunicate all those Bishops who presumed to Crown them by their royal appointment, without their license or deputation, as the premised instances of Ralph de Turbine and Thomas Becket evidence: whose successors (like the Archbishops of Reims in France) have claimed it as their peculiar privilege, to crown all our Kings, as if they had no Liberty or Prerogative left them to be Crowned by what Bishops, persons, and at what times, places themselves shall think meet to appoint, as they have frequently done.

10ly. Sundry Popes, Popish Prelates, Canonists heretofore, yea Popish Priests and Jesuits of late, have from hence affirmed, the Coronations of Emperors, Kings by them to be an essential antecedent qualification to constitute them real, legal Emperors, Kings, and that they were not such by descent or election, before they were consecrated by, and received their Crowns, Scepters, and other Ensigns of Royalty from the hands of Popes or Bishops. Upon this false pretence, Watson and Clarke, two Italianated Roman Priests, conspired with the Lord's Cobham, Gray, and others to seise King James and Prince Henry his son at Greenwich, upon their first arrival out of Scotland, and to imprison them in Dover Castle, or the Tower, till they should obtain their own pardons, a toleration of the Popish Religion, and a removal of some Counselors of State; or else to put some further project in execution against them; affirming to those they drew into their Conspiracy, and pleading it at their arraignments for this Treason; That the Act was lawful, and no Treason, being done before the Coronation, for that King James WAS NO KING Of ENGLAND, BEFORE HE WAS ANOYNTED; and the Crown solemnly set on his Head: These Priests were condemned and executed as Traptors, but the Lord's Cobham, and Gray, and other their seduced Proselytes were pardoned by the Kings grace, upon their acknowledgement of, and craving pardon for their Treason, grounded upon this false Doctrine. Upon this account, the Guysian Jesuitical faction in France asserted some few years before, That they might lawfully take up arms against, depose, murder and stab King Henry the 4. of France to death, because he was not Crowned and anointed King by their Popish Bishops, from whom he should have received his Royal Crown and Authority; and so was no lawful King, but a Tyrant. Which erroneous treasonable Doctrine, is largely refuted by sundry presidents, reasons in point of Law and Divinity, by Sir Edward Cook in Calvin's case, by Dr. Crakenthorpe, in his Defense of Constantine, c. 14. p. 341, 342. and Johannes Servin Advocate to King Henry the 4, in his Vindiciae, to whom I refer you; who prove the Coronation, Unction of Kings to be a mere Ornamental Ceremony, which many Emperors, Kings never used, received, being Emperors, Kings, by and from their very Elections, descents, without and before this Ceremony; as Historians attest, and sundry eminent Lawyers and Divines resolve.

11ly. Sundry Popish Bishops and Priests have inferred from hence, that they only are the holy Church, and God's inheritance intended in these Kings Coronation Oaths, Charters, with a seclusion of the Laity; appropriating the Title of the Church, Clergy to themselves alone: when as they were never styled the Church, Congregation of God, or Christ, in any one Text throughout the Old or New Testament, but the believing Laity, Saints and people of God, as distinct from them, and they only the Ministers, Bishops, Angels, Pastors, Elders, Servants of the Church, or Church of God, whom they are to feed, instruct, and take care of, as their Servants, not Lord's, as the ^o marginal Texts, all Expositors on them, and Mr. William Tyndale in his excellent Treatise, What the Church is, resolve and evidence; Whence the Church and Parliament of England in the 19th Article of Religion, and all Protestant Churches else in their public Confessions, thus define the Church. The visible Church of Christ is the Congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly administered according to Christ's Ordinance; (not the Pope, Bishops or Clergy) and of the Authority of this Church alone, (not the Bishops or Clergy) they affirm Article 20. The Church hath power to decree Rites and Ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith, &c. yet not to ordain anything contrary to God's written Word; as many Popes, Bishops have done in their Councils and Synods, wherein themselves presided: Therefore the Christian people must be included under the Title of Holy Church, which our Kings swear to defend, as well as the Bishops and Clergy; and their own demands to our Kings, for themselves, and all the Churches committed to their Care, with the forms of Institutions to Churches, evidence the people rather to be the Church then themselves, who are but Overscers Pastors and Curates of the Church.

12ly. Popes and Popish Prelates have from hence usurped a power to impose and enforce upon Emperors, Kings, and other Laymen whom they have interdicted or excommunicated, a cautionary Oath, De stando et parendo mandatis Ecclesiae, before they would absolve them; now lately revived by some, against the express Custom, Laws, Liberties of our Realm, declared and sworn to by all the Bishops and Nobles of the Realm in the Parliamentary Great Council held at Claerendon under King Henry the second: Yet they themselves by several Canons declare, that no Pope nor Bishop ought to swear or take an Oath before any Emperor, King, or Council, but only in the case of faith, to purge himself from suspicion of Heresy; nor any Clerk to take an Oath as a Witness or otherwise in any Temporal Court, or cause, especially if trivial, as all Laymen •• gh • to do, without the Popes or Bishops special license first obtained; but their assertio • s, in verbo Episcopy, or Sacerdotis must be allowed, instead of an Oa • h, as equivalent to it; Ne manus per quam corpus & sanguis Christi conficitur JURAMENTO polluetur; as I have elsewhere more largely evidenced.

13ly. A reverend French Doctor of Divinity promoted in our Church, in a Treatise newly published, recites our Kings Coronation Oath at large, and from thence observes, That the King in his Oath, swears in a manner, THRICE FOR THE CLERGY PARTICULARLY, and for no other estate of the Realm besides; to intimate, that as your Law calls the Clergy, A High State, and One of the greatest States of the Realm; so it deserves a special Care and High regard proportionable. That by this Juracory Oath, the King swears in special; That he will be a Protector and Defender of the Bishops and Clergy, not only of their Persons; as so qualified with such Rights, and Liberties, but also of their Possessions: By virtue of which Oath the King and all others are in point of Conscience obliged to restore to the Church, Bishops, Clergy, not only all the lands and p • ss • ssions taken from them during the late Warrs; but likewise all Manors, Lands, Rents, R • venues whatsoever, heretofore taken away from any Bishoprics, Abbeys, Mon • steries, Monks, Nuns, Mass or Chantry Priests whatsoever by any of our Kings by the 〈◊〉 power in Parliaments, in former ages, under pain of incurring the sins of 〈◊〉 , Sacrilege, and drawing down the Curses of God and their founders, and exemplary destruction, judgments on themselves, their families, yea the whole Kingdom and Nation; as he magisterially resolves; because, being once given, consecrated to God and his Church, they can never be taken away from them, or converted to any secular uses by Kings, Parliaments, or other Sovereign powers, for any offenses, idolatrous or superstitious uses limited by the donors, nor for any crimes or abuses of those to whom they were given, there being an aeternal holiness annexed to them, which cannot be obliterated. For answer whereunto; I would desire this confident Doctor to resolve these Quaeres; 1. Whether any Archbishop, Bishop, Priest or Clergyman, can or ought by the Law of God to covet or desire anymore, than a competent, convenient maintenance, answerable to his diligence, labor, care in the conscientious discharge of his Ministerial Function, in feeding the flock of Christ which he hath purchased with his own blond? And whether those who labor not in the Word and doctrine, preach not in season and out of season, neglect their pastoral duties, feeding themselves not their flocks, or reside not with them, can lay any claim by divine right to any Church-revenues; since Christ himself resolves, that none but Laborers in and Preachers of the Gospel, are worthy of their meat, hire: and those that labor not, (by St. Paul's resolution) ought not to eat? Whence this Maxim in Law and Divinity, Beneficium propter officium, had its original. If so: Whether Christian Kings and States may not lawfully without guilt of Sacrilege, or violation of their Oaths, resume and take away such superfluous Manors, Lands given by their Ancestors from the Crown to any Archbishops, Bishops, Priests or other Clergymen, for the neglect of their pastoral duties, especially in cases of public necessity, so as they reserve a competent, sufficient maintenance for those who are pious, laborious, worthy of double honor and encouragement?

2ly. Whether High-Priests, Priests, Levites under the Law, and Apostles, Bishops, Priests, Deacons under the Gospel, though of divine institution, solemnly consecrated for God's immediate service, and the instruction, salvation of the people's souls, may not justly lose, forfeit, null these their Sacerdotal consecrations, and be legally deprived of their respective holy Orders, and the maintenance belonging to them for their vicious scandalous lives, Heresies, Scismes, yea actually executed and put to death for their Murders, Treasons, Rebellions, without any Sacrilege, their consecrations becoming unconsecrations, (as the Jews circumcision became uncircumcision, by their profaneness, crimes, and violations of God's Laws? If so: as the Presidents of Eli’s sons, Abiathar the High Priest, with others in the old, and of Judas, who fell from his Apostleship for selling and betraying our Savior Christ, in the New Testament; with hundreds of presidents of Popes, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests degraded, executed in all ages, Churches, Kingdoms, and our own; together with the Roman Pontificals in the, forms of their depositions, degradations of Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, resolve past all dispute, and this Doctor dares not deny. Then much more may the Temporal Lands and Revenues given to them, being not of divine institution nor so immediately consecrated to God's service, nor capable of any real inherent holiness, as they are, lose their relative holiness, by their Crimes, or abuses of them; and thereupon be converted to other uses by our Kings and Parliaments, without any Sacrilege, if they see just cause: so as God's service be still supported in all places necessary.

3ly. Whether Temples, Sanctuaries, Cathedral, Parochial, Collegiate Churches, and private Chapels, solemnly erected, consecrated to God's sacred Worship, with their respective materials, ornaments, vessels, vestments, utensils, when forsaken, abhorred by God, decayed, demolished, or deserted by fire, inundations, earth-quakes, wars, pestilence, or seised on by conquering Enemies of a different Religion, expelling the Natives who erected them, for the Bishops, Priests, or people's sins, together with the soil whereon they were built, and Churchyards adjoining to them, do not thereby lose their Consecrations, and become common or profane? If so: as sundry sacred Texts, the presidents of Shiloh, God's own House, Temple, in the Holy City of Jerusalem, all the Synagogues of God in the Holy Land, the famous Churches of Ephesus, Antioch, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica, Thyatira, Pergamos, Philadelphia, Sardis, Corinth, Smyrna, Constantinople, Alexandria, with many hundreds of particular Churches, Chapels destroyed, suppressed by the invasions of the Goths, Vandals, Saracens, Turks, Tartars, Danes, throughout Asia and Europe, and our own Realms, evidence; and Hugo Grotius, de Jure Belli & Pacis, l. 3. c. 5. with the Authors there cited by him prove at large. Yea Popes, and Popish Bishops, Canonists (who attribute most holiness to consecrated places) unanimously determine, Si Ecclesia in totum corruit, vel destruitur quoad tectum & parietes, aut in majori parte, it à ut oporteat eos noviter simul reficere; vel si parietes ipsi igne decrustentur intus & exterius, minime retinent antiquam consecrationem, et execrata censeantur. Etiam quando Ecclesia insimul & in totum destruitur, eo animo ut iterum reaedificetur ex eadem materia: Vel si parietes corruunt in totum vel in majors parte erit Ecclesia execrata censenda, et noviter consecranda. And they further resolve, Si populus noluit Ecclesiam quae minatur ruinam, restanrare, ea debet penitus destrui, et Episcopus potest vendere lapides Altarium vel Ecclesiarum destructarum: Ecclesiae vetustate collapsae, quando reparari nequeunt, sunt in totum destruend • , without any sin or Sacrilege. Yea the Act for Rebuilding of London made this Parliament An▪ 19 Caroli 2. c. 3. enacts, That the Parish Churches to be rebuilt within the City of London which were demolished by the late fire shall not exceed the Number of 39. And that the Scites and Materials of the other (40) Churches which are not intended by this Bill to be rebuilt, together with the Churchyards, shall be and are thereby vested in the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London for the time being, and that such of them as shall not upon the rebuilding of the City of London be laid into the streets, shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (for buildings or market places) by the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen, or the major part of them, by and with the consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishop of London for the time being: and the money raised by such sale disposed of and employed towards the rebuilding of such Parish Churches, as by this Act are intended to be rebuilt. Yea the Canonists themselves resolve, That both Cathedral, Collegiate, and Parish Churches, may be translated from one place to another, either by reason of the incursions of Enemies, the unwholsomnesse of the air, the peril of inundations, or remoteness from the parishioners; and that they may be demolished, and Forts, Castles built in their places to hinder the incursions of fororeign enemies in times of Warr, so as other lands by way of exchange be given in recompense for them, without any Sacrilege: Therefore there is no such inherent inseparable holiness in them, as this Doctor surmiseth: much less in the Lands and Temporalties belonging to them, which were never solemnly consecrated, and revert to the founders or Donors themselves, when the Churches are destroyed, ruined, deserted, translated to other places; as our Judges, Laws, have long since resolved, Ingulphi Historia, p. 895, 896. 8 H. 5. Tit. Abbe. 28. 20 H. 6. 8 b. 20 H. 8. Brooke Extinguishment 35. & Corporation 78. 11 E. 4. 4. a. per Chok. 7 E. 4. f. 11, 12. Fitzh. Grant 17. & Cooks 3 Report, f. 75. b.

4ly. Whether God himself hath not expressly commanded in several Texts, all Temples Places, High-Places, Altars, Groves, Images dedicated to the Worship of Idols, false God's, or to be utterly destroyed, cut down, and burnt with fire, though dedicated with a pious, but erroneous intention, for the honor, worship of a Deity, though false, and that the conjecrated Priests of these Idols, and their worshippers, revolting from the true God, should be put to death; which King Hezekiah, Josiah, Jehu under the Law, and Constantine the Great, with other Christian Emperors, Kings under the Gospel, zealously executed, for which they were highly applauded? Whether Moses himself did not thus destroy the Golden Calf, made and consecrated by Aaron to represent, worship the true God in and by it, (as the sacred History, and Divines accord) and burn, grind it to powder, strow it upon water, and make the children of Israel drink thereof? Whether Jeroboams Calves, and their Temples at Dan and Bethel, made to represent and worship God in and by them, (which proved the destruction of him and his family,) were not likewise destroyed by Josiah, as being directly contrary to the second Commandment? And whether Hez • kiah did not break in pieces the brazen serpent which Moses had made, because the children of Israel did burn Incense unto it, to God's dishonor, though a Type of Christ? If so: Whether by the self-same reason, Temples, Monasteries, Chapels, Chauntries, Images of the sacred Trinity, of God the Father, Son, Holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary, other Saints, Angels, erected in times of Popery, for the worship of the true God in an Idolatrous, superstitious, erroneous uses, against his Word and precepts, may and ought not by the self-same reason to be demolished by our Christian Protestant Kings, Parliaments; and the Lands, Revenues, annexed to them for the maintenance of Popish idolatry and superstition, be lawfully confiscated, and converted to public secular uses, without any Sacrilege, or violation of Prov. 20. 15. Act. 5. 1. to 17. Rom. 2. 22. or any other sacred Text? And whether God's special direction to Moses, to make broad plates for the covering of the Altar of the brazen censers of Korah and Dathan which were hallowed, on purpose, to be a memorial to the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron come near to offer incense before the Lord, that he be not as Korah and his company, (on which this Doctor much relies) be any way pertinent, to prove it Sacrilege, to convert such lands to secular uses.

5ly. Whether Churches built, consecrated, endowed with lands, revenues by Heretics and Schismatics, may not lawfully be demolished or taken away from them by Christian Emperors, Kings, and confiscated to their Exchequers without any sacrilege or impiety, (as in the cases of the Donatists, Novatians, Manichees, Arians, and other Heretics and Schismatics in former ages) being the most probable means to suppress their Heresies and Schisms? If so: (as I presume this Doctor, who much inveighs against Schismatics throughout his Treatise against Sacrilege, will readily grant;) then by the self-same reason our Kings and Parliaments might justly suppress, demolish all Monasteries to suppress Popish Idolatry, Heresy, Superstition, and confiscate most of their lands and revenues to the Kings Exchequer, without any Sacrilege or impiety.

6ly. Whether the Lands or Revenues given and dedicated to one religious Order of Monks or Nuns, upon their dissolution, can be justly challenged by any other religious Order to whom they were never granted nor designed; anymore then lands given or bequeathed to one person and his heirs, or to one City or Corporation and their successors, can be justly claimed by another person or Corporation upon the attainders or dissolutions of those to whom they were given, for any treason or felony? If not, as is most certain by