The antipathie of the English lordly prelacie, both to regall monarchy, and civill unity: or, An historicall collection of the severall execrable treasons, conspiracies, rebellions, seditions, state-schismes, contumacies, oppressions, & anti-monarchicall practices, of our English, Brittish, French, Scottish, & Irish lordly prelates, against our kings, kingdomes, laws, liberties; and of the severall warres, and civill dissentions occasioned by them in, or against our realm, in former and latter ages Together with the judgement of our owne ancient writers, & most judicious authors, touching the pretended divine jurisdiction, the calling, lordlinesse, temporalities, wealth, secular imployments, trayterous practises, unprofitablenesse, and mischievousnesse of lordly prelates, both to King, state, Church; with an answer to the chiefe objections made for the divinity, or continuance of their lordly function. The first part. By William Prynne, late (and now againe) an utter-barester of Lincolnes Inne.

French and Norman Bishops Acts of this kind.

I shall begin with Saint German Bishop of A••xerre in France,* 1.1 of whom it is storyed, * 1.2 that comming into England in King Vortigerns time, and repairing to his Court with his Compa∣nions in a cold frosty night, the King shut him out and would give him no lodging; which the Kings Herdsman seeing, taking pitty upon them, and commiserating their affliction, lodged them in his house, and killed a calfe, which they did eate at sup∣per: whose bones Saint German commanded to be brought to him when supper was ended, and putting them all into the Calves skin, he miraculously rais••d up the Cal••e againe from

the dead, (whereas Christ and his Apostles never raised any dead beast, but dead men onely) and put him to his damme, where he sell a eating hay. And on the next day by command from God (as some writers affirme) German deposed Vortigerne from his Kingdome, and made the Herdsman King in his place, to the great admiration of all men: and from thence forth the King•• of the Britaines descended from the race of this Herds∣man. But Gildas in his History saith, that this happened not to Vortigerne, but to King Powes, named Beuly, whose successors in t••at part of Wales issued from this Herdsmans race. Our lear∣ned Martyr* 1.3 Doctor Barnes reciting this story and Legend out of Petrus de Natalibus concludes thus. I thinke no man will binde me to prove this thing (of the Calfe) a lye, and yet it must be preached and taught in each Church, it must be writ∣ten in holy Saints lives, and he ••ust be a Saint that did it, and why? because hee deposed a King, and set in a Nea••es∣herd.

* 1.4Odo * 1.5 Bishop of Bayeux, was at first in great estimation with his Brother William the Conquerour, and bare great rule under him; till at last for envy that Lanfranke was preferred before him, he conspired against him: who understanding thereof com∣mitted him to Prison, where he remained, till the said Prince then lying on his death bed, released and restored him to his former liberty. When the King was dead, William Rufus took him backe into England, supposing no lesse than to have had a speciall friend, and a trusty Counsellour of him in all his af∣faires. But ere long after his comming thither, he fell againe into the same offence of ingratitude, whereof he became cul∣pable in the Conquerours dayes. For perceiving that Lanfranke Arch Bishop of Canterbury was so highly esteemed with the King, that he could beare no rule, and partly suspecting that Lanfrancke had beene chiefe cause of his former imprisonment, he suffered Duke Robert to bereave his Brother King William Rufus of the dominion of England all he might, and conspired with the rest, against his Nephew: and thereupon writ sundry Letters unto Duke Robert, counselling him to come over with an army in all h••ste, to take the rule upon him, which by his practise should easily be compassed; Duke Robert, thus anima∣ted, pawnes the County of Constance to his younger Brother Henry for a great summe of gold; and therewith returned an∣swer

to the said Bishop, that he should provide and looke for him upon the South coast of England, at a certa••ne ••ime appoin∣ted. Hereupon Odo fortified the Castle of Rochester, and began to make sore warres against ••he Kings friends in Kent, and pro∣cured his other complices also to doe the like in other parts of the Realme. And first on the West part of England, Geoffrey Bishop of Constans, with his Nephew Robert de Mowbray Earle of Northumberland, setting forth from Bristow, tooke and sack∣ed Bath and Be••kley, with a great part of Wiltshire, and brought the spoile to Bristow, where they fortified the Castle for their greater safety. Robert de Bygod over-rode and robbed all the Countries about Norwich, and Hugh de Grandwesuit spoyled and wasted all the Coun••ries abou•• Leicester; And Robert Mountgo∣mery Earle of Shrew••bury, with William Bishop of Durham, and others, wasted the Country with fire and sword, killing, and taking great numbers of people where they came. Afterwards comming to Worcester they assaulted the City, and burnt the Suburbs: But Bishop Wolstan being in the Towne, encouraged the Citizens to resist; who by his exhortation sallying out of the City, when the enemies waxed negligent, they slew and tooke above 5000. men of them in one day. Archbishop Lanfranke in the mean•• time, whilst the Realme was thus trou∣bled by Odoes meanes on each side, writeth to, and admonisheth all the Kings friends, to make themselves ready to defend their Prince. And when they were assembled with their forces, he counselled the King to march into the ••ield speedily with them, to represse his enemies The King following his counsell, com∣manding first all unjust Imposts, Taxes and Tallages to be laid downe, and promising to restore such favourable Lawes as the people should d••sire, to ingratiate himse••fe with h••s Subjects; marcheth with a mighty army into Kent, where the sedition be∣gan•• takes Tunbridge and Horne-Castle, and afterward b••seigeth Bishop Odo in the Castle of Pemsey•• which the B••shop had strong∣ly fortified. Robert landing with a great Army in England du∣ring this siege, Odo through want of victuall was glad to sub∣mit himselfe, and promised to cause the Castle of Rocheste••, to be delivered, but at his comming thi••her, they within the Ci∣ty suffred him to enter, and straightwayes laid him fast in P••••son. Some judge that this was done under a colour by his owne con∣sent. But the King besieging the City, they within were glad

••o deliver i•• up into his hand••. Thus lost B••shop Odo all his Livings and dignities in England, and so returned into Nor••an∣dy; where under Duke Robert, he had the chiefe government of the Country committed to him.

Anno * 1.6 Dom. 1196. Earle Iohn, King Richard the first his Brother, with his forces riding forth into the Country about Beauvois, made havocke in robbing and spoyling all a••ore him. Anon as Phillip the Bishop of Beauvois (a man more given to the Campe then to the Church) had knowledge hereof, think∣ing them to be a mee••e prize for him, with Sir William de Mer∣low and his Sonne, and a great number of other valiant men of warre, came forth into the fields, and encoun••ring with the enemies, fought very stoutly; But yet in the end the Bishop, the Arch-deacon and all the chiefe Captaines were taken, the residue slaine and chased; After this Earle Iohn and Marchades presented the two Prelates with great triumph unto King Ri∣chard earely in the morning,* 1.7 lying yet in his bed, as those that were knowne to be his great enemies, saying to him in French, Rise Richard, rise, we have gotten the great Chantor of Beauvois, and a good Quire man (as we take it) to answer him in the same note, and here we deliver them unto you to use at your discretion. The King seeing them smiled, and was very glad for the taking of this Bishop, for that he had ever found him his great adversary; And therefore being thus taken fighting in the field with armour on his backe, thought he might be bold in temporall wise to cha∣stise him, sith he (not regarding his calling) practised to mo∣lest him with temporall weapons. Whereupon he commit∣ted him to close Prison, all armed as he was. It chanced soone after, that two of his Chaplaines came unto the King to Roven where this Bishop was detained, beseeching the King of Li∣cense to attend upon their Master now in captivity; unto whom (as it is of some reported) the King made this answer: I am c••n∣tent to make you Iudge•• in the cause betwixt me and your Master; as for the evills which he hath either done, or else gone about to doe unto me, let the same be forgotten. This is true, that I being taken as I returned from my journey made into the holy Land, and delivered into the Emperours hands, was in respect of my Kingly state, used according thereunto very friendly, and honorably, till your Master comming thither (for what purpose he himselfe best knoweth) had long conference with the Emperour. After which, I for my part,

in the next morning tasted the fruite of their over-nights talke, being then loaden with as many Irons as a good Asse might not very easily have borne. Iudge you therefore what manner of imprisonment your Master deserved at my hands, that procured such ease for me at the Emperours hands. These two Chaplaines had their mouthes stopped with these words thus by the King uttered, and so departed their wayes. The Bishop being still detained in Pri∣son, procured suite to be made to the Pope for his deliverance, writing a Letter to the Pope against the King for this hard u∣sage, recorded by Hoveden; whereupon the Pope writ a Letter to the King in his behalfe, to importune his release. But the Pope being truely informed of the matter, and wisely conside∣ring, that the King had not taken the Bishop Preaching but figh∣ting, and kept him prisoner rather as a rough enemy, then as a peaceable Prelate, would not be earnest with the King for his deliverance, but rather reproved the Bishop, In that hee had preferred secular warfare before the spirituall, and had taken upon him the use of a Speare, insteed of a Crosier, an Helmet, insteed of a Miter, an Herbergean, instead of a white Rocket, a Targe•• for a Stoale, and an iron Sword, in lieu of the spirituall Sword; and therefore he re••used to use any Commandment to King Ric••ard for the setting o•• him at Liberty: But yet he promised to doe what he could, by way of intreating, that he might be released. It is reported by some Writers, that the Pope at first not un∣derstanding the truth of the whole circumstance, should send to King Richard, commanding him by force of the Canons of the Church, to deliver his Sonnes, the Bishop and Archdeacon, out of their captivity. To whom the King sent their Armour, with this message written in Latine, Vide an tunica filii tui si••, an non: that is, See whether these are the garments of thy Sonnes or not: al∣luding to the saying of those that carryed Iosephs coa••e to Iacob: Which when the Pope saw, he said, Nay by Saint Peter, it is neither the apparell of my Sonnes, nor yet of my Brethren, but rather they are the vestures of the children of Mars; and so he left them still to be ransomed at the Kings pleasure. The Bishop thus seeing no hope to be delivered without some agreement had betwixt the two Kings, became now, through irkesomnesse of his bonds an earnest mediator for peace, whereas he had beene before an extreame stirrer up of warre. Such a Schoolemaster, is impri∣sonment, and plucker downe of lofty courages. But not pre∣vailing,

he plots how to make an escape. When Queene Elio∣nor ••ing Richards Mother came to Rhoane, she sent for this Bi∣shops keep••rs, to permi the Bishop to c••me to her lodging to sp••ake with her; which although it were dangerous, yet they unwill••ng to resist the Queenes sui••e, pe••mit••ed him to goe out of the Towe ga••es fe••••e••ed, with themselves accompanying him: As they passed b•• a Church, the Bishop ran to the doore th••ugh 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as well as he cou••d, and laying hold on the Ring of the Chur••h•• cryed out with a loud vo••ce saying, I demand the peace of God and the Church. At which speech his Keepers much troubled, laid hands on him, pul••ed him from the Church doore, and brought him backe aga••ne to the Tower, where they kept him more stricktly then before. Which ••he King hearing of, sent him to Chine, to be kept close Prisoner. After this he offered King Richard 10000 markes for his enlarge∣ment, which he refused. But K••ng Iohn comming to the Crown, at the Popes request rel••ased h••m ••or 2000. He taking a so∣lemne Oath before the Cardinall and other Ecclesiastickes, that he would never all his life after, beare armes against Christians, as he had cause•• now no•• to doe.

* 1.8About the same time Walter, Arch bishop of Roven, at the in∣stigation of the French King, pu•• all the Country of Normandy un∣der sen••ence of in••erdiction, because King Richard had begun to sort ••he a Ca••••le at Lisse Dandely upon a peece of ground which the Archbishop c••aim••d to appertaine unto hi•• See. The Arch∣bishop would ••y no meane•• release the interdict, So as the bo∣dies ••f dead men lay unbu••yed through all the Villages and streetes of t••e C••ties of Normandy. Hereupon, the King much troubled at the A••chb••shops dealing, whom he had advanced and much imployed, s••nds ••o Rome to the Pope to heare the cause be∣tweene them; The matter being brought before the Pope, he perceiving the intent of King Richard, was not otherwise grounded upon an•• covetous purpose, to defraud the Church o•• her right, but one••y to bu••ld a fortresse in such place as was mo••t expedient for defence of the Country about, to preserve it from invasion of the enemies, counselled the Archbishop, no•• to s••and against the King in it, but to exchange with him for some other Lands, which was done, and the interdiction by the Pope released. This Archbishop was a great warriour, bore great sway in England, during King Richards absence and cap∣tivity,

and troubled the Realme very much with taxes and warres.

Before I come to the Prelates of Scotland, I shall insert one story of a Patriarch of Hierusalem, who affronted our King Henry the second to his face, in a shamefull manner. The story is this.

Heraclius * 1.9 Patriarch of Ierusalem came into England in the thir∣tyeth yeare of King Henry the second, and made busy request to him against the Saracens, proffering him the keyes of Ierusa∣lem, and of our Lords grave, with Letters of Pope Lucius the third, charging him, that he should take upon him the King∣dome of Ierusalem, with the royall Standard of the Kingdome as due unto him, and likewise make a royall voyage thither in proper person with an army for the security thereof, and to have minde of the Oath that he before time had made. The King deferred his answer, and Baldwin the Arch bishop Preached, and exhorted men to take the Crosse, by whose meanes many there were that avowed that journey. The King at last, by the advise of his whole Councell and Parliament, gave this answer, that he might not leave his Land without keeping, nor yet leave it to the prey and robbery of the French men; but he would give largely of his owne to such as would take upon them that voyage. With this answer Hera••lius was discontented, and said, we seeke a man and not money, well neere every Christian Re∣gion sendeth to us money, but no Land sendeth to us a Prince. But the King laid for him such excuses, that the Patriarch de∣parted from him discontented and comfortlesse. Whereof the King being advertised, entending somewhat to recomfort h••m with pleasant words followed him to the Sea side. But the more the King thought to satisfie him with his faire speech, the more the Patriarch was discontented, in so much, that at last he said unto him. Hitherto thou hast raigned gloriously, but here∣after thou shalt be forsaken of him that thou at this time forsa∣kest; thinke on him what he hath given to thee, and what thou hast yeelded to him againe; How first thou wert false to the King of France, and after slew Thomas Becket, and last of all, thou forsakest the Protection of Christs Faith. The King was mooved with these word•• and sayd unto the Patriarch. Though all the men of the Land were one body, and spake with one mouth, they durst not speake ••o me such words. No

wonder (said the Patriarch) for they love thine and not thee, That is to meane, they love thy goods temporall, and feare the losse of promotion, but they love not thy soule. And when he had so said, he offered his head to the King, saying; Doe by me right as thou didst by Thomas Becket, for I had rather be slaine of thee, then of the Sarasens, for thou art worse then any Sarasen, and they follow a prey and not a man. But the King kept his patience and said, I may not wend out of my Land, for my owne Sonnes will arise against me when I am absent. No wonder (said the Patriarch) for of the devill they came, and to the devill they shall, and so departed from the King in great ire. So rudely have Prelates dealt with the greatest Princes, as thus both in words and deeds, to revile and contemne them, as if they were their slaves to be at their command, though with the ha∣zard of their lives, Crownes and Kingdomes, upon every hu∣mour. I now passe on to the Scottish Prelates.

Notes

• * 1.1

  St. GERMAN.
• * 1.2

  Poly••h••••••. l. 5. c. 1. Ribaden••ira l••s fl••urs des vie•• des Saints. part 2 p. 71.72. Vincen∣tii speculum hist. l. 20. c. 11. Ant••∣ni••i chron. Tit. 11. c. 18. sect. 3. f. 51. b. See part 1. before p. 224.
• * 1.3

  See his suppli∣cation to King Henry the 8. p. 190.
• * 1.4

  ODO Bishop of Bayeux.
• * 1.5

  W••llie••mus Malmesb. De Gestis Regum Angl. l. 4. p, 120 121. Holinsherd. p. 17, 18, Henry Huntindon Hist. l. 7. p, 372, 373, &c.
• * 1.6

  Roger•••• de H••∣veden Annal. pars posterior, p. 768. to 778.795 Holinshed p. 150, 151. Neubrig. hist. l. 5. c. 22. Antiqu. ••ccles. Bri. p. 140. Mat. Westm. An. 1196 p. 71.
• * 1.7

  The Bishop of Beau••••is ••aken Prisoner••
• * 1.8

  Walter Archbi∣shop of Rhoan Normandy inter∣dicted by the Ar••hbishop of R••ven An Reg. 8. Hoveden Annal. pars. posterio, ••. 765; 76••. Mat∣thew Paris, An. 1196. p. 175. Matthew Westm, An. 1196. p. 70, 71.
• * 1.9

  Fabian•• Chron. part 7. p. 353, 354. c. 239. Po∣lychron l. 7. c. 24. Matth••w Paris, Hist. Ang. p. 137 Hoved. fol. 358. Speeds H••••t. p. 52••. sect. 88.