Tracts written by John Selden of the Inner-Temple, Esquire ; the first entituled, Jani Anglorvm facies altera, rendred into English, with large notes thereupon, by Redman Westcot, Gent. ; the second, England's epinomis ; the third, Of the original of ecclesiastical jurisdictions of testaments ; the fourth, Of the disposition or administration of intestates goods ; the three last never before extant.

CHAP. V. (Book 5)

What was received under William le Rous.

VAin it were to expect any good Constitutions of William the Second, Omnis legum siluit justitia, causisque (saith Florence of Worcester) sub justitio positis; sola in principibus imperabat pecunia.

I. Polydore attributeth to him the original of that custome,* 1.1 where∣by his Successors claim profits or First-fruits of vacant Bishopricks and Monasteries of the Patronage of the Crown.* 1.2 Indeed it is true and apparent, that he had a special gift of delaying new Elections for prorogation of his gains. And at his Death were in his hands the Temporalties of Canterbury, Winchester and Salisbury, and of Abbies that number quadrupled.

II. Publico (writeth he) edicto vetuit unumquemque sine commeatu suo ex Angliâ egredi. That Archbishop Anselme was enjoyned under no small pain, that he should not pass the Seas, to visit Pope Vrban under this Prince, is true and plain enough; but for any such gene∣ral Edict, I know no better authority, his being in this, as in other things, suspicious: as yet my belief is, that the constitution of non Aler ouster le Mere, is of some later birth.

III. Venationes quas Rex primo (the words are Malmesburies, but read primus) adeò prohibuit, ut capitale esset supplicium prendisse Cervum.* 1.3

Notes

• * 1.1

  Polydor. lib. 10. hist.
• * 1.2

  Matth. Paris.
• * 1.3

  Malmesb. lib. 4. de gest. reg.