The first-[third] tome of an exact chronological vindication and historical demonstration of our British, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman, English kings supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction from the original planting, embracing of Christian religion therein, and reign of Lucius, our first Christian king, till the death of King Richard the First, Anno Domini 1199 ... / by William Prynne, Esq.

Circa dies istos, steterunt Romae coram Domino Papa, Monachi Cantuariensis* 1.1 Ecclesiae, turpem admodum causam ad invicem agitantes. Nam quaedam pars eorum per literas Conventus de rato presentaverunt Reginaldum Suppriorem Cantuariensem, sicut multoties fecerant Electum ad Archiepiscopopatum, instantius postulantes, ut ejus electio confirmaretur. Altera vero pars eorundem Monachorum per literas similiter de Rato, presentaverunt Johannem Episcopum Norwicensem mul∣tis rationibus ostendentes, electionem de Suppriore nulla esse, tum quia facta erat de nocte, et sine solempnitate et assensu Regio, tum quia a majori & saniori parte Conventus non fuerat celebrata, sicque his rationibus propositis, petierunt ut illa electio confirmaretur, quae clara luce diei. Rege presente et consentiente, cum testibus ido∣neis extitit celebrata. His auditis & perspicaciter intellectis, procurator Suppri∣oris allegavit, secundam electionem irritam esse & inanem, quia qualiscun{que} esset pri∣ma electio, sive justa, sive injusta, debuerat prima Cassari, antequam secunda celebra∣retur electio. Unde constanter postulabat, ut prima electio rata haberetur. Denique post longas hinc & inde disceptationes, cum Dominus Papa intellexisset partes in uni∣cam personam non posse convenire, atque utramque electionem vitiose & non secundum sa∣crorum Cano••um sanctiones celebratam fuisse, de consilio Cardinalium suorum ambas cassavit, partibus diffinitione Apostolica interdicens, & per sententiam diffinitivam statuens, ne de cetero ad Archiepiscopatus honores alteruter Electorum aspiret. Sum∣matim hac fuit causa & seminarium Erroris. Rex posuerat verbum suum in ore duo∣decim Monachorum Cantuariensium, ut quemcun{que} eligerent, ipse acceptaret. Con∣venerat autem inter Regem & eos, prestito juramento, & fidei interpositione, quod nullo modo alium, quam Johannem Episcopum Norwicensem eligerent. Habebant & similiter Literas Regis.

This crafty Pope vacated both these Elections on purpose to force the Monks to elect whom ever he should commend unto them, against the right of the Kings Crown, to grant Licences to elect, and approve the Arch-bishop when elected, that so having wrested out of his hands, the disposition of the See of the Primat and Metro∣politan of all England to confer it on his own creatures; he might rule both the Church and Kingdom at his pleasure; in pursuance of which design the perfidious Monks com∣plyed with him against the King: as the Historian thus relates. * 1.2 Sed ipsi Monachi, post∣quam intellexerunt electionem dicti Johannis Papae nimis displic••re & cassari, sugge∣rentibus Cardinalibus & Domino Papa; & affirmantibus licere eis eligere, quem∣cun{que} vellent, ut secrete electionem celebrarent, si strenuum & precipue Anglicum eligerent, elegerunt per consilium Papae Magistrum Stephanum de Langeton Cardina∣lem, quo non erat major in Curia, imo nec ei parem moribus & scientia. Ex tunc igitur non potuit ei Papa in multiformi tribulatione deesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Historiae An∣gliae p. 212. 213. Mat. West. 84. 85.
• * 1.2

  Mat. Paris, p. 213.