REcedentes autem Episcopi memorati, cum fructum penitentiae in Rege non invene∣runt, in Quadragesima sequenti, executionem sibi a summo Pontifice demandatam, exequi non verentes, prima die Lunae in passione Domini, quae tunc contigit decimo Kalendas Aprilis, sub generali Interdicto totam Angliam incluserunt: quod si∣cut in Autentico Domini Papae, expressum habetur, non obstantibus privilegiis, ab omnibus est inviolabiliter observatum. Cessaverunt itaque in Anglia omnia Ecclesiastica Sacramenta, praeter solummo∣do confessionem et viaticum in ultima necessitate, et Baptisma par∣vulorum; (Quod ex callida indulgentia Papae concessum est ut abalienatis a Rege sibique conciliatis Regni subditis tam Regnum quam Regem sibi subiiceret, adds * 1.1 Matthew Parker.) corpora quoque defunctorum de Civitatibus et villis efferebantur, et more canum in biviis et fossatis sine orationi∣bus et Sacerdotum ministerio sepeliebantur. † 1.2 Trevisa, Fabian, Caxton, Fox, Speed, with others adde, That all the doors of Churches and other places where Divine Service before was used, first in London, and after in all places throughout the Land, were shut up with Keys, Walls, and other fastenings, no publick Prayers, Masses, or Divine Service must be once celebrated within them for sundry years en∣suing; by which unchristian Interdict this flourishing Church of England was pub∣likely deprived for many years together of the very Face of Christianity, even by Pope Innocent, Christs pretended Vicar, who acted here like Julian his professed Ene∣my, immuring up the doors of all Christian Temples, in despite of their God, and for the Kings bare crossing of his unjust Papal Usurpations, in defence of his Prerogative Royal, censured even God and Christ himself, to lose their publick Worship, and all the People, Bishops, Clergy to hazard their souls, living like Infidels, without Gods Service and blessed Sacraments, yea and dying, like Dogs to be tumbled into every ditch without Christian buriall: So well did he pursue our Saviours trebled precept to Peter, whereon he founded his Papal Soveraignty, John 22. 16, 17. Feed my Sheep, Feed my Lambs. Matthew Paris subjoyns, Quid plura? Recesserunt latenter ab Anglia, Willielmus Londinensis, Eustachius Elyensis, Malgerus Wygorniensis, Jozelinus Bathoniensis, & Eg idius Herefordensis Episcopi, (chief Actors in this unchristian Tra∣gedy) satius Arbitrantes sevitiam commoti Regis ad tempus declinare, quam in terra Interdicta sine fructu residere. † 1.3 But before their departure they excommunicated all the Kings Officers, who seized their Temporalties and Goods for this their Trea∣sonable and Antichristian proceedings, not only against himself, but his whole Realm, though not guilty of any contempt against the Pope.
The King hereupon out of just indignation and retaliation, thus rigorously pro∣ceeded against these Trayterous Prelates, and all the Clergy confederating with the Pope and them, against his Rights and Soveraignty, banishing the chief Actors, and seizing the Possessions and Goods of the rest. Thus registred by * 1.4 Matthew Paris.