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.

REX igitur Anglorum ob causa Interdicti mente nimis confusus. misit Vice∣comites suos & alios iniquitatis ministros in omnes ••ines Angliae, praecipiens tam Praelatis singulis quam eorum subjectis cum comminatione terrifi∣ca, ut incontinenter a Regno exirent, et super hac injuria peterent sibi a Papa justitiam exhiberi. Episcopatus insuper, Abbatias, Pri∣oratus, sub Laicorum custodia deputans, universos redditus Eccle∣siasticos confiscari praecepit. Sed in hoc sibi caute prospiciebant Praelati generali∣ter omnes totius Regni, quod de monasteriis suis exire noluerunt, nisi per violentiam

expellerentur, Quod cum a Regiis Ministris suisset compertum, Noluerunt alicui ingerere violentiam, sicut nec a Rege praeceptum habuerunt: sed bona eorum omnia in usus Regis convertentes, victum eis & vestitum parce ex rebus propriis ministrabant. Horrea Clericorum Rege jubente, ob∣serata sunt ubi{que} & ad commodum fisci distracta, Presbyterorum & Clericorum focariae per totam Angliam a Ministris Regis captae sunt, & graviter ad se redimendum compulsae: viri religiosi sive quicun{que} ordinati qui itinerantes reperti sunt in via ab equis suis projicieban∣tur, spoliabantur, & a satellitibus Regis turpiter tractabantur, nec fuit qui eis iustitiam exhiberet. Venerunt ea tempestate in confinio Walliae ad regem, m••n••••r•• cujusdam vicecomitis, ducentes praedonem unum, manibus a tergo vinctis qui sacerdotem quendam in via spoliaverat & interfecerat, quaerentes a Rege quid super tali eventu sibi fieri placeret. Quibus incontinenter respondit dicens,: Ini∣micum meum interemit, solvite illum & sinite abire, Parentes quo{que} Arche∣episcopi & Episcoporum qui Angliam sub interdicto posuerunt, ju∣bente Rege capiebantur, atque bonis omnibus spoliati in carcerem trudebantur. Inter hec omnia mala perendenabant Pontifices prefati in par∣tibus Transmarinis, omnimodis viventes in delicius, & sese murum pro domo Domini non opponentes, secundum Redemptoris sententiam, cum Lupum viderunt venientem di∣miserunt oves, & fagerunt. Such was the Piety and Sobriety, as well as Loyalty of these Ghostly Fathers, who made all to fast from Gods publicke Worship.

After this general seisure of the Bishops and Clergies Temporalties and goods, such of them as submitted to the King, and refused to comply with the Interdict, celebrating Divine Service, and administring the Sacramentsto the people accord∣ing to their duties both to God, the King and people, the King by special writs restored their Temporalties, chattles, goods to them, retaining in his hands the Lands and goods of all Abbots, Priors, Religious houses and Clerks, who sub∣mitted to the Interdict, as is evident by these two Patents for restoring the Pos∣sessions, lands and goods of the Bishops of Winchester, and Norwich, who com∣plyed with the King, as did Philip Bishop of Duresme, heartning him to contemne the Popes causelesse curse, though at last, when the King surrendred his Crown, they were all enforced to cry peccavi for it, as Godwin observes,

Notes

• The King might more justly punish the parents of the Arch∣bishop and Bishops who In∣terdicted Eng∣land, then they his Subjects, and whole Realm for his pretended dis∣obedience to the Pope.
• Nota.
• See Speeds Chronicle. Book 9. Chap. 8. Sect. 40. p. 971. God∣wins Catalo∣gue of Bishops, in the Life of Peter de la Roche Bishop of Win∣chester. p. 173. in the Life of Philip of Poitiers Bishop of Dur∣h••un. p. 511. Claus. 9. Johan. Regis mem. 5.